Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-12-19
BoYHoOD's HAPPY DAYS.
Why Mon Dream and Wake to Weep
For Times Gone BY.

Why Men Dream and Wake to weep
For Times Gone BY.
Yes, sirl Boyhood's happy DAYS,
of course. We know about that.
We haven't forgotten the JOY OF
Sleeping in an unfinished loft in
winter when our breath froze to
the bedding and we had to thaw
us out with q hot flatiron every
morning.
Morning tool We got up at :
a. M, pitch dark, 81 below zero and
still going down. We had to get
I'D, hustle out and feed and milk
the lowing herd, carry the rear sle-
walton of the family mule, wake
the rooster up to crow, thaw out
the pump, chop four cords Of wood
and shovel away the snow to make
room for the sun TO rise
Sometimes we went TO school In
the winter-not often, only on
the days when it was too cold and
stormy to go outdoors. Then We
sat on nice cool board about fifty
feet away from the stove and gayly
blew our fingers and picked iciclss
from our hair. And a. We sat We
listened to a wooden image with .
teachers license as he handed Us
misinformation and permanently
crippled our intsllect'.
Then came the merry springtimel
Rise at $3.50 a. m. More lowing
herd. the herd lowing to the sup
ply Of fodder being low. Then the
hired man, who had hibernated In
the forest, came forth seeking
whom he might make happy with
his presence. And we, being In
need Of extra Joy, were allowed to
sleep with this woolly hirelinG who
snored like the boom Of tho sad sea
waves. He was a good fellow, this
hired man. He taught us 70 chew
tobacco and swear. These gentle
psstimss procured Us more violent
iickings than any other JOY IN our
whole young life.
No memory u more loaded with
JOY germs than the spring crop
working. Can We ever forget the
plowing-how We held the pssw
when We had TO reach up With a
pike pole to get the handles; how
we drove the old plug team with the
lines around our neck; how when
the clevis broke the mares walked
away with our frail body dragging
behind by the earss When dark.
ness came we stabbed the plugs and
went forth to milk the bnndle
heifer. The heifer kicked US across
the barn floor, and an old COW oblig.
ingly kicked us back again. Then,
when the milking was over, what
fun to turn in and teach fool cali
to drink! This acting Is dry nurse
to handy legged calf vts one Of
the most unmi1ed joys Of all. We
tied the calf short, set the bucket
in front Of him, got astraddls OF III
neck, stuck two fingers in his mouth
and with the other hand jsmmet
his head into the pail. And all the
time we were emptying out abuse
on calves in general and this loI
cared idiot in particular. Thh went
on until dad came in and With by,
ing patience horsevhippsd us d
about the place.
Then when We had carried IN N.
wood, brought forty gallons Of vs
ter from the spring and eaten about
eight pounds Of solid food we wen
joyfully upstairs-and came dowr
again Immediately to breakfast.
We often dream and wake up x
weep for the days gone by whom tn
hay was ripe. We recall tho olt
swamp that always had to be su
by hand. We recall little stone
that we raspsa the edge ct ON
blades on. We recall the prett.
snakes we stepped on with our bar
feet. We remember it all with sol
emn gladness.
Well, WE'LL How it all come
back to us!-Chicago News.