Rod of the Lone Patrol

x to seven, when, as he once said, he obtained his "beauty sleep." But the little stranger of the night was no respecter of persons. He lift

s, but standing in his crib, he rattled the side, and yelle

parson remarked as he first saw Rodney scramb

, Daniel," his wife replied. "He may b

on't you need some help, dear? How would it do to get a woman in occasion

of things now we shall be up earlier each morning

arn to milk. He kept one Jersey cow which supplied enough milk for the house. This was a fine animal, and the pri

ables needed for the table. Several acres were given up to pasturage, while the remainder was wooded. The Royals were, therefore, most comfortably situated, and quite independent. A small orchard provided them with apples, the taste of which was well known to every perso

, "Sweepstakes," and milked "Brindle," the cow. He then turned the la

pasture," the clergyman informed

al's attention was upon Rodney, who was creeping gaily about the

hem, but there is a limit to the things I can remember. I forget too much as it is. And, by the way, that reminds me that I must go to Hazlewood to-day. Joe Bradley told me last night that his mother is ill, and wishes to see me. He came all the way to the meeting on purpose to tell me, and

veral things you might bring me from the store on your way home. I

on Dan returned from his lon

s he entered the house, afte

"But I am worried about Brindle. She hasn't come i

ha, and I shall go after her at once. It wil

ur, and it was dark when he returned

w Brindle to do such a thing. I wonder how that cow got in there, anyway. It is a complete mystery to me. I tried to follow the cows through the woods

s reminder. "Milk will be a very poor substitute

stand it better than the baby. Poor little chap, he must not starve, even if we have to borrow some from our neigh

he was so good and full of fun. At times I imagined he was Alec playing on the floor with his blocks.

ew serious as he recalled that sob of the night before. "I have been thinking of her

would return, and several times I started at the

ghtfully mused, "but how I should like to keep him! He seems to be

tood before the rectory looking up and down the road, uncer

upper side, and most likely those cows have made their

f elms, maples, and oaks. Nearby was the cemetery, where the numerous shafts of marble and granite could be plainly seen from the road. To the right and left were pretty cottages, for the most part closed, as they belonged to people from the city, who, like the swallows, having spent the

entrancing scene. Seldom had it looked so beautiful, and he believed

ow the spirit of peace is brooding over river and land! Marvellous

own upon the ground with a resounding thump. His clothes were rough; a heavy pair of boots encased his feet, while an old soft felt hat covered a head crowned with a wealth of iron-grey hair. He seemed like a ve

was his cheery greetin

s the hearty reply. "We seem to

of that every day," and the captain waved h

how few are abroad to see it. But say, captain

a sudden jump, i

dden

ime to the ridiculous; from

tain. Brindle has broken out of the past

ornin' that ye migh

I did," was the somewh

accustomed to Capt

aid night before last that we must pr

aptain,

son. He said that we couldn't ex

said th

his stick down upon the road with a bang. "I've tried it, a

o view things in a different light. I was pleased to see you at the missionary meeting, and I am so thankfu

nd a sly twinkle shone in the capt

nly. Go

won't fe

rt! Why

ight feel about the welfare of others, when it comes to himse

the clergyman's voice had a note of sharpness. "W

-night, which may be of much use to us.' She asked me what I meant, so I up and told her what the missionary had said about givin'

d," and the clergym

etsey, we've never prospered, be

ave we to gi

sez I, 'except

er,' sez she. 'We'll

of it is, that I took Bess early the next mornin' and turned her into your pasture afore you were up. Betsey was lookin'

the parson exclaimed.

think of doing

"Isn't it scriptural? I thought by givin' Bess to you, I was givin' he

ergyman stroked his chi

ptain continued. "I gave up Bess, and, lo and behold,

?" the pars

to be true: 'Give, and ye'll receive more in ret

over Captain Josh was now dispelled. For years he had mocked at church-going, and all things connected with religi

ern, "when you put your cow into my pasture y

akes ye thin

t she would break do

suppos

ld naturally take

d not answer, the

well enough. I have striven to live peaceably with all men, but you have sorely tried me on various occasions. Whatever good I have

e mingled with anger. He had never heard the clergyma

the cow," he retorted, "so we are quits. Co

y do so. I can get another, only it will be hard on the little chap not to get his milk. I see

captain cried, as he to

d which was left at y

man replied, in surpri

you hear

secret fer twenty-four hours. Trust the women

the parson looked keenly

to go without his milk because I have Brindle,

me have the cow

I am a queer cranky cuss, but I never meant to keep Brindle. I only wanted to have a little fun, that's all. You've gone

clasped hands, and as Parson Dan walked slowly back to his house there was a s