The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-25
VERMONT DAIRYMAN'S ASsOCIA.
TION.
sixth Annual Meeting.


THE POETRY OF FARM LIFR--A PAPER READ
AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AT MONT
PELIER, JANUARY 81, 1874, BY MRS. o.
II. KILE.
have the honor to be the daughter of a
farmer, born and brought up on one of the
toughest, rockiest farms of this rough and
rocky Vermont, miles away from the VII
| lage church, the postOffice, and the railroad
depot think | have right to know
something about the very country farm
| life indeed.
In the presence of an assembly of intelli-
gent dairymen l need not protest that
consider this no misfortune.
A lady from town was one day visiting
at my country home. l had taken great
pleasure in showing her about the premises
| We were sitting, after dinner, on the broad
front steps, under the shade of the maple
trees. Out in the sunny fields the men were
at work. My brother, in his sleeveless
waistcoat, was sauntering leisurely down
the road towards them. Quietly my friend
surveyed the scene, and when she turned to
| look at me | saw queer, qulzzical express
sion on her face at is all very well for
little whie," she said in answer to my in
terrogation, Il could enjoy it for a day or
two, but month would be too much.
How can you be contented in this wilder
ness, away from society p al like it,"
answered simply, for felt how impossible
| it might be to make her understand the in
terest, the agreeable variety, the almost eX-
| haustess resources that our wilderness"
| afforded. Many time since / have seen
that same quizzical, half-d0ubting, half
plying expression upon the faces of others
who were discussing with country friends
the actuaities of farm life. .'All very well
to talk about, nice IN tales of romance, and
that, but for real living give me the town, "
is common verdict of outsiders.
had been so happy in my country home
that thought to be in very pardse when
paid visit to the grand city where all
the world likes to dwell. Piles of brick
and mortar-massive, grand and homely
streets full of men and women. gas-light
brighter than the day, and glare of hui
man eyes more trying than the gas-light !;
fashion and the prophecies bristling
hedge between me and every human soul ;
no little space for quiet breathing time no
spot where could find nature and rest for
INN hour alone with her. l grew tired
soon and quoted my friends words "a
month of il would be too much" Any
thing will sustain life, philosopher has
found out, ''lamp-oil or the broth Of
shoes" And have learned that one may
be very happy where stone pavement
covers up the substantial ground and there
is only narrow strip of sky to divide with
thousands. But If had to begin life over
again, and it were given me to choose my
birth place, think should not need to
look the round world over before pointing
to the old brown farmhouse on the old
rocky farm in this Northern Vermont,
where the fates first sent me breath and
light even as the inhabitant of regions OF
perpetual snow, says from his heart, Lap
land is the best place the sun ever shone
upon" But we have more reason to be
content than the Laplander.
The Vermont dairymen's sous and daugh-
tiers are born to wealth OF beauty, ro-
nance and freedom, which other children,
that the world reckons fortunate, may
dream of in vain. Light and air and
healthf food are not more necessary TO
perfect childhood than contact with naturei
a whole sky, strip of forest land, real
brook. My fathers farm was rocky, the
lodges were piled in ranges, one after
another through the pastures. There were
places In the woods where great boulders.
square, Jagged, broken into all sorts OF