Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-09-03
DRIVING COWS HOME,


Every Farmers hoy.
There Is one task In connection w,..
the pasturlng Of cows that is gencrnllv
deeply and indelibly impressed uuo.
the memory of the boy who grows I'm
on the farm. That is driving HON.
the cows from pasture at night 4,
this task is often laid upon the small
boy at very early age. about as early
in fact. as he can let down and nut ~,
the bars, the impression 1t leaves apon
the memory is not altogether pleasant
But the boy who can not submit grace.
fully to the inevitable and extract so,na
pleasure out of the most onerous tasks
is LACKING in the usual resources Of ths
ordinary Yankee boy.
Looking back through the glamor n,
nearly half century. many OF the disa.
preeable features OF ''driving home the
cows" fade from view and the pleasant.
er side OF the subject stands out iu full
relief. Although. at first thought, il
did seem rather lonesome TO start IN
alone. after an early tea, and 60 half
mile or more after the cows. the bov
was seldom really lonesome. The fami.
liar sorgsters of the season went with
him as guard OF honor. They chirp.
ned and thrilled for him from every
tree or MULLEN stock or fence corner.
He knew where their nests were and
visited most of them every night 10
see whether there was any more eggs.
or whether the eggs were Matched or
the birdlings were most large enough
to hy. Then he knew where every
woodchuck hole was and would an
proach them stealthily, to see il he
couldn't catch some OF the woodchucks
away from home. and, although ex-
perience had demonstrated to him,
repeatedly. that he could never kill one
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
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 where every black rasp-
berry bush grew, especially the largest
and most luscious and no fruit were
suffered to rot upon the canes. and
those me ting blackberries that grew
in the new clearing, under tho very
shadows of the tall sugar NAPLES, were
-, reese we'd for the palate OF the faithful
, COW boy.
But, on the other hand. there are an.
, noyances that sorely try the patience
of the COW boy. Although nearly all
the cows are near the bars waiting Tor
they.l to be let down, that they may 60
y, 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 a
). distance just for that perverse COW.
g We fear when he does reach her, she
q becomes the subject OF some pretty
s energetic remarks and if the pebbles
- don't fly at her. it must be because her
II COW boy is decided exception. And
=, then we fear that COW has to travel un-
in not altogether consistent with the
In largest yield of the purest milk.
=, And when the cows are all in the
. lane the tribulations OF the boy do no
~ entirely cease Cows have a great re
n spect for rank and authority. Th'
h. boss COW generally leads and the sub
10 jected follow in the order Of their &C
Id knowledged consequences The leade
ad elects to proceed with slow AM
rt pompous dignity, and il any benin
no her venture to crowd, she stops ant
he deliberately proceeds to administe
lie punishment The weaker drift to tn
ar rear and there is no use OF the drive
urging the rear ran6s for they can pre-
nj coed no faster than the leaders choos
or 20 permit But the driver has one IT
IN course. the ever handy one
IN. the small boy-stones II he ca
.rv hurl stones SO as to hit the leadt
mr. he can quicken her gait and so relic,
he the blockade.
de A great deals depends upon the MAJ
IN. ner in which the cows are driven hon
m. as to the profits of the dairy. The
can very easily be so driven as to a
feet the yield of milk and its qualit
also. If boys or men are permitted
'ge brighten and hurry them. it is qui
-. likely to render them Improbable,
American Rural Home.