A TRAGIC STORY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 152, 6 May 1879, Page 2

A TRAGIC STORY.

The following tragic story is narrated by the correspondent of the Grey River Argus, respecting a branding experiment which occurred in the Grey Valley I tell for a certain fact that by applying the kerosene to the skin of the calf where the brand is put, will allay all pain of the burn. Try it and witness the effect for yourself." Prompted by feelings of humanity he tried it. " Put plenty on," suggested the tender-hearted goodwife ; " nothing like giving it a fair trial, and doing the thing properly." And done properly it certainly was—done brown in fact—as the sequel plainly showed. The poor calf was well kerosened, and the kind-hearted folks stood in anxious expectation around to see the result of the ex-s periment, And the brand white hot m'> brought. " Don't believe it will feel it, n remarked the goodwife ; " will just go o e eating as if nothing were happening, if it-don't-" The burning iron was poppe on tlie poor calf's unsuspecting flank' " Now you'll see," and they did see and heard;too. The effect was astonishing, for, irj a moment, the calf, transformed into a; blazing meteor shot, fell upon the horrified group, Some fell left; some fell i right—of power bereft, By their terrible fright, unable to run ; scarcely able tb scream; like people -attacked in

some horrible dream, '"A blanket," shouted ond ; " Water I" screamed another ; " Fire I" yelled a third; " Mur-r-r-der-r-r!" bellowed the calf, and with a frantic rush, broke away and disappeared in the neighboring bush, whence it emerged, a few days later, happily, save the loss of its back hair, not much the worse for the unlucky experiment."