The mirror., 1910-07-28
A Jersey Cow
Eats Toilet Soap
An Amusing Incident With Tragic
Possibilities Happens in the
State Of Tennessee.

We had come to make our home
in the woods and af ter selecting
desirable site, which was a thicket
of half f-grown brush and fallen trees,
half-rotted logs and h i c k e of
-briars, it was plain to see it m a n t
labor untold to make habitation at
such spot; but it was charming, for
it is little valley with delightful
little brook and near by is a spring
of cold, sparkling free-stone water.
1t is such good water that when you
have one drink you wis b another.
We decided to build right here,
drink the Elixir of Youth from this
spring and listen to the music of the
brook and birds.
1t is no small task to become a
pioneer and saw down the trees to
be taken to the mill to be made into
lumber to build ones house. This
we did. The front of the house one
and-a half stories, contained two
rooms, one upstairs and one down
measured sixteen by sixteen feet
while at the back was a shed-kitchen
which measured eight by sixteen feet.
/ had figured on building this house
for one hundred dollars, but the idea
was laughed at so by many (some
who thought they knew it all, too)
that / felt perhaps was venturing,
but nevertheless went ahead. 1t may
interest some to know that the house
cost me when done, including every
item of expense, such as doors, win
,dows. nails, ETC., just exactly $4,000.
This house we occupie I'd for two
years; we added to this and now have
a comfortable home.
A friend came from the North and
built cabin across the brook from
me, tiny little house, but complete
in every detail. This friend comes
from the frozen North and spends
the Winters here. When the house
is not occupied by the owner | use
it as guest chamber; and it was al
such time my friends Mr.. and Mrs
Hutchinson came to visit us and enjoy
the quiet and retired atmosphere Of
Eljenwood. When they arrived, al
they were unpacking, | sat and visit
ed with them when they came upol
their supply of toilet soap, Pears
Glyccrine No. All; they handed M
cake as gift. 1t pleased me great
ly and smelled good enough to eat
had been very content to use jus
plain Ivory soap for all purposes, s.
this was really luxury and treas
ured it. l took it to MY house acros
the brook and refreshed my face wit
a good application of it's lather.
might pass for whole bouquet fror
the delightful edor. | had an in
provised washstand at the rear of tn
house which was ageneral washstan
for the family and on the soap ira
l gently laid my precious cake {
Pears, intending before | put it ava
touse it asa Sunday" article, to pc
nit the members of the family to Ell
Joy the treat of washing their face
with it before supper. | went abo'
other duties and was busy for awhil
We had no fence about the yard an
it made me work constantly keepiI
the roaming stock off our preserve
Cows and hogs roamed at large al
on one occasion a drove OF hogs e.
tered the kitchen and made way wi
a basket of tomatoes which were i
tended for picking, so | wat C h e
constantly. / went to the back por'
suddenly, hearing sound, and W
just in time to see cow lick up n
precious cake of soap and stalk Z
eating it.
What to do! What to do!'
wrung my hands in despair and cri
in desperation. The COW was go
and my beautiful soap was gone.
related my tale of woe to my friel
Hutch" and he laughed when | 81