Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-02-28
MRS. KEATING'S COW.
BY II. G. PAINE.

a be pretty good COW for that money. Al
] it was. At least Mrs. Keating's farmer ha
a assured her it was, and bargain at tina
! So she had bought it, and she had paid fc
4 1t, and so she knew she had it.
i She had meant to see it the afternoon SD
{ moved down to her place on the coast 70
] the summer; but what with unpacking til
things she had brought down and maxim
] lists Of the things she had forgotten to brin
down, and showing her servants where ey
! erything belonged, and then hunting it VI
and putting it there, the new cow had quit
slipped her mind until she went to bed.
After she had retired she again thought o
the COW she had forgotten for the last few
hours. Her forgetfulness Of the animal anC
its bodily comforts troubled her She wal
not sure that it was properly housed, or tina,
Il had been properly fed, or that it had beer
given water. In fact as she thought Of il
more she was not entirely sure that she had
COW, for, although she had paid for it, she
had never seen it, and perhaps the farmer
had swindled her. But she would not let
that worry her, for he certainly looked to be
an honest man, but if he had really sold her
COW what was happening TO it? For all
shat she knew, for all the trouble that she
had taken to find out, her Sl20 COW might
be sick unto death, indeed, it might be dead,
and all because of her neglect in not looking
after it before she retired for the night.
But Mrs Heating was fond of her bed,
and once in it it would take more than a COW
to get her out again, even though she did
worry over it.
Then she knew it was sick. Moo-oooo-
oooooo-oooooooo-ool Oh, it was pitiful; it
was heartrendingl She could not sleep.
How could she, with that mournful, appeal
ing moo-oooo-oooooo-ooo ooooo-oo sounding
in her ears with the utmost regularity twice
minute in the night? 1t sounded night un-
der her window
She looked out, but she could not see it,
The fog was so thick that she could distin- |
guish nothing beyond the roof Of the porch |
Moo-oooo 100000 oooooo.ool What could |
be the matter with that Sl20 COW? And why |
had the farmer left il out all night On the |
lawn, instead Of putting it in the barn and |
looking after it in its distress? These were
questions she asked herself until she grew
SO tired that she actually went to sleep with
that appealing moo oooo- oooooo-oooooooo.oo
keeping up its endless iteration every 30
seconds.
When she awoke the sunlight was stream
ing into the room and the COW had ceased
its lament
How did you rest" inquired her neigh.
Dor, who dropped in after breakfast.
Rest? didn't rest. | may have slept
a little toward daybreak, but it wasn't rest.
Did 1t disturb you? Could you hear it %
Hear II = replied her neighbour with a
smile. We'll, think so; but we've grown |
used to It. You know, we've been down for
a month"
"A month";" cried Mrs. Heating. "Has il
been going on so long as that? IN speak TO /
Gibson at once. / was going to do so, any
how. But a MONTH"
I'm afraid Gibson won't be able TO do
anything" laughed her neighbor; "and then
you know it's only in foggy weather. Be.
aides, we can stand it when we realize what @
boon it is to sailors. But it must be pretty q
bad down around the lighthouse" c
What are you talking about? Why is !
ny suck COW boon to sailors in foggy wealth 4
r! And You don't mean to tell me they
an hear 1t two miles away at the light. q
ouse!'
Govt Cowl" screamed her neighbor. :,
Why, that was the new foghorn down at !,
he eape!"
Mrs. Heating was so delighted to learn a
nat her expensive COW was not in the last 81
hroes OF dissolution that she relaxed her VI
atural dignity sufficiently to join in the CT
ingh at her own expense. When her neigh. It
or had gone, Mrs. Heating went out to in W
peet her estate. She saw a number of cows n
the brook pasture, and walked towards n
iem. She knew she did not own so many. :.
~ remembered that she had authorized -
lbson to rent out some pasture land As "
he approached nearer pitiful spectacle az
resented itself to her view. Some one. II
'obably some mischievous small boy, had W
ed one OF the cows short up to the fence. st
Its eyes were nearly starting from its head. to
S tongue was hanging out, actually bis. 40
red and dry. Its legs were SO weak il Ho
uld hardly stand. Yet there II stood.
gglng at its halter and gazing with un. uo
eakable yearning at the brook, where the 70
her cows were gathered, some drinking p
ID some standing knee-deep in the cool tn
ream. Thirst-burning, consuming thirst tn
was written IN every line OF its expressive III
=.
'Foghorns, indeed" soliloauized Mr.. ,v
eating, Indignantly. "As If / didn't know "
e difference between a COW and a foo.
IN! And if find that that woman haa
' hand IN tying that poor animal up all de
sht, 50 that she could get Oft that mis4r. ~
ie joke on me this morning, / shall give an
piece OF my mind that she won't for az
socnl" RED
Mrs: Heating was in fine rage, and with GA
'mbhng hands undid the suffering COW. Fr'
q watched it weakly amble to the brook no
drink OF 1t in deep, long draughts. Mrs. eac
'ating's estate was large, and she speut up
ne time in looking for her farmer. to G
IN how his neglect was responsible for her A.
'ken rest. She did no, find him, but -,
en- she returned to the house he was wait. -
: there for her. De
tis lace was pale. He seemed greatly ah'
tated. lie twlrled his hat about in his ms
ads. ng
Well, num-" he said, in anticipation Of acc
greeting, I've got bad news for re No
Ct new eow-thet $40 COW | made " Get
f-oh, if I c'u'd once ketch the horse IN,
e. thet done 1t, I'd take bis hide ofF'n n
Did WHAT What's happsned!'' inquired M