dead and seemingly decomposing. A woman on the nearest farm directs me to the next farm. A man plowing with horse (he turned out to be the hired man). He leaves his work to inform his employer, and I cut diagonally across fields toward my car. As I was going up over the hill, the sight of a rich blue patch of sky in the gray cloud expanse filled me with awe. Feeling I ought to see thru the cow affair, I drive back to where I talked with the hired man. One of his employers “Logs” had already gone into the woods. When I arrived he was struggling to remove the calf, with a rope. I thought I should help but could not bring myself to it. The arrival of the field worker & a neighboring farmer provided all he needed and at length the calf was pulled out. The cow lay exhausted but plainly relieved. The odor was frightful, and when one of the men lit a cigarette, I thought that tobacco smoke never smelled so heavenly. We left then, the farmer’s son decided to return with a boat and take the cow to the barn. He invited me to the house for a drink of cider, and while I was anxious to get back to my work, I accepted nevertheless. He excused the whole incident on the ground that they had as many cows that one was not missed for a day or so, but thinking it over afterward, I felt that there was some carelessness there, and indifference. I did not like him particularly, nor his two sisters, whom I met as I was getting into my car.
     The evening was cloudy and fairly quiet, perfect for my work, I stayed until complete dark, absorbing the feeling of the place. The lilacs were perfect - half opened, and shading from rich lavender to strong red-purple pink. The ravishing beauty of the sweet -