The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-08
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BY NELLIE BURNS.

not felt such zeal for years and years He
did not stop to weigh the practical issues
OF the question, as to cost labor, and what
he would do with the cumbersome body of
, a stuffed COW. At the first conception of
the idea, he accepted it completely and
conclusively as fitting and pleasant thing
for him to do in honor of Betty's past
virtues.
In this inspired frame of mind he went
to work. A man was hired to assist in the
heaviest of the labor. 1t was a tedious
and difficult task for the old man; but
patiently and diligently he persevered,
until at last Betty stood, mounted, on the
barn floor, in all the glory of her best days
She was solid white in color, and Jerry
had washed her hair and brushed it until
it glistened With snowy whiteness.
There was just one flaw in her appear
ance-one of her horns was broken Jerry
had thought nothing of this during Betty's
life; but now that her good looks were the
object of his ambition, this imperfect
member was source of great annoyance
to his artistic eye. One evening as he sat
alone thinking of the broken horn, and
how he could remedy it, his eyes CHANGED
to light on the antlers of a moose hanging
on the wall, cherished relics of his hunting
| days. As we have seen, Jerry was of a
fanciful turn of mind, and as he gazed on
antl L., II
made him burst out laughing.
"Ill try it, sure's live, > he said.
The next moment the great antlers were
taken down and carried to the barn.
Betty's horns were removed, and these
were substituted in their stead. When
Jerry had completed the change he stood
of and viewed the amalgamate creature,
and he laughed as he had not done for
years.
"Well," he exclaimed, in a delighted
voice, 'ef | haven't created new anermul.
! Why, Betty. You don't know how we'll
you look. You wouldn't know your own
SELF"
For fear of being laughed at Jerry had
kept his operations with the COW pro-
found secret pledging the man to secrecy
who had assisted him. But after adjusting
the antlers he regarded his success az such
a triumph of art he could no longer keep
it to himself. So that evening, as Mr..
Boone was passing by, Jerry called out:
''Say, Henry Boone, stop minute.
I've got something to show you"
He led the way to the barn, his neighbor
following. Jerry swung the door open,
and Mr. Boone came upon-what? He
was fairly startled at the creature that con-
fronted him.
"Why, Jerry, what is this? and where
did you get t." he asked in astonish-
ment.
''As to what it is" replied Jerry, Il
shall call it the antered COW. As to where
| got it, why it's jest simply my COW,
Betty, stuffed, with some moose horns
on"
When Mr. Boone comprehended the
full significance of the achievement, he
leaned against the wall and laughed con
vulsvely.
Jerry" he said, don't think | am
making fun of your COW, for Pm not. 1t
struck me as being such funny idea to
stuff a COW, and she is so queer looking
that | just couldn't help laughing You
are really a genius, Jerry. The work is
splendidly done, and you've made an
entirely new creature. There isn't any
thing in the whole animal kingdom like
it,"
"Well, you see," returned Jerry, ~
used to do sight % sech work in years
gone by. An when Betty died it Jest
seemed as tho | couldn't give her up. You
don't know how much Betty was to me. |
amt got no children, no wife, no kinfolks
to sot my feeln' on. An Betty had kinder
filled up the vacant place in my heart. An
while wuz a-lookin' at her the day she
died, the thought come to me that / could
keep Betty to look at by stullin' her
b'lieve, sir, that thought come right from
Heaven; fer next to the pleasure I've had
in tiXin' her up like this
Mr.. Boone was man of keen business
faculty, and possessed that intuitive sharp
ness for scenting dollar whether it is
obscured in stocks or in a dead COW. He
saw that Jerry had, in following out his
odd fancy, made a creature that really had
a money value, and that might be turned
to account in the old mans support. And
while Jerry was talking, plan was form
ing in his mind.
jerry" he said, 81 belive you will be
able to make some money on your stuffed
cow"
"How?" asked Jerry, eagerly. =
"By having kind of little museum and
charging for admission. You know the
County Fair holds here next week. II you
should have a small booth on the grounds
with your antlered COW on exhibition at d
low admission charge, 1 really think you
would make something on her."
The old man fairly staggered at the sug.
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