Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-04
First Experience Of a Debt.
BY INCHES.

/ NEVER dill feel prouder or richer than when
nay ialher sad, Harry that calf is yours; Ill give
you Bossy; she shall be yours He was standing
whiting in the old barn-door, while l, his Oldest
son. mas marking with delighted interest, Bossy
risky movements ia the yard how she would snuff
IN The sweet morning air then whisk her tail and
caPer around, il not with all the grece, with far
more glad>omeness and naturalness than ballet
queen. Bossy seemed to think it very pleasant
thirg to live. Much as loved the creature before,
was seized with fresh puff ofiove at my faith
ers generous announcement.
"Nep" cried, 'Nep that il my calf! see to it,
sir, that you treat her like a gentleman and not
bark at her or bite at her when you fetch the COWS
from pasture"
Neptune looked up wagged his tail and glanced
at Bossy, as much as to say I es, yes understand
the matter" To my brotheres and sisters-and
there were five younger than myself was not
long in communicating the important Intelligence
that "Boasy was any calf; father said so"
'Mother,' said l. "look out of the window and see
this cali; she s mine; Bossy is mine; father SAID so.
She thought it wasa nice little calf, and as she
was churnipg, she offered to do my churning Tor
me, when Bossys age should require such services.
you shall, mother7 | shouted with glad
lgugh at the thought of it, "and though it will be
my butter, you shall have it all" and | am sure
the words my" and "mine" had significance
unknown before. Besides, we had the old COW,
Bossy's mother, "Star" a two-year's-old heller, a
yoke OF oxen, few sheep and plenty oil fowls /;
these, with six children made quite family to be
stabbed and fed by our little farm among the Fer-
mont hills.
did not go to school that summer, for the boys
services were needed in the ields,-ah, those gori-
Gus fields and hllsides and maple groves, and fir
briers tall and high, what do many boys imprison-
ed in the city know of the light, and liberty, and
lithesomeness of Gods free sunshine among hte
hills They seldom pass their brick wallbounds.
"To range the fields and treat their lungs with
air." and vet the Country wins me ever" not only
as the heritage of my early memories. but the no
ped-for retreat of LIES declining days.
/ never frame wish or form plan.
That flattered me with hope of earthly bliss,
But there laid the scene"
| think worked with new alacrity now that l
owned Bossy; felt like man, and a man with
more than life interest in the world, for when
the farmers grouped together and talked about
their stock, always wanted TO add few words
about my calf
mother" said one pleasant twilight as she
came and sat in the door, while threw myself on
the turf; smother | want just one thing to make
me just as happy as can be-
"And that is, l hope" said she, with one of her
sweet serious smiles ito be good boy like Joseph
aud little Samuel; then / am sure you will be hap
Ply child"
/ blushed and rolled over in the grass. for GER
tainly nothing was then farther from my thoughts
than Joseph or little Samuel "No mother"
answered at leLgth,-half ashamed to own what it
was after this expression of her mutual hope
"not exactly that though do want to be good
boy and nobody can say don't, but now l was
thinking of something else; oh, MOTHER mastering
up my couroge, 81 want pail! a little tin pail!
mine" squatting on my bare toes before her and
looking earnestly into her face. "And where is it
to come from, Harry" she asked. Alas, it was
question more easily asked than answered.
"The pedders" | roared triumphantly. suppo-
sing had gotten over the mount of difficulty "the
peddlers! the next time one comes won't you buy
me a tin pail-my paE-to milk my calf inn
Harry forgets how little we have to buy with"
said my mother But, mother, you know Bossy
will give milk, soon, and she must have pail,
and then can milk, and it will help Won so, moth
err"
How weighty my arguments might have seemed
had she had the wherewithal for the purchase,
have no means of knowing; as it WAS, she patted
me on the head saying, "by-and-by, Harry will
be able to earn one himself, and that will help
mother"
leaned my head on her lap with resigned and
loving heart, for nothing ever conquered my va
grant or rebellious wishes like the friendly pattng
of my mothers hand upon my head
And this was the first and last of Bossy pail.
The next person to whom | wanted to commu-
ncate my good fortune was Joshua Pepper; but
his home being some miles distant, no opportuai-
~ occurred for this purpose until the following
Sunday, when | suddenly seized him by the Jack
ct in the porch of the old meeting house. as he was
about following bis father up the aisle. You
don't know what FUe got!' | whispered e1citedIy
in his year, but not so low as 20 escape the hear
ing of his father. who turned round and taking
his boy by the hand, abruptly, terminated our in
tercourse. Joshua and | were great friends when
the winter school kept and we attended This
season we were both at work and consequently
seldom met except on the Sabbath, when during
the short interval of Sabbath services, We often
strolled away and ate our dinners together in a
neighboring grove or on the graSs-grown graves
of the church.vard, or in the cool shade of the
long shed built for tho accommodation of all church
going horses For in these days there were no
Sabbath-schools to pasture the lambs of the flock,
so that we were, perhapSe, sometimes in danger
of becoming goats How longed for the close
of morning service, and when over, how tried 10
moderate my eagerness to find him.
Here am" he cried twitching ME by the sleeve,
come" aud he led the way to IL neighboripg well,
while lost no time in setting him guessing.
We'll" he cried impatantly, - cant guess
Now tell US what it is | should think it was
most likely 10 be new knife, only you say it is
not"
NO! mol" shouted, charmed with his i'll sue
cess, "no! it is calf Bossy! Father has Civ
en- her to me slle said 80; she's mine!"
Boss yours" and he looked delightfully."- inered-
olous. Y on got calf? How good it was in your
father. suppose you know that I've got lamb?'
l knew it.
And now Harry he stopped and took me by
the sleeve as if great thought was stirring him,
will that calls calves be yours? That's the ques
ton. Will Bossy's Bossies be your stock too?
Boy, you'll have drove soon" Respect and ad-
mration twinkled In his little gray eyes he sur
veyed me, Yes. drove soon!" and he gave an
emphatic nod.
"a drove l shall, Shant L." starting up at The
full comprehension of this prolific idea.
Now make good bergan with your father
said my friend, with shrewd wag of his head;
"tell him Boss is yours, her calves will be yours
also Have it understood"
"Yes, will That's fact" And felt pro-
foundly that two heads were better than one
Here unhappy was food for the remainder of
the day Every now and then during the after
noon service looked hard into the minister's face
and tried to hear what he sad-for my mother
fixed our attention aud refreshed our memories by
making US review to her the instructions Of the |
Holy Day-when 10. my drove came rushing like |
a band of cavalry upon the field of mental vision, |
setting sermon and minister to flight.
The great question relative to the dinposal of |
Bossy's children could not be asked that day, for
the Sabbath was revered and held as sacred time
in my distant mountain home. And never did it