The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-16

Horse Shoe. N. C.. July 15.-The heavy rains have almost ruined the corn. One of our neighbors told us yesterday that he had given up all hope of realizing any thing on his crop this year, the rains having been so disastrous. It is remark able how cheerful some people are un- der misfortune. No amount of disap- pointment seems to affect them and they accept with calm resignation any calam- ity that befalls them.
 Since l have become interested in farm ing I cannot bear to think of whole corn fields that gave promise of beautiful futurity standing foot deep in water The bare suggestion of the crops being ruined seems to me the greatest calamity that could befall the people of the hill county. How will they live next winter and where will they get money enough to buy clothes and to pay doctors bill?
 The dear old gentleman, to whom propound my numerous inquiries, says taht he is sure he does not know and that I worry too much about things that cannot help in the least.
 Incessant rains are disheartenng when whole days have to be lost at time when the farms need to be worked. The soil in the hill country requires great deal of rain because it soaks in quickly Ordinary rain fall would not keep the earth moist and even now, while the farmers are complaining of the damage done by the rains, the roads at certaln points are like a dry sandy beach, ana have daily watered the zenias and mari golds. They are planted on little snol where the water runs off too quickly. In the hill country you hear the rains Tar away coming over the mountains nearer, nearer, until the valleys grow as silent as a confessional. Then the field glasses wave in expectancy and the far off mea- dows feel the first gentle drops. 1hen everything melts into the skyline
 I have dispared of ever being able to fudge with any degree of certainty when the fogs in the hill country indicate ram, but I should know by this time than whenever I hang my Japanese lanterns and put my tea table under the spreading boughs of a maple that there will be drenching rain in a very few minutes It Ia the only infallible sign that l know, because I have lost faith in anything the old gardner says It is always threaten ing weather with him and he was so discouraging on one occasian when l was particularly anxious for 1t not to rain that I cannot forgive him. He is very ex- asperating at times. although l suppose he has to be deliberate when 1t comes to gardening. When l asked his candid opinion in a tone of voice that clearly indicated my hopes on the subject he looked at his watch a few moments pe- fore replying.
 'Jt's going to rain in twenty minutes he said as if he had been an entire weather bureau It seems to be hablt with him to consult his watch on all questions. at least have never known him to answer a question until he has first looked at thls old time-piece which I do not believe ever runs at all.
 If I spend whole days under the trees with no thought of anything outside or the blessed peace and loveliness of my leafy world, and then suddenly decide to invite my neighhor to tea, is sure to bring rain in the late afternoon, ana we havs to gather up the tea things in the most undignihed manner while the rain splashes on the Japanese lanterns before We can take them down, much to my distress.
 Just as we are snugly settled inside the house this very perverse weather de- cides upon a different course. and the sun steals quietly across the meadow and has the temerity to shine through my western windows with such matchless radiance as to make it forever a well come visitor. My neighbor always says the proper thing and insists that there is rothing lovelier than to have tea when the white candles are flckering In the cid brass candlesticks White candles make me feel very churchly, but tea un- der a Japanese lantern makes me ire sponsible. I have actually expressed total 1y different opinion upon the same sub feet under the varying influences of a cluster of white candles and row of depanese lanterns.
 When my tea table is softly glowing with white waxen tapers I look demure- .aI- r.tfI1 be preaching in the little church next Sunday. Having my doubts dispelled upon this subject. my next anxiety s for the health of a baby in the neighborhood whose mother I have never seen, but for whom the doctor was sent in sudden haste in the middle of the night. To live miles from a doctor and to have to put n man on horseback to find him when very likely some other woman who lives across the river has already sent for him
 Then" said my neghbor, 'in a case of that kind you have only to wait until he can come"
 But under the shining row of colored lanterns my conversation never takes those unfortunate turns that leave me in a desert without words. My vocabulary seems drawn from different source and while I am vaguely conscious that the brightly colored paper but thinly veils the light within, so my words chosen at random but lightly color the passing mood of a summer evening, and perhaps do not veil as closely as I might imagine my real thoughts.
 When the weather is on its good be- havior the days are so perfect that I never go near the house. preferringto have the simplest meals if only may be allowed to have them under a silvery maple No one has ever attempted to make garden about the house and the moment that I planted small bed on one side l saw my mistake. It looked so diminutive and insignificant by the side of giant looking trees. the branches of which make a leafy canopy above the moss-covered earth. In May I planted some beds of sweet peas, touch-me- -nots. zenias and mignionette. bordered it with sweet elysium, and while they came up. much to my delight. I had everything transplanted out of sight of the rhodo dendron trees and nearer the house. The effect was more satisfactory The east ern side needed a row of bright flowers and the morning sun Is good for them. No matter how carefully beds might be made, and how much time and thought