160 UP AND DOWN THE BROOKS. 



I was expected to don that costume every time I 

 went out to play with Billy? Said Billy's per- 

 fume being so strong as to infect any article of 

 clothing worn near him. 



What mattered it if playful Guillermo did 

 knock me down and with his horns nearly punch 

 the breath out of me ? Did I not take revenge 

 on him by drawing his picture one day when he 

 stood cowed beneath a pelting rain, body drawn 

 together, and whole aspect denoting misery ? And 

 has not that picture of his disgrace survived until 

 this day ? Happy are my memories of that other 

 little goat that learned to play " teeter " with me. 



There must be to many right-thinking children 

 one mystery about a goat. It is this. How can 

 he keep his beard looking so smooth, without any 

 comb? Whereas the child who plays with him 

 comes in from the fray with tangled locks a'flying. 



The ancient Celts and Cymry had their expla- 

 nation ready. If there is anything that modern 

 civilization cannot answer, all one has to do is to 

 turn to the simple folk of old, and they are almost 

 certain to have a satisfactory explanation ready. 

 It was the saying of those ancient people that, 

 every Friday night, the fairies made the round 

 and combed the goats' beards to make them decent 

 for Sunday. Truly the Jcleine volk must have a 

 hard time of it if they keep up that custom stilL 

 They must be heartily glad when Saturday morn- 

 ing dawns and the job is over. 



