Sonffs of the Fields 



^fc> 



of some "progTcssive" farmers. These fields are 

 enclosed in straight wire fences, guiltless of a leaf 

 for shelter, so they offer migrant musicians no in- Songless 

 ducement to locate there. All the season tortured P''**""'®* 

 horses and cattle graze in eai'ly morning and even- 

 ing, and at noontime stand in restless groups, striv- 

 ing to drive awaj^ the flies, and find shelter from 

 each other's bodies; for neither cattle nor horses lie 

 when they have finished grazing unless there is 

 shade. To i-est in the open would be to place them- 

 selves l)etween two fii'es — the reflected heat from 

 the earth and the direct heat fronr the sun. 



"He maketli me to lie down in green pastures," 

 I quoted, when passing such a field on a scorching 

 August day. 



"He sendetli His rain to the just as well as to 

 the imjust," (juoted my critic, in reply. "You 

 know if I were He, I would not. I would send 

 rain only to pastures Avith trees in them, and burn 

 all the remainder." 



So we agreed to keep watch as we drove across 

 the country, making these illustrations, and see 

 how much Ave coidd learn of the disposition of the 

 farmers by the maimer in AA'hich tliey provided for 

 tlieir stock and tlieir birds. Soon it became ap- 

 parent that the man Avho stripped a pasture of 

 every tree treated his family Avith no greater con- 

 sideration. There Avas scarcely a tree anyAA'here on 

 his premises. In one place Ave counted four big 



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