The Republican journal., 1869-12-23


distant. Rachel was in a hurry; for she had
left unfinished work at home. The heat of
the autumnal mid day appeared to come
straight down, with scarcely a breath of air
stirring; and Rachel did not spare the cows
When she arrived, hot and tired, at her des-
tination, the pound master, who was Jolly
fat man, came out to meet her.
'Well, now, Rachel,n said he as he took
in the situation, ''you are spunky little
girl; but l tell my wife / wouldn't give a
glass farthing for a girl that hasn't some snap
to her.
eve couldn't stand it any longer" said
Rachel, defantly. The Brayton animals
were overruuning US, and it's my opinion
that there's a point where patience ceases
to be a virtue"
That's true as preachin, and all the bet
ter for my trade" said the old man. walk
ing slowly round one Of the cows, that
was shaking and quivering now as if in an
ague fit. ''But it strikes me you must have
druv pretty good jog" he added, with a
refreshing disregard of grammar. "This
one acts as if she was sick. She had eat
herself as full as tick and it amt safe to
drive critters much in such case. They some
times die in less than twenty four hours
That would be bad piece of business. You
would not like to kill neighbor's COW, now
would you?"
"Of course not returned Rachel, sharply,
with q dreadful sinking of the heart. "You
don't mean to tell me there is any such dan
ger ?"
Pm afraid so, he replied, eyeing the COW
professionally; sit looks little scaly; but
you had better go and find Herman Brayton
and tell him all about it, he is better posted
on cattle diseases than half the cow doctors
in the country; and if anybody can save the
critters life he can"
Rachel turned back on the road, feeling
half dazed and wholly frightened. Her father
was slow to anger but she did not like to think
what the consequence might be should he
discover that his girl has been instrumental
in killing a neighbor's COW. Her pngilistic
spirit had oozed out, and left her in u bad
scrape. How could she face those Brayton' 8
with her story; and how could she beg par
don and assistance, as it were, of Herman
Brayton, towards whom she had begun to
to feel settled dislike?
While she was hurrying along, with burn
ing cheeks, turning over these wretched
thoughts in her mind, and feeling very hum
bic, a young man sprang over the. low wall by
the road side, and politely raised his hat.
He wore farm laborer's blouse and checked
shirt but the lines of his form We're grace
full and his manner had a charm quite foreign
to the homespun youths of the neighbor-
hood
''Excusc me, Miss Henderson" ;" he said, at
once; II know you by sight, and, seeing
you go by, thought would take the opportu-
nifty to send word to your father that six of
his cows are in my barnyard. Old Bcss, l
believe they call her, has a vicious pair of
horns She Slipped her hamper and let the
ot into NV huolyuhaat tia11 ch, n
leave it to Mr.. Henderson to estimate the
damages, for from what report says Of him
know he will be inclined to do the fair thing !"
For moment, Rachel stood quite over
whelmed by the lesson of Christian forbear-
ancc which Herman Brayton had uncon-
sciously taught her; but at last the tears
would come to relieve her painfully excited
state Of feelings, and | must admit that for
the moment her conduct was not at all in
keeping with the character of q high strung,
spirited girl. How confession was made /
DO not quite know but certain it is that Her.
man. as old Mrs. Pettigrew expressed it,
''took a shine" to Rachel, even in her tears
Don't distress yourself about Brindle,n he
said, soothingliy, as soon IS matters We're
made plain to him. II understand COW doc
lust what to do for her You have been sad
mer; but must say, by way of apology, that
the old place when we moved in was neither
hen nor pig proof. Crops were pressing,
hands short; and Of course, some things neg
lected. Be assured you shall have nothing
of the kind to complain Of in the future, Miss
Henderson, unless you take me up for tres
passing; for mean to come some day and
see it we cannot arrange a treaty Of peace
That evening Herman sent a messenger to
say the COW was out of danger and a strange
new hutter aWoke in Rachers heart
A few weeks later, when the first SHOWS
We're lying on the ground, one Sunday morn
ing in church the parson took for his text
these words. ''Love your enemies. Do good
to them that hate you and desptefully use
you;" and Rachel, turning, around, caught a
glance from Herman Brayton's eyes, which
shot forth olischief and triumph. When she
walked away at noon, Herman joined her in
the most natural manner possible.
"Do you KNOW" said he, chow construed
the MINISTER'S text? To me it sounded like
this: Love them that stone your chickens,
and scald your pigs, and drive Jour cows
off to pound and it did not seem TO be
very difficult command to obey"
Mrs. Pettigrew who was walking behind,
nudged her daughter Esther, and whispered,
Il allus told you how it would come OUT
Now the Henderson and Brayton farms are
united in one, and Herman has demonstrated
to his neighbors, by his tall grain and fat
meadow lands, the resonableness of scientific
farming. He never tires Of Joking his wife
Rachel about her war, and if she expects to
hear the end of it during the term of hernat-
ural life | fear she will be disappointed.