Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-16
Doun to the Old
Marsh Farms
BY q. X. WOohHY-

pipe Of peace
The Little Woman sat enthroned IN
rattan rocker and valiantly fought
mosquitoes
The gleesL shouts of playing chill
The drone OF g ceaseless and heavy
bass voice sounded from a neighboring
porch. In the distance brassy toned
photograph held sway.
The Cynical Optimist and the Little
Woman we're enjoying their after
dinner siesta In the fashion Of all good
Americans on warm evening
"Myl" exclaimed the Little Woman.
aren't the mosquitoes awful TO-
night2''
The Cynical Optimist swatted bis
brow with mighty swat, and gezed
reheetively st the hsttened remains of
large and juicy specimen.
Fierce" he assented. -Does that
man. ever stop talking7- he added. re-
ferring to the bass-voiced one afore-
mentioned-
That's Mr. Roeenbaum,- explained
the Little Woman Hes q widowar.-
I'm not surprised replied the Gym
load Optimist- I'D die too II had TO
stand that all the tlmei-
Again the silence prevailed, l>den
with the laughter OF the children. the
| growl OF the Rosenbaum and tha tor
tureful strains oS thu photograph.
I If we were down on old Marsh's
farm now" began tho Cynical Optim-
list, wed hear the katydids singing 10
beat the bend--end the frogs down In
| the creek bottoni
] I'D like 70 start to-morrcw On the
I foar-hour, cindery. sunshiny railroad
l ride that 1t takes TO get there Some
/ folks think n ride on the train IN a
bore I don't L like the hunming
motion, thu undulating telegraph
wires, the hurried march Of tho fields
rushing By, the crash Of the, passed
stations. the novel On my knea that
forget to read, the anticipation of
what's waiting for me at my partio-
slar Kettle red-painted station, the
growing hunger for the good things
that I'll soon be slowing away in my
longing interior.
"1t's just about Ave O'Clock IN the
afternoon whom you descend the car
your knees, whixzy feeling in the
soleS Of yosr feet, and bundle OF
wraps over your arm Bert MArsh Is
waiting there with hospitable grin
and tho double-seated wagon You
recognize old Jumbo IN the shaftG and
remember the time you painfully rode
him TO town on q plow-horss trot-
Jumbo looks around and wtnlcs q
knowing eye.
You hunt sroen6 for your trunk,
/ which you find ignominiously left on
the end Of the platform. You never
{ know what an enormous, ancient
relic that trunk - until you see IL at
) the end of that platform. You resolve
upon a new one next year II you can
afford it
I 'Then for the tour-mile trip out to
thu farmi
s! 'NOh. that four-mile, quiet, scented
( ride through the country twilight
You don't want to talk. You lear
. back IN your seat and breathe deep
and tust exist. lis the time OF year
for primroses to be blooming. They
. line the road with their beauty and
q fragrance. You sneeze, and Bert
turns around TO say that you'll bt
|, having rose fever' II you don't lool
out.
"Eow we strike the old corduro,
!. road Your tooth r-c-r-r-r and you be
come conscious Of your spinal column
= while the wagon wheels grind over ii
On each side Is the mArshland. fiaunt
ing bouyAnt-huod blossoms cd many
Al
y shining here and there.
!, Here Is quick turn and the horses
= fest thud over an ancient and pic
turesQue bridge Then for the vale
of NbS shadow hopeful and reStfu
valley OF the shs6oV~-roofed By tn
, Whispering branches OF many trees
: lined with berry bushes and clsnbIn
vines and tall crosses, and the pin
and yellow roses. Streaks Of the lc1
sun come glencing through, and 20
!. think IN all the world there can be n
: happier spot than this.
= but here's tho home turnt Tn
. horses prick up their ears and strils
q faster trok- There's the house, an
: there's Al st the front gate, and Pr
: Narsh-snd eominR down the wall
~ WhtS-apfOnco ADO OF ESn1rOt
:. Wilderness, h that beloved and Jolly %
: lady, Ma March Then the huggfns
and ktseings and haDd-shakings, On
. 'Wa-a-l. now, neversl'
I'VE smell the dinner that's weitin
for US, and we hasten TO sepaEstS u
travel dust from our countenAnce
aRd our hands. That dinnerl
There's fried ohieken--Gs only Nj
>, Marsh can q chicken. There's
. white noun lin OF mashed potatoe'
dotted with luscious butter pat
- There's stoaming dish Of yello'
- bsans and another Of green pess, re
- and tempting. There are great gel
- sroua outs Of homemade bread an
golden corn bread that makes jos
mouth water! AID csisp-leGved