The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-03
AMONG THE HILLS.

OF CnlsagO cOuntyS falreSt lakes 1t is only farm
ing community with a tiny village where the stage
stops twice day. They have given it prosaic
name but it is set in such poetic surroundings in
spired Whttiers sweetest of pastoral poems among
the Hills"
Upon elevation stands farm house not a
rambling, tumbledown, moss grown afair-for while
such buildings may charm the romantic, who need
not nhabit them, our Minnesota farmer delights in
modern well-designed, comfortably built home and
it is Of such that think
Trees shade 1t from the SUMS heat, but do not
obscure 1t from the view of the passersby ON the
clay road.
Between the road and the house there Is great
space allotted to garden-and such garden! Not
alone is devoted to the oldfashloned flowers which
In great beds brighten with their coors the
path side. There also vegetables growing In pro-
fusion. am fond Of going there to visit to enjoy
the simple beauty of the green-clad bills they
stretch away. after the other towards the hori
zon
1t is a warm summers day when 1 alight from
the train and proceed take the stage to complete
my journey. 1t Is driven by a taciturn young
who for stage driver. takes most unnatural pride
In owning spirited team The road Is excellent and
go merrily on passing fields Of new-mown
hay, now looking great yistas Of waving grain;
now passing comfortable homes and wellstocked
barns.
Far out in the field the farmers are making
hay and there is woman bare-armed Juno,
the very top Of fragrant stack with fork reach
ing down for the hay which the below pitches
up to her. She makes truly picturesque figure
she stands there dressed In loose red sacque a
blue skirt and white kerchief that Is knotted
under her chin
1 children trudgng along to school In the
shadow Of the splendid hills and driving sleek
cattle through greenembowered lanes and out the
lake where the sun beats with hot radiance pair
Of lovers rowing boat whose white sides CLEAN
over the blue depth. Far to the west the sky is
purple. dimly streaked with gray and watching 1t,
think Of lives have known-lives which for all
their rich purple are still crossed with the shadow
of unuttered sorrow.
At last stop at the large farm. and making
perilous descent from the stage 1 hasten down
the garden path to the house. There Is bell
the door; but there is need of none for before
reach the porch the farmers wife has seen and
hurries from her churning to give me cordial well
come
There Is nothing of culture beauty in the
tired face Of the woman before me- nothing at
tractiye in her spare figure, nevertheless when
meet I give her cordial kiss 1t is hide-bound
law in this community that though be guilty Of
many SINS they shall still be forgiven, provided pride
shall not have entered the soul The great unpardon
able thing is tendency upon the strangers part
be- they express it, "stuck up"
She ushers me into the cool dining room, and at
once prepares to spread the table with excellent
things from her pantry and garden, and while par
take with no fegned appetite, of the farm dainties
she gives scraps of gossip concerning the weary
round of farm life, her spinning. her churning her
cleaning, and her sewing. In what she says l
sumo an interest, often wandering unconsciously
liccfa I fro1p
the beloved hills. and answer absently.
But the good. soul does not notice this for which
1 am truly glad, and she turns upon the neghb0r-
hood gossip which is even tiresome than the
tale of household 1 wearied Of i all Wien
at last she rises to about her work which. after
ALL rules her existence. l offer my help but am
gently reminded that to accept it would be serious
breach in her hospitable etiquette FOR what, she
says would folks think if they heard that put
compny to work."
Gladly 1 wander out to rest under the oaks and
look across the lake where the trees silhouetted
in blue outline against the eoud-hecked sky. SO
dream away the long bright afternoon until the
evening meal to which the farmer and his sons come
in from the field
When it is over L go out again to the porch and
watch the sun set in red glory behind the hills and
with his setting comes peaceful stiffness over the
wide scene-that perfect quiet which is sweeter har-
mony than most delicious music. 1t is ineNpressiby
lonely and beautiful Only the faint tinkle of COW
bell or the barking of a dog down near the hollow
In the woods breaks the calm stiffness.
1t is time for dreams. for visions for strange
fancies and thoughts which almost passionate
emotions.
The kitchen work is at last finished, and my poor
tired hostess comes out into the cool of the evening
and sits beside ME.
I have been looking at house which stands in-
a grove on a small island out in the lake. 1t seems
as IL it might have something of a story and turn
to the woman beside to inquire. 1t Is very
hemely but withal pathetic tale that she tells me-
we'll in keeping with the surroundings and the time
Years ago fair sweet girl came a bride from her
city home to that island cottage. Her husband was
young lawyer with practice In a large town some
miles distant It Was q strange fancy-their living
out here but perhaps the beauty and poetry of the
situation appealed Them and 1t sweet to shut
put the great noisy world and live for each other.
They came to know the farmers families and
the little lady sometimes went to the women for help
In her housekeeping. but always gave much more
than she received inspiration and encouragement.
And when baby came the happiness of the
young father and mother shared by all the ceun-
try folk and as he grew older 1t decided by all
the tea-cup courts that he was the brightest and
~, IN, 4bo