The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-27

care 70 strike boldly ana secure tne
prize. To be as near city as one
need be; and to be as far away as
will give one the comfort Of wide
fields unto tired eyes" that is the an
swer to the problem Of living; that is
the sum total Of happiness.
Our life on the farm had proved
this to us beyond all cayil And we
had looked about US ald selected our
abiding place with this very end in
view. And yet, when we came to go,
to pull up stakes" was something
like roofing out our very heart-strings,
for we had come TO know the farm
as a scholar knows the written page.
We had seen the SHOWS melt in the
hedge corners and fade from the stalk
strewn fields We had watched the
cattle huddle before wintry blasts and
heard the north winds whistle down
the chimney and storm at the dis
mantled lilies by the garden gate. We
had loved the visible and external out
doors that had hovered about us, not
less in the bleakest season than in the
days Of June.
Always, even in sad days, there had
been the solace Of flowers and bird
songs, the hopeful waves Of the grass
or the promise OF moonlight and star.
light. The very trees had become as
altars to Us, and one hill crowned
with naples, and in autumn q miracle
in gold and scarlet will forever haunt
US with itG spiritual glory OF flaming
beauty. Surely II some vestal virgin
Of the season could keep alight for
ever the fres that burned in those
leaves the vision would be too lovely
to last, too blindingly beautiful 10
other than turn to tears the eyes
which should behold It.
The century-old oaks that grew on
the farm, how we should miss their
Druidical calm, the faint tops breath
ing IN the summer winds, the lower
drapery as still as Dodonian spaces
beneath sibyllic shades. The sharp
armored hickories, the walnuts. the
elms, the brilliant sassafras. the
towering and temple-like sycamores,
how we should miss them all when
we were gone.
On one long hill that sloped to the
river we had stood many times. and
watched the shadows grow deeper
over the water, and heard the night
winds rustic IN the leaves. and hark-
ened to the twilight sounds that begin
to creep in over the tides Of darkness.
Now, nevermorel Goodbyel Fare
well to Lochaber." All the long curves
Of valley and hilton, all the wide
sweep Of grain field and forest, all to
pass with our departure. all to vanish
with our going. The gnarled and
scraggly saplings that hung over the
deep ravines, the haunt Of the fox
squirrels brush In the maple S
branches. the rock lined stretch OF
rugged roads down tumbled hills. the
fight Of wild fowl and the call Of the
owls and crows by night and by day,
the drift OF sheep In the sloping pas
lures. the rise Of a yellow-breasted
lark from the meadow, not again; No
more; "Lochaber no more, farewell tc
Lochaber"
II is impossible for anyone with q
real hunger at his heart for outdoors
not TO be affected by leaving any
place where he has wandered fol
many months. getting acquainted will
every nook and Granny of his sur
roundings, and getting closer anC
closer to the environment as the sea
sons come and 60
There was scarcely a foot in all ths
acres that we had not actually GOV
cred In our tramps about the farm
and on every slope and through ever,
stretch of woodland the baby haG
played and tumbled. For myself
knew every tree on the place. haG
gone, especially on my hunting expedi
tions. not only over every inch OF thl
ground on this particular tract, but
had explored the surrounding countr.
for many miles, and knew every ra
vine and creek as well as l did TIL
, alphabet itself.
Many times we sat by the window
J and looked out over the farm. AM
well as we knew the wisdom of gel
/ ting closer In touch with the city, an
yet holding fast to the integrity Of lif
} on farm, there was a very SINGER
and genuine regret at the ordeal be
fore US. There must be somewhere
} curious physiological attachment t
the soil in some natures. Perhap
: the Swiss may. have it more partict
! larly than any other race, for the
/ seldom leave their native land, an
are the most prone to homesicknes
: Of all peoples,
! However our lease was nearly II
} and we had made all arrangements t
] move, and SO the task OF getting read
. for the journey stared US straight !
] the face.
The two years on the farm had bee
, great II not the greatest, Of all e,
Q periences. 1t had taught us life In tn
E cities is mostly ufockery, and yet tha
: there was a germ of the spiritual, {
s the higher mental sensations, whic
a the country does not afford. 1t ha
c taught US that very many supposabl
. .,nnorctttau nra Ynaralv punoYfuiffni