The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-19
Mully.

Mully has ROue, Sdiu MI hOoi cu
tering the cosy kitchen of his comfort
able farmhouse in a small southern
Vermont Village, one frosty January
morning and setting his empty pail in
its place upon the shelf.
Gone! Where?" asked all the
family, from grandpa to little Fannie.
THAT is question. There is neith-
er hide, hair nor hoof-mark to be seen.
She has hardly touched the hay in her
manger, 80 she must have been stolen
in the early part of the night"
But the barn was locked" said
grandpa II locked it myself"
The lock seemed all right when
went out, but those old padlocks are
common enough. Some one had key
that fitted" said Mr.. Lee dolefully.
"What could any one do with stol-
en- COW ?''
"Put her in drove and take her to
Brighton. We shall never see her
again. There is no use in trying to fol-
low her, for we have no clue"
"Never see Mully again Do you
hear that pussy cat? What shall we
DO for milk ?" and taking her pet kit
ten, little Fannie went away to the
window to hide her tears.
Presently she said: II can see Null
ly. She is looking out of the upstairs
window in the barn.,
"Little girls must not tell wrong
stories, ), said gran lima from her chair
by the fire.
"She is there" persisted Fannie.
$50 she is. Much obliged, bright
eyes," said her father, and away he
went, followed by grandpa and all the
boys; and in very short space of time
all the men and boys In the neighbor-
hood were grouped in front of the
barn.
"She became loose in some way, and
thought she wonld find out whether
there was hay enough on hand to last
until spring. Here are marks of ner
hoOfs on the stairs"
"She certainly went up all right.
The problem is how to get her down."
1t was impossible to make her 60 near
the stairs.
Back her down." said the black
smith !; but that was not success.
"We shall be obliged to tie ropes q.
round her, and take some boards. off
the end of the bran, near the window,
and swing her down."
"She is fat enough to make very
good beef" said the postmaster.
"Better slaughter her, and say no more
about it. / will take quarter. You
will break her legs swinging her out in
the way you PROPOSE
"There il derrick over at the slate
LEDGE" said the doctor. "You can
take my long sled and horses, and 90
over and get it,"
"And we will 60 and have a sleigh
ride" chorused the boys.
"Why don't you put the hay that is
in the barn chamber out on the ground
and then she can walk out herself
piped little Fannie from grandpa's
shoulders.
"That solves the problem, ,, cried the
doctor. "Three cheers for little Fan !'
Il They were given with will, and al
set to work, some taking boards off the
barn, and some moving the hay, and
very soon Madam Mully walked com
} placently down over an inclined plane
of dry clover to the ground, and walk
ed back in dignified way to the stall
This made Mully locally famous
/ and little Fannie for long time was
: embarrassed by peoples saying:
} "Oh, this is the bright little girl wht
: discovered the lost cow in the barr
chamber, and then suggested u way t.
make her come down."
Little Fan is woman now, but sh,
says that experience has been a lessor
, to her never to jump at conclusions
and never to accuse any one until they
:. were proved to be guilty q
. Work.