The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-12-13
A Rainy Day.

1t is the universal fashion to rail at
rainy days, and to get blue, cross and
bored, at such times. "Any temper may
be excused on rainy day." says some
body, whose "new novel" we were read
ing the other day.
Now we do not believe in this con-
demnation of rainy days.
A rainy day is to many persons holi-
day. Those whose employments are out
of-door employments should hail rainy
days as the children at school hail Satur-
days.
When we were child, we lived on a
farm, away back in the country, and on
rainy days thes big old barn was our play
ground. What good friends We were
with the speckled hens and the meek
faced COWS, and the red oxen, and the
old white horse, ana how many forbid
den handfuls of corn did these friends
of ours receive as tokens Of our good will
The farm hands threshed the rye and
oats on rainy days, for the fail had not
then been superseded by the horsepower
machine; or they shelled the beans, or
husked the yellow corn: and sang snatches
of old song long since forgotten and num-
bered among the things that were.
And the air was sweet with smells of
clover hay and meadow brakes, and the
wide rafters we're festooned with cobwebs
whose fneness and delicacy no human
skill could rival; and the blue-green
swallows twitted in their nests beneath
cross-beams; and above all the soft patter
of the rain made music on the moss
grown shingles.
And all trees on the hillside were
dyed fresher green, and the parched
grass on the garden slope revived in the
grateful moisture, and the tall dahlias and
asters were heavy with diamond rain
drops; and in the swollen brook the snow
white geese padded, and were happy as
kings on thrones.
The monarch of the barn yard, the red
backed rooster, went about with his tail
at half-mast, and the gaudy peacock, with
all sail close-furled, ught refuge for
his disconsolate condition on the lee side
of the cow-shed.
How plainly it all comes up before US
to-day! How distinctly the pleasant,
homely picture is photographed upon our
memory!
And even at this late time rainy day
has lost for US none of its weird charms.
Though wide vistas of JOY and sorrow lie
between then and now, we still love a
rainy day. We have our life all to our
selves. Outside cares are laid aside fol
the time. No visitors love us we'll enough
to brave the storm. We can rummage
old chests and bring forth treasures Of
other days without fear of being disturbed
We read over old letters full of affection
and sweetness still, though, perchance
the hands which formed those faded lines
have long since moldered into their native
clay.
We try on old garments of obsolete
fashion, and imagine ourself our own
grandmother, in embroidered petticoat
and short linen gown.
We finish odd Jobs of work, which
have lain for months, waiting Just such
an opportunity, and freshen our knowl.
edge Of familiar quotations from our fav-
orite poets, and we think of old friends
who have passed beyond, and wonder
vaguely what they are doing to-day in
far and mystic land over the river.
/ And what hundred years hence, shall
we be doing? -" ~.
A rainy day2 To be alone with mem
ory-alone with duties to be performed
to live over the past-to realize the pres
ent-to indulge hope ofthe future. Il,
But to sit at ease by ones own fireside,
surrounded by those who love us, and
whom we love-to know and feel that on
this rainy day no alien presence will
intrudc, what is better?. What is sweeteri
-K4te Thorn IT, Nc.e ". 7. Weehly.