Rounding up cows and getting them into the milking barn can sometimes be a problem. If their udders are sore or they want to remain in the pasture, cows can be quite troublesome. And when a cow resists verbal commands, cajoling and a few slaps on the hind quarters, sometimes more stimulating measures are required to get her moving again.

One fine afternoon, a farmer sent his eldest son, named Robert, out to fetch the cows into the barn to be milked. A short time after Robert had left, the farmer noticed his son had left the cattle prod behind. Knowing he might need it to accomplish his job, he handed it to his younger son Charlie and told him to pass it on to Robert in case he needed it.

Charlie ran out to the pasture and sure enough, Robert was having trouble getting a big Guernsey to leave a bale of hay behind. "Hey, peewee, hand me the prod," said Robert not looking at his brother and reaching backward with one hand while pushing his other shoulder into the backside of the cow.

Now as you might expect, Charlie and Robert had a little bit of sibling rivalry and Charlie did not like to be called `peewee.' So he flipped on the switch and handed his brother the business end of the cattle prod.

The shock went right through his brother's hand and body and into the cow which bolted for the barn as Robert fell into a puddle of mud and other unmentionables. Before Robert could catch his brother and loosen a few of his baby teeth, Charlie made it back home and hid behind his father.

"What's going on here?" asked the farmer.

"Charlie handed me the hot end of a live cattle prod!" steamed Robert dripping on the floor trying to grab Charlie.

"Not so fast," said the father holding Robert back, "Charlie, what do you have to say for yourself."

Charlie smirked and said, "Well, father, I followed your instructions to the letter! You told me to" pass it ON" so I did and Robert sure "needed it" after he called me peewee!"

Copyright (c) 1997 by Rev. Samuel A. Trumbore. All rights reserved.