Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-24

"sYou're blasted heather, any,
how cried Bill. This train has got
to stop, for 1 am bound to get some
milk for that baby
hadn't you better keep a civil tongue
in your Jaws? Otherwise you're likely
to get them jaws broke and likewise
put off the cars
"The talk of the two was so loud
and threatening that some of the pas
sengers heard it. Jumping upon one
of the seats, Hiram addressed the pas
sengers: Ladies and gentlemen said
he, but most especially ladies, I want
your kind attention. On this train
in this car-there is little baby whose
mother is just dead. That baby is go
ing to perish right before your eyes for
the want of drop of milk. Here is a
conductor that won't stop this train so
as to save the life of that poor little
child. l put it to you-shall this train
stop so that can get some milk, or are
you willing that the baby should die,
all on account of lunkhead of a con-
ductOr?'
BY jabers! Dime wild you and the
young woman livery tonne, said big
Irishman.
Dat is jous so,' chimed in Ger
man. Then all the women joined in a
chorus, and cried Shame! shame!'
But said the conductor, some
what scared 1T the storm he had raised.
There isn't any milk at the next stop
ping place, nor at the next station
neither
Cant you stop at some farm
house them asked Hiram.
There isn't house along the line
of road for the next twenty-five miles
There must be cows somewhere
in the pastures insisted Hiram B.
Stebbins.
And who's to milk them, provid-
ing we see any?' asked the conductor,
scratching his head.
IS is there any lady in this car that
can milk a cow?' inquired Hiram. No
one responding, it seemed likely that
no milkmaid was aboard.
We'll, | can milk a cow said HI
ram. Il MIXED herd of 'em twenty
five years ago, and am not ashamed of
it. Now, Mr.. Conductor, that you
seem more amenable to reason, you
will allow me to go forward, and when
l spot COW the engineer has got to
stop the train, for l am bound to find
some milk for that baby
ON, the dear, thoughtful man.!
said all the women, and Bully for you!
cried the men.
''Stebbins went forward and took his
place at the engine, and l followed him.
Cows were scarce in that prairie re-
gion. Steers there were in plenty, and
horses, but no cows. Sometimes the
train would slack up for moment, as
some cattle were seen in the distance,
but they were not of the milkable kind.
A half-hour passed, when away off,
across some fences, 4 half-mile distant,
a real, true cow was seen quietly graz
ing. She was a red COW, just that
color said to give the sweetest milk.
Hiram's quick eye had sighted her at
once. He made a motion to stop the
train. and we downed brakes without
whistling, for we were afraid to brighten
off that COW. One Of the brakemen had
a tin butter kettle. and that had been
the full run.
'.For strange man to get to close
quarters with strange cow is no easy
matter. Hiram 3. was evidently
master in the art of cow-cOrralling. At
first the cow seemed to avoid Hiram.
She turned and doubled. and we were
afraid he would lose her. We could all
see the cow stalking from the cars, and
the excitement was intense. Hiram B.
managed things beautifully. May be
she was q kind of providential COW. He
was bold. yet conciliatOry. At last
Hiram, after q quarter of an hours
hard work, cornered that COW. What if
she were dry? No; she wasn't. There
was Hiram 3. on his knees. working
away on-the cow for dear life. We all
waved our handkerchief to him and
the COW. At last he seemed to have
drained the COW dry. There were fences
to climb and some of them barbed-wire
ones. What if Hiram should drop his
butter kettle or spill its precious con-
tents? Finally he reached the cars,
and never was a hero more warmly
greeted: even the conductor was pleas
ant to him. The men followed them
selves hoarse, and some of the women
cried, they were that excited. One old
lady just smothered Hiram B. Stebbins
with her kisses. Anyhow, that poor
baby got his fill of good, sweet, fresh
milk. stopped crying, and came through
safer
'.No sequel?" asked some of the
listeners.
Not that l know of. Hiram didn't
marry the pretty girl who was taking
care of the baby. l met him three
weeks ago going north from Atlanta.
He was still travelling in feathers and
women's tixings. He gave me a kind
of surly nod-the oldest old rough dia-
mond you ever 'skeered up. IN. Y.
Times.