Our Past Is Present March 23, 2017

This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is about a surprise for Mr. Abe Jones.  A few days after local resident, Mr. Abe Jones, went away on business in March of 1887, his wife, thought of something that would agreeably surprise her husband and make him have a smile when he came back.  She apparently bought a calf.  The reporter of the “Junction City Union” newspaper asked “Did you ever see or know a woman who, when allowing her fancies to roam over things of comfort, didn’t dream of a cow and plenty of milk, butter and cream?  Mrs. Jones thought of the satisfaction that her husband would have when once it came time to pay the milkman.  She was as pleased as could be when she saw the calf safely tied up in its new stall.

            When Mr. Jones returned home that evening, he was not told of the calf until the next morning.  When Mr. Jones went into the barn, he saw the calf tail whisking in the frosty air.  He also saw the remains of a $40 harness, a colt, which had been shorn to include its tail and a barrel of oats. Mr. Jones was angry.  Then he saw the calf.  He began to hit the calf with a club until Mrs. Jones came out and interceded to save the calf’s life.  Mr. Jones promptly put a sign on his fence that read “calf for sale”. 

            Some men don’t appreciate being surprised.