The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-10-16
THE WIDOWS
GOAT
By Nj. QUAD
Copyright, 1872, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

u
neighbor. He never refused to lend
his hoe or his wheelbarrow, and his
wife just dotted on lending her flntirons
or washboard. The deacon would have
no more hurt persons feelings than
he would have Jumped Off the bridge
into Thornapple creek, and that he was
ever to be threatened with a lawsuit
was 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 a 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 a
goat 1t had been sent to her when
young from n distance, and they had
learned TO 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 to be cast in pleasant places.
! 1t was given the run of the yard, and
for three days it's attitude elected sym
1pathy and commendation. It really
shed tears over the mistress and the
home it had lost, and then 1t 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
concussion, and 1t was ten minutes
Halter when his wife came out and found
him just coming to himself again.
"Wwhat 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'-
But she did see. The goat came
bounding on like a cyclone and bowled
her over and over until she struck the
row Of sunfowers.
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 be
tame to them. Some went rolling into
he ditch and some against the fence,
put all underwent the same sensation.
They thought tree had fallen on
Them.
Even good man can't escape conse-
luences II he is the owner of a butting
goat. Next day six limping people
wanted to know what Deacon Carter
vas going to do about it. Like the
Fquare man that he was, he offered
hem So apiece and made settlements.
"lf 1t wasn't that l had promised
Tanner on her dying bed" he said to
his wife as the last victim nmped
way.
81 know, l know. deacon" was the
3eply.
We'll have to keep him"
Eve will"
"Durn his hide"
"S-s-s-h! There he stands in the
oorr'
That night the goat was shut up in
he barn. but there was q window
through which he jumped, taking the
ash and glass with him. Mr.. Griggs
he grocer, had locked up and was on
|is way home when some white OBJ
ect flashed before his eyes, and he
new no more for half an hour. The
exton of the Baptist church had spent
|wo hours sweeping and dusting and
ad started for his freside with his
ands clasped under his coattails. He
ent down like ripe barley before the
Pckle. His last impression was that
meteorite had fallen from the night
KY and plunked him between the
houlders.
There were half a dozen others that
ere treated to various surprises and
fnsauons, and this time 1t cost Dea-
pm Carter $50 to settle.
Wen have to sell him." he said to
Is wife, with a sigh.
The goat was chained up, and for
Vo days he was a quiet, reflective ami
al. He stood most of the time with
alt closed eyes, as If seeing his past
pa hoping to see his future.
Ehen Sunday came, and the people
hered at the church. The goat
orked some sort of hocus pocus on
lat chain and was once more at lib
ty, The front doors of the church |
ood wide open, as If inviting all the
pats to enter with the sheep, and |
lis goat entered. He entered on the
pm. and within three minutes he had |
fVen out the congregation.
Gould such thing as that be over
'oked and the offender forgiven? You
bow 1t could not With pickets
billed from the fence, with clubs and |