New-York tribune., 1911-11-05
By LOUISE COLLIER WILCOX

But where" asked the brown child, "where will the
COWS Craze?
Ruf the Iilacs said they didn't know Cows not
beautiful and being unnecessary 70 the lovcneSS and
fragrance OF life they could be quite easily done away
with The child was gentle and would not contradct'-
first because she fond OF the acS and dd not want
to offend them and, secondly because she hated argu.
ncnt and futile talk-but in her own heart she was glad
to see that the cattle still persisted and despite all the
lacs could do, there was plenty OF nat meadow W'n
shiny dandclons and thirsty buttercupS Haunting their
heads and daisies that laughed and reflected the sun
light On the whole too, she liked the sleek red velvet
Of the cows they dotted the meadow green though
they chewed al the time and kept their eyes bent down
on the grass and could not be persuaded 10 Watch the
clouds fly or the set.
The oaks were tall warriors, and they talked 10 the
child great deal about tortitudc and energy See
said the oaks "hOW the north wind sweeps down from
thc snow CAPPED mountains, and the ice ncaSeS our
ailcst twigS and the lies heavy and tres to break
our branches and yet they do nothing at all against
us We back year after year ana grow more ana
more acOrnS and scatter them about over the carth
And when thev came this point all the oaks sang to-
qcher in chorus. I'VE going 10 cover the earth with
oak trees. We going to climb up the mountanSlde
and dissolve the and cover the lawn and dry up the
river, so that over all the world there shall be nothing
but the strength and the orudc OF the oak tree
and where shall be then said the child III YOU
cover the meadows and there is no place Tor my house?
"Ah well, said the oak trees YOU can gro" l'l'o "
little oak.
pCT it was with the river that she talked most and
- the river told her great deal II tod no" pcS'ul
10 spout in dark up on the mountain ana ho"iI
rced ont over deep MOSES and through shady forests,
and called all the other little streams and springs 10 H.
until if got to be brown brook that could Jump over
the highest stones and run roun! the great roofs o
trees and uproot ferns; and how 1t became wider ana
wider and spread as il along the valleys, ana Wacrcd
the farms and took care OF the people and the trees ana
the cattle and carried all sorts little boats onits BOSOM
so that men might do business together ana thrive
Of course vou know where | gong, 90 YOU
not?" said the river
edge Of the water and made stones skip over the surface
81 10 not know knew you were IN great hurry ana
Thought that perhaps YOU wanted to 60 as far as Eden
aFJcn Manor. indeed" said the river derisively
"Why, am going where everything Fots 1T aS' GH ,tc
nothing goes so swiftly the river am gong to the
s and the sea- YOU must know, IS everything there Is
II is great expansc, all silver and stretches a' I 80
the stars When flow into 1t | become part oi lhe
GREAT Whole so that there is no break anywhere Men
Slid the river "are rather stupid Instead OF lin&nS
Themselves into the arms of the sea, they try to nde II III
Lots but in the end everything goes back TO the same
great sea.
TT bnncnei once that in the heat and the glow OF mid
summer love lit upon the valley II came III the en-
boIimcnt Of stalwart young iarmer from over inc mus
who CHANGED by that way driving ms oxen JUS - .C
,. ,,1ssing the brown house the PIN IN the axle oil ms
vcbes gave way and he had TO stop there ana ieI II
before he could 60 any farther. H..
B this time the child was maid, grown tai ana sum-
with heavy braids Of black hair bound round her mead
with eyes gray, deep set and questioning ana SIauI
Inv ono blac, lashcs that rested on the peach doom o
her checks when she was not looking into the distance
She stood by the young farmer and questioned hm ana
stcadied the wheel while he mendei IT, ana me- hAyinF
come once came again and again unt WIN @ tJ Tu5N @ & ~
each dav she listened for his tread ana looNeH o' '
figure along the turn in the roadway
A. shut Of day they walked along the ROAD loSy'%.g %
between the meadows where white poppes' heId luIL
.f.. nh. ans - ret
yrII If the woods nodded Through the summer even
w.; -. ,,nth. lil.. snirits free among the dead.