POOR YELLOW GOAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 77

POOR YELLOW GOAT.

By

M. L.

(Illustrated by Dumble.)

(Copyright.—For the Otago Witness.) Mr Grey Goat and Mr Yellow Goat had the same thought one morning—that they would pay one another a long-promised visit. It was such a beautiful day, and everyone knows that some days are more specially beautiful than others ;. when even goats feel, well, different. This day each goat decided that it would be wrong indeed to stay indoors in such weather. So, as they lived far apart on opposite sides of a creek, it happened that they arrived at the fallen tree which served as a bridge at the same time.

Did they rush on from either end rather than wait while the other crossed, and so meet with a sad death, as a pair of goats, that we read of long ago, did? No, each backed away most courteously. One could almost see them curtseying gracefully, and waving a foot to beckon the other over. But they were a very sensible pair, and when Yellow Goat noticed Grey Goat’s invitation he accepted it at once; for he was good-mannered and hastened to obey his older friend’s sign.

So they walked slowly along to Grey Goat’s home.

A charming home in a sheltered and sunny gorge, high amongst the hills, where goats love to roam and browse on the native grasses and mosses ! —can you wonder that Yellow Goat jumped at the offer to spend the rest of his days there as Grey Goat’s companion? So began a life of joy for the two friends. Often they wandered far round the mountain-side and picnicked happily above the blue waters of a lake; and there were days when its glimmering beauty acted as magic on their spirits, for their feet scarcely touched earth as they leaped from rock to rock on the steep faces.

Came a day when Yellow Goat had gone off alone to visit some of his old neighbours. A Black Goat knocked at Grey Goat’s door. His face was sweet and sad—ah, too sweet and sad ! —and it appealed very much to Grey Goat when he saw his visitor. “My name is Black Goat. I have watched that goat who is living with vou until I can keen his wickedness to myself no longer. You, Mr Grey Goat, have such a trusting nature—it is a shame to see you so deceived. Can you not see that you are being robbed? You have sorrowed over the very little that Yellow Goat eats. Aye, that’s his way! How could you guess that when you are sleeping he rushes out and gobbles up the most juicy grasses; the tenderest ferns; the softest mosses ? Is he not now away blackening your character to his friends? Is ”

“ Stop, stop!” broke in Grey Goat. " I have noticed that there is very little left to eat round about, and that we are gradually being forced to go further away for our food, but ”

“Yes, but listen?” and so deep was his craft, so sorrowful and appealing his look, that he succeeded in rousing in Grey Goat such a fierce feeling of just anger that on Yellow Goat’s arrival home he was butted out with great force. It wa s useless to ask for explanations, and Yellow Goat went sadly forth.

Often Grey Goat studied his new friend. In spite of himself he found himself watching his every movement. And somehow he was not greatly surprised when one day a herd of goats, calling on him as they passed by to other -haunts, spoke of Black Goat being an outlaw*

“Why we mentio’i him,” said the leader, “ is because ire fancied it was he ;

ws saw run quickly into that manuka patch when we came into sight. He is a thief—comes along in the night and steals our food. This is about the only place he is not known. As for mischief making!” Here Leader Goat rolled his eyes in his struggle to find words in which to express his scorn of such a nature.

“ Now I see it all!” cried Grey Goat. “What a fool I have been!” and he broke down: “My own poor Yellow Goat, my own poor Yellow Goat !” "Yellow Goat, did you say? Why, that is the goat we call the hermit. He Jives 20 miles back, and though several have called on him he keeps to himself. We thought from his appearance he had met with great sorrow.” Then Grey Goat in a very humble manner confessed his foolishness and begged them to find Yellow Goat for him. “ Tell him though I thought he had deceived me I longed for his return almost as soon as I had forced him away. I can’t sleep for thinking of him. Tell him —oh! tell him if I do not see him soon to beg his forgiveness I shall fret to death.” The goats willingly promised to do their best to persuade Yellow Goat to return; and went on their way, rejoicing that they were able to right such a dreadful wrong. Needless to say Black Goat knew better than to face the goat who had befriended him, but who would be terrible in his anger against such treachery. He was seen no more in those parts. Well, Grey Goat knew now the visiting goats had spoken the truth. » * * Grey Goat was really ill by the time gentle footprints reached the familiar door once , "more. Then it was: — “ Yellow Goat, Yellow Goat!” and —— “My friend, my friend!’ 5 “Ah, a poor friend!”

“No, no! Where is the staghorn moss tin ? I’ll make some soup—you’ll be better in no time.”' “ But I am sick with sorrow for ”

“ And where is my old apron? Ah, here it is. Hurrah, it is good to be here!” A sigh of contentment answered him. “ Push those brambles to one side, please, Yellow Goat. I want to see the sun in the clear sky, and the red flowers of the mistletoe over there in the gully. To-morrow night, maybe, I shall be able to go with you to see the glow-worms’ lights once more.” And for answer Grey Goat could only bleat a few notes of pleasure. His heart was full, and through blurred eyes he too looked out at the blue of the sky and the red of the mistletoe as it topped the great birch trees standing so firmly in the rock-bound gullies of the mountain opposite.