The Atlanta constitution., 1901-12-09
AN OLD RAIL FENCE.

The recent letter of Sarge Plunkcit
lescriblnE radiant. rare September"
IlFteulariy in field ana forest. has made
s.-r.-, ui-s'scc busy. Few VIII dispute
tlat mo fence has been a blessing. but
srue noting with satisfaction the free
u.m from unsightly distractions. and The
ltrrr,lluon of unruly cattle. there viii
sometimes c,me sigh Tor the vanished
charms ~ the old-fashioned Georgia rail
..res-
There comes befor. me now one that
many years ago inciused a tract ~ sev-
erlI acres un tue edge 81 a viiluge-One
Wuu=s- CORNERS uu IuGuigeut father left
uu.iisturtsai to please IA. child whom he
early taught tn look through nature up
u nature GpI." And a that child,
whose Pilym1t,s were creatures Of the
Imagination. whose dearest friends were
tle hrds ana bees. whose heroes walk
,I through the pages Of Scott AMI
= aks~fltIrc. that fence was = never
,Itiuss source of delight
It began with thr rails themselves
They were 81 oak. with curious knots
slziIy Transformed into quaint little
ruuules. Then there were hcheus Of
emerald. bronze and gray. with crimped
edges and delicate lining. and moss-like
velvet. whose irridesceut hues no artist
could hope a. reproduce. Sometimes
there would be q hollow place where the
-liIS crossed. aud year after year Mr.
ard Nfrs Wren would make il their sum
rnsr home nor might Fillmore dream Of
the luxury - this tiny couple dressed
In brown.
WouI.-fuI. indeed. were the garments
with which the Tiers were clothed
su-ln- suits ~ convolvulus. fastened
win ffuk ana blue. summer dress of
rI,matls embroidered in stars OF white
ctsulu- mantle of dodder. knot'et with
E1iH- autumn rules ~ wild grape Dor
L.rsd vith purple and winter trousseau
ur itv arr.iqued with r'Isset gIrlands OF
l.tt-rsvtet
TEe nr-t thing appearing in the corners
ucae r.. .ref hr.-iuu set like a slender
tevel between iuuc,uiate leaves Of mot
r,a.I green The early cewslip came next,
followed uv heart leaves sheltering
clustered rflf.s brimwluE with woodland
1rl-rfut.s Then. u precision of vi"l"ts-
vgltrfus fll. ruA n s".-rs. So shy IS
became true daEEht,rs of the forest
The h'uUI rsat anna rue anemomts made
O. .-rasTr company bee white. and on sun
I1ys tle Dim. hei'- chimed while Jack
iu the uU.u-t' discussed tine topics ot
the 1as. Smau wonder that the mock
ir- hiri slolIl sins h.n-ef hoarse. or
butterflies dance until the hrr hi's came
u-.. ur. dress fersI0t Iveu she hpmeli'r
plants hat rttu-ultinu- isiackbs rr,'S
gave. uu their ius..i .ieuS fruit and stalks
~ -.frratlrel made paint and ink - the
e. t-+meut ~ fingers and pinafpres-
Ure ar mE nr-t lessons iu history was
frrrt rhe ~ lu.sluvu weed when il
v.rull hav. het1 rllelr pulled tae same
.I.er r.ar.ut giving hnth common ard
botanical names. teit ~ lis appearance
iu ths little Virginia colony and de-
s.rlt..I thuse hlrIt pioneers with the
rart thsg had iu making nation. iie
t.rL too. of It+ medicinal virtues aud
relation tn Serue 20 tAe best families. So
thrt urrI th.- dly. a strampuium Eiows
Iear m- uud-- lrls.t-
rhs- fence rHw@ ass1 Had lessons "a
rr.Iu.ra .u.ev EC,ry Stone was c1refuliy
examined arG classified. aud happy IN
J..I MAS .he little iasslr when she
found 81 slte,- 90 gpd-htaring quartz
Then. WAS also VeEetIt-"n ot larger
growth Nture knows hnw tn mix her
..l1rs eu elumr.s ~ elder with creamy
r.mt-I- aud sweet hriArs uTeathed in
r.ua w.r. ruuld together
Tl. r.t haw ANS amber ptrsimmon
v.r- friendly ueiEhissrs het'il.ss "f the
r-.Ia..u..-- -s~s %. .r the iucusts for
1ela- tlsrus. THE uri. 6.y nugrS ~ the
sE5- an 5e,IsI O. the persuasion ~ "a
r.rt rE al1 save their shining comes
-.r strands uf Gypsy beads A silver
rrfrE wfrn it4 winged messengers ~ a
rr.ue.-.e season. was tne UtguLA Tor a
trinity .r Springs wler- ferns were wont
-s I.r.. and crg-rf pebbles lure the
sr--fs.rrr fram Aurora. kingdom Aza-
I.-e r.Ef.E tn ths- lnrwapi lul the