Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-20
THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN,
and the
Phillips County Fair.
~. u w Crrihnar
BY F. ". ScTibner.

BY F. ". Scribner.
When full realization of the fact dawned up
on me that I stood inside the enclosure Of the
Phillips County Fair ASSOCIATION, and that those
buildings which had so stupidity mistaken for
arks were the exhibition buildings and that those
drOves Of domestic animals, hOcks of fowls and
loads OF vegetables, continually coming in, were
exhibits for the fair an almost uncomfortable feel
ing Of delight welled up within me, and I could
scarcely repress the tears of joy, which seemed
determined to burst from my dazzled eyes. nor
could keep back an exclamation of surprise,
mingled with feelings of pride and delight sure
to swell the breast OF every Kansan, even though
he has strayed far from his native soil, in the
vain endeavOr to find something better.
JOY! l was my old self again. The bewilder-
ing scales OF melancholy inauguration had fallen
from my eyes. No more considered Kansas the
dreary home of desOlate victims of misplaced
confidence; no longer did her farmers SOW with
fears and reap in teers; no longer did the weary
kline go to the withered mead for their meagre
subsistence. while their paFChed thrOats craved
the drink they seldom found: no more the rag
ged blouse, bare feet and sweat-stained sOmbreO
of the farmer greeted the tOwnsman's gaze. All
these things were eRyelOped il the dismal past,
with the other trials OF pioneer life, in the days
when unbroken plains Of buffalo grass caused
the use OF the word ''drOwthy oft times in con-
nectOn with Kansas. And in place of ali these
distorted visionary cogitations of a DISCONTINUED
mind, now saw peace and plenty on every hand.
The cattle roaming Der the plain,
Once poor, are sleek an fat again,
While fields of wheat and giant corn
Are bathed in dew from night till morn.
The oats and millet, rye and kane
Grow up and flourish in the rain,
Which fills the creeks and shining rills
With power to turn the Touring mills,
To grind the harvest, rich and rare,
And send abundance everywhere.
As result of all this 1 saw. coming through
the entrance, in great hOrdes, farmers with their
families loaded into bright, new buggies, while
behind them, in wagons and on foot, were agri
cultural and grazing exhibits, looking as though
the pure air, sunshine, rich soil and rain had
combined to make a sight seldom seen outside OF
Fairy tales, SC large were the vegetables, so fat
were the kline, and So happy were the faces all
about me.
How strange it all seemed! Here had only been
gone year and in that short time all this trans
formation had taken place. I could scarcely be-
lieve my senses. Yet here was /, and here were
the scenes about me; all real
glanced at my friend B, the official, who was
standing near me TO see that my escape was i'm
pOssible-fOr he still considered me insane
and saw that he was watching me somewhat
quizzically, no doubt wondering what new freak
would deve;ope in his charge.
/ I could no longer restrain my emotions, but
yielding to a sudden desire to reveal my identity
and disclose the secrets OF my very peculiar be
haviOuF, grabbed him frantically by the hand
with lion ike grip, at the same time ezciaiming
Don't You know me, old fellow? Don't you rec
ognize in my worn gaFb and haggered visage
something that reminds you of Farmer Strayer
who lived over on section -, range -, township
-, and who traded his farm tor span Of Octo
genarian mules and an old wagon, with which HI
left the country over year agog'
As / ratified over this descriptive interrogatory
could see the light OF recognition dawninl
upon his eountenance, and gradually forming in
TO pleased smile. and as closed, nc gave M
hand which stin held his, the heaty shake O.