The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-08-26

gave to them in the chanosf,,,
of earth and sky, were ns s.I aspects
consciously, well learned. A'ps s halt
scents and sounds and sight. ,s oweet
them. They got from t6e I erected
strength for the days burden. nOrnlag
peace of twilight lifted tha;r' s ana the
from them. recall three mo-, burdens
through middle life and far ; Mso' AZ y
age. morning and night, at un 1uso Old
hours, drove their herds to ana
their pastures. Their cows ~ nom
them, and, in the virtue If Ill" r.. kneE
seemed quite as human as thai a''S T
We're all grand men, sens;hle Iney
al; and carrying weight in town s s3s.;
Inns humble duty, cheerfully dosa aa. 3
but illustrate and embellish thu o osa ae
like simplicity of their lives ~ TSl0-
could be no more pastoral n;ctnra . y
that of these respectable farmsra y nan
ding along the highway with ths;, p pa'l.
IN the early brightness of mo,n ~
They were literally walking I.ad
hand with nature. Transplanted s !. u
city, they would have been noC, = y =. !
riches, untitled for its pursuits M y ll Y
times. On the country hirhws11 ~
were heirs of the soil; lessees II ny y!
landscapes and sky views; uncon =, sne
absorbents of the earth's hr;cbsss1a.
and beauty. l know men in hiob No.
who look back with keen pIeas,r, 49,. 3
their cow-driving days, when Ia - !"
ing herds used to come acr 49, w n
rocky pastures to meet them. and lug ~
from these enforced morning and avn 8
ing walks grew to be Observer. - -
lovers of nature. ''n
remember with DELIGHT INV cr.,s
fathers pasture, poor of soil and s sesusr
OF heritage; uneven Of surface: ia h;ll
ocks clad with moss and wiuterc,a a.,
cut in two by clear, bubbline 6rn,I.
shaded here and there by cl1mps \
trees; ragged with rocks and ier !,
and wild shrubs; marshy next h ~
mill-pond, as well as treacherous y, ~
tangled with flag and bulrushes Ran
old New England pasture-landsl Yau,
were stingy of grass, but YOU wer
never failing in beauty-beanty whisI
was revealed to the children. who mart
to the birds, were your true oEnrn ]
Early in spring-tirne against suov
banks came beds of blue and wb;ts
violets; little later, hidden BY crisn
cracking leaves, pink and white srbut,
sweetest of all spring blossom
Ferns unfolded; mint scented thu brooE.
side; coltsfoot frightened its shoal bel.
the marsh bristled with spiked lesysI
With the coming of summer, the water.
soaked and porous soil BY detreS
dried up. One had no longer to Dill
his way from stone to stone scroN
Doggy places (what early padtuu
roamer does not recall the overrated
audacity of such passagesp); ferns erex
stronger and deeper colored; bog onions
curled their brown coils against IN
rocks (they would not pull now With
the old relish); weeds and shrubs snd
stunted trees took on the gifts 81 III
passing seasons, and, as you trod q
them, or brushed by them, sent out %
you their wild favors; close BY the mill
pond the soil was always soft, and
marked by the footprints Of attlk
Here the pond was shoal and full d
lilies. On hot summer days the tifsd
animals would stand for hours knoe
deep in the sluggish water. unconscious
picture of peaceful pastoral life. Thsir
crooked trail, winding in and out
through the dampest and shsdiest
portion of the pasture land, bad i
friendly look. Its black line was eag
to be traced far into the evening. and
was always pleasant thing to. stumble
upon. 1t has guided many a wanIeisi
home.-.'Neao England Byegoaes. : v
e. II. Arr.