The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-09-24
for the gittle folks,
THE BuCKWHEAT.

passes field upon which buckwheai
is growing, he sees that ii has be-
come all scared and black.
II is just as if a fame of fire had
overrun it, and the peasant says:
THAT has come Of the lightning
But why came il from that? !
will relate what the sparrow told me
and the sparrow had heard it from
an old willow tree, which stood "a nd
still stands. by buckwheat field.
1t is very large, venerable willow,
but gnarled and old; it is cleft in the
middle, and grass and blackberry
vines grow from the opening. The
tree bent over, and its branches
dropped quite down TO the earth, as
II they were long, green hair.
Upon the fields around grew grain
rye, barley and oats. The grain
stood so blest, and the richer the ear
the lowerit bowedin willing humility
But there was also a field of buck.
wheat, and this lay just over by the
willow tree. AThe buckwheat by nc
means bowed itself, like the other
grain, but paraded stiff and proud.
Il am indeed as rich as the corn
ears it said; besides, | am far pref.
tier; my flowers are beautiful as the
apele tree; it is JOY to look upon
me and mine. Didst thou ever see
anything more splendid than we
thou old willow tree.r'
And the willow nodded with the
head, just as if it would say:
"Yes, that is understood"
5at the buckwheat paraded with
more open arrogance, andysaid:
1.-The stupid tree! it is SO old thai
the grass grows from its trunk"
Now a frightful storm came on
All the field flowers folded up theil
leaves, or bowed their little head.
while the storm went over them; bu
the buckwheat stood up in its pride
"Bow thy head like u.s." said ,hs
flowers.
"a am by no means accustomed Il
that" answered the buckwheal.
"Lower thy head like U.S." criet
the grain. "Now.comes flying III
angel of the storm. He has wing
which reach from the clouds evel
down 10 the and he will breal
through thy midst before thou cans
pray him to be merciful TO thee"
ayes, but ] will not bow" salt
.A. i--L--L--s -s..hhnrnl..
ssShut thy flowers and lower III,
leaves" said the old willow tree
"Look not at the lightning when tn
cloud bursts. Even man dare nc
do it, for in the lightning one ca
look into Gods heayen,but this sigh
might blind even the men but wha
would no, happen TO US. the plant
Of the earth, if we dare il, we VII
are far inferior.
"Far inferiorr said the buckw he;
with haughty.vanity. Now Wi
look straight into Gods heaven"
And it did in It's arrogance an
PRIDE Ii was as if the whole worl
stood in flame. it lightened so; an
,,-hap the een,,,, x.-oc nvor the Hnu
ers and the grain stood in the clca
quiet air, greatly refreshed from ii
rain, but the buckwheat was burr
eoai!black by the lightning: it W;
only as dead weed upon the feel
And as the branches of the o
willow tree stirred in the wind,gre;
drops OF water fell from the gree
leaves, just as if the tree wePt, an
the sparrows said:
"Why weepest thou! II is
blest here. See how the sun shine
see how the clouds Withdraw Do
.hou not breathe The fragrance
.she flowers and shrubs Why wee
est thou. willow tree?"
And the willow told of the prit
OF the buckwheat, Of its arraganc
presumption and punishment. Al
Blu, repeat the story, saying tn
the manifestation Of such spiri
always followed by punishment
some kind.-Translated from Ha
Christian Anderson.