The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-11-26

NSS declared that he
staid at home.
Farmer he is
by name and farmer he is by nature;" that
was what they said of him. And the old
men said to one another that some of the
young fellows should remain to till the
fields, for the soldiers must eat and the old
men could not raise the crops that would
be surely needed to feed them.
They looked upon Abner as a marvel
They did not wholly understand him, and
they thought the minister had spoken with
the truth when he once said that when
Abner smiles upon the growing grain or
passes by the meadows, it is worth more to
the crops even than sunshine and showers"
This Abner Farmer was to the fields
what the geniuses of commerce are to the
markets, and even when he was a child
. they said of him, HE will do wonderful
things with the soil, and will teach the
world lessons about the fruits of the earth
some day."
After Abner had said his goodby to all
his friends, one summer day in 1861, as he
was leaving to join his regiment he went
to say farewell to his betrothed, sweet
Anna Williams. He had not wooed her,
as the other youth of that vicinity had
been used to do. He went with her here
and there among his crops and through
! his fields, and he taught her to love the
soil and to feel the majestic mystery which
forth the harvest.
Once when he was walking with Anna,
and was looking at the field of growing
grain just touched with the first golden
promise of the harvest, he said to her.
Anna, sometimes think even if had
no Bible should know God, for l seem to
realize his power in the life that is hidden
in the seed until the earth gives birth to it,
and am very sure l sometimes hear the
music of its growth; and it is sweet
music, Anna, but there are no words to de-
scribe it."
The gentle maid heard these strange ut
terances, which were not like the common
conversation of the other youth, and they
gave her joy, for she said to herself: "Mv
betrothed has great soul, that sees some
things the rest of us cannot see. So he
will love me with a greater love than even
| can understand"
Abner led Anna by the fields on this day
of parting wherever his grain and fruits
were growing, and he bade her not to be
sad while he was away, but ever to have
hope of his return. And if she would think
of him he said that she might 60 where he
had planted shrubs and flowers, and to the
fields where it sometimes seemed to him
that the earth recognized and greeted him,
for he thought these things might make
him seem nearer to her.
Gas for me, Anna, wherever am, wheth-
in battle or in camp, it is of you that
shall always think, and 1t will be nay de-
light to call up all the hours we have passed
toRether-to see you in my minds eve. to
say over the things we have said and 20
look for the day when I can come back to
you"
The maiden by his side smiled as he said
these words, though tears gathered in her
eyes, and it seemed to him that sweeteI
than that sweet mysterious music of which
he once spoke, dearer than all other joys
he ever knew was that smile and he said
"There is one better revelation of Gods
kindness to us even than he gives us IL
the harvest and that is the love which
brings you and me together"
Then with tender embrace Abner parteo
from his betrothed, and two weeks later
was with General McClellan's army by the
Potomac.
1t had always been Abner's purpose tc
make Thanksgiving day his wedding day.
1t was the day of the. year for him
Perhaps it was his fondness for the cult
vation of the fruits of the earth, the inspira
tion he always received from contemplation
of the mystery of the seed time and harvest
that made this festival the day of days foI
him. 1t was his yearly milestone. Tc
birthdays he was Indifferent. Christmas
was a tradition, New Years an almanac
day, and the Fourth of July hubbub; but
Thanksgiving was the recognition of the
glory of God. as manifested in the kindly
fruits of the earth
Moreover, Thanksgiving had been a day
of note in Abner's family. 1t was bis
mothers birthday, and on that day she be
came the bride of Abner's father So he
said that on that day he. too, would make
his sweetheart his bride.
On the morning of Thanksgiving day, il
1862, there was a sharp skirmish near the
Rappahannock. A dash of cavalry, a score
or more CT shots, a sound OF the drum sum
moning the brigade and then quiet; but
there were dozen soldiers dead on the
hillside and Abner Farmer lay there, too, q
mutilated hero. His bravery had saved the
camp but had cost him his right arm.
| His fighting days were over. He was q
crippled man, yet he esteemed it an honor
and not misfortune that he had been
thus decorated with blood and carried a
badge of bravery and service to his country
ludl "Oulu 10 Will DlLl W Ills SIdSc
Abner of course received an honorable
discharge and returned to his home among
the Litchfield hills. and Anna, though she
could love him no more than when he left
! her for the front. could love him more
| tenderly because of bis wound.
Abner perceived that the rough Ltchfield
! hills were no place for farmer with one
arm, and when he heard from one who had
ventured that way of the glory of the
! western country; of soil untouched fol
! ages and black with the rich juices of the
earth: of oceans of land smooth as a
barn floor and yearning for seed and the
touch of man-then Abner said to Anna,
Il will go there, Cor the country is as good
as one arm and can do there with one arm
better things than | can do here with two. "
| The maiden fixed tender, sad glance
upon him, and her lips trembled and her
chin quivered as she tried to smile. Yet ii
he thought we'll of anything she thought
we'll OF it. too. though she was heartsick to
! think again OF separation.
She bore the parting nobly, and she even
waved her hand quite merrily at him just
| as he turned the bend in the road ON his
way to the distant railway station.
One day nearly three years later Anna 70
ceived letter from her lover that gave be,
! such Joy as is relieved only by the mos:
glorious manifestation of JOY. which il
tears
Her father saw only the tears. and he ex.
claimed:
What is it, Anna, Has anything hap
pened to Abner, He hasn't changed bis
mind about You, has he:"