Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-11-18
/. B.T.&F.F \. B. GAbLAHIl. EDITORS.
harlestown, Jefergon Co., ". Va.
OFFICE ~ "JEFFEBsoE BUILDING
Saturday, November IS, 1870.
Mopp's Adventure with a Calf.

merchant, was spending mouth at ms friend
Grigs's pleasant little country place, few
miles away from the noise, hustle and con-
fusion Of the city Of Wheeling, enjoying the
society Of Mr.. and Mrs Grisss, aud laying
in supply Of pure, unadullerated ozone to
carry him through the long, sultry summer
days before him.
He was a quiet sodatc aud respectable mem
bet Of society, marked "safe" in COMMERCIAL
register and eligible" in matrimonial circles
Served out by nature by short, stout figure
on accommodating, go0d-natured disposition,
and by the dentist, with hrst-class set Of
false teeth, Samuel Mopps laughed at tooth
ache. twins, thin men, and tough times.
A week after his arrival at the country,
business Of a pressing nature called his host
to the city. and Nopps having promised to
take charge and look after his household gods
and goddosses until his return, found himself
duly installed as general utility man.
Have you fed the calf YETI" inquired
MIS-. Grigss, pleasantly, at the breakfast ia
bic, the morning following her husbands de-
parture.
"Not yet" replied Mopps. "Ididn'tkn
whether he would be up so carly
She smiled, poured him out another cup Of
coffee, aud said:
I'm afraid he will be hungry"
"What does he generally eat for his break
fas; ?o asked Mr.. Mopps, who knew no more
about calves than he did about the Tower Of
Pisa.
why milk, to be sure laughed Mrs.
Griegs
"Yes, of course" said Mopps, trying to
conceal bis ignorance and appear perfectly d1
fat on the subject, yet wondering with all his
might and main how ho was going to get the
milk into the animal, whether they played it
down his throat with hose. or his calfship
sucked it through straw, like sherry cob
bier or was IN the habi. Of having Itspooned
into him.
After breakfast Mrs Grisgs handed him an
immense tin pan, fled to a sPiIing point with
Iae,esl calf diet. and he started for the barn,
fairly stopping with energy and milk. On
his arrival, he laid the milk pan softly on the
feed chest, took seat beside it, and spent the
next ten minutes calculating how much a new
pair of pants would cost to replace the
milk-stained ones he had on then he arose
aud went to have q look at the calf
He fouad h,m close at hand, occupyin, the
whole Grst floor Of stall, and anchored to the
manger by long, stout rope. lie was glad
of that not that he was At all afraid, still he
thought il a proper procau.ion, aud demanded
his favorable notice.
The calf looked again as big as a wheel
barrow. and twice IS ugly. His outer -ar-
Dents were Of a sausage brown color, f'eckled
with white spots. Misunderstanding head,
bpaJ;ng tail and stilt-lke legs which made his
,om en,em5ls anything but prepossessiug.
Mr.. Mopps did not talk much to him, and
As the other did not appear conversatona!ly
inclined be brough, the milk-paD over, enter
cd the stall boldly and confidently, held it out
10 him a. arms length. and Invited bis at
,sr,ion 70 the repast. BY calling:
np,.,tv follow nre,tycalfv, come! come
Gomez
r,oc,no a, last came with his head down,
the .pe,d Of a locomotive and tic force Of a
ri,ro.cIicerine explosion. There vas a fright