The dairyman's heart rejoices, and the butter tray with its virgin
treasure becomes a sight to behold. There lie the rich masses, fold
upon fold, leaf upon leaf, fresh, sweet, and odorous, just as the
ladle of the dairymaid dipped it from the churn, sweating great
drops of buttermilk, and looking like some rare and precious ore.
The cool spring water is the only clarifier needed to remove all
dross and impurities and bring out all the virtues and beauties of
this cream-evolved element. How firm and bright it becomes, how
delicious the odor it emits! what vegetarian ever found it in his
heart, or his palate either, to repudiate butter? The essence of
clover and grass and dandelions and beechen woods is here. How
wonderful the chemistry that from elements so common and near at
hand produces a result so beautiful and useful! Eureka! Is not
this the alchemy that turns into gold the commonest substances?
How can transformation be more perfect?
During the years of this early essay-writing, Mr. Burroughs was
teaching country schools in the fall and winter, and working on
the home farm in summer; at the same time he was reading serious
books and preparing himself for whatever was in store for him.
He read medicine for only three months, in the fall of 1862, and
then resumed teaching.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187