XII. A Calf Puzzle 



THE things that a spirited and energetic calf 

 will do are beyond the power of an ordi- 

 nary man to foresee or provide for. When 

 the new stable was built the corner came 

 within less than a foot of the corner of the granary. 

 Of course it was intended to nail a board in the 

 opening so as to make a complete shelter for the cat- 

 tle in the winter, but somehow we never got around 

 to doing it, and in the meantime the opening was 

 handy for the children to squeeze through sideways. 

 No one ever thought that any of the livestock, ex- 

 cept the cats, would ever attempt the passage, and 

 that mistaken idea almost cost us a calf. When the 

 cattle were being put in last night one of the calves 

 felt altogether too frisky to go in to be tied, even 

 though the manger was full of choice hay. He ran 

 away into the orchard, and when brought back made 

 a break into the pasture field. When rounded up 

 once more we were all on hand to shoo him through 

 the stable door. A boy had him by the tail to steer 



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