The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-06-22
A Novel uIl.Fisht.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

4hat happened while we were living
4 MASSACHUSETTS,. My father was lover
/ e Ane cattle, and our farm could show
! fkme Of the handsomcst oxen and cows
n be found in the state. II was situ-
! md on the north bank of the Charles
!. r;yer. which swept along at the foot of
\ III broad pasture.
III the sultry summer days the 20 or
! y ldne would often stand for hours in
fhe water, cooling themselves, and
brushing of the flies with their wet
tails.
The river, although but few rods
vide, was very deep in the middle; SO
{ ;fhaf the animals neve: ventursd to
ercss It. 1t was spanncd by a bridge,
| across which led the public highway,
I'D BY this highway the pasture was
bounded at one end.
The road occupied an elevated piece
q ground, and the bridge was some 20
feet above the water.
have said that our cattle were very
handsome; but of all the fine-looking
y hefd, the most remarkable was a big
4 1snlstein bull which had twice taken
IT, highest prize at the state fair. He
weighed 1000 pounds. was perfect in
akape, and had rich, glossy coat that
q n WAS delight to see. Like all the
E Hclteins, he was black ami white, the
white being like snow, the black like
u ebony. But with all his beauty, the old
1ellpw was no more to be trusted than
Bengal tiger. His large. full eyes had
u ngly roll whenever he was APP
preached by strangers; and the deep,
L nv below and ominous scrape of the
& tccf would warn the curious visitor
\ against too great familiarity.
g As . general thing, he was kept in his
elnll, secured by two halters, which, be-
y ng attached to ring in his nose, and
kaamg IN opposite directions, effectu-
allt prevented any dangerous use of
~ short, sharp, glossy horns. But at
ies he was allowed to run III the
1ture, when his queer. hoarse lowing,
kind of muttered thunder that he
q ereaslonally gave forth, would attract
- attention of those who Iassed along
'le toad.
uur farm was situated below the
: idee. as the river ran. On the other
0e Of the Charles, but ab,ve the
81 sdge, was the Wilson farm. Mr.. Will
ifs owner, was, like my father,
2 Alch interested in cattle, and he had
81 trge Jersey bull, of which he was
& NJ proud.
xne animal weighed but little less
& 1en ours, and was nearly as hand
ae. He had won the iirst prize for
ss1seys, and was, in fact, superb crea-
e Wilson's pasture reached down
u a the water, like our own, and though
exactly opposite, was still very
g occasionally our neighbours bull
IS q yeiQ be out at the same time with
/ and then there would be music!
aithough the intervening road which
I'd the bridge prevented them
seeing each other, they would
81. pelioW defiance. Each would paw
soft river bottom, throwing up M
ndance of mud and water that be
.sered only his own handsome coat
y e vainly longed for a good, saw
ciinch with his enemy.
would not have met either of thos,
y "a the middle of ten-acre loi
tne best farm in New England. Ii
whenever ours was to be set fre,
senient gate or fence easy to climl
entered into the calculations O
pefson who held the rod and halter
equal care was necessary when tn,
lng OF the herd was to be replaced
ls stall.
ae day, when my father was ab
IN unusual amount of bellowin,
heard, and, after time, we per
mat it did not seem to com
IN sne direction of the pasture. w
sn ran to find out what the mat
taking good care, however, no
~ ourselves in the way of danger.
sery brief examination told til
etory. A cloud of dust was gc
u one part Of the highway, an
toseh thunder very much in Ii
g g other clouds Under it y