ODE TO A COW.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12427, 21 August 1933, Page 3

ODE TO A COW.

(By a contributor to the NewsChronicle, an English journal). When lifb seems one too many for you 5 Go and look at a cow. When the future’s black and the outlook’s blue, Go and look at a cow. For she does nothing but eat her food, And sleep in the meadows entirely nood, Refusing to fret or worry or brood. Because she doesn’t know how. Whenever you’re feeling bothered and sore, Go and look at a cow. When everything else is a fearful bore, Go and look at a cow. Observe her gentle and placid air, Her nonclialence and savoir faire, Her absolute freedom from every care, Her imperturbable brow. And why P Because most cows are teetotallers, non-smokers, as well as vegetarian and non-sectarian. They never slander their neighbours, are not given to gossip or gambling or going out to tea ; they never swear or lie abed late, or steal or covet their neighbour's goods; but just lollop about, ruminating and minding their own business. And with a bundle of virtues like that to their credit, is it any wonder that their brows are imperturbable. Certainly not! . . . Very well, then! Carry on. For my own part, I spend simply hours and hours studying cows, and look at me. Xinety-seven to-morrow, hardly a bald patch anywhere, and can still hear without my glasses. She takes the bad as she takes the good, The philosophical cow. With meek and exemplary fortitude. Go look at a cow. She neves loses her self-control, Or worries about her immortal soul. She sees life clearly and sees it whole, Look at her doing it now. So should the old flivver begin to conk, Don’t start making a row. When tyres are flat and the horn won’t honk. Go and look at a cow. When landlords bother and tradesmen dun, A\ lion the horse you’ve backed refuses to run, When skies are grey and you want the sun, Go and look at a cow. Only one more verse, children ; only one more. And when you’ve finished you really and truly can go and look at a cow. So when you’re at the end of your wits, Go and look at a cow. Or when your nerves are fraved to bits. And wrinkles furrow your brow; She’ll merely moo in her gentle way, Switching her rudder as if to say, ‘‘Bother to-morrow! Let’s live today ! Take the advice of a cow.” Which things, one must admit, apply equally to the elephant, the hippopotamus and the domestic pig. But as these beautiful creatures are usually kept in close, very close, confinement, there is likely to be a large and obese smell on the premises; which same is anything hut conducive to philosophic contemplation.