The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-08-29
RICHMOND, WAYNE CO., IND:,
From the Wide World
THE LOST COW.
By c. Z. B.

| About sixty years ago, there lived in 4
quiet New England village farmer of smal
means, rejoicing in the possession Of . COW
whose daily supply Of fresh milk formed
the chief support Of his little family. A.
misfortune would have il, one evening il
early spring this COW, contrary to her usua
staid and punctual habits. failed to return
home at the appointed hour. S.rayed OIL
stolen-she was gone, and Harry. lad Of
thirteen summers, was sent to find her.
| Having vainly searched through highways
and byways, he returned to see IT, per-
chance, she had not found her way home
before him. No COW was there, and again
he was sent forth to explore some un.ried
lane or avenue. All was of no avail. Dark
ness shut in upon him. and he retraced his
steps to report his i'll success.
After an anxious night at the little cot.
tage. he bravely renewed the search; per.
haps Brindle had gone home with Farmer
Jones' COW, or. having committed some mis-.
demeanor, was safely locked up in the
pound. She could not have been 80 foolish
as to get into the brook, yet there was no
harm in looking. She certainly must be
somewhere. At last. Harry gave up. and
declared that the missing animal could not
be found. This third failure quite exhaust
ed the patience Of his father. who s,ernly
commanded the boy to 90 again and not to
return till he did find her
Bitterly afterward he repented this rash
injunction. for the next night proved far
more sleepless one than the former; not on.
~ was the COW gone, but Harry had not re-
turned; neither did the next night bring him
nor yet the next! A week passed away
with no reward to their anxious search
Thus spring ripened into summer, and sweet
summer bowed in submission 10 haughty
autumn, with no news of their mi sing son.
Hope had well.nigh died out i'm the heart OF
his fond mother and the despairing. self ac-
cusing father, when they received the fol-
lowing note:
"BosroN.
"Father:-I have not found the COW yet.
"HARRY"
He was alive. then, and Immediately a
long, loving letter was sent, If perchance it
might reach him; but there was no response.
Months after they received this second epis-
lie:
"NEw YoRK.
"Dear FatAer:-I have visited every |
,ort in England. France and on the Medi-
erranean; but haven't been able to find the |
.ow. Start for Calcutta tomorrow. Hope
o find her there. You shall know when l |
return. HARRY"
In this manner years rolled on, and the |
,orrow stricken parents had no tidings of
heir wandering boy, save now and then |
brief note, stating that he had not been able |
% find the COW at such a port; but as he
vas always at the point of embarking, and
,ever named the vessel in which he sailed,
here was very little hope of reaching him
y mail.
In the fall Of 18-. the little village was
brown into q state Of unwonted excitement
" the report that the Squire's daughter.
pretty Maggie Faxton. after breaking all the
,earts for miles around, aud successively re-
using the minister. doctor and schoolmas
er. was about to be married to q rich young |
ga captain. whom she had met on . recent
'isis to the great metropolis. |
The subject was on every tongue. Even
I'D Farmer E and his wife, the par
,nts Of Harry, took more interest than they
we're wont in the matter. For would not
ea-captain be likely TO know something Of
ailor-boys And was it not possible that
,e might have met Harry in his travels?
Tho neighbors we're very much amused
It the idea Of their supposing the captain of
New York steamer would know any thing
bout such boy as Harry 3. and
hey wondered if the farmer would speak
# the matter to Squire Paxton. But to the
,erfect amazsment Of the gossips, the
,quire's carriage was seen to stop at the i
ottage, one evening, and the great man
himself entered the humble door. His er-
and was to urge their presence at the COM
ng wedding. At frs, they hesitaied. but
Message from a village lawyer is not to be
efussd; the carriage was to be at their door
i the appointed hour and they must come.
Mirth and joy filled the mansion of the
squire on that festal night. where the old
couple sat. dazzled and bewildered At the
lnaccustomed splendors surrounding them;
nd when at the close of the imposing cere
nony, it became their turn to be presented
: the bridal pair, they almost shrunk from
o near an approach to the dark. handsome
who stood gazing on them with
rs great black eyes, and nervously twitch.
ng his moustache. Judge then of their
urprise. when. after . hearty shake of the
and, the bridegroom bent down andwhis-
'ering in the old gentleman's ear. said:
'Father, I could not possibly find old
3rindle. but have procured a COW which l
'ope will suit you As we'll. and will bring
Ter home Tomorrow"
IMMENSE RAFT AT CHtcAGo.-Au immense
aft arrived at Chicago on the 4th inst, con-
aiming $500, 900 feet of lumber. II was