MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



charged brutes accept of the offices of the httle 

 staggering foundhngs, it is with a weary poke 

 of the head, that is damning to the brutahty 

 of the drovers. 



It would be too much to say that I have 

 never been deceived by these people ; too much 

 to say that honest old gentlemen of innocent 

 proclivities did never pass upon me certain 

 venerable animals, with the tell-tale wrinkles 

 rasped out of their horns. One of this class, 

 of a really creditable figure, high hip bones, 

 heavy quarters, well marked milk veins, I was 

 incautious enough to test by a glance into her 

 mouth. Not a tooth in her old head. 



I looked accusingly at the rural owner, who 

 was quietly cutting a notch in the top rail of 

 his fence. 



"Waal, yes— kind o' rubbed off; but she 

 bites pooty well with her gooms." 



Among the early purchases, and among the 

 animals that promised well, was a dun cow, 

 which it was found necessary, after a few weeks 

 of full feeding, to cumber with a complicated 

 piece of neck furniture, to forbid her filching 

 surreptitiously what properly belonged to the 

 pail. Self-milkers are not profitable. I have 

 faith in the doctrine of rotation, and the quick 

 reconversion of farm products into the elements 



ii8 



