The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-12-14

what could she do but give up. Their
stood the little children huddled together O
The hearth, crying as II their hearts wer
broke, a. the bare thought Of having III
COW drove of, and there was poor marm,
with her apron up TO her iace, a-sobbiug q
piiiiul !!
I couldn't stand il, my heart rose like I
yeasiing bread I determined that them chill
dreu and that hard working woman shoulc
have enough 10 eat, constable or no consta'
bic.
"Waii, said | 10 the constable, till ! &c
drive up The COW sho's hard to find.'
He sol down. Marin and the children
began 10 cry and sob agin. ! Tell you gals,
]. was as cruel as the grave. ..s l.a
Il went to the wood pile and took tho az
from between two logs. Across the clear
ing and jus, in the edge Of the woods I saw
,ne Old COW anu teifer browsing on Inc IN.
der growth. The old COW had bell on and
every :inkle as she moved her head went
10 my heart. had 10 think Of marin and
the children before could get courage to
20 on, and with that 10 cheer me, I shook
and trem6led, like murderer all the way
across the clearing. .. .... .....
The old COW and heller were close BY
each other, browsing on the sweet birch M
dergrowth that grew thick there. When !
came up they both stopped and STOOD look.
ed at me with their great earnest eyes SO
wishfully, as ifthey wondered which ! was
aler.'
Here Salina dashed o hand across her
eyes, and tho color rushed into her face, rs
IL she were opposing pressure Of tears
with great bravery.
1T was enough to break any ones heart
to see that old COW, with the birch twig In
her mouth, coming towards me SO innocent.
She thought-poor old critter-that Id
come TO milk her; but instead Of the milk
pail I had that ax in my hand. She couldn't
a.known what il meant, and yet, Us true as
| live 1t seemed as II she did.
There she stood, looking in my face, won.
dcring, han't no doubt, why | didn't sit
down on log as usual, and fix my pail, and
there stood. trembling, before the poor
dumb animal, ready to fall down on my
knees and ask pardon for my cruel thoughts,
and the hciier lookin on US both-oh, gals,
gals, hope none Of you will ever have to
60 through thing like that
The girls thus addressed wero very still.
and sob or two was just heard while the
tears lcaped like hail stones down Salinas
cheeks.
my heart missave mel wouldn't o
done it. Those great innocent eyes seemed
as if they were human, grew so weak that
the axe almost foil. turned to 20 back
roady 10 starve nr any,hing rather than look
that animal in the face again with the axe
in my hand Yes, turned away, but there
half across the clearing was the constable
with the writ flying out in his hand. My
blood rose, thought Of the children with
nothing 10 eat-I don't know what didn't
think Of lie walked fast, I turned the
COW was right before me. Oh girls, there
she stood SO quiet, chewing the green birch
leaves, I was like baby, the axe wouldn't
rise from the ground, I could not do 1t.
He called out, I heard his step in the
underbrush. Then my strength few back
Il was wild-s.rong as q lion, but my eyes
seemed hot with sparks Of fro-I shut them
the aIe swung back-a crash-a deep,
wild below, aud she fell like log. I had
struck in the white star in her forehead
When I opened my eyes she was looking at
me, and so her eyes stitIancd in their film
had to hold myself up by the ax.hslve with
both hands. seemed to me as if I was dy.
ing, too.
"What have you been about, where Is
tho cow'' said the constable, in q passion,
as he came up.
There said I, pointing to the poor muir
dered critter, with my finger, the law, you
say, won't allow US two cows, but 1t does
give US barrel Of b:sf. This Is our beef
touch It IL you dare"