Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-01-27
SKINNY Bank Farm
FLOYD LIVINGSTON
S11ocSocSSSSSSSSS1SS
CHAPTER /

Far away among the New England
hills stands large old-fashioned farm
house, around whose hearth stone not
many years agone band of merry, noisy
children played-myself the merriest,
noisiest of them ALL 1t stood upon an
emlnence overlooking a broad strip of
rolling meadow land, at the extremity of
which was the old gray rock, where the
golden rod and sassafras grew, where the
green ivy crept over the crumbling wall,
and where, under the shadow of the
thorn apple tree, we built our play
houses, drinking our tea from the acorn
saucers, and painting our dolls faces
with the red juice of the poke berries,
which grew there in great abundance.
just opposite our house. and across the
green meadow, vas shady grove, where,
IN the spring time. the singing birds
made their nests, and where, when the
breath of winter was on the snowclad
hills, Lizzie, Carrie and /. and our taller,
stronger brothers dragged our sleds, dash
ing swiftly down the steep hill, and away
over the ice-coyered valley below. Truly,
ours was a joyous childhood, and ours
happy home; for never elsewhere fell
the summers golden sunlight so softly,
and never was music sweeter than was
the murmur of the dancing water brook
which ran past our door, and down the
long green lane, losing itself at last in the
dim old woods, which stretched away to
the westward. seeming to my childish i'm
agination the boundary line between this
world and the next.
In the deep shadow of those woods
have sat alone for many an hour, watch
ing the white, feathery clouds they
glimmered through the dense foliage,
and musing, l scarcely knew of what
Strange fancies filed my brain, and
oftentimes, as | sat there in the hazy
light of an autumnal afternoon. there
came and talked with me myriads of lit
tie people. unseen, it is true, but still
real to me. There, on messy bank, |
felt the first longings for fame, though
l did not thus designate it then. l only
knew that | wanted a name which should
live when l was gone-a name of which
my mother should be proud. 1t had been
to me day of peculiar trial. At school
everything had gone wrong. | preferred
filling my slate with verses, instead of
proving on it that four times twenty were
eighCy, and that eighty, divided by TWEEN
", equaled four. and my teacher must
needs find fault with me, calling Inc
lazy" and compelling me to sit between
two hateful boys, with warty hands, who
amused themselves by telling me how big
my eyes and feet were. l hardly think
l should now mind that mode of punish
ment, provided | could choose the boys,
but l did then: and in the worst of hui
mors, | started for home, where other
annoyances awaited me. Sally, The house
maid, scolded me for upsetting pan Of
milk on her clean pantry shelf, calling
me 1.-THE carelessest young one she ever
saw" aud predicting that I'D one day
come to the gallus if l didn't mend my
ways"
Juliet, my oldest sister scolded me for
wearing, without her consent her shell
side comb, which. in climbing through
hole in the plastering of the school house.
l accidentally broke. Grandmother
scolded me for mounting to the top of her
high chest of drawers to see what was
in them; and to crown all, when toward
sunset, l came in from a romp in the
barn, with my yellow hair flying all over
my face, my dress hurst open. my apron
split from the top downward, and my
sun bonnet hanging down my back, my
mother reproved me severely, telling me
l was "a sight to behold" My heart
CRY response that Il couldn't help my
looks-I didn't make myself" | started
through the door, and running down the
long lane to the grape vine, my fayorite
resort l threw myself upon the ground
and burying my face in the tall grass,
wept bitterly, wishing | had never been
born, or, being born, that the ban OF UGH
ness were not upon me.
nobody loves me- and then 1 wished that
1 could die, for had heard that the first
dead of family, no matter how UMPIRE
possessing they had been in life, were
sure to be the best beloved in the mem
CRY of the living. To die, then, that |
might be loved, was all / asked for, as
| lay there weeping alone, and thinking
in my childish grief that never before
was a girl, nine summers old, so wretch
ed as myself. And then | fell asleep,
unconscious that the daylight was fast
declining. and that the heavy dew was
falling upon my uncovered head.
Meantime, at home many inquiries
were being made concerning my where
abouts, and when, at last, night came
on and was still away, my oldest broth
err was sent in quest of me. l was just
dreaming that the trumpet of fame was
sounding forth my name, when, alas!
| awoke TO find it was only brother Char
lie. making the woods resound with
Rosa LeeI Where are you? Why don't
YOU answer?' He stumbled over me as
| lay. Selling me by the shoulder, he
exclaimed, You are pretty bird, scar
ing US out of years growth. Mother'l
scold you well for this"
But he was mistaken, for mothers
manner toward me was greatly changed.
The torn apron and the chewed bonnet
strings were all forgotten, and in the
kindest tone she asked, If l were not
cold. and why | went to sleep on the
grass" There were tears in my eyes, but
| winked hard and forced them back,
until Lizzie brought me piece of Gus
tard pie-my special favorite-which,
she said. 'she had saved for me. becaus,
she knew how much l loved it."
This was too much. and sitting lown
In Carries little chair, cried aloud, say
ing in reply TO the oft-repea.ed questions
as to what allied me. that Il didn't know,
only / was so glad.
"Hystericky as a WITCH" was Sailys
characteristic comment on my strange be-
havior; at the same time she suggested
that l be put to bed.
That night | was tired and restless.
turning uneasily upon my pillow, push
ing I.izzie's arm from my neck. because
ii kept me from breathing. and lying
awake until l heard the long clock in
crandmas room strike the hour of
twelve. Then | slept, but dreamed there
was heavy pain in my head. which
made me moan in my sleep, and that
mother. attracted by the sound, came TO
my side. feeling my pulse, and saying.
What ails you. Rosa?' There was
nothing allied me-" l said; but in the
morning when I awoke, the pain was
still there. though l would not acSaowl-
edge it, for scarcely anything could tempt
me to stay away from school; so at the
usual hour l started. but the road was
long and wearisome. and twice SAT- down
to rest. Arrived At school, everything