Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-07-22

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With particular white mark something
like a cross, on her haunch."
"Why, that's Smalls old Brindle." cried
Mr.. Babcock a. know the mark as we'll
as | know the nose on my face. She had
balls on her horns, didn't she 2"
Yes so Isaac said"
And kind Of hump on her back ?"
"A perfect dromedary," said Miss Lett.
tia. " | noticed that myself"
"They were Small's cows,--no doubt
about it at all, " said Mr.. Babcock, rubbing
bis hands. mo sheep with them hey p"
"Wcl, now think Of it, there were
sheep,-thcy ran away as soon as they saw
Isaac Yes, certainly there were sheep"
said Miss Letitia.
q" | knew it,-they always 90 with the
COWS; and what you wish Of me"
" Is to fix the damages" said Miss Lett
tia AS | said before women folks are
no judges about such matters"
Mr. Babcock meditated moment. and
then said
Well, wouldn't take cent less than
seventy.dve dollars, if were you,--not
cent"
Seventy.fve dollars Isn't that good
deal, Mr.. Babcock2 You know / don't
wish to be hard on the poor man all l
want is fair compensation for the mischief
done"
"Seyenty.6ve dollars is fair, ma'am,-in
fact, may say it's low wouldn't have
herd of cattle and sheep tramping through
my premises in that way for hundred"
There's one thing forgot to state,-
the orchard gate was open, or they couldn't
have got in that may make difference 2"
Not bit,-not bit. You'd a right
to have your gate open, but Small's cows
had no right to run loose. | hope Isaac
drove EN- all to the pound, didn't he ?"
Z" | heard him say he'd shut EN- up some.
where, and didn't mean to let EN- out till
the owner calls for EN-. But, Mr.. Bab-
cock, what if he should refuse to pay the
damages should hate to go to law
about it."
Z" He won't refuse; if he does, keep the
critters till he 'oiH pay. AS to law,
guess he's had about enough Of that"
I'm sure thank you for your advice"
said Miss Letitia, and mean to act upon
it to the very letter"
Aud Mr.. Babcock took his leave with n
very happy expression Of countenance.
Scarcely was he out Of sight when Miss
Letita sent n summons for Mr.. Small,
which he obeyed as promptly as his neigh
Dor had done.
She made to him precisely the same
statement she had made to Mr.. Babcock,
showed him the injured property, and asked
him to fix damages.
1t was remarkable that before be did
this, he should ask the same question Mr..
Babcok had asked, namely whether she had
any suspicion as to whom the animals be-
loDged.
"Well, one ofthem had terribly crooked
hornn
Precisely-it's Babcock's heifer. |
should know her among thousand She
was black and white, wasn't she 2"
Well, now think Of it, she was one
seldom sees so clear black aud white ona
cow"
"To be sure, they're Babcock's animals
fast enough Well, let me see--what you
want is just about fair estimate | sup
pose2"
Certainly"
"Well, | shold say ninety dollars was as
low as he ought to be allowed to get of
with"
40, but fear that will seem as if |
meant to take advantage. Suppose we call
it-say seventy.fv ~
"Just as you please of course but
knr Iat 1T L..
hundred, if twas my case"
"And if he refused to pay2"
Why keep bis animals till he comes
round, that's ALL"
" But there is one thing | neglected to
mention our gate was standing open ; that
may alter the case"
Not at all,-there is no law against
your keeping your gate open; there is
against stray animals" D."
"Very we'll thank you for your advice"
said Miss Letitia and Mr.. Small departed
with as smiling countenance as Mr.. Bab-
cock had worn.
But at milking time that night he made
a strange discovery-old Brindle was miss
ing!
At about the same hour Mr.. Babcock
made similar discovery-the black and
white heifer was nowhere to be found
A horrible suspicion seized them BOTH
suspicion which they would not have
made known to each other for the world.
They waited till it was dark, and then
Mr. Babcock stole round to Miss Letitia's,
and meekly asked leave to look at the ami.
mails which had committed the trespass.
lie would have done it without asking
leave, only that thrifty Miss Letitia always
locked her barn-doors at night.
While he stood looking over into the
pen where the cows were confined, and try.
ing to negotiate with Miss Letitia for the
release Of the heifer, along came Mr.. Small,
in quest Of Brindle. The two men stared
at each other for an instant in blank dismay,
and then hung their heads in confusion.
1t was useless to assert that the damages
were too high, for had they not fixed them
themselves2 1t was useless to plead that
Miss Letitia was in a manner responsible
for what had happened, on account Of the
open gate for had they not assured her
that circumstances did not affect the case ?
1t was useless to say that she had no right
to keep the cows in custody, for had they
not counseled her to do so? As to going
to law about it, would they not thus be-
come the sport Of the whole town.
" He that diggeth pit, he himself shall
fall into it," said Miss Letitia, who read
what was passing in their minds as well as
If they had spoken, for the light of Isaacs
lantern fell full on their faces. f" However,