River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-05-18
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s A Novel BuII-Fight. )
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ated on the north bank of the Charles
river, which swept along at the foot Of
our broad pasture.
In the sultry summer days the 20 or
80 kline would often stand for hours in
the water, cooling themselves, and
brushing off the flies with their wet
tails.
The river, although but a few rods
wide, was very deep in the middle; SO
that the animals neve" yentured to
cross it. 1t was SPAWNED by bridge,
across which led the public highway,
and by this highway the pasture was
bounded at one end.
The road occupied an elevated piece
of ground, and the bridge was some 20
feet above the water.
/ have said that our cattle were very
handsome; but of all the fine-loobing
herd, the most remarkable was big
Holstein bull which had twice taken
the highest prize at the state fair. He
weighed 1900 pounds. was perfect in
shape, and had a rich, GLOSSY coat that
it was a delight to see. Like all the
Holsteins, ne was black ami white, the
white being like snow, the black like
ebony. But with all his beauty the old
fellow was no more to be trusted than
a Bengal tiger. His large, full eyes had
an ugly roll whenever he was APP
preached by strangers; and the deep,
low below and ominous scrape of the
hoof would warn the curious visitor
against too great familiarity.
AS a general thing, he was kept in his
stall, secured by two halters, which, be
ing attached TO a ring in his nose, and
leading in opposite directions, etfectu-
ally prevented any dangerous use of
the short, sharp, glossy horns. But at
times he was allowed to run III the
pasture, when his queer, hoarse lowing,
and kind of muttered thunder that he
occasionally gave forth, would attract
the attention of those who PASSED along
the road.
Cur farm was situated below the
bridge, as the river ran. On the other
side of the Charles, but above the
bridge, was the Wilson farm. MIR. Will
son, its owner, was, like my father,
much interested in cattle. and he had
a large Jersey bull, of which he was
very proud.
The animal weighed but Il little less
than ours, and was nearly as hand
some. lie had won the .irst prize for
Jerseys, and was, in fact, a superb crea-
ture.
Mr.. Wilson's pasture reached down
TO the water, like our own, and though
not exactly opposite, was still very
near. Occasionally our neighbours bull
would be out at the same time with
ours. and then there would be music.
Although the intervening road which
crossed the bridge prevented them
from seeing each other, they would
still below defiance. Each would paw
the soft river bottom, throwing up an
abundance of mud and water that be-
spattered only his own handsome coat,
while he vainly longed for good, saw
age clinch with his enemy.
| would not have met either of those
bulls in the middle of a ten-acre lot
for the best farm in New England. In
fact, whenever ours was to be set free
convenient gate or fence easy to climb
always entered into the calculations of
the person who held the rod and halter:
and equal care was necessary when the
old king of the herd was to be replaced
in his stall.
One day, when my father was alb
sent, an unusual amount of believing
was heard, and, after time, we per
ceived that it did not seem to come
from the direction of the pasture. We
children ran to find out what the mat
ter was, taking good care, however, not
10 put ourselves in the way of danger.
A very brief examination told the
whole story. A cloud of dust was go
ing up in one part of the highway, and
giving forth thunder very much in the
manner of other clouds. Under it we
could see some huge animal, which
might once have been black and white,
but which was now nearly of the color
of the dust itself. The discovery was
startling. Our big bull was out in the
road
Our hired men came running to the
scene, but they were powerless in the
premises-no one of them having the
least inclination to penetrate that
thundercloud, or head it off, from
whatever direction it might happen to
take.
just then the old stage coach, which
ran regularly past our place, made its
appearance around curve of the high
way, and was jogging along toward the
river, when the driver suddenly drew
rein.
He knew our old thoroughbred by
reputation, and governed his conduct
accordingly. The inside passengers.
startled by the bovine thunder. craned
their necks out of the stage windows
TO get a view of the road ahead.
The bull had at first started to go
toward the bridge, attracted, no doubt.
bv the bellowings Of his old enemy
over the river, which in the meantime
we could distinctly hear.
1t seemed as If Mr.. Wilson'S Jersey
must know that something unusual
had taken place ON our side. for the
sounds indicated that he had come to
the road fence, although the height of
the land about the bridge prevented us
from seeing him.
The attention of the Holstein. how
ever was for the moment engrossed by
the stage; and he began to move to-
ward it, bringing his dust cloud with
him. and stopping at every. yard or two
to paw, with a power that sent show
ers of gravel stones into the adjoining
fields.
Had the ease been less serious. a spec
,tator might have laughed 70 see the
driver wheel his four-horse steam--an
operation favored as well by the width
of the road as by the slowness of the
bnII's movements
The stage ratified back around the
curve and out Of sight. while his bo-
vine majesty stared after it as if won
dering how it had vanished
Then for a few minutes he again be-
took himself to the task of scraping the
highway; but presently, with head
erect, he started off toward the bridge,
believing In one unbrolSen peal as he
went.
The cause of this decided movement
was at once apparent, and it was with
startled feelings that We recognized
what had taken place.