The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-30

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"Such a dear little dot Of red calf as there
is in the harm yard" she cried ecstatically,
AS she returned. "But we must take 1t away
tomorrow"
"Oh, don't take it away-the dear little
thing" cooed Kate. Let us be lilflc con.
siderate.'
"And have no milk to use" scotied Bell.
THAT would be nice farming. saw line
LOT of hens in the barn this afternoon, Katie;
eggs are fifty cents dozen, and spring chlcS-
ems forty cents pound. We shall make our
fortunes Kate. And old MIR. FULLY says
Strawberries bring fifty cents quart, and the
asparagus yielded hundred and seven bun
ches at forty cents bunch, and butter--dear,
dear-there's no saying what we shall realize
out OF butter with three cows"
ITO be sure" said Katie, sympathetically
1t was raining hard the next morning when
they woke up. Now ii the agricultural world
was all made up of leafy dells where the
drops tinkled unsteady as they fell, aud open.
ing butter cups and vlolets, this would all be
very well hut rain on the roof OF lcaky
farmhouse, and rain IN the country barHyard
are decidedly lacking IN the elements OF ro-
nance.
"Do let me sleep just five minutes longer
pleaded Katie, piteousiy.
sect up! get up! "crled the ruthless Bell,
we're farmers now, and you must come out
and help me milk! 1t will be such fun
"In the rain?'
"We're neither sugar nor salt-wc snail not
melt. Get your aqua suctum, and come
quick
Miss Bell looked the idea of resolution and
enterprise as she stalkcd INTO the barnyard
swinging the pail in one hand and the three
legged stool IN the other Kate Appleton
looked on in admiration.
"Where did you learn to milk, Bell?
~ never learned"
"How can you do it, tnen:'
"Why it is easy enough of course Any.
body can milk. This calf has got 10 come
out first
Miss Bell advanced to the little red calf,
who was nesting close to It's mother.
But to her amazemenl the brindled COW
| lowered her horns and ran turiously at the
disturber Of her darllng's peace. Miss Bell
scrambled over the wall more nimbly than
graceful.
II am afraid she is vicious" said Miss
Bell obviously. I'VE won't disturb the call
Just now"
So, descending once more when the bellig.
erent animal had apparently Gained down,
Miss Bell selected the mlldest eyed COW she
could find, and sat down, adjusted IN all en-
cravings.
"Why don't the cow stand still ~ she de.
manded after having several times jumped
up and followed the bovine animal around.
"A COW is very trying quadruped Get
some hay, Katie, and feed her. l am afraid
that unprincipled Mr. Tully deceived us when
he SAID there was three mich cows the more
| pull, the more the milk won't come"
"Try again." SAID Kate encouraglngly.
| Pull harder"
But the cow, resenting this mode of treat.
ment deliberately kicked over the pail
whisked her tail in Miss Bells eyes, anG
walked off
"Oh, dear, dear" falered Kate 81 wish
we had asked Mr. Tally to stay day or two
and teach us how to milkv' .a .
"As if I'd ask man TO teach me anything"
cried Bell disdainfully. "Ifhe can do 1t can
I'll try again by and by, when the COW gets a
little better tempered, Let's go in and get
breakfast, Katie. Here are halt dozen eggs
in the hay under the manger. Very careless
in the hens to leave their eggs around in this
sort of fashion! shall have up u row oil
pine boxes filed with straw, before l am
twenty four hours older"
Perhaps they would prefer hay" SAID
Katie obviously.
IL don't care what they PREFER said Bell,
dogmatically-'they must adapt themselves
to my perfectness, or I'll know the reason
why But as l was saying, here's the mate
rial for an omlet so we'll go in and breakfast
like pair of queens
| The coffee was made-wlthOut milk--and
the morning meal was soon disposed OF, Katie
remained in doors TO sweep up and wash the
dishes, while Miss Bell sailed forth to inves-
tigate the various offices md buildings which
skirted the barn. In few minutes she reap
peared, dripping like Undine of old
"Katie," she cried breathlessly, displaying
the pearl white treasures of her apron. 1--WE
found two more settlements of eggs"
| Lets have some custards," suggested
Katie.
"Custards, indeed No. mol prefer spring
chickens Katie, 1 am going to set hen"
"Set hem" replied Katie in bewilder.
ment.
1--WE caught the most motherly looking old
hen you ever saw, and shut her up in a bar.
rel went on Miss Bell, exultingly, land now
I'm going to fix the nest In just twenty-onc
days from now, Katie, we shall be feeding our
chickens
"Shall WEI" Katie Appleton did not dis
believe, perhaps, but she doubted. q.
Half an hour afterwards when the rain held
I'D little, and here and there glimpse OF
dazzling blue peered through the lifts OF the
gray sky overhead, Katie tripped out In the
barn, where Miss Bell stood in an anxious at
titude over square box she placed on beam
"Bell, what are you doing?" she cried.
I'm trying to keep this hen on her nest,
SAID Miss Bell, turning perturbed face TO
wards her cousin. mime times she has flown
cackllng of, and nine times l have caught
her and put her on again, we've broken three
of the eggs, but they are easily replaced. Ii
is like the old story OF Bruce and the spider,
and Will conquer. have matters tolerably
safe with board and a stone for the present,
and shall come out three times a day 10 feed
her"
"But thought" said Katie, after moment
or two OF grave consideration, that you al
ways had to wait until hen chuckled and
Iputlered out her featheas, and wanted TO set
OF her own accord
"Ud fashioned farmers do that, suppose,
but | can't wait a hundred years for II hen 10
make up her mind"
The rebellious murmurs of the gallinaceous
| foul imprisoned beneath the cruel board