The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-04-12
AN AMBITIOUS COW.
African Ike Succeeds in Telling Story
 Tn Whieh Truth is Scarce

Tn "DlSE Truth IS oCAgSc.
 old African Ike sat under the mui- berry tree near his cabin, singing the aimless song Of spnng. Every old man who has lived in close relationship with nature, who has fondly watched the young corn and espeotan,ly unused over the cabbage as |. folds is leaves in gradual maturity. sings some sort oi song when the early morning ar IS soft and the sun seems to melt his beams and pour the molten glory on the earth.
 Doan pu, yer heofs on dat mustard bed,' he called, AS young Mulkiule ap- ] preached. sprouts IS mighty ten CT an chiish now. Hoo, ha, hie hoo" con- tinuing 10 hum his tune. "Set down on de kag, honey. Got no,hin' ter ca, bout yer cloze? What F., boy whu,s eo, de gospul fur his daddy oughtcr toa, cake in his pockets. Fl wuz in verse is place. l I'd ,oat hot bread an CT can CT milk CT roun' wid me-
 You are always hungry, Uncle Ike.
 Wy, honey eats lcss'n any pusson in dis town
 Well, you ate always thinkin' abou, eatin'
 Oats whar yer's wrong Ef had my way l wouldns ca, no mo, bu, de scripiurs tells me ter eat on de face O de yea,h. Oats de reason does dc mos o my eaiin out dos. I'd like ter hab cup CT milk right dis mint, fur l,se erfeered da, l am CT kecpin' up wid dem scripturs like ough,er. Oars suthin' de matter wid de present genera lion O COWS. Dems big words, honey, whut chile doan' know no,hin erbout Law bless yer, when ibed in Africa. de COWS beat anything yer eber seed.'
 Tell me abou, 'em."
 "l doan' blebe da, il woui be,rcatin' de scripturs right, fur man oughtenter talk erbout' em. dam ef he should. De Lawd. did yer heah me swar: Run ter de house, honey ,an' git some milk ter take de tase O da, cuss outen my mouf Run erlong CT de ole man will ketch CT mighty punish ment"
 The boy. fearful ,ha, h.s old friend would be punished. ran to the house and soon returned with a cup of milk
 An" said the old man. after taking swallow, !" da; takes de sulphur out. Ah, as he drained the cup.
 Was there sulphur in your mouth 7"
 "Yas, honey
 An did the milk take i, ou,2'
 Took 1t righ, out
 No il didn't. for you swallowed the milk an the sulphur. Why didn', you spi, it ou,:'
 Look CT heah. Yer mus'n't ax dem sorter questions. IL amt ngh,. Yer doan un'crs,an' de merikle O de book O lob. Ef yer'l promise ter bring me some mo milk dis cochin, I'll tell yer bout dem cows whut my daddy had in Africa"
 The boy promised, and the old man continued
 One o de cows Tn pertioGlsr wuz de mes milk giber ID de Ian. Desc COWS whu, yer see erroun heah doan gib TO m,lk Acr haster pen 'em up an take Il erway from era, bu. ole Pink. aha; 'longed ter us. want dat soFter COW. We neber had TO trouble wid her. Us;eT- pu; bucket out on de fence, an when 
 Pink seed I. d4r. she Snow'd whu, ter do. She'd take ce bucket, milk herse'f, an den take de buckc; on her horns, fetch Il ter house an st, t on de she f We ailds lef' de u.tke; on de fence at night, an m de E.a Fnla ven we got up, dar WIZ de bucket O milk or de shrf. Co'se d.s pleased daddy nightly, an fer ebcry bucket O mix. ne i1cs Ter s.5.n' de oow hne grass an hay. Ar.er wniie de milk geaier gi, bad |: 70, so thin da, ~e cou!du' hardly dr7k k 'C'Gded d-t i'd watch d.. ~ow. Al soon orc maNnia l heard raigE.y racket Al de well. slipped 'roaa dar. ar bess yer. ole Pink wuz CT 6ra~- ln ~a,eE 4n' pom l, in CT tub. Patty soon she dipped up CT backe: bcu, hal 1 full an der let do9n de milk. Vas, honey, seem da, we ~er rcxardin' her, sac los sigh: . her honesress in grabbin' ailter gain. Yer,ll in CT grca, deal CT is sorer worxin's h dis life, honey, fur when p-sscn $ got mo 'bi,ion der