The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-12-22

mas" The river
was frozen and q
spell Of skating and races on the Ice
promised. The little town had awak-
ened to real enthusiasm and when
Susie Burton appeared driving the old
family horse with a string Of merrily
Ginning Lells attached to the shafts
Of the wagon which held the can Of
sweet, fresh home milk for a coterie
Of old customers, the cheer Of the APP
preaching holidays was intensified.
Susie was poor as her well mended
raiment evidenced, but she was
superbly happy. "You see" she i'm
parted to an especial confidant, a girl
neighbor, "our customers always give
us some little remembrance around
Christmas time. And mother always
makes up enough delicious cottage
cheese to go the rounds so we don't
appear as If we were beggars" and
Susie removed the top Of a milk can
to display a mass Of the delicacy.
sometimes it's money, sometimes
rare gifts bought for money, or clothes, !
or a knitted hood. Anyhow it makes
us feel rich around Christmas time
each year."
Susie hoped there would be some real
money offerings which she felt her
diligence and that Of her grandmother
truly deserved,
For a month past Mrs. Burton had
referred to "a bill and q Judgment
Susie learned that the city irm
threatened ITO sell the Burtons out"
Surely they won't trouble poor old
grandma 80 cruelty" she hoped, but
the next morning when she went ont
to the stable to hitch up old Dobbin
she found the stall empty and her
grandmother seated on the front steps
OF the house, her apron to her eyes.
""Oh, Grandma where is Dobbin,
and what has happened and why are
you crying so bitterlyY
"Child," was the sobbing reply, "the
worst has come. Two men just took
Dobbin away. 1t is ruin for us"
where is he? where did they take
him" cried Susie. oh, grandma I
must find Dobbin! There must be
! some way to get him back"
Two men had led Dobbin in the
direction Of the railroad to ship him
to the city with other live stock.
Almost hysterical Susie was speedily
dashing down the road. /
AT length she reached the railroad;
yes, there was poor faithful Dobbin
being led up a slanting platform. to'a
car. Wildly Susie dashed after him.
"Where are you taking our horse,
our Dobbin!" she called, and then
she sprang towards the animal cling
ing to his name, kissing and ~caressing
him.
1--WE are simply doing u duty and
shipping the horse as directed" de-
clared n Of the men, and Susie
learned that the destination was the
livery stable of a man named Arnold.
Drury5 in the city, and boldly declared
she would remain with Dobbin until
she saw this Mr.. Drury. who could not
but heed her story when she told it,!
There was a three hours jolting.
worried ride. When the train reached
the city some new mel proceeded to.
unload the car. Still Susie chung to
old Dobbin. People stared as the pro-
cession passed down a street leading
to a great livery stable: Susie learned.
that a gentleman i'm a house nearby
was Mr.. Drury. His wife and daughter
were with him and before them xAi
Susie told her story.
Little one,,'' he said, jOtting down
the town where she lived and coyertly
wiping away q tear. s'we will attend to
all this speedily. Get the child some
thing to eat, he directed his wife, and
an hour later she was the companion
of Susie, homeWard bound, after
giving directions for the Immediate
return of old Dobbin.
That was not all. Mrs. Burton.
Quivered with delight, as glancing into
the yard the next morning there wal
Dobbin all ready in the shafts for an
early trip. and Susie ven her rounds
singing happily.
The story Of the old horse got about
town. and val the theme of many 4
nreside story amid interested home
circles as the Christmas bells rang ont.
Kriss Krtngle sent the loyal Susie 4
full grist Of gifts, and peace and hope
and happiness lowered over tho little
humble Burton HONS.