The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-24
breath, up to wagon driven by one Of the

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is such u likely ono thought it might worry
through. But guess it amt got much chance
IN This hot sun, and can't wait for il 20 get
hade. Say, he added, pausing with the half
dollar in his hand, "s'pposin' you take 1t Tor
your pay"
| IL wonder il it'l liver said Dick,
"Well, | don't say for sure twill, " said the
mlu. "You will have to take your chances
at that It's only that il you manage TO
bring it round it's we'll worth five dollars TO
YOU, and if you lose il, you lose your fifty
cents. You take your choice, you see. It's
fine breed"
Dick was too good farmer not to be able
90 see at II glance the possibilities that lay in
fine calf.
am take it, " he said.
The man helped him with IL out Of the wa
CON and Dick had hard time getting 1t into
shady place, where he left it lying until he
could bring some cool water. The poor
creature would not, or could not, drink, so
ne bathed its head and then sought the help
I, Of his mother, a reliable counselor in all mat
rers pertaining 10 kindness to dumb animals,
particularly Of the weak and helpless sort.
Nothing better than you have DONE she
and by il will take water if it ever picks up
al all"
She was right Before night the exhaust
ed animal lifted its head and opened its eyes
as if in grateful acknowledgment Of Dicks
care and solicitude. After a few swallows
Of water it willingly took the warm milk
which stood next in the list Of mothers re-
storatives. Dicks father came around and
looked at the invalid Dick told him its his
tory, adding: ITS coming TO like every
thing, father"
Good looking cali" said father with an
approving nod
YES said Dick eagerly. 'I'm going TO
take good care Of it and feed it up, and it'll
make good COW in time. Be worth good
DEAL hey, fatherF
AT my expense, suppose" said father.
Dick had not got so far as to think of that
He had only, as the worn out animal re-
vived, considered one side of the question
the pleasure of raising it by his own care and
becoming after awhile the proud possessor OF
a valuable COW. But here was the other side
presented. His calf must be pastured through
the summer and when winter came on pro-
vided with food and shelter.
"Well-I don't mean just that, said Dick,
after few minutes thought. II want to
keep it here, but ] don't expect to have 1t
kept for nothing / want it to be every bit
mine and nobody else's and I'd like 10 pay
YOU regular rates for it-that is, il you'll
hire me to work, 50 III have something to
pay with"
81 viii, said the farmer, well pleased at
L., ,,t. tod in work pf
kind
Dick, as we have guessed, had high hopes
of the profits he was to make on his calf,
which, as it quickly recovered from the ef-
fects of its march, gave good promise OF not
disappointing him. But he soon began to
realize that it would require = very fair
amount of what his father called good solid
work. in order to provide for his new charge.
He was not naturally fond Of work, ana
more than once felt tempted, when the
weekly pay for the pasturage Of his pet was
coming due, to make IA proposition TO his
father to take the animal Off his hands, pay
ing him fair advance on what he had paid
for it. But his pride always arose between
him and such a way out from under the bur
then he had undertaken. His piece OF live
stock was doing well, increasing in size and
beauty with rapidity which he could al
most see from day to day, and the Older it
grew the less he felt inclined to part with it.
Winter taxed him still more severely. He
was then attending school, and much OF the
time found that it took nearly all his leisure
in the short days to provide for the support
of his fast growing animal.
Don't work the boy too hard,' said
mother, one day.
at won't hurt him bit," said father.
THE vim he's showing, the steady stick to 1t
that it's bringing out of him is worth long
sight more than the calf is.
Right you are" said grandfather. mo,
1t won't hurt him. He gets little time to
take game Of checkers in the evening, don't
her
Sometimes, when he doesn't have to
study" said mother, laughing. HE takes
too much after you, father, to let the check
ers 60"
The calf quickly outgrew her calfhood, de
veloped into dainty young heifer, full Of
grace and beauty in the eyes Of many beside
her proud owner and had settled down into
the dignity OF young matrcn, when one
evening Grandfather Weatherby came over
tHulleHScu Dlth w ~ WV ~ Nhc,kcis'
"I'll do it, sir, but you'll be likely to beat
me all hollow said Dick. "Ihaven't played
very much this long time
He handed the board to the old gentleman,
then stepped up to his room for moment
Grandfather leisurely set his men and then
stood in establishment as Dick took his seat
before the board.
"What-heyi What's all thisf"
Dick was also setting his men-not, how
ever, the red ones that usually played against
the black, but twelve shining gold pieces
He sat back in his chair and laughed at the
old gentleman'S nstonished face before say
ing:
I'm little older than you were, grand
father, when you set your board with silver
pieces, but rs these are gold, don't you think
I'm about even"
"Ho, ho." laughed the old man. "lie said
he couldn't beat me; but am beat-the worst
kndl"
ITS the price OF my cow" said Dick.
Sixty dollars, and cheap enough at that,
father says. Fathers bought her of ME, 50
she stays here on the farm. ] waited TO sell
her and put my money into something else,
but I'd hardly have the heart to let her 60
away Mother says she's the best mixer on
the farm Aud I've kept the calf, SO I'll have
another cow before long
Good for you" said grandfather, approx
,ngly "Npu'ye made a good start Now