THE RED COW

AND HER FRIENDS

By PETER McARTHUR

AUTHOR OF "IN PASTURES GREEN," "THE PRODIGAL AND
OTHER POEMS," "TO BE TAKEN WITH SALT," ETC.

TORONTO: J. M. DENT & SONS, Ltd.
NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY
MCMXIX

COPYRIGHT, 1919,

By JOHN LANE COMPANY

Press of
J. J. Little & Ives Company
New York, U. S. A.

THIS BOOK
IS DEDICATED
TO ALL CITY MEN
WHO FEEL SURE THAT THEY
COULD FARM AT A PROFIT.
IF EACH ONE BUYS A COPY I CAN
AFFORD TO KEEP ON FARMING

PREFACE

It is always a pleasure to avoid responsibility andit gives me a feeling of relief to be able to announcethat I am not wholly responsible for this collectionof sketches. When it was suggested that I shouldput together the articles dealing with the Red Cow,and the other farm animals, I felt reluctant totrouble the public with a somewhat frivolous book atthe present time. It seemed as if Fate were withme for when it was decided to go on with the bookit was found that my file of clippings had been lost.But the matter was still urged and, rememberingthat at different times readers had written to mesaying that they were in the habit of clipping thearticles for future reference, I published a paragraphtelling of my predicament. The result wasthat I received clippings from all parts of Canadaand some were even sent from neighbouring States.

Through the kindness of my unknown friends Iam able to offer a book which they have really edited.Some of the sketches used would have beenrejected had I relied on my own judgment, but findingthat they had pleased some readers I decidedthat they might please others. Having the chanceto shift the responsibility for the book from myown shoulders, I accepted it joyously. The unknownfriends who did me the honour of preservingthese articles as they appeared are the real editors.

I can further plead in extenuation that the clippingsI have used were all sent to me by people whoare familiar with the domestic animals and theirhabits. This should protect me from any chargeof farm-faking.

Ekfrid, Ontario, January, 1919.

CONTENTS