Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-01-01
A Victim of Conscience
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Frank, as they drove the COW into the
meadow.
Because I can't How can 1 set
posts?"
Here's a mushroom. But 1 don't
see any more"
''They are pretty scarce said jim
mie. "Say, Frank, let's fix this gate"
How? OIL itT
mo, simple. Can't you see how low
1t hangs? That makes 1t bind. Now
If we only had piece Of rope to guy
it up with"
'HowT asked Frank, who was not
gifted with much practical or mechan-
ical ability.
why, to a sapllng. Let's hunt for
some"
Very fortunately they ran across an
old clothes line, and Frank cut down
q hickory sapling, which they planted
near the gate post. They attached the
rope and found, after a little adjust
ing, that the gate now worked very
easily.
That's pretty good,r said Jimmie,
who was much pleased with his idea,
but have better scheme yet. You
know, every time we drive across here
we have to get out of the wagon, open
the gate and then shut it again. And
then we have to do the same thing on
the other side"
Eyes, It's a regular nuisance" as
scented Frank.
why can't work It so that we
might open the gate without leaving
the team?
"Of course you can"
"Well, let me see. It won't be so
easy as you think I could put q long
pole along the top Of the gate-and-
oh, I've got it! With a rope from the
end Of the pole, and a sort Of pulley
arrangement that would do. NV.
won't father like it! He hates to get
out, especially when he drives the
colt"
After two hours Of good, hard work
the boys managed to rig up a rude sort
Of device, but it performed it's func-
Then, much pleased with themselves.
they went up the hill to the orchard
and gathered some magnificent green
apples as hard as rocks. Of these they
ate heartily-but with a heroism they
did not suspect.
Suddenly Jimmie gave an exclama-
ton Of alarm, and Frank hastily look
ed up.
whats the matterY'
"Oh, my, that Blossom !"
The cow was venturing into forbid
den territory. Through some unhappy
thoughtlessness the boys had left the
meadow gate open and Blossom was
calmly walking out on to the railroad
tracks.
Come on, Jimmie, let's stop her."
cried Frank, but they were half a
mile away and if a train should come
it looked as if it were all up with her.
The boys ran as fast as they could,
while Blossom, with the usual stupid
ity of COW, sedately walked down the
center Of the tracks. No grass was
there, nor any real inducement for her
to go on such a dangerous path. but
she seemed to take it out of that pure
bovine "meanness' which farmers
know so well.
The whistle of an approaching train
was heard.
Poor Blossom-why did she knowSno
better? For, just as she got about
opposite to where the fence was so
badly broken. the train came up, and.
despite the engineers efforts to stop.
she was hit and thrown to one side, a
dead beast.
AS the body was clear of the track,
the engine whistled twice and the
train, which had nearly stopped, moved
off.
A little later the boys got there,
both out of breath. They looked at
the dead animal with scared faces.
isn't 1t awful?' whispered Frank
''Oh, what will father say?
Its your only COW, isn't it?" asked
Frank with a troubled air.
Eyes, and it's all my fault for leav-
ing that gate OPEN"
Your father will whip you, won't
he?"
"Oh, no. Well don't know. He
was mighty particular about that COW.
Just this morning he was telling me to
watch her carefully, as the fence was
down."
"Humph! Say, Jimmie" said Frank
hoarsely, how'll he know she got out
the gate? If were you I'd tell him
she came through that hole in the
fence. He'd never know the differ
ence"
"Oh, don't know what to do" cried