Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-01-28
1885, CLEARFELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 1874
NEW SERIES--VOL. Is, NO. 5

gcd pushing which might have moved
freight train. 1t was q matter, ol
lungs and endurance, and the white
froth began to drop in long, tenacious
strings from their lips, and tho red
eyes to glare dimly through what
seemed clots of blood. could hear
the labored breathing where ] lay, aud
see the tendons stand cut across the
thighs and along the thick necks.
But this dead set of strength could
not last always. Every moment Of
time was telling disastrously upon the
shorter wind and decaying strength
of the old crusader, who still fought
for tho loves of his youth His foo.
slipped, and the intelligence of this
slight disaster seemed to reach bis
antagonist quicker than b fash Of
lightning. No gladiator ever urged
his advantage more suddenly. There
was u huge lunge, sound Of horns
slipping upon each other, n spring for
ward, and the horn of the younger
bull had made raking upward stroke
through his antagonist flank. The
fight now became brisk. Again and
ngnin the old one turned and tried TO
make the old stand Of head TO head,
and as often his more active antagon-
ist caught him behind the shoulder.
With the red agony Of defeat in bis
eye, and the blood trickling from the
long wounds in his fianks, he still re-
fused to be conquered. With failing
strength and limbs which refused any
longer to serve him, he finally stood
at bay, with open mouth and banging
tongue, unable to fight and disdaining
to retreat. His antagonist pushed
him, aud he yielded doggcdly. lie
made no attempt to shield bis flank
and pilifully endured all that came
The original plan of non-in,erference
was abandoned. and the young lords
gathered around him, and snorted and
shook their beads, and gave him an
occasional dig in the ribs by way OF
expressing their contempt for him. =
The cows camc and snuffed at him,
and INDUCED in spitciul feminine butts
and walked away. Their manner i'm.
piled that they had always regarded
him as a'dlsagrccablc old muh, and
they were glad he finally understood
their heartfelt sentiments in regard to
him.
Through all this the old fellow stood
unresisling, whipped, but still obsti
nate. Gradually they all left him tc
himself, and the herd wandered further
away. lie did not even look around
he was probably forced at last to nc
ccpt his sentence Of Punishment, anc
go and live as long as he could alone
aud fight his last fight with the coyo
tes, and die.
But that calf came out to see him
again. | say that calf because Il
seemed TO me the same that had brought
on this last unpleasantness, though fol
that matter they are all alike. Thu
calf came and arched its back ant
paved, and elevated its nine-inch tai
in front of him, and gave him TO un
dersland, by the plainest kind o
language, that IL held itself in read
ness to give him a most terrible drub
bing, IL he had not already had enough
1t was comical to see him initiate the
actions of his seniors, while the poor
old bull did not 50 much ms look al
him. But his calfship was inclined &c
push matters, aud finally mado past
which placed his foolish bead with .
considerable thump' against the soft
part of the old mans nose. Then h,
stood moment with the air of hav.
ing hurt himself a little, and toddIcd
off TO his mother.
The old one did not move an inch
and seemed hardly to notice this ba
byish persecution But suspect il
broke bis heart. lie wandered, limp
ing and slowly, down toward the
sedge, and | lay there, forgetfuI of the
long army musket beside me, regret.
ting that there had been no one else
there 10 bet with during tho battle, OF
to stand up like man and confirm
the story aflerward. The sun rose
high over the prairie, the wind veered,
there was a sudden panic, and the
herd vanished beyond the hills, lcav.
ing me TO plod back to camp.