Lucky | Page 2

at one of the upper windows of the house.
Nana started when she saw it, dropping some of the rush blades into the
spring.
"See here! You get away from that spring with your rubbish, you imp!"
was the greeting of the newcomer.
"I ain't a imp!" came the prompt reply, "and I'm glad I spilled 'em in the
spring!"
"Take care how you talk to me."
"But I ain't!"

"Didn't I say shut up?"
"But I ain't!"
"I'll come down there and larrup you if you say that again!"
"If you do, I'll kill you!"
"Haw! Haw! Haw! Talk about killin', you little slim snipe!"
"But I will I'll choke you to death!"
"Haw! Haw! Haw!"
"Stop laughin' at me, you big big brute!"
"Look a' here, young one, you're a gettin' a little too sassy. Dry up, and
go tend your ducks."
"I won't tend the ducks, and I'll put more stuff in the spring if I want
to."
The child with a determined toss of the head arose, and started to run
away. She had not proceeded far, however, when she heard heavy
footfalls behind her, and soon a rough hand grasped her shoulder.
"Say that again!" hissed a voice in her ear.
"I will if I want to."
The hand tightened its grasp. Nana turned, and struck at her tormentor
with her little brown fist, at which he laughed exasperatingly. If
strength of spirit could slay, Bub Royster in one second would have
been no more. As it was, Nana could only battle in the cause of justice
with feet, teeth, and nails, which she did right manfully. Bub Royster
only laughed the more.
"Now, see here. I'm going to drown you for your impudence," he said
at last, when tired of the sport. Nana struggled while he dragged her to

the edge of the spring; but soon her fragile form relaxed, and she felt
her head thrust beneath the surface. Then she fainted from exhaustion
and fright.
When she recovered consciousness, she was lying on the grass, her
dress wet from the water which dripped from her curls, and a woman in
high, metallic voice was saying:
"What do you mean by duckin' her in there, and sp'ilin' the water?"
"She called me names," said Bub.
"Well, you jist stop this onery behavin' or I'll tell your pap."
Nana sat up, and laughed aloud. Oh, it is a rare day when we see those
who have made us suffer discomfited in turn!
The woman hearing the uncontrollable merriment, turned upon the
child.
"Here you ugly sprite, you get out of here, and go to your ducks, or I'll
make you laugh out of the other corner of your mouth. You ought to be
in the Deform School, and you'll get sent there too, first thing you
know!"
Not caring to match her strength with any one else this morning, Nana
scampered away, but once out of sight and hearing, she paused, and her
little face turned livid with rage and indignation.
"If I could only kill them Roysters!" she exclaimed, stamping her foot.
Then a sudden thought struck her. Falling upon her knees, she clasped
her hands and prayed.
"O God, I hate 'em all, Bub and Mis' Royster and all, and I want you to
come and kill 'em, dead, dead, dead all but Lund he's going to get me a
almanick. Amen."
"I guess they're fixed now," she said as she arose.

The ducks were an exceedingly wild species and required constant
watching, lest they should wander away and join the nomadic flocks
which daily flew over the farm, now and then pausing to visit their
more domestic brothers and sisters, and express their contempt for
civilization. The Roysters, however, need not care, since they were to
suffer annihilation so soon. The sun was warm and the atmosphere lazy.
Nana threw herself down among the tall grasses, and let the ducks go
their way. When time came for returning home, she could find but half
the flock.
She forebore to search for them. The Roysters might beat her to-day for
her carelessness, but they never would again. They were going to die.
As she had expected, soon after her return, Mrs. Royster's stout
cottonwood switch was called into requisition. Nana did not cry when
the blows rained down upon her tender shoulders. She was triumphing
in her sincere belief that the sway of the tyrant was brief. Mrs. Royster
was nonplussed.
"Oh, it don't hurt, don't it? Well, I'll give you something that will!" and
the blows fell thicker and faster. Then Nana wept for the sake of policy,
all the while her heart was exulting.
"Oh, Lund!" she cried to the herd boy, as he came toiling tired and
hungry up the path. "I want