Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-07-21
The Minister'S Calf.


BY REV. E. y. EiChf JEp.
This has been al unusually busy week
with me. have been spending a large
part OF my time out Of doors | had
calf, stout, healthy. boy calf. took
good care OF him till last Monday morning.
and then he was four weeks old, and by
the laws Of the State OF Maine he could be
sold to the gentleman who converts calf
into veal. | left him eating, or lmbipng
his breakfast. while | went into the house
for mine When | went out TO the stable
again there was no calf. We found him
In grove near by, running up and down
among the trees with all the abandon Of
newly obtained freedom. A rope five feet
long was tied about his neck, but that did
not impede his progress. Ny boy and
proceeded 10 catch that calf, but not so
far as to catch him. He was too quick
for us by several seconds to the rod.
Finally he took a grand spurt over the
garden and into the woods.
Well, | have hunted, my family has
hunted, my neghbors nave joined in, a
dog has been put on the scent. but that
calf is non est iHreRtus. 1t has naturally
created good deal Of interest in the
parish. Ministers who own calves are not
very plentiful down here, while ministers
who lose calves IN the deep tangled wild
wood have hitherto been absolutely TN
known. But it is my reputation now that
| have calf just ready to convert into
four dollars cash-tw0 years subscription
to The Tribune ranging through the
thousand acres that cover the center of
this peninsula. The question now is
Have you got your calf:'
You can't imagine how l dread going
out of doors In the morning. | have done
everything to recapture the brute that
can think Of. I've tramped the town
woods through every day so far this week.
I've led the old COW up and down the road
with bell on her so | shouldn't lose
herr, I've hitched her out to roar herself
insane. Eve driven my horse in and out
the woods when | was too tired to walk
I've worked all day and dreamed all night
about that calf. Not that | care a copper
for him. but | don't want folks to saw |
haven't any mercy on dumb beast. It's
raining now and I'm glad of it, hope it
will rain the rest of the week, so | can't
be expected to spend the rest of my life
| in the woods.
! LATER-The calf story ended Thursday
1t was raining; but instead of getting that
rest which | anticipated from rainy day.
boy came to my door before l was up,
and in great excitement announced that
! he had got the calf, and wanted me to
come and help catch him. He was too
excited to explain what he meant by "hav.
ing" the beast and still having to catch
him. but soon found that it was the last
part of the story that was fact. The
/, calf had been heard bleating so loud tina,
every one, except me, supposed he was
| close by their back doors. took the COW
along with me this time.
We located the calf in pasture about
as large as New Mexico, with good strip
of Alaska annexed. | spent the best par,
| of the forenoon-cow and I-marching up
and down that mountainous pasture. She
would not leave me and 60 hunt up the
| calf. l don't know what she thought we
were tramping over that endless pasture
for, and l couldn't seem to explain it to
her comprehension. She had been deco
rated with loud bell, on the suppositiou
that she would dart into the woods and
we should have to hunt her up too; but
when / saw that nothing could induce heI
to get out of my sight, and the bell KEEP
up such a clangor that it was likely to
| frighten the mysterious and invisible calf
/ took it off-and we tramped on. | came
to fence at last; and to get away from
the COW jumped over and came home
| leaving her to shift for herself. She
'shifted" SO WELL that in less than fifteer
minutes, should say, she came to the
barn, bringing the fatted calf with her.
He had not fatted up much, but had &C
quired an appetite that bids fair to make
him the biggest calf in town. if he oncs
gets 1t satisfied [Rockland Tribune.