The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-26
Teddy anlnr,a oorzr
n Strange HSiz.up q. shs Husetas Isrs eSs
Rrntna Farmer.

PRoePEor FERRY. Me-, April s3.-If 10 had
been close time for netting smelts, II the cows
had not run away TO the back pasture; n IL
had been q cold spring, 30 the potatoes
would not have sproutcd in the cellars II the
road between his house and the river had been
in a good state of repair, and n all Of these pos
tive and negative conditions had not come to-
gether on last Monday afternoon, Teddy Grant.
a farmer. fisherman here, would not have dis
covered n wandering comet at a time when he
was thinking Of something else, and his neigh
bors would not be laughing at him to-day.
II Ia a custom among down-east farmers to
bring their potatoes out of the cellar and put
them In barrels near the house rs soon as taey
begin TO sprout. In accordance with this prac-
tice, Grant carried out six bushels on last Mon
day afternoon, filling two barrels to the chimes
and having nearly o bushel left over. which he
put in a third barrel. After this he went TO
drive up the cows. passing nearly an hour In
hunting for one. which he failed TO find. Then
he MIXED, nte his supper, and, shouldering his
dip net, went do Sn to the banks Of the Penob-
scot tc catch smelts. He was gone moro than
an hour, and In that time secured about a half
bushel of fish. all Of which were found the
next day. scattered through the bushes.
Soon after Grant went fishing the highway
surveyor came along. and found The road so
bad that he folt compelled 10 hang up q light
near the slough holes TO warn travellers Of
danger. lie no rrowcd n lantern from Mrs.
Grant. and, taking the bar rel that wns partly
filled with potatoes TO hold IL above the mud.
stuck UP his beacon and went home. He had
hardly finished the job when Grants missing
COW came UP from tho pasture. Seeing a
light in the middle OF the road she went to In
vestigate II, and soon had her head far down
in the barrel. reaching. for potatoes. 1t was
well with the COW until she finished the pota-
tpaa md atfnInnfa1 Tn rnDlnNP her head from
the barrel. Then her horns brought, up against
the slaves. and the barrel. with lantern at
tached, was lifted from the mud. when the
dazed animal had made q few dozen turns in
the road. dashed into q barbcd wire fence. and
broken down two small shade trees, che started
of toward the, river at a brisk run. swinging
her tail above her back. and making the Ian
tern wabb!o IKE - " dIssoi nnor wiii, liant nIs r
hour and throwing mud. like a yellow dog
after woodchucks, when she reached the steep
ing his way homo with the smelts. Over
went Grant into a pool, and over him went
looked at the receding COW, yelled twice, and
made for home. leaping all the way and spill
ing smeIts at every bound; ,ouuo, .,o so.-
and wiped Off a little mud from his, clothing;
Grant told his wire about the mishar; and
his absence. He felt sure it was n comet that
had hit him. because the newspapers said that
S"iief lighted and these two conditions agreed
with the manifestations he had observed.
His wife then related what the surveyor had
done. and intimated II might have been the
potato barrel and lantern combination instead
Of n comet. and as they we're both gone she sug-
gested that he had better investigate some
things before announcing his discovery, Ad-
vice of any kind was wasted on Grant, who in
sisted on taking something hot to bed: with
him, where he STAYED until his wife found the
cow caught In a clump of bushes on the shore
and brought her home.
The story would have been kept as a family
secret II Grant had been the only man to go
smelling that night; There were two Others;
however. who stayed longer than Grant and
saw the whole performance; They helped Mrs.
Grant rescue the COW. and then told the story
In the Post Office. Yielding to the weight OF
cvid. nee. Grant has abandoned the comet ny
potf.esis, and is yielding to the local demand
for cigars and other things at his expense.