The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-20
SaQtoS' Brother.
BY FLORA HAYNES LoUGHEAD.

The early December sun shone brightly along the foothills of the coast range. Under its genial influ- ence. millions of tiny seeds expanded into life and pierced the moist turf with their lancets. The cloud masses of yesterday dipped behind the moun- tains, raising here and there billowy crest to overlook the valley which had been the scene of their grateful minis try. A new life seemed to have been infused into the sluggish veins of the dying year. About the farm houses, neglected plants, uncared tor during the long, dry summer, already showed promise of bud and bloom. Stalwart ranchmen, but yesterday idly resting from harvest and vintage, were already behind the plough, opening deep, black furrows in orchard and vine- yard. The more prudent moved rest lessly about stable and workshop, get ting out havrows and cultivasors, sharpening plough-shares and spades, as they impatiently waited for the surplus moisture to be absorbed before they upturned the wet clods to the action of the suns greedy rays. Every thing in all the landscape was instinct with energy and new life.
 All things save two. Down the road from the old mission, where q low pile of adobe buildings and a crumbling belfry stood out in strange contrast to the jaunty modern dwell- ings that surrounded them, came two moving objects. Drawn nearer they resolved themselves into COW and man. Unlike all other animate beings within the range of vision, these alone seemed possessed of no definite aim or purpose. Although long rope was attached to the horns of the red COW, and the man held the end in his hand, it was not difficult to see which had the ascendancy. The GOV walked leis- urely from side to side of the road, ex- amining the scant herbage with languid satisfaction. Sometimes she stopped to nibble daintily at dried clump of last springs vegetation; sometimes she thrust her nose through the wire fence at the roadside to nip tooth some peach or almond bud, already swelling and disclosing a touch of vivid pink; more frequently she strolled lazily down the middle of the road, chewing the cud of her morn ing's meal with grim satisfaction; and wherever the COW led the man fol- lowed.
 At length they came to a narrow lane. where an overhowed irrigatinp ditch evoked 8 generous crop of grasl and dock the year round. Tall gun trees stood guard by the roadside ant carpeted the ground beneath then with great strips of n-coloret bark. Here the COW fell eagerly tt grazing, and tho man sat listlessly down.
 All day long they stayed there Sometimes the COW moved about il her search for succulent morsels, bu the man scarcely shifted his position Passers- by looked at him with vary ing sentiments of pity, curiosity or in difference, but he never needed them A casual observer might have though him sleeping, but beneath the brim o his coarse straw hat his wide, darl eyes, fixed on the hills, told that hi sense of vision was awake.
 Reclining there, on bark-coveret bank, he presented striking pictur of manly strength. He was large with well knit, muscular figure Lying inert, motionless, he looked lik torpid giant. The sun crossed tn meridian and slsnted down upon tn bank, searching out the strong, manl, features of the sum- burned face, dis covering lines of gold in the lawn, beard, falling full in the wide, brow eyes, which lazily blinked and closed but their owner neither turned hi head nor pulled his hat brim for ward for protection. Had thi sluggish Hercules no sense of shame a thought of the busy forces toilin, around him? Man and beast, tree am plant, were all at work. He alone, Q all creation, seemed content to be q idler.
 The sound of youthful voices echoe' around the bend in the road. A mo ment later there came in sight ban, of merry children, returning iron school. A shout went up as they sav him. 05g
 "Santcs' brotherl Hurrahw
 Now for some funl They tosse, satchels and lunch baskets upon tn ground and made ready for, rare sport
 s6it up 1"
 The man rose to . sitting posture,
 1Put yonr finger in your mouth"