Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-03

IBlaisde1Ps fal1ow was not fenced, and
the drovers were making their bes
efforts to keep the restless herd from
straying among the logs and bushes.
It would be unlike farmers boy
not to offer his mite of help in such al
emergency. Dick took his stand il
the thinly manned line and by dint O
persistent shouting and brandishine
of branches gave valuable aid. In thu
course of time the drove had passed
by, with the exception of one lively
steer which had made its way far into
the fa1lOw.
..ru give you fifty cents If you'll
get that critter out for me-" said the
drover to Dick.
'.Ho! that'll do for my nest egg.
said Dick to himself. '.I'll do it, mis-
ter" he added aloud.
Picking his way among briers and
bushes until he got the steer between
himself and the road. by little clever
maneuvering and good deal of activ-
ity, he before long succeeded in send
ing the animal trotting after the rest
of the herd, now some distance down
the road. And then Dick came. out
of breath. up to a wagon driven by
one of the drovers, to receive his we'll
earned pay.
Poor thing" he said. looking at a
calf which lay in the wagon. gasping
as if in great suffering. lis it sickp'
'.Not SO much as overdriven," said
the man. 1--WE had only few such
young ones-fact is, don't hold to
| taking such, but it is such likely one
I thought it might worry through.
But I guess it amt got much chance
in this hot sun, and can't wait for it
to get shade. Say" he added. paus-
ing with the half-dollar in his hand,
"s'posin' you take it for your pay"
81 wonder if it will liveP" said Dick.
'.Well. don't say for sure twill, {"
said the man. you'll have to take
your chances at that It's only that if
you manage to bring it round it's we'll
worth five dollars to you, and if you
lose, you lose your fifty cents. You
take your choice, you see. It's a fine
breed"
Dick was too good farmer not to
be able to see at a glance the POSSIBLE
tiles which lay in a fine calf
'I'll take it.. he said.
The man helped him with it out of
the wagon, and Dick had a hard time
getting it 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 he
bathed its head and then sought the
help of his mother, a reliable coun-
selor in all matters pertaining to kind
ness to dumb animals, particularly of
the weak and helpless sort.
Nothing better than you have
DONE" she said. "Let it lie in the
shade and rest. BY and by it will take
water if it ever picks up at all.''
She was right. Before night the
exhausted animal lifted its head and
opened its eyes as if in grateful &C
acknowledgement of Dicks care and soli-
citude. After a few swallows of water
it willingly took the warm milk which
stood next in the list of mothers
restoratives. Dicks father came
around and looked at the invalid.
Dick told him it's history. adding:
''It's coming to like every thing,
father"
Good looking calf" said father,
with an approving nod.
Eyes. said Dick. eagerly. ''rm
going to take good care of it and feed
it up. and it'll make a good COW in
time. Be worth a good deal. hey,
father?"
':At my expense, 1 SUPPOSED" said
father.
Dick had not got so far as to think
of that. He had only, as the WORKOUT
animal revived, considered one side of
the questionable pleasure of raising
it by his own care and becoming after
awhile the proud possessor of valu-
able COW. But here was the other
side presented. His calf must be
pastured through the summer, and
when winter came on provided with
food and shelter.
''Well--I don't mean just that" said
Dick. after a few moments thought.
II want to keep it here. but don't
expect to have it kept for nothing. I
want it to be every bit mine and no.
body else's, and I'd like to pay you
F0SuidF rdtcS lOr 1G-budU Is, IL you'll
hire me to work, so I'll have some
thing to pay with"
81 will" said the farmer, we'll
pleased at seeing the boy interested in
work of any 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 effects of it's 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.
and more than once felt tempted. when
the weekly pay for the pasturage Of
his pet was coming due, to make q
proposition to his father to take the
animal off his hands. paying him a fair
advance on what he had paid for it.
But his pride always arose between
him and such q way out from under
the burthen he had undertaken. His
piece of livestock was doing well. in
-~N,sirr in size and beauty with q