The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-16

, until he had reached the house and found
the widow drying apples in the sun.
you know how I stand on religion,
Martha" he said, with the freedom Of
neighbor. but mebbe it don't allus apply to
widders. Anyhow I'm kind of feelin' as il
it was my duty to see that the hog holes in
| the fences was stopped up and that your cows
didn't git the boiler horn for lack of salt
| twice week. Is your hired man the RICH.
sort?"
Il haven't got any," replied the widow
He got sick two weeks ago, and I have
only boy to look after things. don't want
you TO fisk your SOULS salvation, though
shouldn't want to, of course, but I'm
Wlllln to take few chances for your sake.
You was allus set down as Baptist, but
| cont believe you are a real hard shell. I've
| sometimes thought that if you married again,
! ana married a Methodist you'd come into
the fold after awhile
But we won't talk religion" he said
| turning away to hide her smiles and bushes.
| NO we won't. Hannah was tellin' me that
! you had a new cow
Yes"
And she's kicker?"
Shes bad one, and the boy won't 20
near her, and l fear for my life every time
| I go out to milk =
"Shoo! Is that SO? WAL wen sort CT
| forget religion for awhile, and I'll take that
| cow in hand. l amt afraid of no kickin'
! cow on earth. I'll kind of tell the boy what
| to do about the crops and see that the cattle
| don't get into the corn, and twice day I'll
| come over and milk that kicker. Better leave
! the pail hangin on the barnyard gate in the
mornin, as m an early riser
| You are too good, Uncle jerry she muir
| INJURED.
| That's account of my Methodist re-
| ligion," he answered rather proudly. 1T
| allus affects person that way if he's in
| earnest about it, while the Baptist belief
But never mind. III show that trick
| or two ii she lifts her leg at me-
| Night and morning for the next three
| months Uncle Jerry MIXED that kicking COW
as punctually as the sun rose and set Al
| long intervals, when the COW happened to be
| mentally busy on other subjects, he got
! through peaceably, but on fourteen occasions
| out of fifteen she raised row and generally
| got the best of it. He might have grown dis
| couraged and advised her slaughter sale,
but he had come to look upon it case
| OF Methodist versus Baptist, and he was de-
| termined that the Baptist should knock IN
! der. Then came day when his religious
| zeal carried him beyond due bounds in speak
! ing to the Widow Shields, and she resented
| ii by saying that he needn't trouble himself
| further. That angered him in turn, and he
! went home to say to his daughter:
! -"Hanner, you needn't mind about the wild
| der any more. She's like all them Baptists,
| and l hope that old cow will kick her clear
| across the barnyard the first time she tries
! to milk"
/ He went to bed trying to make himself be-
J lieve that it was case of ingrattude, and he
vowed he would never climb the line fence
| again; but his sleep was broken with bad
| dreams, and the still small voice kept Whis-
pering. So when morning came he took his
| way over the old path to do the usual milk
| ing. He was too late. He reached the wild
| Ows barnyard to find that she had been
| ahead OF him. Even he looked over the
| gate she was sitting down beside the COW IN
| gingerly way, determined to milk or die
| Uncle Jerry started to turn away, but a
| vicious switch of the cows tail made him
pause; and twenty seconds later out shot a
hoof. Widow, pail and milk stool went flying.
| You cant do it, Martha, and there's no
use tryin','' said Uncle Jerry, as he lifted the
| half conscious woman in his arms
| '+Wh-what's happened?" she gasped she
opened her eyes,
The old COW has histed you
"And-you-you-
I'm a-holdin' you in my arms and loyin'
| you and sayin' that after are married I'll
kind Of give way on my Methodist religion
and you'll kind of give way on your Baptist
and we'll turn that old COW into eorned beef
and be happy eyermore."