St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-12-14
BEYOND THE BARS.
Allur!ng Engagements Which Nat
ure Offers Her Lovers.
The Harm Yard. the Meadow. the Drook
asd the Great Rambling Harm.
Each Possesses Its OWa
Peculiar Charm.

Each Possesses Its OW0
Peculiar Charm.
The road ends at the farmhouse
that is to say. it runs square up to .
set OF bars opening into a barn-yard
But if one is not daunted by bars and
the little unrleasantness of a barn.
yard. he may reap his reward. was
not dauntcd; did reap my reward.
The inclosurc crossed and other bari
passed. entered a pasture beyond. In
the corners of the rail fence which zig.
zags along one side has grown up q
thick hedge OF weeds. bushes. and even
trees. selfsown. and in parts impas-
sable. This is the home of the small
birds.
As ] passed up the shady path be-
side the fence there was scurrying and
ecampering. small brown wings flashed
everywhere. cries Of dismay arose on
all sides-the sharp pip" of chippy.
and the anxious notes of song and other
sparrows. / stopped to let them get
over their fright a little. and looked
over the fence into the meadow that
covers a slope Of the mountain-if one
may SO call what is really more like q
series OF terraces.
At the top of all is the barn. and
was at once attracted by the eccentric
movements of dog belonging to the
farmhouse. who now and then ap-
peared above the edge of the terrace
in great excitement and haste. and as
suddenly disappeared. What could DO
the matter? l FASTENED down tho
meadow (thrOugh more bars! to the
edge OF the first fall of the land. There
] saw the family pet. a beautiful
shepherd dog. greatly excited. rum
ming back and forth on a rather mar
row ledge below me. Now he rushed
frantically along for thirty or forty
feet. with tail wagging as IL in sport,
then suddenly wheeled and ran back
in the same eager way. Sometimes ho
made dash to tho left. and tore mad
ly up the steep side of the mountain;
again he flung himself over the edge.
going almost heels over head in his
zeal.
But what could be the causep I
could see no playmate; his young mas
ter was moving further down the
meadow. l thought of woodchucks
his favorite game-but though l looked |
not one OF those wary Great |
ures was to be seen. moreover. it is
business and not play when dog and
meet At last, seeing the |
dog leap into the air. my eye fell upon
his -fellow-a barn swallow! l
could hardly believe my eyes. but I
sat down on a convenient bank and
for some time the strange
game. The dog would sit quietly ut
Dne end of the run till a sparrow
swOoped down just over his head. and
skinned along at that height and
ength of the terrace On his appear.
snce the dog started full speed after
him, and when the bird turned back
he dog did the same. II the swallow
went up toward the barn the dog
scrambled up the steep bank after
him; if downward toward the lower
his four-footed pursuer fol-
owed. When the bird rose higher,
he dog-as said-sat down and
vaited.
''And so the swallows are the mer-
lest fellows" sings Diamond in Mac
lonald's most charming hook: and hav-
ng caught one of them enjoying q
'ame of romps with dog. l must fain +,
gree with the child.
While l looked. the dog walked OF,
much as ii he did not like a spectator,
nd tire path beside the hodge again
llured me. ! returned to tho pasture I
nd walked slowly along. The field q
wept straight up the mountain. with
ere and there solitary trce or an
rock, but all paths
n this hillside lead to brooks.
nd one of these little streams q
18th its bordering Of trees. ,leaping
nd bounding down tho valley, is . q
cit Of beauty Of which the birds and !
never tire. Where the road crosses !
he streamlet is little bridge. or some I
mes only stepping-stones. and the
eep shade on both sides combines d
ith the soothing song of the water 70 /
lake natural place OF rest .
Here. again. pause and look about
, see who have disturbed BY nv
,ming. for one can hardly move, II
nd. without intruding upon somebody
no lives in that spot There are birds
} whom this special piece Of earth Is
ome; their nests are hidden close By,
i'd these are-in their opinion. no =
private grounda In that
ank behind me is the dark entrance !,
. woodchuck's home; this very stone
his front door-stcp;N here he sits up
I'd "views tho prospect Ger" and o
re hc sclaces himself with music o
hen darkness has silenced the birds. L
thcr and smaller doors there are. y
,euing into some Of the millions OF Q
.ivate apartments in our old earth, d
hose tenants wait for ''the high fas- Q
- S &