The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-10
Sir Peter and the Cow.

was an opposition MEMBER curing the Id
mentable government of Sir John Macken
zie in the last decade, and was constant
and most uncomfortable thorn in the side
of that unhappy premier. Sir John was
conspicuous railroad magnate, and just
before the opening of Parliament one win
ter Sir Peter called on him to induce hin
to pay $40 for a widows cow that hac
been run over by the cars. II don't be
ieve there's anything in it!' exclaimed
the premier, peremptorily, otis probably
trumped-up, case, but I'll inquire and you
call tomorrow.
The gentleman from New BrunswicE
was not used to being treated so cavalierly
but he pocketed it and called in the morn
ing.
eThere's no justice in it We won't pay
for the cow" broke in Sir John.
'You won't; won't your rejoined Sil
Peter, with manner quite as bouncing al
that of the leader of the government
Have you been there or sent there anc
investigated it ?'
''No, I haven't, but I won't pay for the
COW. It's mere trife, and she ought tc
have kept 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 get"
"You won't pay for the widows COW
won't you, Sir John Mackenzie? I will
make you pay for it," exclaimed Sir Peter
now thoroughly aroused.
"You will; will you! How will you ??
growled the premier.
"I'll take it out of you during the ses-
sion, as sure as you are living man. The
widows $40 isn't anything, isn't it? I'll
take it out of your'
1t was an Irishman against Scotchman
and both were angry. The sequel proved
that Sir Peter took it out of him very
thoroughly. He is round-headed man, a
hard worker, pugnacious and redoubtable
foe, an unforgiying enemy, bold and elegant
in debate no dilettante, but hard hitter
and some of his onslaughts were furious
IF 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 government
then under serious suspicion, 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 dawn,
ed, and the consideration of Mackenzie
expense budget was resumed. Itprovided
the appropriations for the coming year.
Sir Peter Mitchell took the floor and
launched into a eulogy of the deceased COW
and the propriety of making an appropria.
ton for the widow. He was greeted with
laughter and mocking applause, and ther
his auditors waited uneasily for him tc
finish. He continued. He told the story
over again with embellishments and elabo
rations. 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 by one to dinner Sir Peter bit
biscuit, drank a swallow of water, and con-
tinued, impressing upon the empty chairs
about him the tender duties and graces o1
humanity. Members struggled in again
He quoted the Song of the Shirt. They
appealed to him to draw his remarks to {
close. He retold the story of the cow
Meantime, Sir John Mackenzie was per
spring with wrath and anxiety in the pre-
mier's apartment hard by All his hopes
were bound up in the appropriation budget
What if it should not come to vote The
honorable member from New Brunswick
could not be stopped, for this was the one
bill in the Canadian Parliament on which
a member could speak as long as he wished
There was no way of cutting short the de
bate, No motion was in order while he
was speaking, except the motion to adjourn
and that would be adjournment sine die
The Government members were in conster
nation, as the orator delivered speech OF
the blessings of vaccination, gave statistics
on the cost of fences in the United States
passed an elaborate encomium on the supe
rioirty, for draft purposes, of Devon cattle
to which class the deceased domestic frienC
of the bereaved widow belonged, and ther
began to describe the religious ceremonies
in which the sacred cow of Burmah takes
part, when the bell rang for vespers. A
short time more and the session would ex
pire by law, and the Government has pass
ed no appropriation bill
At this critical juncture one of the Gov
ernment members returned excitedly from
the Premier's room, rushed to the orator.
desk, and exclaimed :-"In the name o.
God, what ails you, Mitchell? What dc
you want p "-still, said Sir Peter, finish
ing the sentence he had ON his lips, mot {
cent has ever been paid for the widow.
cow!'' The member uttered vehement
exclamation about that animal, and added
"Sir John Mackenzie authorizes me to say
that he will pay for the COW, if you'll lei
this bill come to vote"
Sir Peter sat down rather tired, and the
widow got her pay. The Government or
gans declared that the widows cow had cost