THE OLD COW "FETCHED HIM."

Otago Witness, Issue 1382, 25 May 1878, Page 19

THE OLD COW "FETCHED HIM."

A hard old customer was Badger. He was never known to attend church, and was considered the wickedest man in the town in which lie lived. One night his old cow was prowling about the house seeking what she might devour, the barrel was empty, her head got so far in the barrel that she could not withdraw it, and she made a blind rush to free herself from the incumbrance. As luck would have it, she struck a beeline for the house, and directly for the front door. The old man was inside telling the family about a great murder trial, when the cow gave a frightful bellow, which was prolonged by the empty barrel into an unearthly roar. At the same timo the front door crashed from its hinges, and the cow, with her uncommon head gear, bolted into the room. Old Wickedness gave one agonised look at tho frightful demon that confronted him ; each separate and individual hair stood on end ; a shivering feeling crawled up and down his back ; his eyes protruded from his head ; altogether he was a picture of abject terror. Suddenly his tongue was loosened, and he screamed: " For heaven's sake, take Mary — she's better prepared than I am !" Since that eventful night the man has joined an easy-going church, which ia one step progressive, and he only swears when he sees old brindle or the swill barrel.