University of Virginia Library

MRS. COBLEIGH CALLS HER DOG.

A COW got into Cobleigh's yard Friday morning, and stepped around among a dozen heads of choice late cabbages which that gentleman had cultivated with considerable care and pride. Mr. Cobleigh was not at home; but Mrs. Cobleigh saw the animal, and became very much excited over its presence. It was desirable to get it off the premises as speedily as possible; but Mrs. Cobleigh was painfully limited as to facilities. She was afraid of a cow, and did not dare venture close enough to it to make a clothes-pole serviceable. She had heard that a dog was an efficient agent in the dispersion of a cow; but there was not a dog about. But a bright thought struck the lady. She would pretend there was a dog just back of the house, waiting to rush with terrific ferocity upon the marauding beast. So Mrs. Cobleigh set to work, leading off with an earnest whistle, with the following flattering result:—

"Fvew-w-w, fvew-w-w-w—oh, my! Here, Tiger, here! Fvew-w-w, fv—what shall I do? Here, Ponto! here, Carlo! Fvew-w-w-z-s—oh, my gracious! Fvew-w-w—bite him, Jack! Bite him,

Bull! Fvew-w-w-w—oh, dear! oh, dear! Go way, you nasty thing! Scat, I say!"

Mrs. Cobleigh was terribly excited. The cow looked up, and smiled.

"Go away, you hateful object!" she screamed, "or I'll have you torn to pieces.—Here, Gyp, seize him! Fvew—fvew—fvew! Bite him, Ned! Sick him, Pete! Fvew—fvew-w-w-z-z-s! Oh, gracious goodness!" And the exhausted woman sank down on the door-stone, her face the very essence of despair; while the exertion of her vocal organs in producing the whistle had covered her chin with spray. During the progress of these tactics, seven dogs had gathered in the vicinity, and were now staring through the fence at Mrs. Cobleigh with all-absorbing interest. But the woman, unconscious of their vicinity, continued to breathe heavily, and to look at the cow; while that animal leisurely chewed on the cabbages, and pensively took in the surroundings.