Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-01
How Jack Engaged the Beef.


since taking his little family out west, try
ing his best to make an honest living for
them, and lay up little fortune for hard
times but the hard times came before the
fortune and it seemed as though troubles
grew faster than anything else around him,
causing many anxious days and sleepless
nights for him and his good, thrifty wife.
Sickness came first, forcing him to lie by
at the very time this his fields needed him
most and when at last his grain was sown,
long drought, injuring the crops of others
but slightly, absolutely ruined his, and SEEM
ing as he disconsolately said, as if sent d.
rectly against him.
In truth, it was discouraging; and while
his neighbors on all sides-old settlers, and
well-todo-were prospecting and thriving,
storing away their gathered produce, the
poor farmer only found himself growing
poorer; and knowing that he had little to
put by from his summers work for the win
ter's needs, he grew more and more detected
and anxious.
One by one it had been necessary to sell
the few head of stock they had owned, the
pigs going first to pay the doctors bill, the
sheep next to buy seed and now it had long
been settled fact in the poor mans mind,
long before he would tell his wife or little
Donald or Patsy, that Glover the good,
gentle COW, must go too. He had not the
heart to tell them for had not Clover come
all the way from their far Eastern home
with them, and for four years-as long al
most as little Patsy could remember-had
been Just like one of the family, and surely
a better or more affectionate COW never lived?
Every summer evening Donald and Patsy
went to drive her up, and as soon as she
heard their voices, without waiting to give
them the trouble Of looking for her, she
would come quickly from the woods or the
meadow to meet them; and all three walk.
ing home together, you never would know
but that it was Clover taking care of them
instead Of their driving her. And as for
their mother, tender-hearted, timid little
woman, who had never learned to know her
new neighbors very well, Clover seemed like
a real friend to her, reminding her always
of the old home and the friends she had left
there.
And now to think that Clover must be
sold And what was worse still, no one
around wanted to buy new mich COW !;
and because she was so fat, fed continually
by the children with everything good, it was
the butcher who wanted her, offering more
than any one else. o it did seem too hard |
and yet, look at it as they would, there
seemed no help for it.
at is to get bread for our children,
Mary" said Farmer Bruce, as the tears
streamed from his wifes eyes. ave are ow-
ing now for the last provisions, and have
not cent with which to buy more. And
you know we are almost strangers here still ;
and even if felt it right to borrow, with so
little certainty of paying, know of no one
who would probably loan me the price Of
the COW. 1t always looks as though people
were not thrifty or careful, or something, to
be SO poor; but God only knows how hard
we have worked, or how we have tried to
save. Sometimes it seems as though even
Gods hand is against u.s.
go don't say that, James," answered his
wife, quickly, and trying hard to look cheer
full as she dried her eyes. at will all come
right in time, if we trust him. and | can
give up Clover if it is necessary"
But Donald and Patsy were not SO easily
reconciled. They cried piteously when their
mother told them, and it was truly sad
group that gathered round when the butcher
came that afternoon to look at Clover for
the last time. Even Towser, the dog, seemed
to realize that something sad was going on,
and sat up looking very solemn as Clover
came out OF the stall where she had been
kept all day to be in readiness. Donald
crept close to his father, and slipped one arm
around him as if in mute appeal, or seeking
comfort; but Patsy forgot all her own sor.
row in her love and sympathy for poor
Clover.
"She shall not listen to what that cruel
man is sayingl" she cried and running off
brought handful of green grass and leaves
"Look at me, Clover; dear old Clover,
she said, coaxingly. Don't listen to what
they are saying. 1t will make you so sad
and unhappy"
"She's in good order, Farmer Bruce,
the butcher was saying, "and / will give
you twenty-five dollars for her. And good
price it is for the way COWS are selling thi:
season."
al suppose will have to let her CO." an
swered Mr. Bruce, sadly. "But it's almost
like selling one Of the family"
at is pity, truly" answered the butcher
and | am sorry for you, indeed am but
If you have to sell, why might as well take
her as another"
Mrs. Bruce covered her face with hel
apron to hide the tears that would come
but she uttered no complaints to make hel
husbands duty harder than it was.
All this time Jack, the butchers son, had
been standing at the gate within sight ant
hearing OF this scene, and it was with |
obeyed his fathers call to help drive Glove
away.
Little Patsy ran up to him, as if fancyin,
him more tender-hearted than the fat butcher
and with the tears streaming down her face
she sobbed
"Pease-please kill her-just-as-eas,
as you CAMP
Jack could not say anything 10 comfor
her, and he and his father walked along be
hind the gentle, patient-looking COW, TO
some distance in silence.
81 never felt 80 sorry in my life, father,
said he at last, " to take COW as this one.'
"Yes, it is pity" answered the butcher
absently.
Don't you think, father" said Jacl
again, that you could loan Farmer Bruce
the money, and let them keep the COW
while longer Things may go better will
them next year."
"That | couldn't" answered his father
decidedly. e have no money to spare, ever
II thought it likely he'd be able to pa,
back as much; and I'll tell you now, Jack
that though it's well enough to be tender
hearted and all that, it don't do in thi
world to have too much of it, especially il
the butchering business"
But under his rough fustian coat, Jaol
carried heart warmer and kinder thar
most boys brought up TO seeing younl
lambs and calves led away daily from sorf
rowing mothers TO be slaughtered in th,
butchers pen, and he could not drive from
his mind the thought of the sad faces h
had seen that evening. They walked OF
again in silence, and II was only when h,
reached their gate that he said, half Jest
ingly, half in earnest;
f" suppose you'd have no objection il