The National tribune., 1902-01-02

me now, And III go back with you pres
emily, and show you through"
Some more soldiers passed, and saluted
and the Deacon politely answered How
de-do?"
A group of soldiers engaged in rough
hOrsc-play near the gate suddenly stopped
and stood stiff as ramrods. with theiI
hands at their caps as the two men
passed out.
The Deacon beamed cordially on them
and said 'How-de-do?" to each
Il must say that the Ohio soldiers are
nicer hammered than the Injiannians,"
said the Deacon to himself. ''They Ger.
tainly pay more regard to age and re-
spectabiIity than they do at home"
The Deacon might have commented far
ther but for n sight which Immediately
caught his farmers eye. A little bunch
of cattle came by, c0nducted-not driven
by a man, who Semed as careful of them
as an old maid of her cat. He and his
assistants carried no sticks, spoke to the
cattle as gently as they would to chill
dren, and laid their hands on them when
they wanted them to close up or go diff
ferentfy.
"Gracious, what odd-looliing cattle" he
exclaimed. deyOuring them with his eyes.
But | can see somehow that thcy're fine.
Quecrshaped, hardly any horns, too much
body for their legs, but the barrel is
mighty good. Small hoofs and ears, but
very trim, and good heads and eyes. And
what splendid hair and skim" he contin-
ucd," feeling the hide of n heifer, with
the skilled touch OF Il stock expert. Soft
and fine as silk, with the best skin / ever
touched. My, but those are fine crea-
lures. / guess I'd rather look at them
than see the inside of the State House. "
That's some of the famous Jersey
stock they've just brought into the State, Z"
explained his companion. Belongs to a
friend of mine, who has a fine farm a
few miles from town. He values them at
81 900 apiece"
"A thousand dollars apiece" gasped the
Deacon, relaxing his apprcciative, tender
touch upon the heifer's hide, as if it had
been hot iron. Great goodness, wouldn't
want LOCO Of my money walking around
on four legs, exposed to murrain, founder
ing, milk-sick and the dogs, to say moth
ing of thieves. A thousand dollars where
it can run and jump, and hide in the
brush, and be laying out in field in
POsey County, with nothing but few
rails befwixt it and a host of fellcrs who
want to get money any way but by hard
days work. A thousand dollars liable to
break into the corn-iield at night. and
bust itself wide open on young cOrni No,
sir-r-re-e! Why, that bunch of cattle'd be
worth more'n my whole farm"
Quite likely replied his companion.
but think what such stock as that means
for the whole State. An animal of that
kind is naturally worth about twice as
much as a common one. You can fatten
one for about half as much, and it'll give
nearly 30 per cent more meat to the live
weight. Why, the Improvement of the
cattle in a single County would soon pay
for building another State House like
that
Xallr
claimed the Deacon, looking at his COM
paniOn. "And a good one. It's the hard
est work down our way to get the people
interested in improving their breeds,
and''-
A Lieutenant, marching a squad by,
brought them to n halt, and sharply or
dered, Front! Present-ARMSr'
The Deacon was much touched by this
attention, and responded in very cor
dial ''How-de-dOF'
Behind the squad came Maj. SkiIcs
himself, with two or three officers. They
all came to attention and saluted, and
the Major said:
Governor, good morning. l hope that
you are feeling very much better than
yesterday. These gentlemen are the field
officers of the 1S4th Ohio, the new regi-
ment that is nearly ready for music In,
and they desired me TO bring them np to
you, to pay you their respects, and thank
you for their promotion. Let me intro
duce Col. Commager, Lieut.-Col. Carroll,
Maj. Dodd."
Governor" gasped the Deacon, begin
ming to edge away. rs it possible that
pursy old fellow is Governor of Ohiof
Come to think about it, he looks like his
picture. Anyhow. he's got a mighty good
head on him. il he does carry around a
brass-drum in front. But he's not near
SO great man as Gov. Morton. And l
was such fool as to think them fellers
was polite to me. l expect l ought to be
making toward the depot. Can't be long
until train time"
Don't go, my friend. Come back and
see the inside of the State House." called
the Governor after him.
'Thankee very kindly, Governor" said
the Deacon, "but I believe I'll walk along
and take another look at them cattle"
AS he walked away. he heard ribald
newsboy. who had caught sight of the
Governor, sing:
''If flesh is grass, as preachers say,
Then Johnny Brough's load of hay"