HIS BEST COW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2020, 15 March 1890, Page 3

HIS BEST COW.

There was an old. English oust om to giviDg a " Christmas box " to each cow in milk on Christmas Day, and some farmers made it the occasion of recognising peculiar merits, giving larger portions to the best cows, the largest portion to the best cow of all, whilst other owners of dairy stock dealt out the bounty importially to all alike, Of the former class, giving owards according to deeds, was a sturdy old specimen of a primitive type of farmer, say eighty or ninety years ago, who charged his cowman tc discriminate fairly between good and bad, and to apportion the Christmas provender accurately in the quantities deserved. Going round after him to see that his order had been rightly carried out ; he noticed that the pump trough was full of provender. " Here, you rascal," he cried ; what do you mean by wasting my property in this way ?" " Please, master," the man pleaded, «' I moaned no wrong, but if th' count o' th' gallons as goes out i' th' milk kits be aught to speak on, her be the best cow about this spot, so I e'en gave double fodder to th' irun tailed uu, as-you see in ber trough." The old fellow, who used to tell this story as fairly illustrative of doings of those he called his "fore-elders " ended up with—" It might happen be true or it might be awfawse, but I'll just tell ye what I seed wi' me own een—me aud ano'her fsrm lad as were fella servants together. We watched master tak' th' milk cans to the pump, and it's true as I's stflndin' hero wo counted th' pump handle go forty times,"