The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-20

and Miss Murphy lay beside him.
That was the beginning of strange
friendship which was not long con-
fined to the cattle-yard. Every morn
ing Miss Murphy was brushed and
cleaned and spent the time strolling
about with John. At dinner she was
put back into the ys'rd, but the two
started out again In the afternoon.
Sometimes they went on an Grand
to the village store for Aunt Jane, but
usually they went down along the
creek, where Miss Murphy walked
about, or she would stretch herself
out beside John as he read his book
or watched the magpies.
Queer notion the boy has" said
his Uncle George, "always having
that calf at his heels. Now, if it
was horse, or dog"
"Well, it's great deal better than
having him nope around as he used
to-" said Aunt Jane. "He's beginn-
ing to pick up"
"John, wouldn't you rather have a
horse, or dogi' his uncie asked one
day.
"No, sir A horse jolts me and
tires me out so, and dog would be
running all over the country. Miss
Murphy stays right with me. When
1 walk she goes with me and when
l get tired and have to stop she is
ready to stop too. Then yoa know
we're both lonely and that makes
difference"
One night the cattle broke down
the fence, filed out of the lane and
started toward Rocky Flat. Miss
Murphy stopped at the house, bawled
goodbye to John, awoke the family
and the cattle were promptly driven
back
I'm afraid to have John 20 among
the cattle so, said Aunt Jane. Hes
STANCE to them and he may get hurt"
Don't worry about him, mother
What do you suppose l found him
doing this morning7 You know old
Whitehead has been ugly and kick
ing around for days. l tied her to the
shed SO she couldn't hurt the rest. I
heard John talking to her this morn
ing and went to sswar him. There
he sat right under her with her foot
in his lap and bucket of warm water
beside him. Said she had gotten
stone between her toes that was max
ing her foot awful sore. Sure enough,
he pried out stone, washed off her
foot, put some salve on rag and
pulled it up between her toes and
tied it fast. Whitehead never moved.
John said he read about it in one of
my books that / never thought had
time to read. That's the way he does
reads till something strikes him,
and then go to the cattle to see If they
have anything like that the matter
with them. He's handled all the
cattle on the place, looked over them
for sores, washed them off, looked at
their teeth and horns. You ought to
have seen him get Murphy's calf
under the barbed-wire fence, so they
could go down by the beaver dam.
John crawled under, but the calf
could not make it. So he era wled
back end made the calf lie down;
then he rolled under, caught the calf
by its forefeet and dragged it through;
after that they danced around like
two children because they had worked
it. Don't worry about John and the
cattle. They know him."
The warm pleasant weather lasted
to the end of the year, and John and
Miss Murphy enjoyed every day of It,
"Come spend the day and bring your
calf" was an invitation frequently
given and always accepted. The calf
grew large and strong, and John
seemed to absorb strength from her.
II was afraid he wouldn't get
strong enough to pull through the
winter, but think he will, thanks to
the calf" said Aunt Jane.
Some severe weather came in the
latter part of January. John caught
cold and was confined to his bed.
His illness was serious and they dis
cussed the wisdom of sending for his
mother. But there soon came
change for the better. 1t would take
some time for him to get strong, but
he would gain as the weather became
settled.
This was dreary time for Miss
Murphy. She mourned and called
from the cattleyard. John could hear