Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-09-06
Our Selected Story.
THE c0oPER'S COW TRADE.

" WHERE he SniNeu ana tnumpeu away ear
and late. A more honest man nercr liv,
or at least he was as honest d: need L
He owned a respectable dwelling and fe
acres of land, and he kept Z pig, co,
and some hens; THIS brlte, ,'t,tperty w
under the especial c;i!|, Uf Mrs. Joseph,
Allen. 1t was generally acknowledge
that nobody's pic was SO sleek and fat
e Mrs. Aliens. nobody's eggs We're SO lar.
and so sure to be fresh. and nobody's butt,
so fresh and so yellow. This is Mrs. j,
scphus Aliens pork. This is Mrs. Jos
phIs Aliens butter Mrs. Josephl
Allen brought these eggs in Let I'll
shopkeeper thus announce, and the thing
were bought Immediately. And Josephu
himself occupied a place equally firm !
the confidence of his fellows. His wor
was rs good as his bond. and his work wa
in demand.
! One spring Josephus met with a sa
misfortune. His COW broke her leg
broke it so badly that mending was out o
the question. What should he do for an
other cOw9
You must go and buy one,' said Iii
wife.
But COWS must be very high q. thi
season."
"Nevcr mind. \ COW we must have
on ought to get good one for Sl5-:
good new mich cow"
] ''Ah-but the fifteen dollars. Mrs. Al
LEM"
! Il can let you have ten dollars Of it-ter
dollars that have laid up from the sale q
butter and eggs
| Thus furnished with The ..sinews'' OF
trade. Josephus started forth in search OF
COW, arid after tralnping Il whole day
without finding what he sought. he finally
brought up at Mr.. John Pciman's. he
had seen many just such COWS as he want
ed. but they We're not 10 he bought lie
had thus far avoided Mr.. Potn,an. because
he had no very good opinion of that iadi-
viduals honesty. In fact. he knew that
John Potman was a nl;.n who c!1ateGl
when he could. Dut. ne concluded 10 take
a look at I'otman> stock. trusting that he
knew enough about COWS to take care of
himself
John Potnlan was a s::ftln;. and did con
siderable business in buyiti" and selling
cattle, and he also loaficd money TO needy
men ut eXorbitant rates of interest. lie
took no mortgages for security. When he
loaned money he wanted a bill-ot-sale of
some property. and thus did much stock.
in horses, rXan and cows. fall into his
hands.
1t was in the morning when Josephus
called upon Mr.. Potman. and when he had
made known his want. he was informed
that he had come just in the mick of
time
''Tve got just exactly the animal you
want" said the stock trader-'.a fine. large
COW, healthy and strong; kind and gentle;
an easy mixer: with calf three weeks Old
l took her a few days ago for debt. Come
and look at her.
Joscphus followed Mr.. Potman to the
barn. where the COW was pointed out She
appeared to be all that had been represent
ed. She had a large. good frame: was of
a light-red color. and was iii Respectable
flesh. The udder was ample. and Jose
phus tried the teats and found they yielded
the milk freely.
.>Of course said POtman. there's no
milk now. for the calf has taken what he
wanted. and the women folks have got the
rest. But you see what she is. Did you
ever see a better bag:'
How much milk does she giyc:" asked
Josephus.
IL haven't had chance to find out ex-
act|y,'' replied Potman. 1--WE only had
her few days. and the calf has run with
her: but the man | got her of told me
she could give on an average twelve quarts
at milking in the height Of feed. If l
hadn't already more stock than | can feed,
[ wouldn't sell her at any price. just
look at that calf. Isn't it beauty!''
Josephus was inclined to the opinion
that this was the COW he wanted.
'She can't be very old he said. looking
at the rings on the horns, where the
growth of each year is marked.
1.-The man said she was eight years old"
replied Potman, land shouldn't caH her
much younger. Iguess she's eight
JOsephus walked around the COW several |
lines. and finally asked her price.
II ought tc have twenty dollars for her,
Mr.. Allen. She's worth il, every cent of
.Josephus shook his head. lie could not
oay so much for COW. Then followed a
ong discussion upon the value of such an
,nimal; and finally Potman grew gener-
JUS. He let the COW 90 for fifteen dollars.
hough with seeming painful reluctance.
Josephus paid the money, and drove the
,cw home. lie did not want the calf. so
hat very night he sold it to a neighbor.
Who wanted ii to mate one that he already
owned.
On the following morning the COW was
mixed and then turned into the pasture.
The quantity given on this morning
vas remarkably small but then it was not
o be wondered at. The COW probably
missed her calf and had eaten nothing.
vt night, however, after cropping the ten
Ter grass all day, she would be sure to
i've good account of herself.
During the afternoon Amos Bean drop
'ed in at the cOoper's shop. Amos was a
eighbOr. and very warm friend. He
vas farmer in a small way, sometimes
Working at house building. He soon !
earned that Josephus had purchased a
Ow of John Potman. i
II don't understand it," said Amos. l
Potman is buying good cows. l heard
i'm say, only two days ago. that he want !
1 four more good milch cows FOR his l
airy. What did you pay him?''
s.Fifteen dollars" 1
''Cheap enongh, at this season, for a t
ood cow. However, it may be all right" 6
In the evening the cow came from the r
lsture with about as lank IN udder as she 4