The economic worth of kindness to animals is shown by our daily
use of a prize bull as a draught animal to draw the cart in hauling
manure, to drag the cultivator in the garden and similar tasks. He was a
magnificent creature, a gift from Francis George Shaw and was, at most
seasons so gentle and docile that the Baas used to ride on his back
between the barn and the garden.
Wednesdays and Saturdays were half-holidays not only for the school but
for the entire community. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoon the whole
place was en-fete. Work was suspended except the simple household duties
and the care of the animals, and the hours were devoted to having a good
time. The pupils were allowed to do as they pleased, and it pleased us
boys sometimes to be robbers and brigands and smugglers in a cavern
behind the Eyrie. Here we could build a fire on condition that no fire
was ever to be built elsewhere. This dark and dismal cave occupied a
conspicuous place in my memories of Brook Farm for many years until in
later life, I took my daughter to visit the old place, when puffed up
pride had a bad fall.
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