Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-01-18
Farmer Bunker and
the Widow


chine an As good n gal rs ever lived"
HIM" replied the wary sou. win
mems what y say--ilst Ike a mOwin
machine They're purity enough I'll y
git 'elG harncssed up; then they 90
down everything in their way"
Farmer Bunker since the death 81
Zeke's mother year before had hcci
casting longing eyes az the widow
! Sniifen Nahdy's mother knowing
! that his sou had an objection to hay
| ing any one put in his own mothers
| place h. felt II he could get Zcke 20
make a match with the daughter he
| might overcome the boys scruplcs
But Zeke saw the trap aud did not
relish the advantage his falling into il
would give his father The old man,
hdvug failed with his bait. concluded
10 10 u little counting and then pro-
pose Ielle watched the maneuvers
with anxiety
one morning after one Of the farm.
er's visits TO the widow he awoke to
see the widows COW rummaging IN
his cOrn, some Of which she had tram
pied undcrfoOt The old man fired up
al once, but. remembering the situati ion
between him aud the widow, quietly
drove the COW over n low place In the
fence by which she had made her en-
trance 20 The shed where she belonged.
He asked Zeke II he had carclesSly left
the fence lowered. and Zeke said that
he had not Then the farmer sur
missed that the COW had done II with
her horns
In few days the COW was In the
corn again This time after the farm
or had driven her out. he went TO the
widow and suggested that she put
poke around the cows neck. The wild
ow declared that the COW didn't need
poke. that she was as good a COW
a. ever gave milk and that some one
on the Bunker farm must have been
careless about the fence Bunker as
sured her that there was no one on
his farm except himself and his son
aud neither Of them had touched the
fence There was Il fash OF temper
between the two. and the farmer went
away insisting on a poke for the COW.
Zekc heard him grumbling and said
Father, don't y believe me when
say | hain't touched the fence
"Of course | DO, Zeke."
well. II | didn't do il AN y didn't
do IL. the COW must "a done IL. The
widdcr should get her a poke"
That's what tole her. an she
lows the COW don't need poke. She
kind o fired up when l mentioned IT,"
"What'd tell y about mowin'
machines. father"
The OLD man went on snortiug
Again the COW was found In the
corn, and this time there was no
change 10 be noticed In the fence. The
balance OF the farmers corn was de
stroyed. aud he went to the widow in
frame Of mind by no means lovely.
Mis- Sniffen." he began in an unac.
ceptable tcne. 'y'r COW has ruined $50
wo'th OF corn for me. an l suppose"
"Mr Bunker. want v TO under
stand that ! bain't responsible for my
COW gittin' into no farm that's not
properly protected"
My farm is properly protected" the
farmer retorted.
At this moment Mandy appeared on
the scene and took a hand IN the pro
ceedingS. but not as might be expect
ed. Mr.. Bunker" she said, Il think
y are right. Our cows a bad un.'
Mandy" said her mother holly. y
90 straight into the house"
Mandy obeyed, pouting. aud. her In.
reference having only added fuel to
her mothers anger, the widow gave the
farmer such q dressing as he had never
had before. The old man went home.
muttering. and as he passed his son,
who had been leaning on the fence
listening. he said, "wimmin is NOW
In machines. true 'nough. Zeke, all
except the gal. an she's an angel"
Wouldn't trust any OF 'em. fatherr
~ kin trust her sartin. She haln't
like her mother a bit. She tole the ole
hag jist what she was"
About q week after this. when the
feelings of the two old persons had
had time 20 cool Zeke. who was sleep
Ing comfortably in bed. awoke and
heard sound without He got up
and, going TO the window, saw by the
light OF the moon, which was full,
Mandy let down the fence and drive
her mothers COW into the Enclosure.
Zeke jumped into his clothes. ran
downstairs and caught the girl before
she reached her home.
Mandy" he said. 'y'r keched. !
sor v drivin' the COW into our farm
Whatd v do il forT'
Mandy hung her head Most girls
look pretty In moonlight, and Mandy
was a pretty girl at any time. She
made confession. Fearing that her
mother would give her stepfather,
she had been putting the cow in among
his corn for the purpose Of making
trouble. she had served a double pur-
pose for herself and Zeke.
"What'd v take sides with dad forT'
he asked.
"Oh. know mother. II I'd "a sided
with her she'd "a turned In his favor
an made it up"