THE RED COW 



across the fence from the pasture, but never once 

 did she find an open gate or a break in the fence. 

 She saw it grow from the first green sprouts to 

 matured corn and never got a bite. It is now in 

 the shock and being husked, but she still stretches 

 her neck over the fence in the same hopeful way. 

 She is going to get a feed out of that field before 

 the year is out or know the reason why. Even if 

 she doesn't manage it before the stalks are hauled 

 in she'll find a gate open before the snow falls, and 

 dig up the roots that were left by the hoe before 

 she will give up her purpose. A cow like that is 

 really an inspiration on the farm. 



She was born that way and life always looks bright 

 to her, because she always has something to hope 

 for. Now, with the new cow, the one I bought, the 

 case is entirely different. She must have come into 

 the world feeling discouraged. She has faith in 

 nothing, hopes for nothing, and is always in a 

 mournful frame of mind. Though she gets all the 

 pumpkins she can eat and a good bunch of corn 

 stalks every night, she simply can't cheer up. When 

 we open the pasture gate the Red Cow makes a rush 

 for the stable and gets into the wrong stall and 

 eats all she can of some other cow's feed before 



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