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family of Rudder Grange had come together again。 True; the boarder
was away; but; as Pomona remarked; when she heard about him; 〃You
couldn't always expect to ever regain the ties that had always
bound everybody。〃
Our delight and interest in our little farm increased day by day。
In a week or two after Pomona's arrival I bought a cow。 Euphemia
was very anxious to have an Alderney;they were such gentle;
beautiful creatures;but I could not afford such a luxury。 I
might possibly compass an Alderney calf; but we would have to wait
a couple of years for our milk; and Euphemia said it would be
better to have a common cow than to do that。
Great was our inward satisfaction when the cow; our OWN cow; walked
slowly and solemnly into our yard and began to crop the clover on
our little lawn。 Pomona and I gently drove her to the barn; while
Euphemia endeavored to quiet the violent demonstrations of the dog
(fortunately chained) by assuring him that this was OUR cow and
that she was to live here; and that he was to take care of her and
never bark at her。 All this and much more; delivered in the
earnest and confidential tone in which ladies talk to infants and
dumb animals; made the dog think that he was to be let loose to
kill the cow; and he bounded and leaped with delight; tugging at
his chain so violently that Euphemia became a little frightened and
left him。 This dog had been named Lord Edward; at the earnest
solicitation of Pomona; and he was becoming somewhat reconciled to
his life with us。 He allowed me to unchain him at night and I
could generally chain him up in the morning without trouble if I
had a good big plate of food with which to tempt him into the shed。
Before supper we all went down to the barn to see the milking。
Pomona; who knew all about such things; having been on a farm in
her first youth; was to be the milkmaid。 But when she began
operations; she did no more than begin。 Milk as industriously as
she might; she got no milk。
〃This is a queer cow;〃 said Pomona。
〃Are you sure that you know how to milk?〃 asked Euphemia anxiously。
〃Can I milk?〃 said Pomona。 〃Why; of course; ma'am。 I've seen 'em
milk hundreds of times。〃
〃But you never milked; yourself?〃 I remarked。
〃No; sir; but I know just how it's done。〃
That might be; but she couldn't do it; and at last we had to give
up the matter in despair; and leave the poor cow until morning;
when Pomona was to go for a man who occasionally worked on the
place; and engage him to come and milk for us。
That night as we were going to bed I looked out of the window at
the barn which contained the cow; and was astonished to see that
there was a light inside of the building。
〃What!〃 I exclaimed。 〃Can't we be left in peaceful possession of a
cow for a single night?〃 And; taking my revolver; I hurried down…
stairs and out…of…doors; forgetting my hat in my haste。 Euphemia
screamed after me to be careful and keep the pistol pointed away
from me。
I whistled for the dog as I went out; but to my surprise he did not
answer。
〃Has he been killed?〃 I thought; and; for a moment; I wished that I
was a large family of brothersall armed。
But on my way to the barn I met a person approaching with a lantern
and a dog。 It was Pomona; and she had a milk…pail on her arm。
〃See here; sir;〃 she said; 〃it's mor'n half full。 I just made up
my mind that I'd learn to milkif it took me all night。 I didn't
go to bed at all; and I've been at the barn fur an hour。 And there
ain't no need of my goin' after no man in the mornin';〃 said she;
hanging up the barn key on its nail。
I simply mention this circumstance to show what kind of a girl
Pomona had grown to be。
We were all the time at work in some way; improving our little
place。 〃Some day we will buy it;〃 said Euphemia。 We intended to
have some wheat put in in the fall and next year we would make the
place fairly crack with luxuriance。 We would divide the duties of
the farm; and; among other things; Euphemia would take charge of
the chickens。 She wished to do this entirely herself; so that
there might be one thing that should be all her own; just as my
work in town was all my own。 As she wished to buy the chickens and
defray all the necessary expenses out of her own private funds; I
could make no objections; and; indeed; I had no desire to do so。
She bought a chicken…book; and made herself mistress of the
subject。 For a week; there was a strong chicken flavor in all our
conversation。
This was while the poultry yard was building。 There was a chicken…
house on the place; but no yard; and Euphemia intended to have a
good big one; because she was going into the business to make
money。
〃Perhaps my chickens may buy the place;〃 she said; and I very much
hoped they would。
Everything was to be done very systematically。 She would have
Leghorns; Brahmas; and common fowls。 The first; because they laid
so many eggs; the second; because they were such fine; big fowls;
and the third; because they were such good mothers。
〃We will eat; and sell the eggs of the first and third classes;〃
she said; 〃and set the eggs of the second class; under the hens of
the third class。〃
〃There seems to be some injustice in that arrangement;〃 I said;
〃for the first class will always be childless; the second class
will have nothing to do with their offspring; while the third will
be obliged to bring up and care for the children of others。〃
But I really had no voice in this matter。 As soon as the carpenter
had finished the yard; and had made some coops and other necessary
arrangements; Euphemia hired a carriage and went about the country
to buy chickens。 It was not easy to find just what she wanted; and
she was gone all day。
However; she brought home an enormous Brahma cock and ten hens;
which number was pretty equally divided into her three classes。
She was very proud of her purchases; and indeed they were fine
fowls。 In the evening I made some allusion to the cost of all this
carpenter work; carriage…hire; etc。; besides the price of the
chickens。
〃O!〃 said she; 〃you don't look at the matter in the right light。
You haven't studied it up as I have。 Now; just let me show you how
this thing will pay; if carried on properly。〃 Producing a piece of
paper covered with figures; she continued: 〃I begin with ten hens
I got four common ones; because it would make it easier to
calculate。 After a while; I set these ten hens on thirteen eggs
each; three of these eggs will probably spoil;that leaves ten
chickens hatched out。 Of these; I will say that half die; that
will make five chickens for each hen; you see; I leave a large
margin for loss。 This makes fifty chickens; and when we add the
ten hens; we have sixty fowls at the end of the first year。 Next
year I set these sixty and they bring up five chickens each;I am
sure there will be a larger proportion than this; but I want to be
safe;and that is three hundred chickens; add the hens; and we
have three hundred and sixty at the end of the second year。 In the
third year; calculating in the same safe way; we shall have twenty…
one hundred and sixty chickens; in the fourth ye