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Six Darn Cows
Jen and Tod Bean live on a farm. At the end of every day they go out to the fields to bring the family's six cows home. One day they discover the gate has been left open and the cows have escaped. They're nowhere to be seen. Jen and Tod know they must find the cows, even if it means following them into the woods to return them to the pasture. In this classic tale, Margaret Laurence recounts how Jen and Tod overcome their fear of the dark woods to bring the cows home at last.
- GenresCanada
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Margaret Laurence
47 books413 followersCanada's classic authoress was born Jean Margaret Wemyss on July 18, 1926 in the prairie town of Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. Her Mom, Verna, passed away early. Her Aunt Margaret helped her Father take care of her for a year, then they married and had a Son. Their Father died two years afterwards. Aunt Margaret was a Mother to her, raising the kids in theirr maternal Grandfather's home.
Margaret wrote stories in elementary school. Her professional writing career began in 1943 with a job at the town newspaper and continued in 1944, when she entered the Honours English program at Winnipeg's United College (University Of Winnipeg.) After graduating in 1947, she was hired as a reporter for The Winnipeg Citizen. That year, she married Jack Laurence, a civil engineer.
Jack's profession took the couple to England, Somalia, and eventually Ghana, where Margaret gained an appreciation for Africa and the storytelling traditions of its peoples. It was in Africa that their children, Jocelyn and David, were born, and when Margaret began to work seriously on her writing. Her book of essays about and translations of Somali poetry and prose was published in 1954 as A Tree for Poverty. A collection of short stories, The Tomorrow-Tamer, as well as a novel, This Side Jordan (both focusing on African subjects) were published after Margaret returned home to Canada. Her fiction was thereafter concerned with Canadian subjects, but she maintained her interest in African literature and in 1968 published a critical analysis of Nigerian literature, Long Drums and Cannons: Nigerian Dramatists and Novelists 1952-1966. Present in her African works is a concern with the ethical dilemma of being a white colonialist living in colonial Africa.
In 1957, Margaret and her family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, for five years. In 1962, Margaret & Jack divorced. She moved to London, England for a year, followed by a cottage in Buckinghamshire for ten years, although she visited Canada often. During this period, Margaret wrote her first works with Canadian subject matter.
"The Stone Angel" was published in 1964, and was the first of her "Manawaka novels", the fictional prairie community modelled after her hometown of Neepawa, Manitoba. It was followed by "A Jest Of God" in 1966 (for which she won her first Governor General's Award,) "The Fire-Dwellers" in 1969, and "A Bird In The House" in 1970. Margaret received critical and commercial acclaim in Canada and in 1971, was honoured by being named a Companion to the Order of Canada.
In the early 1970s, she returned to Canada and settled in Lakefield, Ontario. She continued to write and was writer-in-residence at the University Of Toronto, the University Of Western Ontario, and Trent University. In 1974, Margaret completed her final novel, "The Diviners", for which she received the Governor General's Award and the Molson Prize. It was followed by a book of essays, Heart Of A Stranger" in 1976 and several children's books: "Jason's Quest", "The Olden-Days Coat", "Six Darn Cows", and "The Christmas Birthday Story". Her autobiography "Dance On The Earth" was published in 1987.
Margaret died on January 5, 1987 at her home in Lakefield, after learning her lung cancer diagnosis was terminal. She is buried in Neepawa Cemetery, a few metres from the stone angel which inspired her novel.
Margaret wrote stories in elementary school. Her professional writing career began in 1943 with a job at the town newspaper and continued in 1944, when she entered the Honours English program at Winnipeg's United College (University Of Winnipeg.) After graduating in 1947, she was hired as a reporter for The Winnipeg Citizen. That year, she married Jack Laurence, a civil engineer.
Jack's profession took the couple to England, Somalia, and eventually Ghana, where Margaret gained an appreciation for Africa and the storytelling traditions of its peoples. It was in Africa that their children, Jocelyn and David, were born, and when Margaret began to work seriously on her writing. Her book of essays about and translations of Somali poetry and prose was published in 1954 as A Tree for Poverty. A collection of short stories, The Tomorrow-Tamer, as well as a novel, This Side Jordan (both focusing on African subjects) were published after Margaret returned home to Canada. Her fiction was thereafter concerned with Canadian subjects, but she maintained her interest in African literature and in 1968 published a critical analysis of Nigerian literature, Long Drums and Cannons: Nigerian Dramatists and Novelists 1952-1966. Present in her African works is a concern with the ethical dilemma of being a white colonialist living in colonial Africa.
In 1957, Margaret and her family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, for five years. In 1962, Margaret & Jack divorced. She moved to London, England for a year, followed by a cottage in Buckinghamshire for ten years, although she visited Canada often. During this period, Margaret wrote her first works with Canadian subject matter.
"The Stone Angel" was published in 1964, and was the first of her "Manawaka novels", the fictional prairie community modelled after her hometown of Neepawa, Manitoba. It was followed by "A Jest Of God" in 1966 (for which she won her first Governor General's Award,) "The Fire-Dwellers" in 1969, and "A Bird In The House" in 1970. Margaret received critical and commercial acclaim in Canada and in 1971, was honoured by being named a Companion to the Order of Canada.
In the early 1970s, she returned to Canada and settled in Lakefield, Ontario. She continued to write and was writer-in-residence at the University Of Toronto, the University Of Western Ontario, and Trent University. In 1974, Margaret completed her final novel, "The Diviners", for which she received the Governor General's Award and the Molson Prize. It was followed by a book of essays, Heart Of A Stranger" in 1976 and several children's books: "Jason's Quest", "The Olden-Days Coat", "Six Darn Cows", and "The Christmas Birthday Story". Her autobiography "Dance On The Earth" was published in 1987.
Margaret died on January 5, 1987 at her home in Lakefield, after learning her lung cancer diagnosis was terminal. She is buried in Neepawa Cemetery, a few metres from the stone angel which inspired her novel.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 30, 2015
I discovered Margaret Laurence has a 1979 children’s book! The title “Six Darn Cows” is hilarious by itself! A Manitoba old-timer would use such a phrase. We care about the mission and melt: the youngsters’ determination, the dear cows, the messages, their parents’ warmth; promising their aide always. The gist, simplified for children, is a compelling story for any of us. Jen and Tod Bean bring six milking cows home daily from their field. They'd rather swim and do other things but change their tune, upon seeing they have disappeared. They care about their cows’ safety and are additionally horrified because milk is their much-needed income. With an admirable sense of responsibility, they launch a search by themselves.
They aren’t afraid to report the mistake of an open gate to their parents, so much as feeling the need to hurriedly get started. They need to guide the cows before dark, if they ventured to the forest, for all their sakes. There is palpable, realistic urgency unlike any other children’s book! It's about bravery and counting on your loving folks, even if things transpired that ought not to have. I am lucky to snap this up. The rest of Margaret’s work is prevalent. I've never encountered this before. A scene with the Mother’s flashlight beaming upon them far down the road, brings a rush of comfort and heroism; reminding us why all young creatures have parents: protection.
What pushes poignancy to the limit for me are Ann Blade's starry, emotive, darkly-oozing paintings! This award-winning Canadian’s indescribable touch, makes this book absolutely shine. Even the peculiar perspective of her portraits creates its own class. It is completely different. Every scene of this dilemma is so memorable and unique; I don’t have the knowledge to describe the power of Ann’s vibrant, compelling art!
They aren’t afraid to report the mistake of an open gate to their parents, so much as feeling the need to hurriedly get started. They need to guide the cows before dark, if they ventured to the forest, for all their sakes. There is palpable, realistic urgency unlike any other children’s book! It's about bravery and counting on your loving folks, even if things transpired that ought not to have. I am lucky to snap this up. The rest of Margaret’s work is prevalent. I've never encountered this before. A scene with the Mother’s flashlight beaming upon them far down the road, brings a rush of comfort and heroism; reminding us why all young creatures have parents: protection.
What pushes poignancy to the limit for me are Ann Blade's starry, emotive, darkly-oozing paintings! This award-winning Canadian’s indescribable touch, makes this book absolutely shine. Even the peculiar perspective of her portraits creates its own class. It is completely different. Every scene of this dilemma is so memorable and unique; I don’t have the knowledge to describe the power of Ann’s vibrant, compelling art!
December 23, 2012
Jen and Tod live on their family farm, and are reponsible to bring the cows home from the field every day. One day they forget to lock the gate, and their 6 cows are gone and on the run. Jen and Tod set off with their dog to find the cows.
This story is pretty simple, but interesting enough for young people and not too challenging for those who are learning to read.
This story is pretty simple, but interesting enough for young people and not too challenging for those who are learning to read.
November 28, 2015
I certainly expected something totally different from Margaret Laurence, something a little richer. Though it certainly made me laugh in the simplicity, and reminded me of the days chasing cows. I probably thought on occasion "darn cows".
September 16, 2011
Troublesome bovines.
January 23, 2026
On a farm everyone helps.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews