The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-24

is a large ''shag bark" hickory: It is called
''shag BARK because it has long, shaggy
bark on it like wet dog. Its bark peels up
and off in large shaggy strips when pulled
upon. The other two trees are ''pig nut"
hickories They are called this because the
nuts on them bitter only pigs will eat
them-they are not fit for other folks.
To the southwest is field OF corn, unusu-
ally tall and extra green. In one of the "plg
nut trees. that stands near the edge of the
marsh meadow, sits a large, white-breasted
hawk looking at me rake; it seems to be in
specting my work. After long and careful
inspection it shakes its feathers and sails
away as gracefully as a cloud, and as It,
rises with an air OF independence and free
dom, it seems to say. You don't amount to
anything; see me; can fly, you must stay
here and work.
The tnsinuating manner of this bird is very
depressing. 1t Is felt as keenly as any in
suit, and the rake seems to draw harder than
ever through the grass. The hawk Is right;
see myself without wings or feathers, and
as l stand surveying my condition, the holes
In my pantaloons seem to grow under my
gaze. But do not stand long till reminded
that the searching rake must be kept NOV
ing.
There Is something about new-mown hay
different from anything else; 1t not only starts
copious flow of perspirat,on to get it. but
by smelling sweet. it awakens tender thoughts
and passions and arouses serious thoughts.
Haying Is different from any other harvest;
cutting ripe grain. husking ripe corn, harvest
ing ripe potatoes, picking ripe huckeberries
never impresses one in any such a way as
cutting green grass.
There is something about grass tenderly
tender; some way it seems to resemble and
be akin to childhood. All other harvests are
left to ripen and live their days out before
being gathered, but to make hay, grass Is
cut down while green and still growing; 1t Is
cut down when standing up straight and
fresh in the morning of life; it Is wlted by
noon. and in few short hours is laid in the
NOW for mules and other beasts to chew On:
1t is cut in dts bloom, and like childhood
fades and gees.
There is but one childhood: that Is the fresh
and blooming period of life; the tender and
vivid part; the green grass period preceding
manhood; the part that never forgets and Is
never forgotten.
Every child remembers its first serious
thought. its first real grief
Being small. not very thick or long. grief
goes through child easier and quicker and
makes deeper impression on its young ma
ture than on old, tough, thick-skinned,
full grown sinner.
Just why this marsh meadow made such a
deep impression ON my youthful nature Is
hard to say. Sometimes 1 think the smell
or the marsh had something to do with 1t;
that comes to me now. There were rank
weeds a. ound its edge ard wi ducks and wild
muskrats had their nests out in the middle
OF IT. 1t was really marsh full OF strange
Things and dangers, well as hard work and
exciting scenes; perhaps this is the reason
1t impressed mo so and impresses me stilI
Whatever the cause may be, this particular
spot holds It's full share of my early life and
recolections.
In raking here a humble bees nest would
be stirred UP every few feet; perhaps these
bumbies had something to do with impressing
me; am quite sure at times they did for
they often made Impressions that took a week
to cure.
The bees here seemed to be particularly
nervous and easily excited when . raking
around them. When they became unreasona-
bly angry at my presence and rake, 1 let them
have the field ali to themselves; l never stood
to dispute or contest the rights and never re-
turned without special invitation or strict
orders to do SO.
My father was neither a rich man nor
q fool; he was purely a self-made
man; this is the most he ever did
make After getting his experience and edu-
cation together, he did not have time to get
rich.
lie Drought me up principally on corn
bread and self-made philc sophy; the corn he
raised which he sent me to mill with after
1t was shdlled and the philosophy he invent
ed and brought out as needed for homo con-
sumption and family use.
Being philosopher he had perfect conf
dence in himself to do this. He succeeded
r,rrh II
a family; but the family had to work to
make his philosophy work
My mother was his second wife. This does
not mean that he had two wives at the Same
time. He married my mother just as soon as
he made up his mind TO take second wife,
and as soon she made I'D her mind to
take him.
He was better judge CT women than how
to make money. Such cases are very com.
mon. When woman strikes a case Of this
kind she usually displays some philosophy
herself and declares she married for love
and not money. This is where her head is az
level as base ball park; and by sticking to
it, she makes her friends happy If she ia
not herself.
Being philosopher, my father concluded to
let the second crop of children, of which nv
mother was mother. grow up on such educa-
tonsl food as he could invent and furnish
at home. and as they could see to take In at
night by the aid of talow candle
These educatio- al advan sgas were tnyth thing
but pleasing to my mother she had been an
oid-fashioned country school teacher in Her.
kimer county. New York, and though she saw
IN me not only signs of dulness and STUPID
ity. but well defined symptoms of Indifference
under a straight diet Of homemade phiIoso-
ply. My future looked to her dark and
alarming, and she wanted me sent to some
school, or to have some kind OF philosophy
introduced that would wake me up.
There Is but one gene. al remedy for waking
up boys at home, and every boy knows what
that is without being told; the most of them
only take about so much Of it, then leave the
remedy and the place where administered
behind.
There are great many times when people
would like to take and express opintous n
they could only afford It; but, not being a
millionaire, father was very cautious about
inGulsing in the luxury Of too many opinions
or iebellirg sgaics circumstance as he fear
ed he might not have enough to live on to
carry on rebellion. and that he might have
to capitulate for want Of food
he would have been more than pleased to
have pleased my mother on the subject OF
education. but his circumstances were so
much larger than his means to control them
he passed her the corn bread and said. AN
Pies that get ripe In August never keen over
winter"
This seemed to arouse rather than please
her.
Do you think a boy seventeen years cid
who can scarcely read and write is an Au.