58 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIKDS. 



or so, her madcap lord came panting back, rubbing his limbs 

 with a most rueful countenance, while his tattered clothes 

 hung like streamers about them. He looked at the wreck 

 of the gig, without seeming to notice it, and with a heavy 

 sigh exclaimed 



" O wife ! wife ! I should have had him the most beauti- 

 ful young mocking bird, but for that confounded sink-hole !"* 



" But husband, see here. The gig's broken, and old Ball 

 has run ." 



" I had my hand 'most on him not more than two inches ; 

 when I pitched head foremost down ." 



" Hang the bird ! Do look what a fix we are in ! How 

 are we to get home ?" 



" dear ! dear 1 If I could only have got that bird I" 



" Husband ! husband !" and she shook him right heartily. 



" What ! Is the gig broken ? Why, my child, how could 

 you be so careless ? Old Ball was always a safe and sober 

 horse when I held the reins ! Bless the woman ! what could 

 have got into you? That poor bird will never find its 

 mother now I" 



This rich scene was interrupted by the appearance of one 

 of the neighboring farmers, passing down the road on horse- 

 back. 



The wife summoned him to their assistance, and the scape- 

 grace Ball, who had only gone off a short distance on a frolic 

 to which he thought himself, no doubt, as well entitled as 

 his master having been recaptured and brought back, the 

 ready resources of the farmer, aided by withs and vines, soon 

 repaired breakages in a protem. fashion, which enabled them 

 to reach home after dark as the old lady always would 

 have it. She used to avenge herself for her fright and torn 

 bonnet by telling this story upon him with merciless humor 



* The barrens are covered in many parts with these sudden pits, or 

 "Sink Holes," as they are called. It is a lime-stone region, and they 

 are caused by the fissures in that formation. 



