Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-03
BACK TO BOYHOOD DAYS.
why Men Dream OF Them and Wake
to Weep for Times Gone BY.
Chicago News.

why Men Dream OF Them and Wake
to Weep for Times Gone BY.
Chicago News
Yes, sir! Boyhood happy days, of course
We know about that. we haven't forgot
ten the JOY of sleeping in an unfinished
loft In winter when our breath froze 10
the bedding and we had to thSw US out
with a hot fiatiron every morning.
Morning, too We got up at a. m,
pitch dark, 81 degrees below zero and still
going down! We had to get up, hustle
out and feed and milk the lowing herd.
curry the rear elevation of the family mule,
wake the rooster up to crow, thaw out the
pump, chop four cords of wood AMI shovel
away the snow to make room for the sun
to rise.
Some times we went to school in the
winter-not often. Only on the days when
It was too cold and stormy 10 go outdoors.
Then we sat on a nice, cool board about
fifty feet away from the stove and gayly
blew at our fingers and picked icicles from
our hair. And, as we sat we listened
to a wooden image with a teachers H.
cense as he handed us misinformation and
permanently crippled our intelleets.
Then came the merry sprngtlme Rise
at 2:SO a. m. More lowing herd. The
herd. owing to the supply of fodder, beins
low. Then the hired man, who had hi
bernated in the forest. came forth seeking
whom he might make happy with his pres
ence. And we, being in need Of extra Joy,
were allowed to sleep with this woody
hireling. who snored like the boom OF
the sad sea waves. He was a good fell
low. this hired man. He taught us 10
chew tobacco and swear. These gentle
pastimes procured us more violent lickings
than any other Joy in our whole young
life.
No memory is more loaded with joy germs
than the spring crop working Can we ever
forget the plowing7 How we held the 2low
when We had to reach up with 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 the ears2 When darkness came
we stabbed the plugs and went forth 70 milk
the brindle heifer. The heller kicked us
across the barn floor and an old COW OBJ
llgngly kicked us back again. Then when
the milking was over, what fun 10 turn in
and teach fool calf to drink This acting
as dry nurse 20 a bandy-legged calf was
one OF the most unmixed joys OF all. We
OF him. got astFaddle OF his neck. stuck two
fingers in his mouth and with the other
hand TANNED his head into the pail. And
all the time we were emptying out abuse
on calves In general and this lop-eared idiot
In particular This wtnt on until dad came
In and with loving patience hOrsewhipped
us all about the place.
Then when we had carried in the wood
brought forty gallons OF water from the
spring and eaten about eight pounds OF sold
food We went joyfully urstairs-and came
down again Immediately TO breakfast.
We often dream and wake 20 weep for the
days gone by when the day was ripe. We
recall the cid swamp that always had to be
cut BY hand. We recall little stones that
we rasped the edge OF our biades on. We
recall the pretty snakes we stepped on with
our bare feet We remember It all with
solemn gladnesE.
Well welll How Il ali comes back 70 %!