38 AGRICULTURE AND RURAL-LIFE DAY. 



LITTLE BROWN HANDS. 



They drive home the cows from the pasture, 

 Up through the long, shady laue. 

 Where the quail whistles loud in the wheat fields 

 That are yellow with ripening grain. 



They toss the new hay in the meadow. 

 They gather the elder-bloom white, 

 They find where the dusky grapes purple 

 In the soft-tinted October light. 



They wave from the tall rocking tree tops, 

 Where the oriole's hammock-nest swings; 

 And at nighttime are f oldest in slumber 

 By a song that a fond mother sings. 



Those who toil bravely are strongest. 

 The hunil)le and poor become great. 

 And so from these brown-handed children 

 Shall grow mighty rulers of state. 



The pen of the author and statesman, 

 The noble and wise of the land. 

 The sword and the chisel and palette 

 Shall be held iu the little brown hand. 



— M. H. Kkout. 



