Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-06-23

The uddcr WAS ample and when 10
sephus uicd the leAts. he found that they
yielded milk freely.
"Ol course" said Po;man, there's nc
milk now. for the call has taken what lac
wanted, and The women folks have got
the rest. But you see what she is. Did
| you ever see better bag?"
GLOW much milk does sue give? ask
ed JoSephus
| haven't had chance TO Ind out ex
actly," replied Po,man. i've only had
her few days, and the call has run with
her all the timci but tho man got her oi
told me she would give, on an average,
twelve quarts at a milking. in the hci- o.
of feed. II hadn't already more stcch
than can feed, | wouidn' sell her Il; any
price. just look at that calf. Isn't it a
beauty?"
Josephus was inclined to the opinion
that this was just the COW he wanted.
"Shc cannot bo very Old he said,
looking at the rings on her horns. where
the growth OF each year is marked.
The man said she ws eight Years
| old, " replied rotman, land shouldn't
call her much younger. | guess shes
eight"
Joscphus walked around tho COW sew
eral times and finally asked the price.
4 Il ought to have twenty dollars. Allen,
! she i, worth it every cont
Josephus shook his mead. lie could
no, pay so much fora cow. Th,n fol
lowed long discussion upon the value
OF such an animal; and finally Potmau
grew generous. IIo &c, the COW so ior
/ fifteen dollars though with seeming re
uclaucc. JoScphus paid the money and
drove the COW home. lie did not want
The calf, 50 that very night be sold it TO
u ncighb0r, who wanted it TO mate one
that hc already owned.
/ On The following morning the cow VA.
mixed and then turned into the pasture.
The quantity of milk given on this morn
iug was remarkably small; hut then i,
was not 20 be wondered at. The COW
probably missed her c1li. aud had eaten
nothing A, night, however. alter crop
piuS The tender Etasi nj day, she would
be sure TO give good account OF herself.
During the afternoon Amos Bean
dropped in at the coopcr's shop. Amos
was uoi.hlor, aud a yc;y warm lienI.
lie WAS farmer iu a small way, some
times working at house building. lie
soon learned that Josephus had purchased
e COW of John potman.
Al don't understand it," said Amos,
"Po,man is buying good COWS. | heard
him sayonly two days ago, that he wanted
four more good mixers lor his dairy
What lid you pay him 2"
Fifteen dollars
Cheap enough, 1T this season. Tor a
good COW. However, it may be al,
right"
In the evening the COW came from the
pasture With abou, Is lank an uddcr as
she had carried away in The morning and
not over . quart milk could be obtained
from her. Mis-. Joscphus was horror
stricken. while Josephus stood a2hast.
Wha, could Il! mean? The pasture was
one Of the best in the country, aud the
grass was green and tender.
Just thcu Amos Bean came along again
lie had feared something wrong from the
first. lie instituted a pretty thorough
examination and pretty soon an eXcl0ma.
ton of a,toni>hmen, ,igni.ied that he had
found The mice"
Look here" said he. pulling open the
cows mouth.
Joscphus looked, AMI founI that the
animal WAS almost loothlcss The front
teeth were all gone!
But, " he gasped, Il, cant be her age.
Her horns don't show it,"
Don't ihey?n echoed Amos. "Look
n little closer. The upper rings have
| been scraped down, and the surface
colorcd The cat is out. This COW has
been = good mixer; but she's got bravcly
over it now. She must be along towards
twenty years old; and guess tor some
years has been fed on swill"
Joscphus was beside himself with pain
and MOI tiicalion.
by the iumpin' Jonathan!" he sworc,
"Tll 20 back to John Polman directly.
will make him take the COW and return
my money; and I'll tell him just what l
think of him!7
Don't do any such thing said Amos.
"Poman would only laugh at You. Il
was what he would call fair trade; and
| il you got cheated, he would say it was
your fault. know him very well. Il
there's any way in which we can come
up with the old rascal, I'll study it out.
just keep quiet until tomorrow and let
me lhiuI; the matter over. Don't say 4
word to au ybody."
Josephus promised that ho would obey
the instructions of his friend and Amo:
then wcht away.
The poor cooper did not sleep a
Il wink all that night. The loss OF his
money was something to one in his situa.
ion. bat that was as nothing compared
with the outrage which he felt had been
nnt nnon him. LIS wife. too. worried q