Kittens

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER TWELVE THE DEMON MOUSER HE crofter lived down by the marsh, where he owned some fields with blackish-brown soil, which he was ploughing for the autumn sowing. . . . The ploughing progressed spasmodically; for he had only one horse, and that a small one, that had to stop every few minutes for breath. "Get along!" said the man to it lethargically. . . . "Gee up!" But the horse declined; it considered that it should be allowed a little longer respite. "Gee up!" came the order again--and now the man took hold of the reins which hung loose on the horse's back. The nag continued to breathe heavily. The whip had to be produced. "Get along I . . . Gee up!" The old crock lunged out behind and gaye a hop into the air--the preliminaries to starting. At last they got going again. . . . Slowly, very slowly, the ploughshare pushed up the wet earth. The horse pulled itself together and strained at the harness until the traces quivered; it lunged with its legs and threw its weight forward, making the plough go faster and faster, so that the little man had to hurry to keep pace, and once or twice had to run. Things went like a house afire for about twenty yards; then the horse stopped abruptly --time for another rest! "First-rate!" thought the crofter--and rested also. Thus, each perfectly understanding the other, they ploughed away patiently the whole day long. . . . One evening the crofter stopped earlier than usual. . . . The heavens were ablaze and the horizon seethed with flame; the last remnants of day were being cremated! Having settled his assistant comfortably in the stall, he set out over the hill to a meadow where he had grazing rights. A little later he appeared again leading a small red cow-calf, his bent back and bowed legs...