A farmer living near the New York Central lost a cow by a collision with
a train on the line; anxious for compensation he waited upon the manager
and after stating his case, the manager said, “I understand she was thin
and sick.” “Makes no difference,” replied the farmer. “She was a cow,
and I want pay for her.” “How much?” asked the manager. “Two hundred
dollars!” replied the farmer. “Now look here,” said the manager, “how
much did the cow weigh?” “About four hundred, I suppose,” said the
farmer. “And we will say that beef is worth ten cents a pound on the
hoof.” “It’s worth a heap more than that on the cow-catcher!” replied
the indignant farmer. “But we’ll call it that, what then? That makes
forty dollars, shall I give you a cheque for forty dollars?” “I tell you
I want two hundred dollars,” persisted the farmer. “But how do you make
the difference? I’m willing to pay full value, forty dollars. How do
you make one hundred and sixty dollars?” “Well, sir,” replied the
farmer, waxing wroth, “I want this railroad to understand that I’m going
to have something special for the goodwill of that cow!”