Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-31

from going up the lane But always
after fooling around that way for a
few minutes she would turn back into
the road and go on to the pasture.
Lots of times I believe she was
laughing. Anyways, every time was
laughing, and I got to know Rosie so
well that I believe she would have
laughed if she had just let herself. She
was smart cow She had as much
sense as some people and more sense
than others. OF course she wasn't a
school teacher or smart enough to
keep books or to do anything like that,
but when it came to knowing things
and understanding what you wanted
and what you didn't want, Rosie was
about as good as some folks. don't
mean she had the intelligence of ev-
erybody, because I know there is lots
OF folks that has more sense than a
COW. But Rosie was not the average
COW, not even in looks. She had big
eyes that was always solemn and
thoughtful, until those times when we
would play our little joke at Grosser's
lane. Those times her eyes sort of
twinkled. Then remember one time
when Grosser's big dog was down at
the end of the lane, and ran at me and
barked and scared me and wanted to
bite me. But you bet Rosie shook her
head and beloved at him and started
for him and he took out for home.
Many time, too, I've rode on Rosy's
back. Cows generally won't let you
do that unless they like you pretty
well, but Rosie knew was her friend.
So you may know that when came
home that evening after pa had sold
her, and understood that-I didn't have
to go to the pasture after her, began
to feel bad. Pa had kept her last
calf. 1t was heifer, and he was let
ting it feed in the backyard for awhile;
but he was going to pasture it on old
Mrs. Mullen's field after that. Well,
we all sat down 10 supper Ma didn't
say anything, just poured pas coffee
and helped us children to bread ami
potatoes while pa cut the meat. But
when ma poured out our milk
she set the pitcher down and
went out into the kitchen and
did't come back. Pretty soon pa got
up and went to the kitchen, too, and
heard him whispering to ma, and bye
and bye he told her not to be foolish
and that there wasn't any sense in
her acting this way Nj: ,old him there
wasn't any sense in the way he had
acted, and she wished she had known
he was SO heartless when she come
back to the table her eyes was red
like they had been that morning, and
pa looked worried.
In few days l cot sort of used to
Rosie's being away l missed her for
a little while, but sometimes after
school would walk out to Alex Trum-
bulls to see her 1t is only two miles
and could make it IN little while,
and mostly Mrs. Trumbull would make
me stay to supper, and then Alex
would be coming otown for something
in his buggy and could ride home
with him. The first time went out
there, Mr.. Trumbull wss in the barn
yard, and he said "Hello!" and asked
me what wanted. I told him l had
come out to see Rosie and he laughed
at me. Mrs Trumbull is nice, plump
lady that teaches my class at Sunday
school She has seen me coming, SO
she come out into the side yard and
called for me to come up to the house.
So went up and she asked me what
/ wanted and I told her. She patted
me on the head and said:
Poor boy. Well, you come just as
often as you want to-
Then she told me what field Rosie
was in, and I went over there. There
, was about hundred COWS, it seemed
like, in that field, but I knew which
one was Rosie as soon as got up or
the fence to climb over. And Rosie
knew me- too. She mooed real lou6
and come running all the way to meet
her nose on my hand and licked it ant
good while, until 1t began to be dark
then l started out, and Rosie followed
, me clear to the fence and kept looking
at me as if she thought was going tt
, drive her home. And after I patteC
her on the nose and Rugged her ant
whispered goodbye, she come on up tt
the fence and run her head almos
through the places between the board.
after l had climbed out Of the field
When she saw me walking away SHE
mooed again, and l just had to 81
, down on the ground and cry, l felt 81
: bad. Mrs. Trumbull had been looking
for me to come back to the house, ant
she come out where was and said TO
me to come on In and get some sup
per, and called me Poor boy" again
She had fried chicken and two kinds o
, jelly and apple pie for supper, but
, was the first time in my life that
I couldn't eat.
3 Alex took me into town in his bug
gy that night, and ma was out at tn
t gate looking for me when we go
) home. I guess she understood where
t had been when she saw me riding wit
3 him, for she didn't say anything to m
2 until after he had let me out and ha
gone away Then she asked me wha
+ had been doing told her had beel
r out to Trumbull's to see Rosie, and m
/ kissed me and let me sit up late tina
: night and never said word about
| being past bedtime.
S After that, as said, went out t
see Rosie every now and then. Some
. times she would play as if she was &c
f ing to hook me, and we would have
q regular romp in the field Rosie ken