The Elbert County tribune., 1906-12-06
THOSE HAPPY DAYS
WRITER RECALLS THE DELIGHTS
OF HIS eoYHooD.
When Life Was, More Or Less. One
Continual Round Of Joy-Pa-ticu-
lar Pleasure In Teaching
the Calf to Drink.

Yes. siri 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 out with hot fiatiron
every morning.
Morning. too, We got up at four a.
m. pitch dark, S4 below zero. and
stin going down, We had to get up,
hustle out and feed and milk the low
ing herd. curry the rear elevation 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-
'risei
Sometimes we went to school in the
winter-not often. Only on the days
when 1t was too cold and stormy to
go outdoors. Then we sat on nice.
cool board about SO feet away from
the stove and gayly blew at our fin
gers and picked icicles from our hair
And. as we sat, we listened to a wood
en- image with teachers license as
he handed us misinformation and per-
manenuy crippled our intellects.
Then came the merry springtime,' y
Rise at 2:30 a. IN. More lowing herd :
The herd lowing owing to the supply
of fodder being low. Then the hired
man. who had hibernated In the for
est. 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 WOOL
1y hireling, who snored like the boom
of the sad sea waves. He was good
fellow. this hired man. He taught us
to chew tobacco and swear. These
gentle pasumes procured us more VIC,
lent licklngs 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 plowing? How
we held the plow 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 drag
ging behind by the ears? When dark
ness came we stabbed the plugs and
went forth to milk the brindle helfer.
The heifer kicked us across the barn
us back again. Then, when the milk
ing was over, what fun to turn in and
teach a fool calf to drink! This act
ing as dry nurse to bandy-legged
calf was one of the most unmixed joys
of all. We tied the calf short set the
bucket in front of him, got astraddle
of his neck. stuck two fingers In his
mouth, and with the other hand
jammed his head into the pail. And
ali the time we were emptying out
lop-eared idiot in particular. This
went on until dad came in and with
loving patience horsewhipped us all
about the place.
Then. when we had carried in the
wood, brought 40 gallons of water
from the spring and eaten about eight
pounds of solid food, we went joyfully
upstairs-and came down again imme-
diateIy to breakfast.
We often dream and wake to weep
for the days gone by when the hay
was ripe. We recall the old swamp
that always had to be cut by hand.
We recall little stones that we rasped
the edge of our blades on. We recall
the pretty snakes we stepped on with
our bare feet. We remember i. all
with solemn gladness.
Well, well! How it all comes back
to usl-Chicago Daily News.