THE SUNNY SLOPES OF LINWOOD 195 



and he had no warmer friends and admirers than 

 in the ranks of his contemporaries of the Hereford 

 and Aberdeen-Angus camps. 



Throughout this, beyond question the happiest 

 period of his life, the betterment of the cattle 

 stocks of the United States had his entire attention. 

 All the wealth of his great intellectual gifts were 

 showered upon the problems connected with the 

 improvement of our western herds. By day and by 

 night he ministered personally to his favorites. 

 Like THOMAS BATES, he knew and habitually fondled 

 all his favorites. The animals themselves under- 

 stood his devotion, and courted his hand as he 

 approached. In the midnight hours he would re- 

 spond to any unusual call from about the cattle 

 barns. The lantern would be lighted, and he would 

 make the rounds to ascertain the trouble. Fit to 

 grace, as he afterwards did, the Senate chamber at 

 Washington, once the choice of several great states 

 as nominee for the Vice-Presidency of the Republic, 

 this great, simple-hearted man did not deem it be- 

 neath his dignity to do these things. He had no 

 patience with those of his neighbors who complained 

 of "bad luck" with cattle. The only luck he 

 recognized was that which came as the reward of 

 unselfish, unending devotion to that which he loved. 



