The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-11-19
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~ MARY GpAHAM BONNER
MRS. GOOSE AND Mr.. GANDER.

Sir William Goat, commonly known
In the barnyard as Billy Goat had
been very much excited, but now he
was quite calm again.
Il really can't bear it," he said. 81
really can't"
SO 1t seems" shrieked Mr.. Gan
der.
YES" said Mrs. Goose, the unat-
tractive wife of the unattractive Mr..
1ander. ut shows what goat you
are"
And pray tell me WHY shouldn't
| De q goat!" asked Sir William.
lie asks me why he shouldn't be
a goat, Mrs. Goose said to Mr.. Gan.
| der.
"Ha, ha," shrieked Mr.. Gander. in
that loud and horrible voice of his.
he thought it was laughing, but all
the other barnyard crea lures said to
| themselves: There is Mr.. Gander
yelling and shrieking. What a horri-
| bic voice he hasi'
But. Mr.. Gander didn't pay any at
tention to them. In fact, he probably
didn't hear them.
Its quite the most absurd thing I've
ever heard" said Mr.. Gander. "And
yet at the same time. there is no
reason why there should not be many
other things more absurd"
| Like yourself, for example" said
Sir William.
Now. Billy Goat" shrieked Mr.. Can
Der, don't be rude. I suppose you
can't help it, though, after the excit-
ing time you've had. But no one can
be rude but myself We're supposed
to be disagreeable, and it's a good
thing, too. It saves US all the trou-
bic of being friendly. We'd hate to
be friendly; simply hate it. Yes. we,
would. We like to be cross. and hor-
rid to all the other barnyard creatures.
We want to be left alone, left to our
selves, for In truth we don't think any
creatures are as nice as we are"
"Oh, | see," said Billy Goat" "you
are the only ones who can be rude.
Dear me, that's a fine thing to saw
about yourselves. Are you proud Of
being rude? I'm not proud of getting
excited over a red flag or red sweat
er as did just now. 1t gets me quite
worn out and exhausted and I don't
Ike 1t in the least. 1t is something [
can't help
L don't suppose we can help being
rude" said Mrs. Goose, 'but at the
same time we don't try to avoid cross
ness. We don't think much of our
nelghbors. Why should we? Just
think who they are! Now, In the first
| place, there is YOU
"Yes, and pray tell me what is the
matter with my royal self? / am Sir
| William Goat, am"
Usually called Billy" said Mrs.
Goose, but the fact remains you're a
goat. Now there is nothing fine or
/ noble or brave or good or beautiful
ABOUT being goat. A goat is some
thing silly. Yes, stupid people are
called goats"
That's right" agreed Mr.. Gander.
Poor Billy Goat felt very badly.
I'm only stupid about the red rags
and flags and sweaters" he said.
Enough" shrieked Mr.. Gander
You're goat, silly, Billy Goat. A
poor neighbor indeed"
"A very poor neighbor." agreed Mrs.
Goose. But then none of nv neigh
tors interest me. They're all stupid"
Il feel the same about it as you do"
said Mr. Gander. Il think we have
such poor lot of neighbors, such
stupid, annoying lot. that l don't both
er about them at ALL
Except once in a while" said Billy
| Goat, when you both come around and
| quarrel"
"Ah, anyone will do once in n while
for quarrel" said Mrs. Goose.
You're right, you're right" shrek
ed Mr.. Gander
I'VE love to have q fisht-especiallv
with our neighbors," Mrs. Goose said.
I'VE most certainly do" agreed Mr..
| Camden.
When folks say we are cross and
that we don't get along with any other
creatures but ourselves-they are
right We don't believe in getting along
with other creatures. We think of
ourselves apd not of others. The most
sensible way to think"
1.-THE most selfish" said Billy Goat.
You're really worse than the Pig
family for seltishness." he said, after
a moment.
"Ah" said Mrs. Goose, 'T forgot to
| tell You what / thought about pigs.
| n n On hor