The Coolidge examiner., 1935-07-19
The Zebra
BY James J. Montague

CHE was supposed 10 be partly
Jersey and partly other things.
- firmly believed. after the FIRST
time / drove her 20 pasture that she
was at least half zebra. This opinion
was based on her markings. which /
afterward learned were called
hrindles. These we're darklsh yel-
low stripes that extended from her
spine down her sides. much ms her
ribs would have appeared had there
been X.ray machines In those days.
and n she would have submitted TO
any Internal photoEraphlngs, which.
from what / know OF her. | know
she would not
Ny father proudly drove her home
one night and committed her To my
care. lie said that a boy of twelve
ought 20 be able 20 take charge of n
cow--especlally such a nice gentle
COW as this one. While he was say
ing this the animal turned her head
slightly and glanced az me out of
the corner of one eye. ! knew from
that time forward that we two were
not soon 10 be friends She pro-
ceelcd 10 confirm that conviction the
first time ] attempted 10 milk her
I approached her glngeriy on the
side from which the milking Is done
She moved over gently toward the
side or her stall. and without any
apparent effort nattened me against
It's wall. ! protested myself with my
est, the only weapon I bad az hand.
She braced her feet against the floor
and pushed a little harder Ny
breath departed from my body. but
managed 10 worm my way out and
dive underneath her 90 the other
side % the stall. where there was
more room. She split tacks and
came after me again. but this time |
bad backed away 10 safety.
What To do abont it7 could not
admit that an underslzed COW. how
ever ugly her disposition. could dc.
feat me. got long pole that was
formerly used 20 separate two
horses In another stall one end OF
this braced against a cleat on the
floor. the other ] wedged into her
ribs. Then balanced myself on the
pole and jumped as hard as my
eighty pounds would permit. Taken
by surprise she moved over. And
for n time she remained 50 aston.
lshed that ! was able 20 extract
about a quart of milk from her.
Then she recovered from her aston
lshneni. and with one swift motion
OF her or hind hoof scattered that
quart 81 milk on the stable floor.
gave up and went into the house.
declaring that I had not been
trained In ZOO. and was wholly un-
fitted by size and craft 10 compete
with n Wild animal.
Drive her out 10 pasture tomor-
row. and you will get acquainted
with her. But don't half.mIlk her
any more. That's how cows 20 dry"
Ny father was a man who expected
10 be oheyed I went 10 bed and
dreamed that | was dying over
fence with a pair OF horns imme-
dlately behind me. When | woke
up | was 1consoled by the fact that |
felt little pain. and then thought
OF driving that cow 10 pasture.
Practically nothing can spoil
boys breakfast. but my mother OBJ
served that | ate only three waifles
and was alarmed. Il think your IA
ther should have driven the cow 10
the pasture the first day. anyway"
she said. "But never mind. She is
only a COW. She won't hurt you"
Completely convinced OF the error
VI this statement. and OF woman's
native inability 10 understand ami
mails. went grudgingly to the barn.
Ny charge was sleeping placidly and
when / prodded her indicated by
snort LndI SUe hlu ubt want icA
beauty nap disturbed. insisted
with the stick. and she rose and
looked at me.
Il was a look of unfriendliness.
I might say of positive dislike. But
she was a little more patient about
suffering the loss OF her milk / had
the bucket a quarter full before she
kicked IL over. That | recognized as
a victory. and proudly bore the milk
into the house. My mother looked
at It disdainfully. Il thought John
said she vas an eight quart cow"
she said. "You better 60 back and
see If she hasn't been holding out"
| went back. but | postponed any
argument about holding out till eve
ming. The COW was glad enough to