The herald., 1912-10-31
Deacon Carter s
Goat
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1912, by Associated Lit
eraTy Press.

When Deacon Carriers widowed
daughter died she bequeathed him q
goat 1t was brought home and made
to understand that its future lines
were to be cast in pleasant places. II
was given the run Of the yard, and for
three days its attitude elected sympa-
thy and commentator. 1t really shed
tears over the mistress and the home
il had lost, and then II braced up and
became playful.
The deacon had tomato patch, and
he went out one morning to pick two
or three tomatoes TO go with his break
fast AS he gathered them there was
a conclusion. and ii was ten minutes
later when his wife came out and
found him just coming to himself
again.
"W-what is it, Jeptha" she gasped.
"The-the goat
what about him.
Game on the run and struck me with
his head"'
But | don't see how he
bounding on like a cyclone and bowled
her over and over until she struck the
row Of sunflOwers. The deacon got
hold Of bean pole and kept the goat
off, and they got into the house, famed
in every joint This was the outbreak.
1t was the end Of the goats serenity.
Men had to be called to help tie him
up, and those who hadn't looked upon
him before now came TO gaze. Nobody
wished the animal i'll. On the contrary.
it was generally held that grief had
driven him TO desperation. The deacon
was advised TO sit up all night and
watch to see that Billy didn't commit
suicide by hanging.
Two days passed quietly, but on the
evening of the second the goat quietly
slipped his collar and set out to see the
sights of Romeo. While ranging around
he encountered six different persons on
their way TO prayer meeting. He took
them in as fast as he came to them.
Some went rolling into the ditch and
some against the fence, but all under
went the same sensation. They thought
a tree had fallen on them.
Even a good man can't escape conse
Quences IL he is the owner Of a butting
goat Next day six limping people
wanted to know what Deacon Carter
was going to do about it. Like the
square man that he was, he offered
them So apiece and made settlements.
"If it wasn't that | had promised
Hammer on her dying bed he said to
his wife as the last victim limped away.
II KNOW know. deacon" was the
reply.
We'll have to keep him."
1--WE will"
'Durn his hider
"S-s-s-h, There he stands in the
door,
That night the goat was shut up in
through which he jumped, taking the
sash and glass with him. Mr.. Griggs.
the grocer, had locked up and was on
his way home when some white object
flashed before his eyes and he knew
no more for half an hour. The sexton
Of the Baptist church has spent two
hours sweeping and busting. and had
started for his fireside with his hands
clasped under coattails. He went down
like ripe barley before the sickle.
Abraham Davis, the undertaken, was
taking little walk before going to bed,
or had stepped outside the gate to take
one. when be went down with a crash
and was out of range Of the wireless |
for ten minutes. Then he crept into the |
house on hands and knees to ask his |
wife how the earthquake had affected
her.
There were half a dozen others that |
were treated to various surprises and |
sations, and this time il cost Dea- |
con Carter $50 to settle. He was a |
good man, and he had the interests of |
Romeo and the United States at heart |
but his fellow townsmen didn't pro-
pose to be butted into insensiblity for
We'll have to sell him." he said to
his wife with sigh.
But think of Hammer looking down
from heavenw
Then We'll give him away to some
good family"
And Hammers ghost will haunt usw
The goat was chained up, and for
two days he was quiet, reflective ami
nal. He stood most Of the time with
half closed eyes, as If seeing his past
md hoping to see his future.
Then Sunday came, and the people
gathered at the church. The goat
worked some sort Of hocus pocus on
hat chain and was once more at lib
.rty. The doors of the churches stood
vide open. as If inviting goats to en-
er with the sheep, and this goat enter
d. He entered on the run, and within
hree minutes he had driven out the
Those that were little
low were given aid.
Could such thing as that be over
ooked and the offender forgiven? You
NOW 1t could not. With pickets pulled
rom the fence, with clubs and rocks
md umbrellas, they swarmed for the
'oat, and though he fought back they
we're too many for him. They finally
lemmed him in on the bridge, closing
to take his life, when he went over
ne rail into the creek and was
Irouuad