TheAcornGatherer
Blackrooks,yellowoakleaves,andaboyasleepatthefootofthetree.Hisheadwaslyingonabulgingrootclosetothestem:hisfeetreachedtoasmallsackorbaghalfllofacorns.Inhisslumberhisforeheadfrowned-theywerefixedlines,likethegroovesintheoakbark.Therewasnothingelseinhisfeaturesattractiveorrepellenttheyweresuchasmighthavebelongedtoadozenhedgechildren.
Thesetangryfrownwastheonlydistinguishingmark--likethedentsonapennymadebyahobnailboot,bywhichitcanbeknownfromtwentyotherwisepreciselysimilar.Hisclotheswerelittebetterthansacking,butdean,tidy,andrepaired.Anyonewouldhavesaid,Poor,butcarefultended.Akindheartmighthaveputathreepenny-bitinhisclenchedlittefist,andsighed.Butthatironsetfrownontheyoungbrowwouldnothaveunbentevenforthesilver.Caw!Caw!
Thehappiestcreaturesintheworldaretherooksattheacorns.Itisnotonlytheeatingofthem,butthefinding:theflutteringup
thereandhoppingfrombranchtobranch,thesidlingouttotheextremeendofthebough,andtheinwardchuckingwhenafriendletshisacorndroptip-tapfromboughtobough.Amidsuchplentytheycannotquarrelorfight,havingnocauseofbattle,buttheycanboastofsuccess,anddosototheloudestoftheirvoices.Hewhohasselectedachoiceoneflieswithitasifitwereanuggetinhisbeak,outtosomeopenspotofground,followedbyageneralCaw!
Thiswasgoingonabovewhiletheboysleptbelow.Athrushlookedoutfromthehedge,andamongtheshortgrasstherewasstilthehumofbees,constantsun-worshippersastheyare.Thesunshinegleamedontherooksblackfeathersoverhead,andontheswardsparkledfromhawkweed,somelotusandyellowweed,asfromafaintrippleofwater.Theoakwasnearacomerformedbytwohedges,andintheanglewasanarrowthornygap,presentlyanoldwoman,veryuprightcamethroughthisgapcarryinga
faggotonhershoulderanda