Green Meadow Stories · Chapter
XXII: Farmer Brown’s Boy Looks in Vain explained
Farmer Brown's boy searches tirelessly for Bowser the Hound, visiting farms and tramping through the Green Forest and Old Pasture, but finds no trace.
What happens
Farmer Brown's boy searches tirelessly for Bowser the Hound, visiting farms and tramping through the Green Forest and Old Pasture, but finds no trace. He hears of a strange dog in a neighboring township but is disappointed. Meanwhile, Old Man Coyote, Reddy Fox, and Old Granny Fox grow bold, even approaching the henyard in daylight. Farmer Brown's boy suspects they know Bowser's fate but cannot bring himself to get a new dog, holding onto a faint, unacknowledged hope.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
Farmer Brown's boy's relentless search for Bowser and his refusal to replace him demonstrate deep loyalty and the priceless nature of friendship.
Deception and Trust
Old Man Coyote, Reddy Fox, and Old Granny Fox take advantage of Bowser's absence, deceiving Farmer Brown's boy about their knowledge of Bowser's fate.
Characters to notice
- Bowser the Hound
Bowser is missing and presumed dead; Farmer Brown's boy searches for him in vain.
- Farmer Brown
Farmer Brown's boy is the central figure, searching for Bowser and suspecting the predators.
- Old Man Coyote
Old Man Coyote grows bold, coming around the henyard in broad daylight, and is suspected by Farmer Brown's boy.
- Reddy Fox
Reddy Fox, along with Old Granny Fox, becomes bold and approaches the henyard.
- Old Granny Fox
Old Granny Fox joins Reddy Fox and Old Man Coyote in their bold behavior near the henyard.
Key passages
“Loyalty is priceless and Is neither sold nor bought. Alas, how few who seem to know Its value as they ought.”
True loyalty cannot be bought or sold, and sadly, few people truly appreciate its worth.
The opening verse sets the theme of loyalty, reflecting Farmer Brown's boy's devotion to Bowser.
“He had quite given up all hope of ever seeing Bowser alive again. But he did want to know just what had happened to him, and so he kept searching and searching.”
Though he no longer expected to find Bowser alive, he continued searching out of a need to understand his fate.
Highlights the persistence of Farmer Brown's boy despite his loss of hope.
“I believe you know something about what has become of Bowser,” Farmer Brown’s boy said, as he chased Old Man Coyote away one day.”
Farmer Brown's boy accused Old Man Coyote of knowing Bowser's whereabouts while driving him off.
Shows Farmer Brown's boy's suspicion that the predators are involved in Bowser's disappearance.