The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-05-08
| and The Cow and Father s
By
By KATHERINE AMES.

not the slightest sign of opposition
from my tormentor, when suddenl,
she set her great hoof in the mill
and gave me vicious switch will
her tall Over [ went and all tina
warm deluge flowed over me!
Furious IS an arctic word when yo1
are really in need Of something ut1
commonly hot But the Englisl
language is poor in words calculated
to express boys feelings in tim
like this. | jumped up and grabbed
rail Of the barnyard fence, quit
oblivious to my fathers prejudices
I had given that fend in the form o
COW three or four sounding whacks
when some impulse caused me tt
turn and look up. There was my ex
cellent parent gazing upon me, 1nd1g
nant, awful. He was on horseback
dressed for his ride to the neares
town. He looked every inch thu
scholar and the gentleman he was.
""Young man." he remarked, in ;
deep voice which I respected, bu
otherwise objected to- 81 can't sto1
to arrange things with you just now
You've been getting ready for ;
thrashing for some time. I'll see
that you have it before I sleep. Re
mind me Of the promise when [ come
home"
He rode away, glancing back to SEE
whether I was going on with my
job. But [ wasn't. The spirit ha(
gone out of me, and only wondered
if he would come home early.
l went slowly towards the house
my empty bucket dangling and my
wet clothes clinging to my skin. My
stepmother (b1ess her sweet heart
stood in the doorway as [ came tt
the kitchen porch.
"You poor child!' she cried in he.
soft slow way. elias that wicked
COW been at her tricks AGAIN."
EYES," | answered in rather TN
even voice, "and I whaled her with ;
rail"
She caught her breath a little
"Wen," she said comfortingly, "I'n
sure she deserved it, Jim dear
hope it doesn't show where you hit
If it doesn't I wouldn't feel SO ba(
about it."
ooh, but Pop saw me; he was jus
riding BY | explained.
She took in the situation, but sh'
was my friend every time, SO will
her blue eyes very wide open sh'
half whispered, 'What did he do?'
"Said he'd take the strap to M
before bed time" I wouldn't cry
but the tears back Of my eyes mad'
'em smart
"Well, now, Jimmie" said the dea
soul, $50 and slip on some dry thing
and then come and have your supper
SO you can get to bed little early
You look dead tired, poor boy!"
| felt that I was tagged. Ever
supper was a burden, such a long
ing for my cozy bed. 1t was plai1
my stepmother felt, with me, tina
no really humane person would rous'
growing boy of his peaceful slum
bers on purpose to wallup him. Ac
cordingly | made haste to retire, AM
when Pop came in [ was snoring.
He had had a profitable little bust
ness deal, and delightful ride in tn
cool Of the day, and brought hom
his pockets full of new magazines:
My dear stepmother had gr1ddl
cakes and honey for supper. NJ
wonder he forgot his evil plans, an
began to cut the leaves Of hi
"Scientifc Monthly chatting pleas
antly the while.
All at once he remembered, and
could feel him stiffen up, as he aske'
shortly, "Where's that boy?"
"Jim, poor fellow" queried tn
voice of my stepmother " He's gon
to bed; he seemed clear tired out
"Yes,' said my father, 'no wonder
1t takes muscle to pound a big GOV
with a hard wood rail. Did he tel