INSURGENT COWS 



est branches and most plentiful leaves and offered a 

 better umbrella. At the beginning of the shower 

 tree-toads began to call, and many kinds of birds 

 sounded notes that were unfamiliar. Everything 

 seemed too happy to keep still. The cattle in the 

 pasture stopped eating as if to stand and enjoy the 

 coohng, shower bath. The sunhght filtered through 

 the falling rain and altogether the scene was one that 

 offered Nature at her best. But before long the rain 

 began to drip through our roof and we had to do a 

 lot of stepping about before we found a comfortably 

 dry spot under the thick trunk of a leaning maple. 

 As there was no lightning there was no objection to 

 leaving the beech trees. Presently the shower passed 

 and we walked home with everything greatly re- 

 freshed. But when I looked at the thermometer and 

 found that it stood at ninety-six in the shade I al- 

 most wilted. If I had known it was so hot I wouldn't 

 have dreamed of undertaking so strenuous a job aa 

 cleaning out a well. 



m 



