The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-04-19

only the sky, trees and sunlight, why should not
we, who have so much more?
And, little girl, even if your home is in an
isolated, lonely place, and there are very few
young people around Gas there are here) can we
not pass the time away happily, by some little
effort to make others happy? You know that we
receive a reward for even the slightest deed of
love and kindness. We know there are few con-
genial neighbors around, but this should not pre-
vent the same gentle kindness and courtesy be-
ing shown them in His name. Let US go out
side and look about us. All! the landscape seems
a little lonely, but Gods glorious sunbeams have
found their way to the most deserted dells and
glens, and nature is spread before us in a glow
ing picture.
I trace a thin blue line of smoke rising upward
to the sky, and I think in pity of the poor widow,
with the tiny baby, whose husband died only a
few weeks ago, who lives in the humble home at
the clearing of the sombre woods, and who is
quite i'll, they. "Poor little woman, I wish I could
do something for her" Why, I can! Her little
girl can hardly cook an appetizing meal. I will
take her a dainty supper. And when the sun is
just above the tree tops, I wend my way down
the grass-grown trail, up the bleak hillside, till |
reach the low doorway, where dead vines rustic,
emblems of last years glory. In my hand is a
tempting tray filled with light and delicious food
for an invalid's supper, and, when I see the young
mothers wistful look of pleasure and glad sur
prise, and learn by her soft words of thanks how
she appreciates my simple act, I feel glad, happy,
and go my way singing, and pause at a little old
tumbledown hut to speak a few kindly, friendly
words to the aged pair who live there, serene and
patient, with the grand, pathetic dignity of old
age on their bent forms and lined faces. Poor
III oo,o1o On ~oc+1o No 1,,,oI1o on1 O,,;of Wo
can see, little "Chatham Girl, by the few pitiful
efforts of a dead flower garden that she loves
flowers. And we resolve to send her some of our
seeds and plants, and a boquet of those "blue
flags" and Glacs that grow in the yard at home,
And this whitehaired old man is fond of read
ing, perhaps, and has seldom ever the pleasure
of seeing a paper. "T1l bring him some papers.
He would enjoy The Progressive Farmer, and it
will aid him in his humble little garden piece"
So on we GO. And the world seems glad to US
because, after all, we have so much to be thank
full for-youth and strength, and (some of us)
many dear ones at home. l have only two at
home. Some of you have the assurance that out
in the busy world a brave and manly heart is
cherishing loving thoughts of you, and two
strong young arms are working and saving, in
order to build a sweet, dainty nest, and take his
little girl home to it.
We are filed with many thoughts, my little
"Chatham Girl" and I, on our homeward walk,
and we wonder, wistfuily, if there are not more
lives we could brighten if we try, and find that
there are. And the home folks-we can show
our love for them in many little nameless ways
we have neglected of late. If everyone appre-
ciates kindness as I do, you will reap golden
blessings, dear chatham Girl" And when we
reach home at last and enter, we bring a feeling
of good will to all, and we may rest assured that
uhen Efe,s sun has set and its tide has ebhed.