Author: Donald Guenther
Obtained: October 25th, 2013

Following the barn burning the barb wire fence was moved down to just past the holly bushes. We never depended on the fence to hold the cow in especially when the cow desired some special activity not available at the Guenther and requiring a visit to the Celfers up the road.

With the fence moved mom said grass was in short supply for the cow. Mom would tie a rope to the cow’s collar and the other end to an old tire. Mom would move the cow around outside the fence depending on the tire to keep the cow from running away. The younger boys would watch for an opportunity to get a ride on the tire. When mom left for town we’d jump on the tire and whip the cow to drag us for a ride. We had fun and the poor cow suffered. 

The Celfers had a bull and once a year we’d have to go get our run away cow up at Celfers. They weren’t too happy with the arrangement but we couldn’t keep the cow in. The cow, having gone dry, was of no value. We needed help. After 300 days we would see the result. The cow’s belly would grow and the older siblings and mom would note that our cow was about to have a calf. We’d ask how that happened. They tell us a calf would come out of the woods. 

Nothing like living in the country and learning about the birds and the bees. I thought calves came out of the woods. 
Sure enough one morning we’d see a new born calf. We never got to witness the birthing. The cow would take to Gussy and we were in line for some milk once the calf was sold. Watching a calf learn to walk and play was a delight. 

Our cow did provide for our entertainment in many ways. Once the cow was feeding on some grass and to get at the grass the cow put her head through a ladder. When she pulled back, the ladder became stuck on the cows head. Dad went out and tried to muscle the ladder off the cow. Mom tried to reason with him but he thought he was up to the task; the cow was stressed and very excited. When dad would get near the animal the cow would turn and run. The ladder would knock dad down. Dad got upset. The anxiety in the cow spread to dad. Two beats were having it out. After three or four tries dad gave up. Mom went and got some grain in a bucket for the cow. The cow came to mom and she removed the ladder from the cow’s head. Dad was plenty mad and we weren’t allowed to talk about the event for years to come. When it was brought up dad’s version was greatly understated.

As a rule our siblings would overstate events. We couldn’t depend on their memories for accuracy. As time would go on the event would be embellished to such an extent that mom would feel obliged to reign the story in. When it came to the story of the cow and the ladder she never tried to rein that story in but would chime in and say she tried to talk to dad.

Mom loved her cows. If she ever knew we were riding on the tire when she went to town we’d have been whipped. She was firm when she milked the cow but also had a way with handling them. I am not sure what she’d tell Celfers every year but Ronny always said she was the greatest smoother over. Guess she owed that talent to her dealings with our cow. When we slandered Gussy for the meat she didn’t eat any of it.

Read by Jereme Guenther