Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-10-07
At Marion Cattle Show.


The fields were white and frosty and the
I sun was on them bright,
AS down the meadow road we drove In
( Autumn's morning light;
Saw crops Of corn and pumpkins, and
orchards bend their load,
And grooming. rare-ripe peach trees,
making joyous all the road,
Barn-yard fowl all loudly calling, broke
cheerily the day,
And weather-cocks, like drifting gold.
sec med answering screech of jay.
Forests. with their colors livid, opened
out to field and stream.
And burning, distant, golden spires,
completed all the dream.
All of this saw in wonder On that morn
ing long ago,
When with my Uncle Ned rode to MARI
ton Cattle Show.
Rode, and crossed the Herring River,
sparkling, with its mills to cheer;
Miles on miles of streaming sunshine
breaking on my vision clear.
Passed Tihonet crossroads bravely
leading up the hill for Stowe.
TO see beyond the world that day On
wheels for cattle show.
Trottng, racing, passing. wheels all
dazzling in the sun;
knew not where joy ended, but was
sure it had begun.
And when my uncle said to me, See all
you can today"
And cracked the whip. and drew the
rein, and pulled into the fray;
saw but one long white road all shin
ing in the glow
or sun that on was leading far to
Marion Cattle Show.
My uncle would have said much more
but team then tried to pass,
And down the hill, and cross the bridge
we raced with Hiram Glass.
Drove through the Eber Village, reach
=; ing farther in the day!
With Hiram just behind us, while be-
fore they cleared tie way
Then leading up, past Saunders store,
we headed right through Stowe!
With all the paople shouting, Hi there.
for cattle show!"
So we rode and beat brave Hiram, till
our wheels locked with Sam Coke's;
Held oar place ten feet beyond him, till
we stopped to fix up spokes
Then uncle said (off -handed), such ac-
cidents, you know,
Are happening. right along, my lad, driv-
ing to cattle show!
Can't always tell, in driving, just when
you ought to stop!
The wheel is dished, notice; but We'll
find backsmith's shop"
| At Warren's Mills we changed the wheel;
the sign was calvin Stiles;
And his son, young Alvin. showed us a
way that saved five miles.
| And so we came on Hiram with his
horse baked at TIE gate.
And as we passed cried uncle, II think
Hi, you'll be late!"
The Arabian Nights and Crusoe were as
nothing to the light
That now in bright confusion broke on
my astonished sight.
| There were acres upon acres of living
white and black,
! A thousand people up in air, and horses
on the track;
While a fellow loud was shouting to the
jockeys down below.
| Till flying gigs and ribbons strained,
| swept down the course agiOW.
It was then got excited, stood tight on
| the wagon seat,
And shouted for the white horse, the
second in the heat!
He reached it, too, that white horse! and
as he passed the stand.
thought 1t was my shouting that made
| him look SO grand!
| In the yards We're hogs and horses, sheep
and cattle. cooped-up tlocks
| OF premium geese and turkeys, Sharg-
| hal fowl, and Plymouth rocks.
Farther on were tents and streamers;
one man writing with his toes:
| And princes from the farthest East In
| dime and nckle shows.
| Swings and hawkers, singing wOme n,
one old maid, in white cravat,
Showed the world in panorama from:
| Bull Run to AIarat.
I don't think Fandemonium had ever
| half such sounds
As cracked my ear with jargon loud, that
| day at Marion Grounds.
There were peddlers. dudes. and fakirs,
where we sat down to eat
A dinner that l relished, til the drums
began to beat:
Then. locking up, the governor, and all
the guests so grand,
Including Hiram Glass, passed by to
music of the band.
| Can we so, Uncle too| l asked. He
| answered, That's too high;
| A dollar for dinner is too much for ne
| to buy
cloud came on the sun just then; II
passed, but left its thrall-
To me lasting memory Of that march
| up to the hall!
| And ever after. all that day, n secret
sorrowing thri:!
Came on me when | looked and saw The
building on the hill.
james Riley, from Songs of Two Peo-
Piles.