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to come back at John's call。 John half wishes he were the dog。 The dog knows the part of farming that suits him。 He likes to run along the road and see all the dogs and other people； and he likes best of all to lie on the store steps at the Cornerswhile his master's horse is dozing at the post and his master is talking politics in the storewith the other dogs of his acquaintance； snapping at mutually annoying flies； and indulging in that delightful dog gossip which is expressed by a wag of the tail and a sniff of the nose。 Nobody knows how many dogs' characters are destroyed in this gossip； or how a dog may be able to insinuate suspicion by a wag of the tail as a man can by a shrug of the shoulders； or sniff a slander as a man can suggest one by raising his eyebrows。
John looks after the old gentleman driving off in state； with the odorous buffalo…robe and the new whip； and he thinks that is the sort of farming he would like to do。 And he cries after his departing parent；
〃Say； father； can't I go over to the farther pasture and salt the cattle？〃 John knows that he could spend half a day very pleasantly in going over to that pasture； looking for bird's nests and shying at red squirrels on the way； and who knows but he might 〃see〃 a sucker in the meadow brook； and perhaps get a 〃jab〃 at him with a sharp stick。 He knows a hole where there is a whopper； and one of his plans in life is to go some day and snare him； and bring him home in triumph。 It is therefore strongly impressed upon his mind that the cattle want salting。 But his father； without turning his head； replies；
〃No； they don't need salting any more 'n you do！〃 And the old equipage goes rattling down the road； and John whistles his disappointment。 When I was a boy on a farm； and I suppose it is so now； cattle were never salted half enough！
John goes to his chores； and gets through the stable as soon as he can； for that must be done； but when it comes to the out…door work； that rather drags。 There are so many things to distract the attentiona chipmunk in the fence； a bird on a near…tree； and a hen… hawk circling high in the air over the barnyard。 John loses a little time in stoning the chipmunk； which rather likes the sport； and in watching the bird； to find where its nest is； and he convinces himself that he ought to watch the hawk； lest it pounce upon the chickens； and therefore； with an easy conscience； he spends fifteen minutes in hallooing to that distant bird； and follows it away out of sight over the woods； and then wishes it would come back again。 And then a carriage with two horses； and a trunk on behind； goes along the road； and there is a girl in the carriage who looks out at John； who is suddenly aware that his trousers are patched on each knee and in two places behind； and he wonders if she is rich； and whose name is on the trunk； and how much the horses cost； and whether that nice… looking man is the girl's father； and if that boy on the seat with the driver is her brother； and if he has to do chores； and as the gay sight disappears； John falls to thinking about the great world beyond the farm； of cities； and people who are always dressed up； and a great many other things of which he has a very dim notion。 And then a boy； whom John knows； rides by in a wagon with his father； and the boy makes a face at John； and John returns the greeting with a twist of his own visage and some symbolic gestures。 All these things take time。 The work of cutting down the big weeds gets on slowly； although it is not very disagreeable； or would not be if it were play。 John imagines that yonder big thistle is some whiskered villain； of whom he has read in a fairy book； and he advances on him with 〃Die； ruffian！〃 and slashes off his head with the bill…hook； or he charges upon the rows of mullein…stalks as if they were rebels in regimental ranks； and hews them down without mercy。 What fun it might be if there were only another boy there to help。 But even war； single handed； gets to be tiresome。 It is dinner…time before John finishes the weeds； and it is cow…time before John has made much impression on the garden。
This garden John has no fondness for。 He would rather hoe corn all day than work in it。 Father seems to think that it is easy work that John can do； because it is near the house！ John's continual plan in this life is to go fishing。 When there comes a rainy day； he attempts to carry it out。 But ten chances to one his father has different views。 As it rains so that work cannot be done out…doors； it is a good time to work in the garden。 He can run into the house between the heavy showers。 John accordingly detests the garden； and the only time he works briskly in it is when he has a stent set； to do so much weeding before the Fourth of July。 If he is spry； he can make an extra holiday the Fourth and the day after。 Two days of gunpowder and ball…playing！ When I was a boy； I supposed there was some connection between such and such an amount of work done on the farm and our national freedom。 I doubted if there could be any Fourth of July if my stent was not done。 I； at least； worked for my Independence。
III
THE DELIGHTS OF FARMING
There are so many bright spots in the life of a farm…boy； that I sometimes think I should like to live the life over again； I should almost be willing to be a girl if it were not for the chores。 There is a great comfort to a boy in the amount of work he can get rid of doing。 It is sometimes astonishing how slow he can go on an errand； he who leads the school in a race。 The world is new and interesting to him； and there is so much to take his attention off； when he is sent to do anything。 Perhaps he himself couldn't explain why； when he is sent to the neighbor's after yeast； he stops to stone the frogs； he is not exactly cruel； but be wants to see if he can hit 'em。 No other living thing can go so slow as a boy sent on an errand。 His legs seem to be lead； unless he happens to espy a woodchuck in an adjoining lot； when he gives chase to it like a deer； and it is a curious fact about boys； that two will be a great deal slower in doing anything than one； and that the more you have to help on a piece of work the less is accomplished。 Boys have a great power of helping each other to do nothing； and they are so innocent about it； and unconscious。 〃I went as quick as ever I could；〃 says the boy： his father asks him why he did n't stay all night； when he has been absent three hours on a ten…minute errand。 The sarcasm has no effect on the boy。
Going after the cows was a serious thing in my day。 I had to climb a hill； which was covered with wild strawberries in the season。 Could any boy pass by those ripe berries？ And then in the fragrant hill pasture there were beds of wintergreen with red berries； tufts of columbine； roots of sassafras to be dug； and dozens of things good to eat or to smell； that I could not resist。 It sometimes even lay in my way to climb a tree to look for a crow's nest； or to swing in the top； and to try if I could see the steeple of the village church。 It became very important sometimes for me to see that steeple； and in the midst of my investigations the tin horn would blow a great blast from the farmhouse； which would send a cold chill down my back in the hottest days。 I knew what it meant。 It had a frightfully impatient quaver in it； not at all like the sweet note that called us to dinner from the hay…field。 It said； 〃Why on earth does n't that boy come home？ It is almost dark； and the cows ain't milked！〃 And that was the time the cows had to start into a brisk pace and make up for lost time。 I wonder if any boy ever drove the cows home late； who did not say that the cows were at the very farther end of the pasture； and that 〃Old Brindle〃 was hidden in the woods； and he couldn't find her for ever so long！ The brindle cow is the boy's scapegoat； many a time。
No other boy knows how to appreciate a holiday as the farm…boy does； and his best ones are of a peculiar kind。 Going fishing is of course one sort。 The excitement of rigging up the tackle； digging the bait； and the anticipation of great luck！ These are pure pleasures； enjoyed because they are rare。 Boys who can go a…fishing any time care but little for it。 Tramping all day through bush and brier； fighting flies and mosquitoes； and branches that tangle the line； and snags that break the hook； and returning home late and hungry； with wet feet and a string of speckled trout on a willow twig； and having the family crowd out at the kitchen door to look at 'em； and say； 〃Pretty well done for you； bub； did you catch that big one yourself？〃 this is also pure happiness； the like of which the boy will never have again； not if he comes to be selectman and deacon and to 〃keep store。〃
But the holidays I recall with delight were the two days in spring and fall； when we went to the distant pasture…land； in a neighboring town； maybe； to drive thither the young cattle and colts； and to bring them back again。 It was a wild and rocky upland where our great pasture was； many miles from home； the road to it running by a brawling river； and up a dashing brook…side among great hills。 What a day's adventure it was！ It was