Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-07-19
Their Trip TO The Country.


oT bought another horse
Mrs. Bowser the event of our lile Is
about to happen.
.'What is it"
"You know Gregg Wen, Gregg owns
little farm out here about twelve miles.
There's a good house on it, and he says we
can occupy it for the summer We viii
have a cow and a horse. pigs, poultry and
other stock, and wen go out there aud tan
up and get fat, and have the best time in
the world"
i don't think much of the idea, Ar
Bowser."
You dou't! You dou't want cool breezes
fresh eggS-fresh berries-rich milk
songs of birds-lowing of kline and rest
from care.7
.'You will be disappointed if you expect
any such thing
II viii, eh' Perhaps don't know what
the country is. You are always ready to
throw cold water on my plans. l shall
60, anyhow
That was the beginning, and at the end
of three days | yielded, woman-like
knew we should he back in four or five
! days, however. and arranged with the
| cook accordingly. One Monday morning
We took the train and started having en-
| gagged farmers daughter to take charge
of the kitchen, and at the nearest station
we were met by farmer and his lumber
wagon. The sun poured down its hottest.
and as we logged and jolted along the far
mer queried of Mr. Bowser:
Come out for your health, | supposed"
eve did. All! this country air has al
ready refreshed me-"
HAS, ehl Well, there's heaps of it, and
I'm thinking you'll get all you want in
about week. I think a city chap is
blamed fool to come out here"
do youl Why, the doctors recommend
ed it. That boy ought to gain a pound a
day, and | am sure my wife will brace
right up with these pastoral scenes before
her eyes"
''The doctors and pastoral scenes be
durned!" growled the farmer as he turned
to his horses, and those were the last words
he uttered until he landed us at the gate.
1t was a comfortable frame house, and
did not observe the surroundings until a.
ter dinner. 1t struck me that Mr. Bowser
had suddenly lost his enthusiasm, but |
didn't know why until | got out Of doors
The barn had fallen in, giving it weird
and lonely look; most Of the fencing was
down, gust of wind had laid the smoke
house on its back. and nearly every tree
and bush about the house was dead or dy-
ing.
'Is this one of the pastoral scenes you
referred tor | asked Of Mr.. Bowser.
''There you go," he snapped ''You
can't expect things to look as nice out here
as in Central Park. We came for the bal
my breezes and the rest"
Didn't you say we should hear the note
of quails and whippoorwills'"
Yes, but don't rush business They
will come around in due time
''You spoke of hunting hens eggs in the
meadow grass"
$50 we will-come on"
He made dash for "A big patch of bur
docks near the back door, got tangled up
in the ruins of barrel. and when he got
up he had a cut on his shin and his nose
was bleeding. He tried to make light of
the affair, but it was hard work. When |
asked after the horse and vehicle in which
we were to take our morning jaunts he
walked down to the barn yard and pointed
out raw -boned old yellow horse, so weak
that he could not brush the flies away, and
a onehorse wagon, quaint enough to have
taken its place in a museum.
You'll have our photographs taken at-
ter we all get seated in that rig, won't
you'" | asked.
"Thats it--just as | expected Mrs. Bow
| ser, what did you come out here forl'
Because you obliged me to-"
Il did eh! Not by long shot You came
to restore Your health and to give our child
a chance for his life 1t will be the max
ing of him. No more doctor bills for US"
For dinner we had some salt pork, pota-
toes, bread and butter and coffee. When
Mr. Bowser hinted about fresh eggs the
girl replied that the only hens which ever
contributed eggs were now engaged in the
incubator business. When he asked for
cream for his coffee she replied tnat the
COW hadn't come up that morning. As for
| fresh vegetables, the season had been so dry
| that none had matured.
In the afternoon Mr.. Bowser swung his
hammock in the orchard. This was some
thing he hal dotted on for a week. He had
scarcely dropped into it when three or four
caterpillars dropped onto him, and he put
in the rest of the afternoon on the hard
boards of the veranda. The COW came
sauntcring up about ) o'clock, covered with
flies and mosquitoes, and the girl limited to
Mr.. Bowser that he was expected to milk.
''0h, certainly" he replied 81 wouldn't
give a cent for farm life unless | could
milk COW or two. | used to sing a ballad
while l was milking"
The girl and I watched him as he took
the pail and stool and approached the COW.
The COW also watched him. Folks gener
ally sit down on the right hand side of
COW to milk. Mr.. Bowser took the other side
We saw the COW regard aim with amaze
ment and contempt, and this was increas-
ed as he worked away for four or five min
utes without bringing a drop of milk.
"What are you trying to do'' ! called to
him from the gate.
"Mrs Bowser, when | want to learn any
thing about COW I'll ask you for the in
formation. ] think / know my business"
SO did the COW. She had been fooled
with enough, and she suddenly planted
hoOf against Mr.. Bowser with such vigor
that he tumbled over in a confused heap.
Between US we got him into the house and
the girl finished the milking. Mr.. Bowser
recovered from the shock after a while, and
| felt it my duty to inquire:
Mr. Bowser, don't you think a week of
these pastoral scenes will be enough for
usi'
"No, nor six weeksl' he growled. Moth
ing would do but you must get into the
country, and now I'll give you enough of
T."
why, Mr.. Bowser!'
''You needn't why Mr. Bowser mel You
gave me no peace until | agreed To come, |
and now I'll remain here five straight |
years."
When the summer sun went down and !
the stars came ont we were not as happV |