In checking in again with Mr. Johnson, we find that he has left Granite Point and traveled through Lovelock’s Station, on his way to Rye Patch.
Upon reaching Rye Patch, he stopped at the train station, where he milked Bessie, fed her and his horse, Fanny, and chatted with the depot master, who asked about Mr. Johnson’s journey and his intention to walk across the country.
“[The depot master said,] ‘Well, stranger, I think you are a man of great nerve. It will take all you have got to cover that distance; you surely cannot do it with that outfit. The cow will not go half the distance. It is a fine looking cow, too good and handsome to throw away; you had better sell her at the first chance.’
“[I replied,] ‘Now, friend, let us reason together. Here I am with horse and carriage, cow and dog; both horse and cow are females. You say the horse may go through, but the cow may fail. Sir, my observation is that a mare is worth more than a horse in the market, so what reason can you show that the cow will fail before the horse? She has on iron shoes, so has the cow; both are well shod. The horse has the load to haul, the cow has none; there is the difference in the two. Now, I really think the cow will come out the best of the two; time will tell, however.'”
The Slower Road 