MAJOR PADDLEFOOT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 26, 28 June 1890, Page 19

MAJOR PADDLEFOOT.

Major Padhleeoot lived with Aunt Hepzibah Dunne. He was a rather crusty old fellow, and disliked children lieyond everything, and those who visited at Aunt Hepzibah's were cautious about making a very close acquaintance with him. He had lost one eye in battle when younger, but theother one did duty for two very admirably, and wary indeed nni-t l>e the boy or girl who could pry about his private apartments without getting caught, and paying dear for the liberty taken. Although a seemingly well-meaning parent, he was a tyrant in his family, and |s>or Mi's Paddlefoot had little to say for herself, but went almut very meekly in a gray gown, assenting to all he said. And he was forever talking beginning nob>dy knows at what time in the morning, waking up the entire Paddlefoot family, getting them into a |>erfeet jhiw-wow and disturbing the whole house, so that it was a mercy if one got a wink of sleep after midnight. I wondered at Aunt Hepzibah's patience with the Major, but he had lived with her many years, and she had got used to his elacking. Besides, he ami his family brought much protit to her in down, feathers and plump, yellow goslings every year. \ es, indeed ! The Major was a huge tierce old gander, with a coat as white and glistening as the snow, widespreading red feet always looking nearly frozen, and a lieak that hail the grip of a pair of pinchers. One spring little Mercy Tucker came to visit Aunt Hepzibah, and it was just at the season when Major Paddlefoot was bringing out a large family—the tenth in the course of his life. It was a trying ]>eriod and he was cross. All day he stood by the goose-house door with his long neck stretched high and his one eye out for danger. Merey wanted to look at and pet the little downy balls under the old goose s wings, but the Major promptly seized her black-stockinged leg, bit like a dragon, ami drubbed her with his broad wings till Aunt Hepzibah ran out ami beat him off with the broom. Although the Major kept watch all day, he slept where do you think ? In a shallow ]>ool back of the barn, where all night he sat amidst the stars and the new moon that winked and shone up at him from the dear, icy poo] till he hid his head in his snowy feathers and went to sleep. One night, the first of April, the weather was very cold ami the next morning, when Mercy went out. Major Paddlefoot was not at his post. She looked in the goose-house, the pig-house and at the corn-erib, where he used often to take early breakfast : but the Major was not to be seen. Then she ran out to the pool and lo ! there he still sat. While he had slept Jack Frost had tucked him into bed so snugly that he could not get out, but he ran out his long neck at her and hissed like a great snake. However, she did not fear him now and was in no hurry to release him. So Mercy went back to Mistress Goose, examined her family at leisure, then took a short rope, made a big noose in it and returned to the pool. The anxious Major was now calling loudly for assistance and Mercy, edging up as near as she dared, threw the noose over him ami ran with the other end of the rope in her hand. ' Hiss ! .S-.s-.v-.v-.s QU-a-a-a-akk :' < >ut came the Major topsy-turvy, his big red feet flying up, leaving a thick row of white feathers all around the hole in which he had sat. Then he waddled off, scolding ami hissing and shaking his wings, to relate the affair to Mistress Paddlefoot.