The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-06-15
MARY JANE TELLS ABOUT THE
SPICERs' COWS.

They had lots of COWS, the Spicers
had-and they passed most of their time
in our garden. The reason they didn' /
stay in the pasture was because the
fences were all broken down; for the
Spcers were the most shiftless folks in
Tuckertown. Why l cared aboHt the
COWS was because / had to drive 'em
out.
Well, one day Grandpa said:
IF those cows get into my corn
again, L II drive 'em up to the pound" "
Whats the pound?' asked Dot.
Its pen" said Grandpa, ''where
you can drive any cattle you find on your
land; and the owner can't get them out
without paying a fine"
"Oh. think that's elegantp' said 1.
II know lots of peoples COWS ! should
like to get into the pound.
When Grandpa went out / said
would go and tell Sarah Spicer just
what he had said.
Now, Mary Jane, you just stay
where YOU are. You want your fingers
in everybOdy's pies" 1t was Aunt
Jane-you might know-who said that.
might have answered that she was
so sparing with hers Especially mince)
that [ never could touch them. But
didn't. / often think of real smart
things, and it's mean that / can't say
them.
But declare, there is never any use
at all in my arguing with Aunt Jane; for,
when / get the best of her, she always
stiffens up and says; There, that will
do, Mary Jane! Not another wordr'
Resides, it isn't right to answer back.
So just said nothing, but took Dot and
marched straight off to the Spicers'.
We found Sarah and Sam playing in
front of their house.
'How d. We do, Mary Jane?" said
she.
How d ye do, Miss SpicerP" said !.
. Mercy me, Mary Jane! what airsn'
said she. 4" It's no use to put 'em on
here in Tuckertown, l can tell you, for
folks know ali about you"
There, that will do, said ], as like
Aunt Jane as ever ] could. u only
came over here to tell you that we
are going to have your cows put in the
pound, the very next time we find 'em
in our garden.
" Poh!'' cried out that Hop-'o-my-
thumb of a Sam. Your gran dfather
has said so, lots of times, but he never
doesn
Doesn't dare tor snapped Sarah.
was just boiling mad The idea of
my being treated 50 by those low SPi-
GERS!
"Dare top said l. Il wonder who
you think would be afraid of such a
poor, shiftless set?''
And then / took Dots hand, and just
ran for home, 50 as not to give Sarah a
chance to have the last word.
Oh, but don't 'spise her!
Well, that afternoon, Dot and / were
in the barn playing with all our might,
when Aunt Jane screamed out:
q Mary Jane! Mary Jane! The cows
are in the garden. Run and drive them
out.
It's too badr' cried Dot "Those
Spicers' COWS spoil all our fun"
"Tll tell you what" said /, after
had shoo' d them into the road. II IN
going to drive 'em right up to the
pound. I'll show that Sarah SPi-.
Ger -p'
" Why. Mary Jane Huntr' cried silly
Dot "'What'll Grandpa sayg 1 won t
go"
SayP Why, that he is much obliged
to me- Dot trotted after me, as meek
as lamb.
1t wasn't far 10 the pound; but there
was one COW and her calf that wouldn'
hurry, and, besides, we walked very
slowly along the sunny parts of the road
and rested every time we came TO
shady place; so Il was late in the after
noon when we left the pound, and
turned to come home.
We came quite distance by the road,
and then through Mr.. Halls corn-field
and the woods beyond, and right out in
the Spicers' pasture. Dot and l noticed
that there was only one COW left now in
the pasture.
Il hope Sarah and Sam viii have a
good time hunting after the others; and
good enough for 'em,'' said l. Per-
haps her father is just scolding her now
for letting EN- stray away
- Well, he isn't, for there he is now" ="
Dot pointed, and / saw Sarah in the
swing on the butternut tree in front OF
their house, and her father was swing
ing her up ever 80 high.
When she saw US she jumped out and
ran to the fe nee.
Hope you'll find your cows tonight
Sarah said /.