The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-11-05
for neither a fox nor a haws- w1rl cons.

Trapsy, soon became a neighborhood
attraction, and helped to keep things
lively. He set the example, keeping
continually busy and seeming hardly
to realize that he was prisoner at
the end of long, lightweight chain.
With John Henry's fox TERROR pup
1 by Junket he would frolic for hours
until the puppy. growing the faster
and being the heavier, would tire his
playfellow out.
At such times Trapsy would retire
into the hole he had dug for himself
near the trunk of the big butternut
tree, but if John Henry strolled along
and whistled to Junket he would peer
out with peculiar expression in his
shrewd little eyes that the cbservant
lad attributed to envy for the dog that
had his liberty.
"Trapsy must be pretty nearly full
grown now said John Henry one
day along toward autumn "He knows
me just as well as Junket does. He
/ appreciates that l have brought him
up. He knows this is his home and
4 IL IGI AOOSG WOu1Q stay cbDOut Lii SAAV
dogs and kittens / have no doubt
'sStay around? Not much he would
| MT" said Uncle Zeke emphatically.
SHOULD he slip that chain you'd find
he'd make pretty short business of
saying goodbye to civilization. A fox
amt dog. No, not much he amt. II
he was free he would show you pretty
quick what fox would do"
''Hes showing us now, right along
| what fox can do laughed Aunt
Sarah, Hiding everything he can get
hold of in that hole he has dug. We
shan't have butternut. He has car
ried every one into his storehouse al
though what he wants of them have
no idea. He is always doing some
thing, barking, running in circle at
the end of his chain until it fairly
makes me dizzy to watch him-and
until he has worn path in that thick
turf like circus ring. If he lies down
in the sun and pretends to go to SLEEP
he is listening with both cooked up
ears readyto spring upon any unsus.
i pecting cat or fowl that comes near,
and he is doing his best to make US
believe that he is fond of us and that
he would stay with us If he was free
from that blinking chain. If believed
that he would go away and stay away
would give him his liberty for am
tired of his noise. I would be glad to
give myself rest and him a run"
A few days later as the family were
at dinner what was their astonish.
ment to have Junket and Trapsy come
trotting in to the room together
through the open outside door.
Collars broke" said Uncle Zeke.
81 thought about putting on larger
and stronger one yesterday. Who
can catch him?"
amy of us" replied John Henry.
Give him something that he likes to
eat and then grab him." but that was
mistake He didn't run away. but
he kept just out Of reach.
| That night there were fowls miss
ing from the neighbors' roosts, as well
as from their own and every night for
some time the same thing happened.
Cunning as fox" was Trapsy, in
deed, and there seemed no end to his
mischievous pranks Burrowing I'M
der the walls of the coops, opening
the chicken house doors, climbing over
enclosures, frightening the pigs nearly
out of their few wits What won't
he do next?i was the oft repeated
question.
The traps were set repeatedly, but
the active little creature was not to be
caught that way, nor was there any
artifice successful in beguiling him.
i Day after day he came to the farm
yard for his frolic with Junket. and
having regained the use of his legs
now, and being free, the dog could
not weary him out.
For hours the two would race about
the pasture side and orchard and al
though tempted to shoot Trapsy they
dared not for fear ofwounding JunEet.
Every day he would seem to entice
Junket away to the woodland but
when they reached the point of the
hill Trapsy would go and Junket came
trotting back home.
i Bite him Junket," John Henry
would shout. Hold Inn fast, Junk
et!" but it was of no use, they had
been playfellows too long.
One day, however, they quarreled
over piece Of liver that had been
thrown to Junket and then it was dog
and fox; the playmate business was
ended. Junket's blood was up and
away he ran after the delectable NOR
sci that. Trapsy carried in his mouth
The voice of his master was unheeded
as he followed the willy fox around the
broad meadow and through the or.
chard. the fox keeping easily well in
advance.
From his position on high stone
fence John Henry could watch them
and every time they came near-for
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