Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-02
I he Calls Mistake

star IN the middle OF her forehead
The COWS had pleasant time. The
field was large and wide; on three
sldes there was water clear and
blue. On the fourth side there grew
beautiful grass, green and waving.
And none Of them had anything to do
put eat! Each night the farmer took
them to the barn.
! i want to 60 to that grass over
there" said Star Brow to her mother
one morning. See, two of them are
eating it."
Il see they are,' replied her
mother: but l wish you to stay lust
where you are. This grass is good
enough"
why can't go with them." per.
sisted Star Brow.
What is good enough for me is good
enough for you," answered her mother.
I'VE will eat right here"
! Star Brow fidgeted \ little. but
ildgeting was not 80 pleasant as eat
Ing, so she soon began to eat.
The next day, while most of tho
cows were quietly chewing the cud-
that is, mas-ti-cat-ing their food. very
much as If 1t had been gum - Star
Brow missed her mother. Looking all
around, slowly and carefully, she saw
That her parent was eating the beau
t1ful grass she had wished to try.
"Oh. OH" thought Star Brow; so
what Is good enough for me is not
good enough for her!"
When her mother came back and
began to chew, Star Brow said -
III may eat what you eat mother.
l will try that green grass over
there"
NO" answered her mother: that
is only for COWS. Calves eat right
here"
The next morning so many of the
cows were eating at the end of the
field that Star Brow felt quite lonely.
Her mother had not left her, but Star
Brow was not pleased with her
mother.
BY and by almost every cow was
chewing the cud, for the afternoon had
come on. Star Brow sat sulking by
herself
Then she looked up, little alarmed.
Two queer-looking creatures, with
only two legs on the ground and two
others high up in the air, and with
large flowers - at least they looked
like flowers on their heads, came
close to her, and one said
what dear little cow!"
Star Brow sat still till they had
gone by.
$50 I am cow" she thought, "and |
l may eat that grass!"
She waited little while and then
got up and frisked off to the green
grass. Her mother, who was doing,
did not see her go. III a@yee, t.--.--
Star Brow found the grass very
nice. 1t was much better than any
she had ever eaten before, richer and
jucier. She ate and ate and ate. II
grew darker, and still she ate and ate.
BY and by she heard the farmer
calling. But. as she did not wish to
go to the barn, she lay down. After
time all was still. Then she felt that
the ground was cold and damp, and
she got up. She turned slowly back
to the field but somehow walking
was hard work! The ground was SO
soft that her feet seemed to sink in
at every step. She turned round
once to look behind her, and oh. what
fright she had then!
The water was walking after her!
She began to frisk, and run and
jump, as hard as she could. Before
long she was safely away from the
water. in the middle of the big pas
ture; but It was nearly dark. and she
felt very lonely. Not cow was near
her. They had all gone to the barn.
She looked back to where the nice
green grass had been. She could see
>f,,rr h,,%, vp{n al
sides, and no way of escape!
You see, the pasture was near
tidal river. Every evening the water
made the pasture an island. some
times earlier. sometimes later. The
farmer, who knew just when the tide
would rise, always took the cows
away in good time. But we know why
he did not see the calf!
Well. poor Star Brow had long
lonely night. It grew very cold. and
she thought how warm and cosey the
barn was, and how snugly she had
nestled by her mothers side. How
she longed to be safe with her mother,
as she shivered out in the cold, cold
field! Besides, Star Brow had not
been alive very long, and did not feel
sure that tomorrow would come. She
was afraid that It would be always
night, always lonely. always cold.
You can believe how glad she was
to see the red sun rise in the east
and how much more glad she was
when the farmer led the cows into
the pasture. Star Brow ran to her
mother to tell her that the beautiful
grass was likely to turn to water. and
that she had better not eat it any
more.
There is no water there, child" her
mother said. And when Star Brow
turned, the water had gone away
again.
"You see," her mother went on, 1--WE
COWS know by the first damp blade
that the water will come, and we turn
back. Calves are not so wise. Wait
till you are COW before you go
again"
81 WILL" agreed Star Brow, land l
won't think | am a COW again till /