THE RAINY DAY STORY

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1909, Page 35

THE RAINY DAY STORY

' This is such a wet rainy day,' Judy sighed, her nose pressed flat against the sitting-room window. '.I guess the geese are happy to-day,' she added, as a big gander went waddling by with a funny air of importance. Judy was visiting in the country, and she longed to explore the delights of the orchards and barn, instead of having the rain keep her a prisoner in the house. Aunt Maria smiled. 'Judy,' she said, 'did you ever hear of the goose that saved the pig ? ' Judy shook her head. 'It sounds like a story,' she said wisely, and brought her rocking chair close to her aunt's. 'It is/ Aunt Maria answered. ' I'll tell you about it while I shell peas.' So this is the story she told as the peas went rattling into the big tin pan and the rain splashed and spattered against the window. 'Once, long ago' — Judy sighed delightedly — 'my ■grandmother went with her husband and two little girls to live in a place where there were only woods, and no neighbors for miles around. And grandfather had to work very hard to cut down the trees and make a place to plant his corn and flax, so that he could have food and clothing for his family. ' And grandmother worked hard in the house, baking and sweeping and spinning and teaching her little girls to read and write and sew. She had to teach them because there -wasn't any school where they could go. 'And they had a horse and a cow and a pig and some little wee piggies and some geese and a funny, important old gander. And he and the pig were good friends. ' ' One day, when grandfather was cutting down a tree, it fell before he could get out of the way, and came crashing down across his leg. He had to lie there for hours before he could make grandmother hear him, and come to help. And when she did, I don't know how she and the little girls ever got the tree off his leg; but they did, and someway they managed to get him into the house. Then grandmother bound up his leg, and made him as comffcrtable as she could. While she was doing that) the little girls cooked some supper;' for grandmother must ride at once for the doctor to set grandfather's leg, and . it was already growing dusk. She was afraid in the woods, too, when it grew dark; but she was a brave woman, and she knew it had to be done. • Jupt before the supper was ready a terrible squawking and hissing began out. at. the. shed, and then stamping and squealing and a dreadful uproar, but above it all, she couid hear the gander,

' Grandmother snatched up the rifle and hurried to the door to see * what was causing -the commotion, for quite often wildcats came prowling around. But this was no wildcat, Judy, it was a big bear ! ' Judy gasped. ' Grandmother screamed, and ran right out. She forgot to be afraid. She was thinking of the poor animals inside the shed, and the little tender pigs nearest the door. * . ' But as she came closer the saw the strangest sight ! There was the old gander defending his friend the pig! He kept just out of reach of the bear's paws, but he hissed and squawked and beat the air with his powerful wings, until the bear didn't know what to do, because no matter which way he turned, there was the gander. When he heard grandmother, he turned, but just as he took a step toward her, growling with rage, grandmother fired, and down he went, a great furry heap. Grandfather and the* little girls were pretty glad when she came running back, and they found she wasn't hurt. And weren't they surprised when she said she had killed a bear ! 'In the midst of all their talk and excitement the man who. lived beyond them in the woods rode up. He was on his way to the little settlement; and when he heard about grandfather's -accident, he rode away fast to bring the doctor. So grandmother didn't have to take the long 5 lonesome ride through the forest. And when the doctor came he brought a young man to work for grandmother until grandfather's leg got well.' ' And what did they do with the bear ? ' Judy asked eagerly. . ■» 'He made them lots of good meals,' Aunt Maria answered ; ' for bear meat is good, you know. And they made a lovely warm rug out of his skin. Don't you think, Judy, that the gander was a brave old fellow to fight fo hard for the pig ? ' Judy nodded absently, and walked to the window. Absalom, the gander, was still parading in the rain. Judy watched him a moment, then turned quickly. ' But, Auntie,' she said earnestly, 'he saved the horse and cow and the little piggies, too.' Her auntie nodded. ' And grandfather and and the two little girls?' ' I shouldn't wonder,' Aunt Maria said.