on our selection-第24章

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Mother　and　Sal　heard　the　noise；　and　came　with　a　light　to　see　Dad's　purchase；　but　as　they　approached　〃Dummy〃　threatened　to　carry　the　yard　away　on　her　back；　and　Dad　ordered　them　off。

Dad　secured　the　rails　by　placing　logs　and　the　harrow　against　them；　then　went　inside　and　told　Mother　what　a　bargain　he'd　made。

In　the　morning　Dad　took　a　bucket　and　went　to　milk　〃Dummy。〃　All　of　us　accompanied　him。　　He　crawled　through　the　rails　while　〃Dummy〃　tore　the　earth　with　her　fore…feet　and　threw　lumps　of　it　over　the　yard。　　But　she　was　n't　so　wild　as　she　seemed；　and　when　Dad　went　to　work　on　her　with　a　big　stick　she　walked　into　the　bail　quietly　enough。　　Then　he　sat　to　milk　her；　and　when　he　took　hold　of　her　teats　she　broke　the　leg…rope　and　kicked　him　clean　off　the　block　and　tangled　her　leg　in　the　bucket　and　made　a　great　noise　with　it。　　Then　she　bellowed　and　reared　in　the　bail　and　fell　down；　her　head　screwed　the　wrong　way；　and　lay　with　her　tongue　out　moaning。

Dad　rose　and　spat　out　dirt。

〃Dear　me！〃　Mother　said。　　〃it's　a　WILD　cow　y'　bought。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　Dad　answered；　〃she's　a　bit　touchy；　that's　all。〃

〃She　tut…tutTUTCHED　YOU　orright；　Dad；〃　Joe　said　from　the　top　of　the　yard。

Dad　looked　up。　　〃Get　down　outer　THAT！〃　he　yelled。　　〃No　wonder　the　damn　cow's　frightened。〃

Joe　got　down。

Dad　brought　〃Dummy〃　to　her　senses　with　a　few　heavy　kicks　on　her　nose；　and　proceeded　to　milk　her　again。　　〃Dummy〃　kicked　and　kicked。　　Dad　tugged　and　tugged　at　her　teats；　but　no　milk　came。　　Dad　could　n't　understand　it。　〃Must　be　frettin'；〃　he　said。

Joe　owned　a　pet　calf　about　a　week　old　which　lived　on　water　and　a　long　rope。　Dad　told　him　to　fetch　it　to　see　if　it　would　suck。　　Joe　fetched　it；　and　it　sucked　ravenously　at　〃Dummy's〃　flank；　and　joyfully　wagged　its　tail。　〃Dummy〃　resented　it。　　She　plunged　until　the　leg…rope　parted　again；　when　the　calf　got　mixed　up　in　her　legs；　and　she　trampled　it　in　the　ground。　　Joe　took　it　away。　　Dad　turned　〃Dummy〃　out　and　bailed　her　up　the　next　dayand　every　day　for　a　weekwith　the　same　result。　　Then　he　sent　for　Larry　O'Laughlin；　who　posed　as　a　cow　doctor。

〃She　never　give　a　drop　in　her　life；〃　Larry　said。　　〃Them's　BLIND　tits　she　have。〃

Dad　one　day　sold　〃Dummy〃　for　ten　shillings　and　bought　a　goat；　which　Johnson　shot　on　his　cultivation　and　made　Dad　drag　away。




CHAPTER　XXI。



The　Parson　and　the　Scone。


It　was　dinner…time。　　And　were　n't　we　hungry！particularly　Joe！　　He　was　kept　from　school　that　day　to　fork　up　hay…work　hard　enough　for　a　mantoo　hard　for　some　menbut　in　many　things　Joe　was　more　than　a　man's　equal。　Eating　was　one　of　them。　　We　were　all　silent。　　Joe　ate　ravenously。　　The　meat　and　pumpkin　disappeared；　and　the　pile　of　hot　scones　grew　rapidly　less。　　Joe　regarded　it　with　anxiety。　　He　stole　sly　glances　at　Dad　and　at　Dave　and　made　a　mental　calculation。　　Then　he　fixed　his　eyes　longingly　on　the　one　remaining　scone；　and　ate　faster　and　faster。。。。Still　silence。　Joe　glanced　again　at　Dad。

The　dogs　outside　barked。　　Those　inside；　lying　full…stretch　beneath　the　table；　instantly　darted　up　and　rushed　out。　　One　of　them　carried　off　little　Billwho　was　standing　at　the　table　　with　his　legs　spread　out　and　a　pint　of　tea　in　his　handas　far　as　the　door　on　its　back；　and　there　scraped　him　off　and　spilled　tea　over　him。　　Dad　spoke。　　He　said；　〃Damn　the　dogs！〃　　Then　he　rose　and　looked　out　the　window。　　We　all　roseall　except　Joe。　　Joe　reached　for　the　last　scone。

A　horseman　dismounted　at　the　slip…rails。

〃Some　stranger；〃　Dad　muttered；　turning　to　re…seat　himself。

〃Why；　it'sit's　the　minister！〃　Sal　cried〃the　minister　that　married　Kate！〃

Dad　nearly　fell　over。　　〃Good　God！〃　was　all　he　said；　and　stared　hopelessly　at　Mother。　　The　ministerfor　sure　enough　it　was　the　Rev。　Daniel　Macphersonwas　coming　in。　　There　was　commotion。　　Dave　finished　his　tea　at　a　gulp；　put　on　his　hat；　and　left　by　the　back…door。　　Dad　would　have　followed；　but　hesitated；　and　so　was　lost。　　Mother　was　restless〃on　pins　and　needles。〃

〃And　there　ain't　a　bite　to　offer　him；〃　she　cried；　dancing　hysterically　about　the　table〃not　a　bite；　nor　a　plate；　nor　a　knife；　nor　a　fork　to　eat　it　with！〃　　There　was　humour　in　Mother　at　times。　　It　came　from　the　father's　side。　　He　was　a　dentist。

Only　Joe　was　unconcerned。　　He　was　employed　on　the　last　scone。　　He　commenced　it　slowly。　　He　wished　it　to　last　till　night。　　His　mouth　opened　and　received　it　fondly。　　He　buried　his　teeth　in　it　and　lingered　lovingly　over　it。　Mother's　eyes　happened　to　rest　on　him。　　Her　face　brightened。　　She　flew　at　Joe　and　cried：

〃Give　me　that　scone！put　it　back　on　the　table　this　minute！〃

Joe　became　concerned。　　He　was　about　to　protest。　　Mother　seized　him　by　the　hair　（which　had　n't　been　cut　since　Dan　went　shearing）　and　hissed：

〃Putitbacksir！〃　Joe　put　it　back。

The　minister　came　in。　　Dad　said　he　was　pleased　to　see　himpoor　Dad！and　enquired　if　he　had　had　dinner。　　The　parson　had　not；　but　said　he　did　n't　want　any；　and　implored　Mother　not　to　put　herself　about　on　his　account。　He　only　required　a　cup　of　teanothing　else　whatever。　　Mother　was　delighted；　and　got　the　tea　gladly。　　Still　she　was　not　satisfied。　　She　would　be　hospitable。　　She　said：

〃Won't　you　try　a　scone　with　it；　Mr。　Macpherson？〃　And　the　parson　said　he　would〃just　one。〃

Mother　passed　the　rescued　scone　along；　and　awkwardly　apologised　for　the　absence　of　plates。　　She　explained　that　the　Andersons　were　threshing　their　wheat；　and　had　borrowed　all　our　crockery　and　cutleryeverybody's；　in　fact；　in　the　neighbourhoodfor　the　use　of　the　men。　　Such　was　the　custom　round　our　way。　　But　the　minister　did　n't　mind。　　On　the　contrary；　he　commended　everybody　for　fellowship　and　good…feeling；　and　felt　sure　that　the　district　would　be　rewarded。

It　took　the　Rev。　Macpherson　no　time　to　polish　off　the　scone。　　When　the　last　of　it　was　disappearing　Mother　became　uneasy　again。　　So　did　Dad。　　He　stared　through　the　window　at　the　parson's　sleepy…looking　horse；　fastened　to　the　fence。　　Dad　wished　to　heaven　it　would　break　away；　or　drop　dead；　or　do　anything　to　provide　him　with　an　excuse　to　run　out。　　But　it　was　a　faithful　steed。　　It　stood　there　leaning　on　its　forehead　against　a　post。　There　was　a　brief　silence。

Then　the　minister　joked　about　his　appetiteat　which　only　Joe　could　afford　to　smileand　asked；　〃May　I　trouble　you　for　just　another　scone？〃

Mother　muttered　something　like　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　and　went　out　to　the　kitchen　just　as　if　there　had　been　some　there。　　Dad　was　very　uncomfortable。　He　patted　the　floor　with　the　flat　of　his　foot　and　wondered　what　would　happen　next。　　Nothing　happened　for　a　good　while。　　The　minister　sipped　and　sipped　his　tea　till　none　was　left。。。

Dad　said：　　〃I'll　see　what's　keeping　her；〃　and　roseglad　if　ever　man　was　gladto　get　away。　　He　found　Mother　seated　on　the　ironbark　table　in　the　kitchen。　　They　did　n't　speak。　　They　looked　at　each　other　sympathisingly。

〃Well？〃　Dad　whispered　at　last；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　　Mother　shook　her　head。　　She　did　n't　know。

〃Tell　him　straight　there　ain't　any；　an'　be　done　with　it；〃　was　Dad's　cheerful　advice。　　Mother　several　times　approached　the　door；　but　hesitated　and　returned　again。

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　Dad　would　ask；　〃he　won't　eat　y'。〃　Finally　she　went　in。

Then　Dad　tiptoed　to　the　door　and　listened。　　He　was　listening　eagerly　when　a　lump　of　eartha　piece　of　the　cultivation　paddockfell　dangerously　near　his　feet。　　It　broke　and　scattered　round　him；　and　rattled　inside　against　the　papered　wall。　　Dad　jumped　round。　　A　row　of　jackasses　on　a　tree　near　by　laughed　merrily。　　Dad　looked　up。　　They　stopped。　　Another　one　laughed　clearly　from　the　edge　of　the　tall　corn。　　Dad　turned　his　head。　　It　was　Dave。　　Dad　joined　him；　and　they　watched　the　parson　mount　his　horse　and　ride　away。

Dad　drew　a　deep　and　grateful　breath。　　〃Thank　God！〃　he　said。




CHAPTER　XXII。



Callaghan's　Colt。


It　was　the　year　we　put　the　bottom　paddock　under　potatoes。　　Dad　was　standing　contemplating　the　tops；　which　were　withering　for　want　of　rain。　He　shifted　his　gaze　to　the　ten　acres　sown　with　corn。　　A　dozen　stalks　or　so　were　looking　well；　a　few　more；　ten　or　twelve　inches　high；　were　coming　in　cob；　the　rest　had　n't　made　an　appearance。

Dad　sighed　and　turned　away　from　the　awful　prospect。　　He　went　and　looked　into　the　water…cask。　　Two　butterflies；　a　frog　or　two；　and　so