The Cow 315 



and capacity of the mouth itself. Sometimes 

 when an especially tempting, especially well- 

 leafed stalk hangs just out of reach, Sis Cow 

 rears awkwardly, licks her tongue around it, 

 and holds it until she comes down on all 

 fours, so has a purchase to snatch it ofF. 



Shrubs abounded in the creek valley, so 

 did grassy banks, and flats set thick with 

 May-apples. These the cattle nipped if 

 they came upon them just as the leaves were 

 pushing through, folded like fairy umbrellas 

 of shot silk, green and crimson. If the 

 umbrella escaped to unfold as flat round- 

 notched pale-green leaves, with waxen apple- 

 scented blossoms set singly upon the stalks 

 underneath, the beasts did no more than 

 trample them down. It was the same with 

 the pawpaw thickets — budded tips were 

 greedily snatched, although they came out 

 later than the most. But after the curious 

 blackish-red blooms opened, such tips as 

 remained were safe against browsing. Paw- 

 paw blossoms Hke those of the May-apple, 

 breathe an odor reminiscent of the ripe fruit, 

 which possibly is not to the ruminant mind 

 and nostrils. 



There was an old field or two along the 

 creek. Pioneer settlers hugged the wooded 

 streamsides, thus assuring themselves fuel and 

 water, though the barrens and the farther 



