The Van Buren press., 1893-07-15


ting one of the cows lap salt from his
hand.
"How brave you are!' cried his small
cousin. do you suppose I'll ever dare
do it?"
ITS easy enough" answered Ned,
giving another COW handful of meal.
"Ihey like salt and meal"
"Yes, know they like salt. No ami
NAL could live without it, But don't
you think the COW is the most interest
ing animal you know"
"oh, no" answered Ben, quickly. 81
like elephants and tigers and lions! Did
you ever see any of them?"
"Oh, yes" answered Archie, simply;
I'VE learn about all the animals in
school and in our Natural History club.
Why, even when l was a baby in the
kindergarten we learned all the uses OF
the cow-aren't there lots of them?
And yet I'd never seen COW milked, or
been very near one. Isn't it stranger"
The cows and oxen aren't so useful
now as they used to be-" instructed
Ben, wisely. "You don't see many
oxen used around here. OF course they
still get milk and all kinds of beef
from them, and leather, but that's
about all.
"And glue" added Archie, "and hair
for plaster; and they use the bones and
horns for ever so many things"
''Glue-from cow!" exclaimed Ben,
incredulously.
eyes, indeed!' answered Archie,
"from the hoofs and ears and odd bits
of hide-and glue is used for SO many
things. Did you know it was used to
glaze paper and straw hats? l didn't,
till | went into straw shop and a
paper-mill."
NO. admitted the two brothers, be-
coming interested.
"And cows hair" he added, "is the
very best thing to mix with plaster to
make it firm and strong, you know.
Buttons are made from the horns and
bones, and knife-handles and combs
and brushes"
dear me.' cried Annie, with shin
ing eyes, $50 many things counting
them up on her fingers, ''beef and milk
and they use milk for ever so many
things-butter and cheese and ice
cream!' smac1ing her lips. "Do you
ike cream on berries, Archie?" she
asked. suddenly.
eyes, indeedr' replied Archie. 81
suppose your cream is SO much better
than that we have, shall hardly know
what it is. We use condensed milk to
make ice-cream; but new cream must
be much nicer"
There just notice that hen," cried
Ben, determined not to relinquish his
scheme without one more attempt.
THAT hen, roosting on the apple-tree,
hasn't got a tooth in her head"
"She must keep them in her stomach" :"
laughed Archie; then, thinking that if
this was the style of joking his cousins
enjoyed he would join in it, he added:
and not single one of your COWS has
any front teeth on the upper jaw
''Oh, yes, they have, said Ned, quick
ly. "Our cows are all right"
And Ben asked: "What makes you
think so?"
"Why, don't you know?" asked the
young natural history enthusiast, ey-
ing them in surprise, "a COW never
has any front teeth on her upper jaw"
SIS that so?" said Ben, carelessly,
trying to conceal his ignorance and
chagrin. perhaps we'd better go in
to supper now, Cousin Archie" Then,
he added heartily: I'm awful glad
you're going to spend a few weeks with
us. You've had a chance to learn SO
much we never thought of. We shall
have jolly times together"
Iknew we would.'' exclaimed Archie,
cordially. because you can teach me so
many things don't know. Now, can
hardly tell pear tree from an apple or
cherry tree"
"Is that SOP" asked Ben, however,
with much respect even for his cousins
ignorance. "Well, perhaps we can
teach you some things"
"Waal! wall" chuclsled the hired
man, as he strained the white foaming
froth from the milk. "Fer nine-year-
old, thet ther leetle city chap does beat
all possessed. I'm right glad his pesly
young cousins hes diskivered thet the
teachin' amt a-goin' ter be all on their
side. 1t II do 'em sight o. good. y
Hattie Louise Jerome, in Harpers
Young People.