Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/517

470 THE COW AND THE MAPLE-SYRUP.

BUSH v. BRAINARD. (1 Cow. 78.)

[An action will not lie for carelessly leaving maple syrup in one's unenclosed wood, whereby the plaintiff's cow, being illegally suffered to run at large, and having strayed there, is killed by drinking it.]

NE Brainard owned a favorite cow, With placid eyes and gentle brow, Renowned for milk—he called it "milch." Her coat was smooth and soft as silch; A star upon her forehead lay, Appropriate to her milky way; Her voice was noticeably low— It necessarily was so; With care that each good wife adorns, She kept the buttons on her horns. Old Brainard loved her like a sister; And several little Brainards kissed her, Or tweaked her tail and punched her udder With boldness that would make one shudder. She never kicked, not e'en when man Stripped her for his small tin god, Pan; She was—to paraphrase the poet's line— A little more than kin nor less than kine.

Bush owned a lot of wooden cows, Which had no need to drink or browse, Nor of restraint by rope or rail, Nor spoiled the milk by switch of tail; For he possessed a sugar-bush, Where he a thriving trade did push By maples for their rich juice boring And the sweet stream in buckets storing; No patriot he, for every season Still found him meditating trees on; So he was rocked in luxury's lap, And had a fortune on the tap.