Evening journal., 1912-10-16

Deacon Carter OF the village OF
Romeo was a good man and a good
neighbor. He never refused TO lend
his hoe OF his wheeibarrow. and his
wife 'ust dotted on lending her fatirons
or washboard The deacon would have
no more hurt a persons feelings than
he would have jumped of the bridge
into Thornapple creek. and that he was
ever to be threatened with a lawsuit
w.s the last thing to be thought Of
One day the deacon got a message TO
the effect that his widowed daughter
over at Glen Dale was dying. and he
borrowed horse and buggy and drove
over. The daughter had no children
TO mourn her The father got there
/ in time to receive her last instructions
and to close her eyes.
The widow had neither dog nor cat
but in place Of either or both had
goat It had been sent to her when
young from distance. and they had
learned 10 love each other The goat
had made no trouble at ALL and the
daughter charged her father TO take
Billy home with him and watch and
guard him and treat him with loving
kindness.
The goat was brought home and
made to understand that it's future
lines were 70 be cast in pleasant places.
1t was given the run Of the yard. and
for three days its attitude ELECTED sym
pathy and commendation. Il really
shed tears over the mistress and the
home II had lost and then It braced up
and became playful.
The deacon had a 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
n conclusion. and it was ten minutes
later when his wife came out and found
him lust coming to himself again.
"W-what is it. JepthaT she gasped
''The-th goatr'
"What about himT
"Came on the run and struck me
with his head.'
"But don't see how he"-
But she did see. The goat came
bounding on like a cyclone and bowled
her over aud over until she struck the
row Of sunhowers.
Two DAYS passed quietly, but on the
evening Of the second the goat quietly
slipped his collar and slipped out to
see the sights Of Romeo. While rang
ing around he encountered six different
persons on their way to prayer meet
ing. He took them in as fast as he
came TO them. Some went rolling into
the ditch and some against the fence
but all underwent the same sensation
They thought a tree had fallen on
them.
Even a good man can't escape conse-
auences if 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 be 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.
q know. know. deacon" was the
reply.
"we1l have to keep him."
I'VE will"
"Durn his hider'
"S-s-s-hl There he stands. in the
! doorg'
That night the goat was shut up in
the barn. out there was a winGow
through which he jumped. taking the
sash and glass with him. Mr.. Griggs.
the grocer. bad locked up and was on
his way home when some white OBJ
iect flashed before his eyes. and be
knew no more for half an hour. The
sexton of the Baptist church had spent
two hours sweeping and busting and
had sta ted for his freside with his
hands ciasped under his coattails. He
, went down like ripe barley before the
[ sickle His last impression was that
a meteorite had fallen from the night
sky and plunked him between the
shoulders.
There were half dozen others that
> were treated 10 various surprises and
sensations. and this time it cost Dea-
con Carter $50 to settle.
well have TO sell him. he said TO
his wife. with a sigh.
AND Hammers ghost will haunt usr'
The goat was chained up. and for
two days he was a quiet. reflective ami
NAL He stood most Of the time with
half closed eyes. as if seeing his past
and hoping TO see his future.
Then Sunday came. and the people
! gathered at the church The goat
5 worked some sort Of hocus pocus on
{ that chain and was once more at lib
erty. The front doors OF the church
stood wide open. as II inviting all the
goats TO enter with the sheep and
this goat entered He entered on the
run. and within three minutes he had
driven out the congrega ton.
Could such a thing as that be over
looked and the offender forgivens You
? Enow it could not. With pickets
+ pulled from the fence with clubs and
2 rocks and umbrellas. they swarmed
for the rcst. and. though he fough'
back. they ere TOO many for him
They ian'lT hemmed him IN on the