PHASES OF FARM LIFE. 



In fact, the cow is the true pathfinder and path- 

 maker. She has the leisurely, deliberate movement 

 that insures an easy and a safe way. Follow her 

 trail through the woods and you have the best if not 

 the shortest course. How she beats down the brush 

 and briers and wears away even the roots of the 

 trees ! A herd of cows left to themselves fall natu- 

 rally into single file, and a hundred or more hoofs 

 are not long in smoothing and compacting almost any 

 surface. 



Indeed, all the ways and doings of cattle are pleas- 

 ant to look upon, whether grazing in the pasture, or 

 browsing in the woods, or ruminating under the trees, 

 or feeding in the stall, or reposing upon the knolls. 

 There is virtue in the cow ; she is full of goodness ; 

 a wholesome odor exhales from her ; the whole land- 

 scape looks out of her soft eyes ; the quality and the 

 aroma of miles of meadow and pasture lands are in 

 her presence and products. I had rather have the 

 care of cattle than be the keeper of the great seal of 

 the nation. Where the cow is, there is Arcadia ; so 

 far as her influence prevails there is contentment, 

 humility, and sweet, homely life. 



Blessed is he whose youth was passed upon the jj i\' 

 farm, and if it was a dairy farm his memories will be (I > 

 all the more fragrant. The driving of the cows to 

 and from the pasture, every day and every season for 

 years how much of summer and of nature he got 

 into him on these journeys ! What rambles and ex- 

 cursions did this errand furnish the excuse for ! The 



