The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-20
LESSONS ON THE FARM.

Ned. II guess when he goes home he'll
think city chap can learn little
something on a farm"
/ Hmm shifted the hired man. eye
needn't pose you're a-goin' ter dew al
the teachin'. They larn some mighty
Gurus things down ter them New York
skewls nowadays"
But the boys were not convinced
They only looked at each other and
winked as they went on with then
work. Ben was turning the grlndstone
for the hired man to sharpen hisscythe.
Ned was slowly pouring on the water
in tiny stream from the tin dipper
| Across the yard little Annie was
swinging on the stout gate at the end
! of the gravel walk. Every time the
gate swung out beyond the hedge which
separated the farm from the grass
bordered village road the little girl
took a long look down the road;
and when, at the other end of
the exhilarating little journey, it
| shut together with sharp
bang that would have jerlSed less ex-
perienced rider from her position, the
child glanced up to the window where
mamma sat sewing and then to the
! door of the shed near which her broth
ers were at work, and shook her small
head in way that clearly said: Not
yet"
Cousin Archie was coming from the
Papa had gone to the station to meet
him: mamma had cooked great pans Of
cookies and doughnuts, and baked sew
eral extra pies and chocolate layer
cake; and the two boys, Ben and Ned,
were prepared to slip behind the barn
out Of sight at a moments notice.
At last came glad cry from the
gate: Here they come! here they
comet" A flying figure disappeared up
the road to return seated in triumph
on her fathers knee, driving with her
small Drowned hands the noble span of
great farm-horses.
''Archie has never seen cow
MIXED his mother had written, ''or
watched the hen with her chickens, or
seen the pigs fed, or1heard the croal1-
ing of the frogs, or picked berries. I'm
sure he will be very happy with you,
for he is always eager to learn. and his
cousins can teach him SO much that
will be new and interesting"
''Such little greenie!" Ben had
said, with much Importance. 'Proba-
bly, he won't know hen from tur-
key. and will think the pigs ought to
take morning bath every day before
breakfast" Ben was thirteen years
old, and so was, of course, very wise
at least so thought Ned. who was only
eleven, and Annie who was but nine
just Archie's age.
want to 60 after the cows with u.s."
invited Ben, soon after Archie's arrival
that afternoon.
yes, indeed, assented Archie.
"Where are they?"
They're attending social down by
the bars" said Ben. eve can't send a
carriage for them tonight, so we'll
have to go down and see them home"
Glow funny he talks" thought
Archie. "He must be very droll boy.
/ am sure l shall like him." but he said
nothing.
Took it all in. didn't he?" chuckled
Ned. He'll learn some things before
he's day older.r','
Cows look SO large when they are
coming straight toward you. Archie
was not in the least used to such ia
miliarity; and although his cousins
would have been more terror-stricken
in crossing Broadway. they were great
" amused to see him dodge and make
for stone wall when a peaceful old
cow came leunging toward him.
''Wave your arms at EN-" instructed
little Annie. ''You can shoe 'em most
as easy as hens!''
Now" asked Ben, (which shall l
show you frst-the one from which we
milk molasses, or the one which gives
kerosene?"
''Ha! ha! har laughed Archie, cor.
daily. What droll boy you are!
But, Cousin Ben, wish you'd just hold
one of their mouths open moment, SC
! could look down and see the gullet
where the cud goes first
What do you mean, Cousin Archie?"
Annie asked.
why. You know the COW carries
sort of lunch basket around with her."
explained -~chie. merrily. when she
finds nice clump of grass she bites it
off and rolls it up with her tongue into
a ball. and packs it away in a kind of
pouch Then when she's where she
can't feed, she brings it up. and chews
and chews on it. and that time il goes
down into her stomach and is digested.
| wonder"-he broke off, turning TO
the boys-''if COW ever chews the
same cud over twice? Does she?'
I'm sure l don't know" confessed
Ben.
Cows had always been so familiar to
them. neither Ben nor Ned had ever
thought of studying them in this way.
This cow is chewing her cud," an
nounced Ben. rather ashamed not 70 do
what his cousin asked yet not daring
TO attempt it.
Down on his knees Archie watched
eagerly. Why" he said. in surprise,
''she seems 70 bring it mp from serne-
where down in her stomach. thought
perhaps she had a pouch in her cheeks,
same as the little harvest mouse and
some kind of monkeys do
Ben was making great show Of let
ting one Of the cows lap salt from his |
hand.
How brave you are cried his small !
cousin. do you suppose III ever dare /
do ito"
Its easy enough" answered Ned, !
giving another cow handful of meal. /
They like salt and meal
Yes. know they ike salt. No ami /.