Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-08-04
Feeding the Calves.

Polly went out to see her cousin feed the
calves. She perched herself upon the stone
wall, in the cool shade of the big maple tree,
by the orchard bars. The light morning
breeze rumpled her hair,i is true, but away
on its wings flew the last yestiges Of lazy
seepiness; mountains, trees, fields, sky,
shone with the freshness Of new creation
and as for the birds, why the air seemed
really to ripple and e1ervesco with uproar-
ions bird songs. Getting up carly, certainly
did pay.
The calves fifteen strong, came trooping
down to the bars, fairly wiggling all over
with lively anticipations of breakfast. When
Henry appeared on the scene Eith two big
nails of milk, the excitement Saxei intense.
Every calf was determined to drink from the
first pail of milk, or perish in the attempt.
Such pushing and struggling, such crowding
of the little ones to the wall, such frantic
serambling to be served first, Polly never saw
before, no, not even at steamboat dinner,
or the supper table Of large evening party.
1t was a very human proceeding. They
might have been politicians running for
Office. so far as unscrupulous sell-seeking and
greediness were concerned. Polly thought
Of Darwin, and sighed. There was evidently
either a good deal ofhuman nature in calves,
or considerable calf in human nature.
As for Henry, he did not allow himself to
he discomposed by the row of eager brown
noses thrust impatiently through the bars.
First he mixed the due proportion OF oil
meal with the milk. Then breakfast was
served strictly according to age. Polly sym
pathized deeply with poor little red and
white calf, tOddling awkwardly and d'scon-
solately round in the background, on legs as
vet too big for him. At this time of life il is
such trial to be the youngest. Time is a
sure remedy for this trouble. But this re-
Election hardly comforts either the hungry
boy or calf whose misfortune it is to be serv-
ed last.
Polly watched with animation the strict
Justice, tempered by kindness, which charae-
terized Henry's administration how kindly
he encouraged the backward and timid, how
impartially he raped all too intrusive noses
with his stick.
Henry she said, you remind me of the
ministers sermon last Sunday. You know
he SAID the greatest powers were none upo
great to do even the smallest things; that
the father of the family needed exactly the
qualities which 90 to make good judge or
governor. | am convinced you have every
qualification for Governor Of this Common
wealth 1t is a shame to waste such execu-
tive ability in private life. When 'we' vote
you may rely on my going for you
But suppose Henry instead of sweet milk
and oil-meal, had offered his hungry flock
'bonny-clabber" mixed with indigestible
gravel stones, or had given them all raped
noses and no breakfast at all. Would he
have been much worse than some ministers?
Sunday morning, from his pulpit, the min.
lister looks down on two or three hundred
souls, representing every possible phaze of
human experience. Many, doubtless, are
there from custom. But in every congrega-
ton are those who have really come for help
such help as they cannot find in the out