Middletown transcript., 1891-04-23
A PAIR OF OLD BOYS.

Twas the 10Th Of May in early
morning On the slender current
1 of air the growing of cocks and
the lowing of cattle we're borne
from distance to distance through
mists of evaporating dew. The sky,
like a vast inverted deep-water sea,
was almost green-blue by the effect of
reflection from the Yerdure of woods
and fields. In all the orchards the
orioles we're warbling a sort of coun-
terpoint to the brilliant airs OF the
brown thrushes. Morning it was, like
the morning of life, pure, vivid, ex-
hilaratlng. To breathe was to in-
hale nameless thrills, perfumes,
dreams to see was to entertain hides
cribable apparitions of beauty; to
hear was to revel In broad, tender,
softly flowing tide Of melody; merely
to exist gave a sense of blending with
nature al the ecstatic elimination OF
her mcst perfect mood. 4,
The red clover was blooming, and
the meadow larks were amid its tufts,
their breasts flashing like gold. A
boneydew sweetness sufused all
things. and as Grandfather Hart
came forth from the doorway of hi;
comfortable farm house he straighten-
ed himself up, as if, with a little
shrug of his shoulders, to adjust th'
load Of his eightY-two years. In MI
shriveled, knotty right hand he bor'
a curiouslv distorted stick, the stem
of a young hickory tree that had beer
forced into a screw-like growth by
spiral vine. For thirty years he hac
carried this cane /; it seemed to hav'
taken the place, in measure, OF tn.
wife who long ago used to walk will
| him, before she went to lie in the lit
tie churchyard buryiDg ground.
Grandfather Hart wore his soft fel
| hat far back, SO that the thin, lonI
locks Of white hair could tumble owe
his broad forehead. His smooth-shav,
en- face was gentle, good-humore'
and benevolent in expression, with a
air Of dignity that was not we'll sus
tanned by his undersized stature.
Coming out into the morning b
pulled himself up from his habitua
stoop, pushed his hat a little farthe
back, and drew in long. deep breat
> of the fragrant air. Looking thl
way and that for while, as one 'dot
who has no fixed purpose in mind, b
! walked slowly towards the little froI
gate that gave upon the highway. d
plucked spray of hyacinths as b
passed down the walk, smelt then
and placed them in his buttonhole.
} When he found himself IN the dr.
but scarcely dusty highway he stoG
hesitating again. Evidently he Wou!
: as lief 60 one way as another. +
had not observed Abram Hines con
: ing across the clover field, nor had /
yet noticed him when, perched upt
the fence just across the road, th'
lifelong friend, in a voice somewh
!. cracked, called out:
Mornin', Dave"
Well, we'll! He, he, he! Morl
IN, Abe. Didn't See ye till
spoke"
Abram Hines was seven mont
# and seven days older than Dav
i. Hart. The two had been neighbO
llee and friends from earliest childhoO
,e Their farms, broad and fertile, i
y side by side their children had
termarried !; in politics and in re-
gion they agreed perfectly ; they sr
scribed for the same agricultural jol
s, nal in their young days they used
swap work ; all their lives they b
been to each other simply Dave a
a. Abe.
Abe was taller than Dave, and b
a frmer, shrewder face besides,
y. was stronger and more agile.
- "D'ye hear them meader- r-larks
inquired Abe, after he had descend
u from the fence-top and they b
shaken hands.
"Yes; hearn 'em afore breakfas
n said Dave.
Y Which away are ye a-going' !?
"Oh, jest thought I'd knock arou
little. Mighty poorly, mighty"
They walked aimlessly along
road, shambling and shuffling ging
ly, as old men do, until they reacl
rie place where on one side Of the rc
m m was field of rye and on the other
ng grassy hillside covered with wi
spreading maple trees and slop
tai tss down to a deep, narrow, blue m
o Of pond.
Ipt Ipt The spring had been warm, fore
ed vegetation the rye was waist high
man. What was it, whence ca
if. this something that just then 81
!. through the air? Was it a perfr
- from the rye, or was it a watt Fl
the rant LEAKAGE of the wood?
" Don't ye member, Abe, W
we's little fellers, how we fooled
Joneses right here that Sunday ?"
=, Well, Dave! I was jest goin'
say them very words !"
A little woodpeeker pounding a,
- \ Lo,.L LcrI L. r.,~o forj