Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-04-11


since / had worked on the old Maine
rocky farm.
Time passes more swiftly now with me;
but can see better, believe, even with
out glasses. sawthen through my wish
bic eyes; row can see, believe, better
with the eye of my soul; and every pass
ing nomeht contributes to the lustre and
clearness Of that eye. So now, as ! look
back over the twisted, crooked, billy,
rocky, dangerous way that has brought me
to this hour and place, understand bet
ter, in thess later days, what the seemingly
foolish exl ~riepces OF my school days
meant to ne.
lam not ashamed to confess that now /
study the lessons of life that came to me
when was lad, and that End profit in
the study OF them. l find great deal Of
comfort, too; and there is charm in the
work, running back over old lines.
delight in going back to the old farm,
either actually, or in thought. 1t is a
great plef sure to me TO get into the old
barn and find myself at leisure to count
IiS AttANt " DlEU RAANAEN SOAt EiAN
timber that helps form the NOW on which
! stocd so many times to receive hay as
father Tits he'd it to me from the rick.
Father was moderate and sure in his move
ments. was rather quick, impulsive, i'm
patient. 1 couldn't bear seeing so much
waste of time; so when hay came too
slowly 10 suit me, I would put in my
extra time jabbing away at the beam over
my head with my little two-tined fork.
wish ] had that fork in my possession
now. would set it up in the hallway of
my house here, where could see it every
day.
Vel, / had not been long at the old
home Def re paid visit to the old barn
yes. that old barn that contributed so
much 20 E.y youthful experiences of joy,
and OF sorrow as we'll. The big front
doors, which wore good coat of red paint
then, nov are weather. beaten and stained
instead. aad are propped to hold them IN
place, because Of the havoc time has
wrou, hi eon them. unlocked the iron
clasp, removed the support and entered
stood upon the old barn floor that I
had pounoed with fail, doing the thresh-
ing, Ia delightful autumn weather, when
naples Pat on their gorgeous eolors and
carpet the ground beneath their wide
spreading branches with falling leaves.
Then, ] heard the timid, plaintive cry
of the lambs, and strong, reassurlng
bleatiIg Of old sheep in the fold. Then,
/ heard the tramp of hoofs, the music of
stanchion STRAIN and the changing of
horns of restless cattle fighting for fodder
as sarly as o. clock in the morning oft
times
Nov, al is quiet. Even swallows build
there no more, Not nest remains of the
two long rows Of them that then hung
eIinging 10 the caves. The mud puddle
where had seen Aocks of pretty, chirp-
ing, twittering, busy birds collecting
material for their little houses, has been
filled -: Q; how used to enjoy sitting
on the .snee OF the yard watching swai-
lows build their nest! Here / witnessed
an object lesson of industry and thrift.
None of school more useful to me.
Thorghtless boys, going to and from
school, I am told, have driven the pretty,
happy birds away, throwing stones at
them. Sure it is that not pane of glass
remains Ct that long sash over the afore-
mentioned doors.
"A nsw order Of things is installed on
the o,d home place. Cattle, not so many,
OCCUPY another barn; pigs another pen;
hens ano, ner henhouse. The old barn is
used ior storing hay only. An old now
i-g 1uaehi'e lies against one of its walls
outside. The old barn shed and all the old
truci- slowed away in it, such as old
looms, old chairs and carriages that were
ont OF fashion as early as when / was
boy, are gone.
The coward fence of stonewalls and
cedar rails has been taken away. Within
this enclosure mother and l MIXED five
COWS every night and morning for time.
She MIXED four and one. Mine was the
'gentleist" COW Of the lot. An old red
COW was horrid ''critter''; she was a
hooker and kicker combined.
Bonny and Buck used to be in this yard.
couldn't lind the yoke that had put
upon their necks SO many times against
my will for loved these steers. used
w S~t VA AAEii DhChs Wutu Inty were W
ing down in the pasture chewing their
cuds, and seeming to be so contented and
happy.
j was we'll acquainted with the patient
OK. He and | walked side by side over
field and pasture land. We crossed run
ming brooks together. He pulled the pillow
that turned the sod and faithfully bent
his neck TO the heavy load. / swung the
CAD stick, dropped the seed, rode on the
cart tongue and in the drag. We gathered
the harvest together; and gladly served
out to him his share of it. / enjoyed see
ing the OK eat his fodder, and he had my
sympathy when he was compelled to pull
pine stumps, or do heavy draft work. He
knew when the conch shell sounded for
dinner as well as I; and il midway in a
furrow, we agreed that that was the place
to unlock the chain.
I could not find the grindstona that I