The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-05-23
Deacon Carter s
Goat
By NJ QUAD
By NJ QUAD
Copyright, 1917. BY Associated Lit.
erary Press.

When Deacon Carter's 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. 1t
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
It had lost, and then it braced up and
became playful.
The deacon had q 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 concussion. and it 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."
"Came on the run and struck me with
his head"
"But l 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 sunlowers. The deacon got
hold of a bean pole and kept the goat
of, and they got into the house. famed
In every joint. This was the outbreak.
It 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.
1t 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 tho
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
q tree had fallen on them.
Even q good man can't escape conse-
quences IL he Is the owner of a butting
goat. Next day six llmping people
wanted to know what Deacon Carter
was going to do about 1t. Like the
square man that he was, he offered
them So apiece and made settlements.
If it wasn't that I had promised
Hammer on her dying bed he said to
his wife as the last victim limped away.
II know-I know. Deacon" was the
reply.
well have to keep him."
I'VE will"
"Durn his hide!"
"S-s-s-h! There he stands in the
door!"
That night the goat was shut up in
the barn. but there was q window
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 Preside with his hands
clasped under coattails. he went down
like ripe barley before the sickle.
Abraham Davis. the undertaken, was
taking a little walk before going to bed.
or had stepped outside the gate to take
one. when he 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
sensations, and this time 1t cost Dea-
con Carter $50 to settle. he was Q,
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
nothing.
"Well have to sell him." he said TO-
his wife with q sigh.
"But think Of Hammer looking down
from heaven"
'aThen we'll give him away to some
good family"
"And Hammers ghost will haunt usf'
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, AZ IL seeing his past
and hoping to see his future.
Then Sunday came. and the peoplel
gathered at the church. The goat
worked some sort Of hocus pocus on
that chain and raj once more ut lib,
erty. The doors Of the churches stood
wide open. as II inviting goats to en-;
ter with the sheep, and this goat enter
ed. He entered on the run, and within
three minutes he had driven ont the
congregation. Those that were q littie'
slow were given aid.
Could such q thing a that be over
looked and the offender forgiven7 YouI
know It could not. With pickets pulled
from the fence, with clubs and rocks
and umbrellas, they swarmed for tho
goat, and though he fought back they
woro tno MANY for him. They fnallv