68 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 
or so, ber madcap lord came panting back, rubbing bis bmbs 
witb a most rueful countenance, wbile bis tattered clotbes 
bung like streamers about tbem. He looked at tbe wreck 
of tbe gig, witbout seeming to notice it, and witb a beavy 
sigb exclaimed — 
" 0 wife ! wife ! I sbould bave bad bim — tbe most beauti- 
ful young mocking bird, but for tbat confounded sink-bole I"* 
" But busband, see bere. The gig's broken, and old Ball 
bas run — 
" I bad my band 'most on bim — not more tban two incbes ; 
wben I pitcbed bead foremost down — ." 
" Hang tbe bird ! Do look wbat a fix we are in ! How 
are we to get borne ?" 
" 0 dear ! dear ! If I could only bave got tbat bird !" 
Husband ! busband !" and sbe shook bim right heartily. 
" What ! Is tbe 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 
bave got into you? Tbat poor bird will never find its 
mother now !" 
This rich scene was interrupted by the appearance of one 
of the neighboring farmers, passing down the road on horse- 
back. 
The wife summoned bim to their assistance, and tbe scape- 
grace Ball, who bad only gone off a short distance on a frolic 
— ^to which he thought himself, no doubt, as well entitled as 
bis 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. Sbe used to avenge herself for her fright and torn 
bonnet by telling this story upon him witb 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. 
