Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-12-20
Elizabeth Rice Carpenter. in the

New York Herald.
Everybody knows it's true-at least
Almost everybody. But surly old Pc
ter Gruff had been down in tho village
all tho evening. celebrating Christmas
eve. His stein had been filed and
dfdn't know anything for sure, and
didn't give Il hang anyway.
II was getting on toward midnight
When Peter finally united poor. weary
l;etsy (who was blind in one eye) and
started at a breakneck pace through
inc gray mists over the fats to the
Iarnl. Far. far away in the heavens
the stars eyes twinkled knowingly. The
mar in the moor looked down with a
sly smile. But Peter didn't notice these
strange facts. for he was looking
straight ahead Gas straight as he could
under the circumstances) along the
road. t%hrashing old Betsy all the wan.
and forgetting that it was Christmas
eve. the time Of all other times when
one should be gentle and kind to ones
!eilcw creatures. But Betsy was bid
ing her time. and the man i'm the moon
and the stars smiled on.
AL last they reached the old barn
yaru. AS Peter Embarrassed Betsy.
with no gentle hand and led her into
tne stable She looked around e%xpectant-
~. Yes. sure enough. this animals were.
al Wlde awake and waiting-it was
wlthin q minute of midnight! On the
perch sat the six leghorn hens; in the
sy's best friend and In sor-
row. while from the loft above peered
Two yelloW eyes. These belonged to
Polly. the cat.
Petc reached for the halter and tied
1T good and tight about Betsy's neck.
Sust as ne did this the clock on the
otd cnufch tower down in the village
cehimed ~. Peter. of course, didn't
know this. but the animals did,
Then Betsy slowly turned, neighed
loudly. made a profound courtesy to
the animals, and spoke in a clear deem
voice: ~
Merry Christmas, comrades,"
lnstantly there was a commotion
me cat sprang from the loft with a
QUO meow, Merry Christmas. Betsy"
me Cog jumped about wagging his
1t OFF. "as
Merry Christmas. old pal how do
you find yourself this year? Even the
leghorns Tapped and tapped their
wings and cackled as loud as thev
could. Merry Christmas. Merry Christ
mas!"
Peter started back. His hair rose SO
nlgA on the back of his head that his
niue cap fell off. He had never ex-
perlenced anything quite like this. No.
not even after the %jolliest venins
spent at the tavern. And yet. of course
It was just a sort Of dream. His head
cit dizzy anyway. Sure it was a
dream, for animals don't talk, Never
tneiess he. reached rather hastily for
ms cap. II don't guess l stay in this
Old barn SO long," he muttered. Rut
Just as he rose to his feet and was
turnlng to leave the stall he enco,,nt-
cred Betsy's n y fastened upor
Pete Grufr,v said Betsy severe,v
loose the halter that I may lie down"
'Acn Himmel. ass is!' cried Peter
IN q terrified voice.
You may we'll say 'vass iss.." an
swsreo BETSY IN a whitening tone, still
nxing him with her one eye. old
h halte.?" ooe
Yah. yah.- answered Peter in :,
shaking voice. He did as ne was hid
then stood trembling very much in the
corner of the stall.
And now" continued Betsy. take n
piece OF advice from one who knows
DON'T knock me about any more, Don't
hurry and thrash me up hill. Don't
T as you often do. to give me 4
drink when I'm tired and famfshin.
haven't / been q faithful old Marco
haven't l ploughed your fields. rakad
your hay, gathered it into the barn ana
takeE you and yolr frau to church OF
q Sunday? :"
Yah, yah. YAH. repeated Pete. IN
q ~quavering voice.
Well, then, take warning before IL
Is TOO late. And another thing Peter.
you'd better leave off drinking beer.
See what it's bringing you to. Here