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Finley, Martha, 1828-1909

"Elsie's Womanhood"

"
Jackson threw the gold into the woman's lap, turned about and taking the
bridle from the boy, stroked, patted, and talked soothingly to the excited
steed, who was snorting and pawing the ground in a way that boded danger
to any one attempting to mount.
His caresses and kindly tones seemed, however, to have a calming effect;
she grew comparatively quiet, he sprang into the saddle and was off like
an arrow from the bow.
It was about that time the doctor returned to his office to find it
deserted. Nap was summoned.
"What's become of the man I left here in your charge, sirrah?" asked the
doctor sternly.
"Dunno, sah, Massa Doctah," answered Nap, glancing in astonishment from
side to side. "To't he heyah, sah; 'deed I did. Took he coat an' boots to
clean 'em; to't he safe till I fotch 'em back; wouldn't go off without
dem."
The doctor stepped to the closet. "Yes, my coat and boots gone, bottle of
wine emptied, no fee for professional aid--a fine day's work for me."
"Massa Doctah! you don't say de rascal done stole yer coat an' boots? Oh,
ef I cotch him, I----" and Napoleon Bonaparte George Washington Marquis de
Lafayette looked unutterable things.
"Better take care I don't get hold of you!" cried the irate master. "Go
and tell Cato to saddle and bridle Selim and bring him to the door as
quickly as possible; and do you find out if anybody saw which way the
rascal went.


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