Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-27

manded, Gftcr having several times jumped
up and followed the bovine animal around.
" A COW is very trying quadruped Get
some hay, Katie, and feed her. am afraid
that unprincipled Mr. Tully deceived us when
he said there were three milch cows the
more pull, the milk won't come!
Try again" said Katie encouragingy.
" Pull harder"
But the cow, rescnting this mode of treat
ment, deliberately kicked over the pail,
whisked her tail in Miss Bells eyes and
walked.
"Oh, dear, dear ~ fatered Kate.
wish we had asked Mr.. Tully to stay a day or
two aud teach US how to milk :"
"As if I'd ask a man to teach me any
thing, cried Bell, dsdainlully. "lf he can
do it guess | can III try again by and
| by, when the COW gets little better tempered
Let's go in aud get breakfast, Katie. Here
are half a dozen eggs in the hay under the
manger. Very careless Of the hens to leave
their eggs around in this sort of fashion
shall have up a row of pine boxes dlled with
straw, before | am twenty-four hours older
Perhaps they would prefer hay" said
Katie dubiously
4 uou y Ndif WhAh ANNl llNiNAf eNiA AAi1o
Bell, dogmatically-" they must adapt them
selves to my preferences, or I'll know the rea-
son why. But, as | was saying, here's the
material for an omelet so wen 60 in and
breakfast like pair of queens
The coffee was made--without milk-and
the morning meal was soon disposed Of, Katie
remaining in doors to sweep up and wash the
dishes, while Miss Bell again sailed forth to
investigate the various offices and buildings
which skirted the barn.
In few minutes she re-appeared, dripping
like Undine Of old
Katie" she cried breathlessly, displaying
the pear-white treasures Of her apron. I've
found two or more settlements of eggs"
| Let's have some custards,' suggested
Katie.
"Cusiards, indeed No, mol prefer
spring chickens. Katie, I'm going to set a
hen
Set hen?" repeated Katie in bewildcr-
ment
1--WE caught the most motherly- y-looking old
hen you ever saw, and shut her up in bar
rel" went on Katie exultingly g and now I'm
going to fix the nest. In just twenty-one
days from now, Katie, we shall be feeding
our chickens
Shall we ?" Katie Appleton did not dis
believe, perhaps, but she doubted.
Half an hour afterwards, when the rain
held up a little, and here and there
glimpse Of dazzling blue peeped through
the riffs in the gray sky overhead, Katie
tripped out into the barn, where Miss Bell
stood in an anxious attitude over "a square box
she had placed on a beam
Bell, what are you doing2" she cried.
am tryingto keep this hen on her nest,
said Miss Bell, turning perturbed face to-
ward her cousin. " Nine times she has flown
cackling off, and nine times have caught her
and put her on again. We've broken three
of the eggs, but they are easily replaced. Its
like the old story of Bruce and the spider
and will conquer have matters tolera.
bly, safe with a board and stone for the pres
ent, and shall come out three times a day
to feed her.
d" But thought" said Katie, after a mo-
ment or two Of grave consideration, that
you always had to wait until hen clucked
and pulled out her feathers, and wanted to sci
of her own accord
"Old fashioned farmers do that, suppose
but can't wait hundred years for a hen Il
make up her mind"
The rebellous murmurs of the galinaceous
fowl imprisoned beneath the cruel board echo
ed Miss Bell Martins accents.
4" | declare Bell" cried the admiring Kate
Appleton, " don't think you had such Q
will. You ought to have been a man and {
statesman"
Don't talk nonsense, beg Of you, said
Bell, little more than ordinarily complacent
however, but run into the house and brinl
me that box of assorted garden seeds. If th'
weather clears up we must begin planting ear
y tomorrow morning. | won't have peopl
saying that our farming is behind hand be
cause we are women "
Toward the evening Of the next day, ole
Mr. Eliphalct Tully, leather-faced farmer
with curiously intricate network OF fin,
wrinkles round his keen eyes and shrewC
mouth, looked casually in to see how his sue
cessors were thriving.
Afternoon t'ye," was his greeting
" Wa'al how ye getting long !"
"We are not getting along at all, Mr.. Tul
ly," said Miss Martin, in an injured tone o
voice. " You have imposed upon us"
| declare to gracious, | don't know wha
ye mean," said the farmer, with a countenanc
of unfeigned astonishment
Didn't you tell us your cows were kind2'
" So they be" said old Eliphalet-" tn
kindest creatures alive !"
"Then why does the old brindle one run a
me every time | come near the calf ant
why does the spotted one kick the pail owe
before il is half full, besides making me chas,
all around the barn.yard after her p
Guess you amt use to milkin'," said Mr.
Tully, shrewdly
"Not used to it?' echoed Bell and sup
posing that | am not, what difference can
possibly make? Am | to have a diplom
and show it to the COW before dare take tn
privilege of milking?"
Cows is dreadful sagacious creatures
said the farmer, with a laughing twinkle il
his eye. Some on em can't never abid
women folks round and now come to thinl
ont Miss Tully never used to milk, cause
was alas handy to do it. tell you what
Miss Martin, guess you'll have to keep
man"
Never said Miss Martin, resolutey
" Aud then the turkeys-they gobble an'
swell out and run after us in way that
positively frghtful,"
ado you wear them ar shaws when you g
, out to feed 'em 2" said the farmer, nodding a
two bright scarlet outer wrappings that hun
on the pegs behind the keeping-room door.
"Why, yes, believe we did,"
, THAT accounts for it, then. A turkey an
bull-the color O. red sets 'em wild
thought everybody knowed that"
And am to select my wardrobe wit
, reference to the turkeys in the poultry-yard2 ?
Indignantly demanded Bell.
| Turkeys know dreadful sight, althoug
, they're generally calculated to be a stupi
bird" said Mr., fully sagely,
, And the hens dear me !" went on Mis-
Bell. 81 have such trouble about thei
setting
"Gye them good ducking at the pump,
recommended the farmer "Vhat's a sur