The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
QUEER HUMAN NATUREi
Inconsistency Not the Lenst Amazing "
Our Human Charncteristics.

Human nature is queer thing, and got a
glimpse Of Il phase Of it which set me thinking.
not long ago. said the woman who has tray cll,d
1t was in the Allegheny Mountains, where spent
summer with a Jolly party. One day. We drove
up the mountain 10 see a view which il noted IN
the surrounding country. At the foot Of the
climb, which must be made on foot We left cur
carriages at delightful old fashioned farmhouse
where we found that We could order meal To he
ready when We returned You know what "A
mountain appetite is. and may be sure that we
eagerly seized the opportunity satisfy the hunger
which might otherwise have made cnnnibnls
Of us during the long ride home. Two ufthe
party had chosen 10 come on horseback. aud their
seeds had either failed TO fulfill the promise Of
the glowing euloges Of their owner, who had
loaned them for ii consideration, or else the twain
had stopped for little loycmakng by the way.
At any rate. they not In sight, and we de-
cided TO wait for them. While doing So we strolled
idly about the fields surrounding the house IL
was Just after harvest and the place was in such
perfect order that compmented the farmer
as we went The house was set, among its gor-
gcous old fashioned flowers. at the foot of Il slight
rise and assembled this We came to II small
enclosure, evidently the family burying ground.
Up TO the very fence, the scythe had done its per-
feet work. but inside was tangle OF blackberry
vines weeds and dank grass The few head
stones were sunken and neglected and the graves
utterly uncared for. The whole place had such
neglected, desolate air that it was blot on tho
glowing August landscape and we welcomed
the shouts which told OF the arrival OF the truans
and called us to seek peashnter surroundings.
The view was magnificent and We fingered
until The pangs Of hunger reminded us of the
meal which was doubtless awaiting us. When
we reached the farmhouse. we were directed 10
basin. and here we made our primitive ablutions.
drying our glowing faces on a coarse but spotlcss
roller towel Then we were usheTed into the din
ing room, long. low apartment. which was deco
rated with maps and ancient pictures Of shipper
coihures and eyes which were larger than their
mouths The table shall / ever forget it,,
have given dyspepuc dreams for a month. AZ
one end was huge newly boiled ham, at the
two plates Of onions peeled and served whole;
two dishes Of cucumbers, dressed with cream;
huge dishes Of hot biscuits, and Of boiled corn;
glass dishes Of honey and preserves galore, and
last, but not least piles Of buckwhcat cakes
baked the fun size OF the griddIe and covering
each dinner plate.
After the meal We repaired to the parlor. fcar
iul and wonderful IN lis ornnmentation of worstcd
Two members Of the party had Brought guitars
these we're fished out, while some sought the vine
strains OF popular song rent the air. and half a
dozen voices burst into the rollicking words. They
had scarcely sung verse when the master Of Tho
house. typical farmer, with collarlcss shirt hrd
want 10 spoil any o your fun folks, but my nious
companion ant been dead year, an can I have
no music but hymn Chunes sung in this house"
A sympathetic silence regned until he had put
his head into the door once more 10 say. Sing as
many hymn chuncs as you want" Then some
one opened the ancient parlor organ In the corner
and soon we all Joined in the rolling notes Of tho
old hymn, How Firm a Foundation
1T was not until We had silently entered the
waiting carriages and lost the last glimpse Of tho
old farmhouse at the bend Of the ad that 50 mo
one remembered the neglected buryirg ground
rest. We knew that she was laid there. for enc
OF our drivers had attended the funeral and
have never been able To und rstand how The man
who could give strangers such meal as Il at for
twenty five cents, and allow only hymn ,hunes'
sung in his house, could allow his wife = grave 10
be overrun with blackberry vines and weeds
but then, as i said before human nature is q
queer thing"