The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-04-14
BAMBERG S. c., THURSDAY, APRIL II, 1e
"OLD TIMER" WRITES.
Maybe the Drought is Blessing in
Disguise After All.

Wanderers Rest, April 11.-Man
is of few days and full of disappoint-
ments. A few short weeks ago an
old man was busy, very busy planting
out vines and trees, roses and flowers,
with few little violets put out with
extra care and attention, to reward
him soon with few little blue eyes
to look up in his and say, II am
here. True to the adage, true as the
vioet blue, and next fall, winter and
spring will cover this bed with bright
ness and smiles. Then you will be
paid for all your care sof me. 1 can
give you little pleasure now for my
time was nearly up before you plant
ed me here" Then the vegetable
garden had to be sown, the cabbage
plants set out, and the weather so
cold it seemed useless to plant, but
for all that good stands were secured
and the mild weather that followed
soon had the old man rubbing his
hands in glee, thinking Of the radish,
lettuce, peas, and so on soon to tickle
his palate and grace his table, with
the hopes that the madam, would con-
descend to pat him on the cheek and
say, "Bravo, old boy! bully for you!"
Now here is the drought. Every
thing standing still regardless of the
thousands or more buckets Of water
the old man has put around them.
Only a few days ago his better half
took a trip to nearby town and on
her return came where he was hard
at work wedding the garden and put
ting a fine mulch Of dry. earth around
| the plants. With little ceremony
she handed him a small package say
ing, Here it is April and you have
no tomato plants up. Here are seed;
SOW them at once, for you know l
am very fond of tomatoes and want
them to can, but you never think. :"
so with a profound bow the seed
were taken and how to get them up
at once in dry sand, but where there
is will there is way, so the
old man made fine seed bed by
spading the ground deep and close,
took a garden rake and made it fine,
then made a shallow trench, in this
he sowed the seed; walked on them
and to his inevitable bucket he went,
got water and poured on. the seed
and as soon ,as it sank in the earth
| covered the seed half an inch with
fine dry soil and in four days the
plants were up and growing. Three
days ago there came box through
the mail, and the old man wondered
who could have sent him pair Of
shoes, but when opened 10 there was
cplants, tomato plants, six to eight
linches high and peppers four. Then
the thought the lame and the lazy are
cared for, but oh this dry ground and
more water carrying. Soon the land
was prepared, plants put out and a
copious supply of water used twice
each day and now they look fresh and
fine, and when madam comes home
(for she Is away nursing sick
friend) he is sure she will kiss him,
for he has not received one In many
years; and thanks to the sender for
those plants, for truly sorrow comes
at night but Joy in the mdrning, and
while he growls about the garden,
the flowers and orchard and having
to draw so much water, still he knows
that this dry weather is doing more
than all the plowmen in the world
can do. It is letting air in the sub
soil to sweeten and lift and fertilize
it, and. when the rain comes he that
is wise will rush things and a big
crop will reward his labors.
The rain will come and all nature
will smile, the dust depart for sea-
son, and maybe the sun will shine
brightly once more, but it looks
gloomy now and the old man sits
silent, sad, and almost gloomy, as he
looks at the heavy dust-laden atmos-
phere, ruminating, trying to solve
the mystery, but he can't, and while
in this mood comes the madam with
the most beautiful bouquet Of roses,
perfect beauties, and instead Of that
expected kiss she hands him the roses
saying, "These are for youy lady
friend sent them to you; all for you.
Have you looked after the chickens,
turkeys, and geese?" and was gone
to look after them, with the old man
to feast his eyes on the roses, and a
new look came over his face he
knows, for it reflected from his heart,
as the beauty of that bouquet touched