Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-08-07
And SO in course OF time it proved

to be. "Just like one OF he- old
queer notions said one. "But it'll
be a blessin' to poor dumb brutes,
just the same," said another, and a
third neighbor declared that moth
ing on earth could tempt her to
have public watering trough put
up in front OF her house.
The men within mile around
thought it was just the thing, and
began to wonder why they hadn't
taken up collection and got one
themselves long ago.
But when in 4 few days hand
some iron drinking fountain was
brought out from the city and set up
at one end of the stone trough and
bright tin cup was chained there
to, people said, @Well, Miss p, does
beat all for doing deeds OF mercy y
And the lady in question, sitting
on her vine wreathed porch, said to
herself as she watched the thirsty
children stopping on their way home
from school in the hot summer af-
ternoons 81 really couldn't spare
that hundred and fifty dollars very
well, but | can do without the mat.
ting was going to get and | am
going to makeup for it, and the dol
Ter month extra water tax won't be
very much. Anyhow, I'm going to
enjoy it,"
And she did enjoy it. What a
pleasure it was the next time flock
of sheep came through to see the
thirsty creatures crowd and push
around the low stone trough, full to
:he brim with clear, cold water and
how eagerly the jaded horses droop-
ed their heads forward to the vel
come drsught. And no less salts
fed was she to see the dusty sheep
men lift awkwardly their wide SOM
breros as they dismounted and
caught glimpse of her before they
drank cupful after cupful from the
iron fountain.
All this filed Miss P. IS queer soul
with intense satisfaction. "Whoso
giveth cup of cold WATER" she
thought to herself, "maybe it's just
as much deed of mercy as to send
money to the heatheu.'
One morning Miss P, as was her
custom, worked among her flowers,
digging around the rose-trees with
her little hoe, turning up the earth
with her trowel and tying up sag
ging vine here and there. Sudden
~ she heard down the road the I'M
mistakable herald of an approaching
herd of catt!e-the confused lowing
of a hundred plunging and Flooding
cows, mingled with the whistles and
peculiar cries and calls of attendant
cowboys, who in wide felt sombreros
and picturesque attire, rode at each
side of the moving mass of tossing
horns and rough coated bodies.
Miss P. dropped her garden tools
and went up the steps to the porch.
1t was the way she paid herself for
the expense and trouble Of setting
up the drinking place-this quiet en-
joyment of hers in the eagerness and
satisfaction Of the poor creatures,
weary with the travel of many miles
over dusty roads.
As she sat thus, looking out across
the cypress hedge upon the surging
crowd of cattle, q panic-stricken
child pushed open the gate and ran
up the walk.
sob, Miss p" she cried out shril-
ly, Diet me come where you are!
Pm afraid of the COWS! !"
Miss P. rose and went down the
steps. How womanly and tender
she looked as she reached q hand
down to the little girl and smiled
assuringly. The cattle were crowd
ing around the long stone trough
ard a dark-eyed, weather. bronzed
cowboy leaned from his mustang and
helped himself to drink from the
fountain.
As he did so he heard the child's
frightened cry and saw the pretty
womanly little picture. AS he drank
he studied the woman's face furtive-
~ from the shadow of his wide SON.
brero and a sudden look of wonder
seemed to come into his deep eyes.
But he assisted the others in keep
ing the struggling herd under con-
troll and finally, after all were salts
fed, helped to start them again, in
wide, dark stream OF hoofs and horns,
red backs and switching tails, down
the dusty road. Then, with word
to the cowboy nearest to him he
turned his horse and rode back to
the fountain.
As Miss F., standing at the gate
with the child, glanced up at him he
lifted his sombrero and sprang from
the saddle.
"Beg pardon, madam he began
courteously, shut | want to thank
you for the great privilege we have
enjoyed. It's rare thing in Cali
fornia to find a watering place along
the road"
you're entirely welcome, I'm
suro," responded Miss P. cordially.