A Cow. 23 



feasibility of leading the animal up the front steps 

 a proceeding, however, which would have required 

 her to go down the back ones or hoisting her over 

 the fence. As these measures did not seem prac 

 ticable, and a cow must be had, my friend mildly 

 suggested that several Irishmen with a stout rope 

 might drag her through the passage-way ; and as my 

 faith in the nature of cows was illimitable, it w r as 

 determined to make the purchase on the chance. 

 The weight of a cow was to me an utterly unknown 

 quantity, and the floor she was to pass over having 

 once, on a previous occasion, and without any great 

 strain, given way, a carpenter had to be called in to 

 strengthen it. He, in his enthusiasm, and being prob 

 ably as ignorant as myself, used so many supports 

 that it would have been strong enough to carry an 

 elephant, while four able-bodied men were engaged 

 from a neighboring stable, and provided with a good- 

 sized rope, so that we were fully prepared for any 

 emergency. 



In order that there may be no mistake in the debit 

 and credit of this transaction, it must be known that 

 the cow cost $100, to be delivered at the door free of 

 charge. So this sum must be charged to principal 

 as so much invested in stock, whether it ever entered 

 my back yard or not ; and the interest on it will here- 



