56 KEEPING ONE COW. 



Another evening, as Joseph came home from work, Mary asked, 

 '* What in the world are you going to do with these," as she 

 drew from the bundle a card and brush. " Which of the 

 family are you going to use these on ?" " Oh, I thought 

 they would be good things to have in the house," said Joseph, 

 laughing. " You know I started out early this morning to go 

 around by Mason's, to see about repairing his house this next sum- 

 mer. He is one of the best of fanners, all his stock look thrifty 

 everything is up in order, and he makes farming pay. I found 

 him in the stable carding and brushing his cows. That was anew 

 idea to me, and I asked him if he thought it really paid him to 

 spend so much time and labor on his cows. Well, said he, I've 

 had the care of cattle nigh on to thirty years, and I think my card- 

 ing and brushing pay as well as anything I can do, and there is 

 nothing an animal enjoys more than having its coat combed." 



" What did Mr. Mason say about the work." "He is going to 

 have his house thoroughly repaired, and I am glad to say your 

 husband has the job, and he is going to keep his eyes and ears open 

 and learn what he can about farming." 



Joseph had bought a load of fine hay a farmer was taking into 

 town to market, and ** Comfort " was now fed hay three times a day, 

 with two quarts of bran night and morning. At noon there was 

 something from the house also, like potato and apple peelings, 

 small potatoes, wilted turnips or beets, cut up cabbage leaves, etc. 

 The children thought it nice fun to feed her at noon. Some loose 

 bars had been put up to her stall which was quite roomy, and she 

 did not have to be driven into it by some of the men and all of 

 the boys in the neighborhood, but when the gate of the yard was 

 opened she walked briskly to her stall, knowing she would find a 

 good supper waiting for her. Humane care, the plenty of food 

 and drink, given regularly, have wrought in a month's time a 

 great change in the appearance of " Comfort. ' From being a poorly 

 fed " whipped " cow in a dairy, suffering all the discomfort of 

 stanchions for eighteen out of twenty-four hours, with no bed but 

 a bare floor she has come to be a thnfty, happy animal, giving 

 good promise of rewarding her owners well for their care. One 

 morning the first week in April, Joseph came in from the barn 

 looking pleased, but a little anxious. " Children," he said, " what 

 do you think 1 found at the barn this morning? " " Oh, a bossy," 

 they said, delighted with the idea. 1 ' Yes, 'Comfort' has a little 

 ' comfort,' and she is very proud of it ; but now comes the rub, 

 who is to milk, and what is to be done with the calf?" "Oh," 



