
A breezy, sun‑drenched meadow frames a delightfully odd tale where farm animals speak with wit and a touch of philosophy. The narrator’s playful warnings about taking the “seriousness of nature” lightly set the tone for a story that blends gentle satire with rustic charm. As the barn doors creak shut, a chorus of disgruntled voices—colt Clarence, bull‑calf Reginald, and a chorus of cows and goats—laments their confinement, each demanding a return to the lush pasture beyond.
Their grievances spark the arrival of a two‑legged figure, a farmer known only as Gabe, whose sudden decision to harness the mare and drive off leaves the barn’s residents bewildered. The animals’ earnest pleas and humorous banter hint at a larger adventure that will test the boundaries between human authority and animal liberty, all while a mysterious figure named Galatea looms on the horizon, promising a bucolic romance that may just change the rhythm of life on the farm.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (146K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2018-03-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Best remembered for whimsical early-20th-century books for children, this elusive writer mixed fantasy, humor, and verse in stories that often feel like literary curiosities waiting to be rediscovered.
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