Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26
The Buckwheat.

/ 10 passing through buckwhcat field after
a thunderstorm, one will often see upon il a
scorched, and even a burnt appearance as il
hre mad passed over IL, and the farmer will
/ say that The lightning has done this. But
now can this be- ! will tell yon what q
| gray sparrow told me, aud the gray sparrow
heafd y from an old willow tree that stands
| Wnefc II has long stood, by a buckwheai
heia' II y q big, honorable tree, but shriv
eled and old IL has been torn through the
centre and there, in the cleft, grass and
whortle-bushes grow. The tree bends for.
ward and the branches, looking like long,
green hair droop toward the ground.
Grain grew upon the fields around. both
( rye and oats yes, The beautiful oats that
look, when ripe, ike great nock of tiny
yellow canary birds sitting upon stem.
The grain looked SO blessed, and the heavier
it was the lower it bowed in pious humility.
But there was also q field of buckwheat.
and il was close 10y the willow tree. The
buckNheat didn't bend like other grain. but
struttcd so proudly aud stiilly. i am
richerthau other grain" 1t said. " Besides,
J ann much handsomer; my blossoms are as
beautiful rs those Of the apple tree it is de-
lightinl 20 look at me and mine. DO you
know any more beautiful than we, old will.
low tree 2"
Aud the old willow tree nodded. o. If to
say Yes, Of course | do" But the buck
wheat stutted in real vanity and said.
The foolish tree II is so old that grass
grows il It's stomach "
There came up dreadful storm, and an
the flowers Of the meadow folded their leaves
or bent their tender heads, while the storm
passed over them but the huckwhrat strut.
ted on IN its pride.
"Bend your head like the rest Of us" said
the flowers.
There is nonecd at an of my doing co."
replied the buckWhcat
Bend your head as we dol" shouted the
grain. The storm angel is flying: he has
wing reaching from the clouds 70 the earth.
and he will cut you down before YOU have
time TO ask for mercy"
"le-, but 1 viii not bend" replied the
huckwhcat.
"shut your blossoms and bend your
leaves said the old willow tree. Dout
look toward the lightning when the clouds
burst. Men themselves dare not do so for
by tine lightning one may see into Gods
heaven aud such a sight win make even
men blind. What then may not happen TO
us plants OF the earth and so much inferior,
should we venture upon it?"
" Far inferior" said the buckwheat. scon-
fully, " Now | will inst look into Gods
heaven"
And 50 it did in its pride. Now, it light
ened so that it seemed as though the whole
world was in a blaze Aiterward, when the
storm had passed the flowers and grain
stood upright in the pure, quiet air, looking
SO refreshed by the rains but the lightning
had turned the buckvheat rs black as q
coal, so that it was only dead. useless herb
upon the field.
The old willow tree moved its branches IN
the wind, and large drops of water fell from
the green leaves, as if the tree were weeping,
aud the sparrow asked
Why do you weep, when all around is
full Of blessing? See how the sun shines ,
See how the clouds 20, and what q delicious
odor the flowers aud foliage haycl Why
do You weep, old willow tree ,"
Then the willow tree told about the buck
wheat's pride and punishment This always
follows. The writer heard this from the
sparrow, one night when he asked it to tell
him story.-Hdns AHdersea