The Pulaskian., 1917-03-23
EERNDALE.

I got into Ferndale Saturday morn ing. not knowing which way the town % was from the depot. must have gone in the wrong direction, for I missed the town. I found nice little creek (McFadden Creekl which I crossed on a foot log Later on came to creek (Little MaumeEej too big for foot log and, do you know. as cold as it was, l had to pull off my shoes and wade it. Wadins cold creeks may not be good for the rheumatism, but when l got my shoes and sox back on my feet just felt awful good. A little later 1 came back the same way and the creek was running just as fast as ever and there was just as much water in it, and not having time to wait for all the water to run by, just waded it again.
 There were other creeks and waited at one. not for it to run dry, but for an old gentleman to come in a buggy and I rode across with him.
 There are lots of mountains around Ferndale and lots of white crystal rocks on them When I came to the approach of a small bridge protected with these rocks. I first thought that the people were putting their pretty rocks on the roadside to show off and attract visitors I followed the Little Rock and Mt Ida road west up Little Maumelle Creek. Across the creek from me was mountain paral- leling it. until 1 came to a nice yellow house with peach and pear orchard across the road from it and on the other side of the orchard were two small waterfalls, where droWsy mur- murings enabled me to sleep one hour longer that night than 1 had before in a month. I was just going to say I put up that night at that house, but you know that now without my telling you. 1 am not going to tell you word about Noah Richard and his family for you are people yourselves and can tell what they are by what am writing about their surroundings.
 Cricket is a tiny white Scotch ter rier with just enough colored hairs to keep her from being pure white. She is one of the most important members of the Richards family. She is so very good and honest that she don't like dishonest people and shows her dislike of them by refusing to make friends with them and growing at them
 As soon as I was seated she came up to me, looked me over, smelt of me and wagged the latter half of her body, because she liked me and had no tail to wag. Having been recom- mended by her. Mrs. R. at once told me that they always watched people whom Cricket objected to. First she found fault with two or three men who left without paying their board and then she objected most strongly to a man who was so nice that they told him about Cricket's suspicion and he bribed her into liking him by buying candy and other nicnacs for her But he also left without paying his board Well, l want you all to know that Cricket has recommended me and if I can't pay my board in money I'll PeeJ At HI WI AtAhS.
 Cricket had four pretty babies of her own. never saw them, but I saw their picture. She also raised one foster child, a white cat The cats mamma died when it was wee kit ten and the Richards hcildren sad Cricket fell in love with it and raised it because it was white like herself. Anyway she took it and suekled it as if it were her own until it was old enough to wean when it died To prove it they showed me a kodak pic ture of the kitten nursing her Cricket grieved greatly at her loss.
 As Cricket looked so earnestly in my face I looked back at her, laughed winked my eye and made a face Then you should have heard her she just simply roared with laughter, how she laughed and howled with delight This l learned is inc of her peculiarities, and she derives her greatest pleasure from Mir. Richards making faces at her.
 have just seen at little house on the bank of the Little Maunelle the prettiest, sweetest. blue-eyed, red Tipped, rosy checked, blond-haired country girl, one who looked like she was just out of A story hook in a