Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1879 — Henry Clay and the Goat. [ARTICLE]

Henry Clay and the Goat.

Henry Clay, when once walking homo from the Capitol at Washington, saw a frightened woman on the streets vainly striving to ward off the attacks of a sportive goat. He gallantly, in spite of his years and office, seized the goat by the horns. The woman t hanked him warmly and sped hurriedly on. Mr. Clay would have liked to move on ateo, but the goat had its own views about the interference with his innocent amusement. As soon as the woman’s deliverer loosed his hold on the two horns, the animal rose majestically on his hind legs and prepared for a charge. In his own defense Mr. Clay now took the animal as before by lift horns, and thus for a time they stood, while a crowd of street bovs gathered about, immensely amused at the unusual spectacle of a Senator and a goat pitted the one against the other in a public street. As long as Mr. Clay held the goat by the horns, all was well enough; but the moment the quadruped was free, came a fresh preparation for a charge. Not a boy offered assistance; but after awhile, one ventured to suggest, "Throw the Billy down, sir.” Mr. Clay at once accepted and adopted the report of that committee, and tripping the goat up, essayed to pass on. Before he could fairly turn away, however, the goat was up in lofty preparation for a new charge. Mr. Clay gave hi 4 enemy the floor or the pavement once more, and keeping him there, turnetj to his new adviser with the question. “ And what shall Ido now?” “Cut and run, sir,” replied, the lad. *