Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-10-14
The Widows Cow.
Correspondence Post aud Tribune.

While in Montreal I heard c good
story of Sir Peter Mitchell, member of
parliament for New Brunswick, of whom
/ spoke in recent letter. He was an
opposition member during the lamenta-
BILE government of Sir John Mackenzie,
i'm the last decade, and was a most con-
slant and uncomfortable thorn in the
side of that unhappy premier. Sir John
was conspicuous as a railroad magnate,
aud, just before the opening of parlia-
ment one winter, Sir Peter called on
him to induce him to pay $40 for a
widows cow that had been run over by
the cars. II don't believe there's any
thing in itp exclaimed the premier
peremptOrily; cts probably trumped
up case, but I'll inquire, and you can call
Tomorrow"
The gentleman from New Brunswick
was not used to being treated so cava-
liery, but he pOcketed it, and called in
the morning.
"There's no justice in it; we won't pay
for the cow" broke in Sir John.
"YOu won't, won't your" rejoined Sir
Peter, with manner quite as bouncing
as that of the leader of the government.
"Have you been there or sent there and
Investigated it?"
"No, haven't, but won't pay for the
COW. It's mere trife and she ought to
have kept it off the track"
Don't the law say you shall have a
fence?"
Il won't pay for the cow, now, and
that's all the answer you'll getV
.YOu won't pay for the widows cow,
won't you? Sir John Mackenzie, I'll
make you pay for it," exclaimed Sir
Peter, now thoroughly aroused.
"YOu will? will you! How will your"
grOwled the premier.
"Pll take it out Of you during the SEES
sion, as sure as you're a living man! The
widows $40 isn't anything, isn't it? I'll
take it out of your
1t was an Irishman against Scotch
man, and both were angry. The sequel
prOyed that Sir Peter took it out of
him." very thoroughly. He is a round
headed man, a hard worker, a pugna-
cious and redOutable foe, and unfOrgiv-
ing enemy, bold and eloquent in debate,
no dilettant, but a hard hitter, and some
of his onslaughts were furious. III he
had not great tact he had great force,
and he never forgot the cow. In the
speeches he made every day against the
measures and methods OF the govern
ment, then under serious suspicious, he
told the story of the cow, and trotted
her out with frequency that must have
seemed like cruelty to animals.
Finally the last day of the session
dawned, and the consideration of Mac
kenzie's expense budget was resumed.
1t provided the appropriations for the
coming year.
Sir Peter Mitchell took the floor and
launched into eulOgy of the deceased
cow and the prOpriety of making an ap-
nropriation for the widow. He was
greeted with laughter and mock APP
5Iause. and then his auditors waited I'M
easily for him to finish. He did not fin
ish. He told the story over again, with
embellishments and Celebrations.
He contrasted the stinginess of the
wealthy ruler with the quiet endurance
of the penniless widow. He began to
read from the Bible the commands to
mercy. Justice and charity, when the
honorable members struggled out one
NV one to dinner, Sir Peter bit biscuit,
drank a swallow of water and cOntlnu-
cd impressing upon the empty chairs
ahont him the tender duties and graces
of humanity. Members struggled in
again. He quoted the Song Of the Shirt.
TRev appealed to him to draw his re-
marie To n close. He retOld the story Of
the cow. Meantime Sir John Macken-
zie was perspiring with wrath and
anxiety in the premier's apartment
hard by. All his hopes were bound up
in the appropriation budget: What If 1t
shonld not come to vote The hOnOra-
HE member from New Brunswick could
not he stopped, for this was the one bill
in Canadian parliament on which a
member could speak as long as he wish
ed. There was no way of cutting short
the debate. No motion was In order