Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-07-31
Early DAYS in Pomfret.

A good story is told of Abial Bugbee,
who settled in Pomfret, VT, in the year
1885, A drover who was passing Mr.. Bug
1 bees, as night overlook him stopped with
him and in the morning as he was about
to set out again, he asked Mr.. Bugbee how
he would trade for one of the drove, a no.
BILE looking animal which the drover
claimed would beat any creature he had in
a fight and as she was unruly he would
like to dispose of her. Mr.. b. pleased with
the looks Of this COW offered to trade even
with the drover giving him rather infe-
rior looking COW which he thought would
not give him any trouble in the herd. The
drover snapped at the bargain, the ex-
change was made and the drover went his
way rejoicing while all day MIR. B. chuck
led and laughed to himself thinking of the
trade he had made, indeed most any one
would laugh but he who laughed last
would laugh best in this particular case.
Mr.. Bugbee had large family and the
girls as well as boys MIXED in those days,
so at night after supper he told his daugh-
ter Levina that she might milk this fine
COW which had been taken in exchange
for the one she was accustomed to milk.
Levina took the pail and tripped lightly
out to the barnyard, humming some fa-
miliar air and thinking how nice it was
THAT she was the favored of all in having
such a fine COW assigned to her. For the
reader to understand what will follow a
nice map of the yard should be made
showing the topography and locating the
numerous rocks and puddles OF water but
this we cannot do, we shall leave 1t tothe
imagination of the reader to picture New
England barnyard. Levina sat down by
the COW and commenced to milk, all un-
concerned when she was surprised by the
horns OF the COW coming in contact with
her dress followed by an emphatic kick
with which the COW started and ran. As
all further attempts made by Levina to
get near the COW were futile, at length she
retired to the house and tearfully told her
father hat had happened. She said she
could not milk this COW to which Mr.. b.
positively replied that he could milk her,
SO DOMINIC his hat he HE'D himself to the
barn thinking how lucky it was that ev-
cry family had a man in it who could per-
form such feats as milking cows the gem
tier sex couldn't, so getting his stool he
went up to the COW saying $50 boss, so
boss, so boss while a smile lurked about
his mouth and lit up his countenance
which said plainly, old COW, don't try TO
fool me- In dignifed way he sat down
and was progressing finely, indeed 1t
seemed as though this gentle creature
could not think OF kicking man but he
was not to wait long. The COW commence
ed the operation by turning her head to
caress him, catching her horn under his
suspenders and vest both of which snap
ped in two and then for a goodbye gave
him kick that rolled him over two or
three times on the ground and sent the
pail bouncing about as though it was
made of rubber. Getting up and picking
up the milking stool he found that his
pants having no support were prone TO
TALL to the ground but he held them with
one hand while his vest swung from his
arm and with the stool in the disengaged
hand he approached the COW with, so boss
in the tone of command. The COW ran
wildly about the yard but Mr.. b. know
ing well every rock and path OF the yard
would by sudden turn come near enough
to her TO give her reminder of his pres
ence The noise had reached the house
and Levina ran down to the barn to see
her father milk the COW. She was follow
ed by her mother but the sight was too |
much for them. Mr.. B., all dirt holding
his pants in one hand, his vest floating
out behind like a streamer to tell which |
way the wind blew and he was dealing |
out Justice to the COW with the milking |
stool whenever he got near enough. A |
chuckle from the bars caused him to look |
up, there was Levina laughing. this was |
unladylike for her to laugh at her father
so he said ssBevina, go back to the house. "
Looking up in another direction he saw !
his wife who was quietly taking in the /
situation, to her he said as il surprised, |
'sW hat do you want down here too, Han
nah?n and beginning to realize the ludi- /
crousness of the scene, and having had e
nough exercise for one night be meekly left +
the yard and Levina was never again ask
ed to milk this COW.
D.J RucBEF.