Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-09-14
DRIVING COWS HOME.
q Task Impressed on the Memory "a
Every Farmers nsy.

q Task Impressed on the Memory ss
Every Farmers Bsy.
There Is one task In connection with
che pasturing Of cows that Is generally
deeply and indelibly impressed upon
the memory Of the boy who grows up
on the farm. That Is driving home
the cows from pasture at night As
this task Is often laid upon the small
boy at a very early age. about as early.
In fact. as he can let down and put up
the bars. tho impression II leaves upon
the memory Is not altogether pleasant
But the boy who can not submit grace
IA ly 10 the Inevitable and extract some
pleasure out OF the most onerous tasks
Is LACKING in the usual resources OF tho
ordinary Yankee boy.
Looking back through the glamor OF
nearly half u century. many OF the disa-
greeable iestures of driving home the
cows" fade from view and the PLEASANT
or side Of the subject stands out Ia full
relief Although. at first thought. 1t
did seem rather lonesome 10 start on
alone. after an early tea, and go half
amile or more alter the cows. the boy
was seldom really lonesome. The fami-
liar songsters OF the season went with
him rs a guard OF honor. They chirp-
ped and thrilled for him from eva~y
tree or MULLEN stock or fence coruer.
He knew where their nests we're and
visited most OF them every night to
sea whether there was any more eggs.
or whether the eggs were hatched or
the birdlings we're most large enough
TO fly. Then he knew where every
woodchnck hole was and would ap-
proach them steaithily, 10 see II he
couldn't catch some OF the woodchucks
away from home. and. although ex-
perience had demonstrated 10 him.
repeatedly. that he could never XIII ono
with club before he would get into
his hole. still he would continue TO re-
peat the effort A woodchuck will
stand great deal OF pounding by g
boy. with club, unless you hit him In
the right spot on his nose. when he
will keel over very quickly The small
boy also knew whore every black rasp-
berry bush grew. especially the largest
and most luscious aud no fruit were
suffered to rot upon the canes. and
those me ting blackberries that grew
In the new clearing. under the very
shadows OF the tall sugar naples. were
reserved for the palate OF the faithful
COW boy.
But, on the other hand. there are an
uoyances that sorely try tho patience
OF the COW boy. Although nearly all
the COWS are near the bars waiting tor
them 10 be lot down, that they may go
TO the barn and be relieved OF their ac-
cumulated treasures. one or two. as II
possessed OF an evil spirit OF perversity.
will remain away on the further side OF
the field and the boy must go quite
distance just for that perverse COW.
We fear. when he does reach her, she
becomes the subject OF SONS pretty
energetic remarks and II the pebbles
don't fly at her. II must be because her
COW boy is decided exception. And
then we fear that COW has TO travel un-
I'll abe overtakes the others ut rate
not altogether consistent with the
largest yield OF the purest milk.
And when the cows are ali In the
lane the lribulations OF the boy do not
entirely cease. Cows have a great re-
spect for rank and authority. The
boss COW generally leads and the SUBJ
jected follow In the order OF their ac-
knowledged consequence. The leader
elects to proceed with slow and
pompous dignity. and II any behind
her venture TO crowd, she stops and
deliberately proceeds TO administer
punishment The weaker drift 10 the
rear and there Is no use OF the driver
urging the rear ran<s for they can pro-
eeed no faster than tho leaders choose
20 permit But the driver has one re-
course, the ever handy one OF
the small boy-stones II he can
hurl stones so as 10 hit the leader
he can quicken her gait and so relieve
the blockade,
A great dcals depends upon the man
ner In which the cows are driven home
as to the profits OF the dairy. They
can very easily be so driven as to AZ
feet the yield Of milk and its quality.
also. II boys or men are permitted 10
frighten and hurry them. It Is quite
likely TO render them Improbable. :
American Rural Home