The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-10-20

RIBBON OF earth rolled from it's blade
like petrified sea billow, crested with
a cluster Of daisies white as the foam
| of wave.
Between the handles of the plow and
leaning on the crossbar, his back to
the horses, stood young Quaker. His
proad-brimmed hat, set carelessly on
the back of his head, disclosed a wide,
nigh forehead; his flannel shirt, open
at the throat. exposed a strong, colum-
mar neck, and deep, broad chest; his
sunburned and muscular arms were
FOLDED across his breast; figure and
posture revealed the perfect concord
or body and soul with the beauty of
the world; his great blue eyes were
nxed upon the notch In the hills where
the sun had just Disappeared; he gazed
without seeing and felt without think
ing.
The boy approached this statuesoue
figure with a stealthy tread, and pluck
Ing a long spear of grass tickled the
bronzed neck. The hand of the plow.
man moved automatically upward as
If to brush away fly, and at this un.
conscious action the child, seized by
CONFUSION of laughter and fearing
lest 1t explode, stuffed his fists into
his mouth. In the opinion of this ir
reverent young skeptic his Uncle Dave
was In "tantrum" instead of a
trance" and he thought such a dis
ease demanded heroic treatment
For several years this Quaker youth
David Corson. had been the subject Of
remarkable emotional experiences. in
explanation OF which the rude wits of
the village declared that he had been
moon-struck; the young girls who
adored his beauty thought he was in
love, and the venerable fathers and
mothers Of this religious community
believed that. In him the scriptural
prophecy. Your young men shall see
Visions" had been literally fulfilled.
David Corson himself accepted the last
explanation with unquestioning faith.
The life Of this young man had been
pure and uneventful Existence in
this frontier region, once full of tha
tragedy OF Indian warfare. had been
gradually softened by peace and relir-
Ion. In such sequestered rerion
books and papers were scarce. and be
had access only to a few volumes writ
ten by quietists and mystics. and m
that great mine of sacred literature
the Holy Bible. The seeds of knowI-
edge sown by these books In the rich
soil OF this young heart were fertiI.
lied by the society Of noble men. vir-
tuous women, and natural surround
ings Of exquisite beauty.
None of these reflections d,sturhaa
tha Ind np ha
Ing suppressed his laughter, he tickled
the sunburnt neck again Once mora
the hand rose automatically, and once
more the boy was almost stranpled
with delight. The dreamer was b.ra
to awaken, but his tormentor had NOT
yet exhausted his resources. No pen-
uine boy Is ever without that funda-
mental necessity Of childhood. n min
and finding one somewhere about his
clothing, he thrust It into the leg Of
the plowman. The sudden stiny
brought the soaring saint from heaven
to earth. In an instant the mystic
was man. and strong one, too. He
seized the unsanctifed young repro
bate with one hand and hoisted him at
arms length above his head.
O-AN%S &%oNot Il IL never do III
againl Never! Never! Let me down !"
Still holding him aloft as hunter
would hold falcon. the reincarnated
spirit" laughed long. loud and mer-
rily, the echoes of his laughter ringing
up the valley like peal from a china
OF bells The child's fear was needless
for the heart and hands that dealt With
him were as gentle as a woman's. The
youth. resembling some old Morse rod
as he stood there In the gathering
gloom. lowered the child slowly. ana
printing kiss on his cheek, said:
Thee little pest thee has no rever-
ence! Thee should never disturb a
child at his play. a bird on his nest
nor man at his prayers"
But thee was not praying. Uncle
Dave" the boy replied Thee was
only In another OF thy tantrums. The
supper has grown cold. the horses are
tired and Shep and / have walked a
mile to call thee. Grandmother said
thee had trance. Tell me what thee |
has aoan In thy visions Irncla Dax,> %. |