The Washington herald., 1914-08-03
The Water Trough.
D. EMoMY ). MAYNns.

At the wayside just south of the schoolhouse, you
remember. It is there yet just the same joyous
spIashing water. But not the identical water, 70.
countless thirsty men and beasts have drunk ther.
and gone far down the road Of life 1t looks precisely
the same, sparkIes splashes and sings the same as
forty years ago. Few other things are the same
thereabouts. The schoolhouse is new and the bridge
1t was proposed to substitute new stone basin for
the beloved old log trough. But the farmers would
have none of it They cut and followed out another
fresh log as did their fathers.
Sit here the stone wall and watch pair OF
horses drink. They know the place from afar, and
hasten weary steps to reach it. Bits in mouth they
immerse their lips One long, deep draft and yet
another and another. Then a pause to take breath
But only for moment. Again water, more water and
again once more. Then splash and swish of the
head that washes the whole face and cools the
let nostrils. Then the forehead is thrust directly
under the spout.
Then one horse lifts his dripping head over the
neck OF the other horse and showers him In turn he
returns the compliment The pebbly spillway brook
beneath their parched hoofs is now made use Of the
animals stamping and spattering it their legs.
How reluctant they are TO 60. The shade Of the
big elm tree is heavenly kind. The driver gets down
now and drinks. He puts his lips into the silver
stream just above the trough. Then he washes his
brown arms and swarthy uncovered neck He, too,
IS slow to on II is all a symbol of the CREATOR
the shadow of a great rock in weary land" and
"as springs in the desert"
What superb invention Who first thought of II ?
Why did he not patent it? No other device of man
surpasses in usefulness the water trough. No one
passes it by unused The world cannot get enough
of them. You, sir, country born, will you not go
long way this summer to drink out of the old trough
And will you not pull off shoes and stockings to wade
in the stream?
So many beautiful shapes can be made for the
fountain. A memorial fountain for the soldier is
supremely fitting. The living stream is type of
everything memories. fountain is the finest feature
possible in park In landscape gardening the foun-
tain is always talking whether or not there is any
one near to hear One may sit by the hour and have
companionship with the fountain The tnkle is
softest music. 1t is lullaby 1t is saying just what
your thoughts are saying.
Voices that were heard here, on the lawn years
ago come back again in the sounds of the waters II
one cannot sleep a summers night the fountain
speaks to him through the starlt sences. fountain
at midnight is spirit, incarnation a comforter.
The witchery of moonlight appeals 10 the watcher
and it seems, almost that last by this blessed foun-
tain the moonbeams get a voice.
Think Of it, if there be anything else that gives
moonbeams speech. Not the placid surface of lake
or river; not the fitting of the sea But fall
ing water affords speech to the moon. How eloquent
is Niagara by moonlight How the mill dam talks
to the spraying rapids belowI Wake when YOU will
and sit by the window that looks out on the fountain
when all other sounds are hushed. The waters
babble, laugh, lament, exhort The falling streams
rings the tips of bronze and chatters endlessly
Old histories and dreams, old sorrows and Joys told
over and over You are astonished that this foun-
tain knows you so well. You are startled BY the
gossip the waters tell all about you. To be sure YOU
and she used to sit many hours by the fountain
grooming. But who would have suspected that broonze
ears were so quick to hear7
Wherever there is falling water there are birds
Speaking of the wayside trough, brings back the
recollection of the bathing birds II there be long
drought birds suffer for the want of rain upon their
plunage even more than plants Then they seek out
waterfalls from whence mists arise and lave in the
spray. Often the weary bird will still be taking his
bath in the log trough when horses and oxen come
to drink.
have seen defiant bird stand and protest to
the OK as if the little fellow feared the big fellow
would drink up the entire supply Then the big
eyed OK lifts his dripping mouth and laughs Oxen,
horses and birds are always friends
1t is flowing on and on sir or madam. the ancient
roadside fountain for all Many have come and gone,
but the water goes forever. When you revisit it
next week drink and become boy or girl again.