Boney and me'll go back home----"
"You ain't goin' ter carry that thing clean home, are you?"
"Yes, I am," was the quiet answer. "And I'll kill any dog that tries to
hurt him."
Dennis was still laughing when he disappeared, Boney walking slowly at
his heels.
He showed the fawn to his mother and told Sarah she could have him for a
pet. The mother watched him with shining eyes while he built a pen and
then lifted the still trembling wild thing inside.
Next morning the pen was down and the captive gone. The Boy didn't seem
much surprised or appear to care. When he was alone with his mother she
whispered:
"Didn't you go out there last night and let it loose when the dogs were
asleep?"
He was still a moment and then nodded his head.
His mother clasped him to her heart.
"O my Boy! My own--I love you!"
XII
The second winter in the wilderness was not so hard. The heavy work of
clearing the timber for the corn fields was done and the new cabin and
its furniture had been finished except the door, for which there was
little use.
The new neighbors had brought cheer to the mother's heart.
An early spring broke the winter of 1818 and clothed the wilderness
world in robes of matchless beauty.
The Boy's gourds were placed beside the new garden and the noise of
chattering martins echoed over the cabin.
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