Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-14
A PAIL OF MILK.

JOHu JUL6S was u ltrl1tr. T16 WAL HUI
the kind of farmer we read of in the good,
old story books-honest, big hearted fell
lows, who were supposed to be the real
backbone of the country. He was more
like the modern farmers-close listed, foxy
old coons, who pride themselves on the
sharpness of their bargains and who value
humanity by the price of corn.
About a mile from Farmer Jones lived
another farmer named Simpson. He was
not near SO sharp in a bargain as Farmer
Jones was, and was a different sort of
man altogether. Like him, however, he
was a lover of COWS.
But by some cruel freak of misfortune
it was impossible to squeeze enough milk
out of his COWS to supply his own family.
And yet his lows We're extremely fine look
Ing. But while Farmer Jones' were q
marvel in the milking line, SO were Farm
er Simpson's-in an opposite sense.
All at once 1t was noticed that Farmer
Simpson was o%versupplied with milk-in
fact, began to rival Farmer Jones in the
quantity and quality of his butter and
cheese.
Farmer Jones was not delighted at his
neighbours prosperity. In sooth he was
terribly vexed, lot to say astonished, at
it. Farmer Simpson, however, made no
secret of the cause of his sudden tactical
abundance. He had bought a new lot of
COWS, he said, among them an old brindle,
and they were astonishing mixers.
When he heard this, Farmer Jones
mind was made up; he must have that
brindle. True, Brother Simpson had not
said that the brindle Wa the best of the
new lot, but he must have meant that.
At all events he wanted that COW.
One morning, when the two farmers
were talking together, Farmer Jones point
ed carefully at old Brindle and remarked:
"You wouldn't care to sell that COW,
would you, Brother Simpson,"
"Well, l don't know. I might perhaps
If I could get my price for her."
"What do you call her WORTH"
~ couldn't sell that COW less than $500. "
"Whew! That's a remarkable price,
amt it?"
"Well, yes, it is; but she's q remarkable
COW too. You've no idea what a mixer
she is. I never saw her like in all the born
days of my life."
''I've a good mind to buy her, Brother
Simpson"
"But I don't know as I'd sell her to
you. Brother Jones'"
"Not sell her to me. Why, amt we
good friends9"
eyes, good friends enough, but I've
heern you were very particular about COWS,
and If she didn't come up to your idea you
might think I cheated you."
ooh ho donjt lot that troy1b1o uoy1
Brother Simpson. I shan't buy her If shs
amt worth the money. However, I'll go
home and sleep over it, and in the morn
ing I'll come down and talk it over"
"
IT have come over to buy that cow" he
remarked as soon as the ''good mornings"
were over. "But Of course I don't want
to make a leap in the dark. I suppose
you have nc objection to answering hon.
estly any question I may put about old
Brindle?"
sob, certainly not-certainly not, " was
the candid response. "If you really in
tend to buy the COW, / want you to ask
every question you al think of, so that
everything shall be fair and square. She
Is a fine COW, Brother Jones-a remark
able cow"
So he asked, "Does she give good milk"
"Well, I reckon she does-the sweetest
and richest milk I ever tasted. Makes
butter yellow as gold and sweet as a posy.
Want to see some of it?"
"No; never mind now. I'll take your
word for it. But how much does she give
at a milkingp"
"Well, she varies from q pail to a pail
and a half-never less than q pail and
sometimes more. One morning she gave
more than two pals, but that was when
she wasn't half MIXED the night before.
But she is sure of as pailful every time"
That was enough; a pailful at a milk.
ing was the average his own COWS gave,
and he thought old Brindle might improve
under his treatment.
So the bargain was struck, the money
was paid, and Farmer Jones went home
rejoicing in his good fortune.
At the end Of a week his rejoicing began
to cool; In a fortnight 1t ceased altogether;
at the end Of three weeks he was almost
raving mad.
On the twentieth morning after he
drove that old brindle home Farmer Jones
appeared before Farmer Simpson in a tow.
ering passion.
II have come to talk about that old
cow" he exclaimed. "You swindled me
disgracefully in that bargain, sir"
"Swindled you! Why, how9 Don't
the COW give good milk"
"Give good milkl Yes, she gives good
milk enough, but she don't give enough
to drown a mosquito. You said she gave
a pailful every time"
"And so she did, sir, when I had her.
Filled a pail brimming full twice a day
and sometimes more"
"And, pray, how large a pail was ita"
"Why, a three quart pail, Of course!
Same as I always use."
"The deuce take your three quart pailF'
And, turning on his heel, Farmer John
Jones walked away a sadder, madden and
a wiser nan
Since then, II any one wants to see any
thing more dangerous than a nest of hor-
nets, he has only to ask John Jones show
large the pail was. "-New York News.
Just Suited Him.
my heart is brokenl" she cried.
"Ha!" exclaimed the plumber. Right
in my line"
A M bo rt,o} rhtupov co1lad for his tools.