It was the business of the hired man to fill up a tub over in the lot for their convenience, but there was always "so much to do," and everybody was in "such a hurry" that it was forgotten or neglected more often than it was attended to, and then the owner wondered why his calves were such "scrawny things."
The cows were little better cared for, though they usually got a small allowance of water once a day. They did not begin to give the milk they would, had they been abundantly watered, though, and suffered in proportion. There was one thing that Mrs. Stringer was righteously diligent about and that was salting them. This would have been most commendable had there been drink supplied in connection; as it was, it only augmented their misery.
We horses fared better, because Park was sent out with strict orders to refill our trough with cold water twice a day. Of course, he did not always obey, and I suffered enough, long sweltering days, to make me pity the other creatures that fared worse.
The most trying thing of all would be when, during the day, we—cows, calves and all—could hear the familiar sound of that well-pole as the family drew and appropriated the cooling liquid. It did seem they might understand the bellowing on all sides; but if they did they heeded not.
My master was so busy the first year that he paid little attention to the farm, but the second summer, toward the end, he had a pump put in the well. That worked wonders for awhile, and then they grew as neglectful as ever.
Of course, we did not stay out there much in winter, but were back and forth sometimes. For my part, I wished I might not go at all, but the lecture my master gave Mr. Stringer one evening paid me for being present. It was coming on a cold sleet storm, and his cattle were huddled on the leeward side of the barn, otherwise unprotected. Their piteous lowing could not but attract the attention of a man like Dr. Dick.
"Why did you not provide shelter for them?"
"Hadn't lumber."
"There seems to be a good many boards and pieces of timber going to ruin around here, and there is all the straw decaying in the field where the machine left it. You could have built sheds, and any essential that was lacking we would have provided."