Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-17
By Pearl Howard Campbell

September las over Rock val
ley. In the orchards the ap-
Piles were rlpening and drop
ping one by one to heaps beneath the
trees. The stubble lands. the low "
Ing hills. dotted with clumps OF trees.
and the pastures had yet the rich green
ness OF the summer But the subtle
change that marks the coming Of au-
tumn was already beginning to mani
fest Itself In the cornfelds The sum
mer had been backward and cold: crops
that should have been abundant were
almost n failure.
Peter Halsey. sitting on the top rail
OF the dilapIdated fence between the
pasture aud the corufeid viewed the
struggling stalks and the poor. unde-
veloped ears with a disgust which he
made no effort 10 conceal The crop. as
usual, was a failure. but scattered
thiclly through the field were nam
moth golden pumpkins that seemed 10
hold all the Earaerei rays Of many a
sunny day.
scientific farming THOUGH he was. had
followed the footsteps OF his shiftless
ancestors and planted his corn and
pumpkins together. His more prac-
teal nci-hhcrs had LONE ceased 20 do
this. claiuing. what was quite true.
that tn pumpkins interfered with the
horoush cultivation OF the corn and
that neither did as we'll However. all
theories fail I'm a bad season. and this
year Peters crop was abundant while
his neighbors had neither corn nor
pumpkins.
Peter looked at them with a satisfied
smile on his face
MY, but there's a pile Of punkins
out therer' he unused. Amt they
whoppers? Bet they amt a punkin In
the whole state OF Wisconsin that can
beat that biggest one OF mine. And
the pies-won't they be great, though ?"
He smacked his lips In anticipation
OF the coming treat Just then the
WescOtt children on their way TO school
began to sing as they passed the
house:
Peter, Peter. punkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep herr
''Drat them young unsr" Peter NUT
tered savagely. 'Tf 1 could catch 'em
I'd give 'em trouncing they'd remem-
Der for one whiler'
The sight OF Peter sitting on the fence
OF the pumpkin field suggested the last
couplet. and they called mockingly:
Better put her in a punkIn shell.
Then you'll keep her very we'll
Touched TO the quick. he climbed
YEARLY down from the fence and went
to his work. The smile that softened
his rugged features and made them al
most beautiful was gone. and In its
place was look OF heartrending woe
OF bitter grief that knew no resiena-
tion. In his momentary pride In his
pumpkins he had forgotten the shadow
that lay over his household.
The nonsensicsl nursery rhyme was
true. Martha Halsey. who married
him against the will OF her parents,
who prophesied that no good would
ever come to a Halsey, and who had
loved and believed in him for seven
years, had suddenly decided to leave
him and 90 back TO her fathers.
1T ain't any use, Peter" she had
said. I'm tired of working In doors
and out trying TO make living. while
you fool away your time on expert
ments. In all the seven years I've been
married / aiu't never had nothing new
but the calico dresses ! bought with
ne egg money. And I'm sick OF It'll
Il want a decent house. and want
20 1.-Two like other folks. go to meeting
and have the sewing society to tea.
didn't believe pa when he said you was
shtfuess. l thought II was because you
didnt have nobody TO spruce you up
and help ysu save And kept on hop
ing that fhiags would be different after
awitsle. but thsy amt. Not but what
you've ben hind % me. for you have
Martha wiped awsy a tear and went
On You've helped In the house aud
done everything except make a decent
wing 30 rm sotag home. and shan't |
ssms Sack anti zen Dc something 10 |
sERset ns~