The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-31
Mature LOVERS
Little Corner
ny AN uNDERsTUDy.

| Wnen l was sent on an GRAND to n
neighboring farm / found that nv
shortest route was to get on the rail-
road track and walk 1t all the way
| SO | went, but coming back, when I
| reached the deep cut / scrambled up
the bank and followed along the mar
row. irregularly worn trail at the ton.
looked down on the railroad bed
very far below me it seemed: on the
other side Of the track, and as far be-
low as 1t was below my elevation. I
looked down into a woody glen. A
small stream ran briskly through It,.
winch could hear. and now and then
catch n glimpse OF as II curved clear
of the abundant LEAKAGE about It.
several hours earlier when had
passed this spot the sky had been a
sort blue and white. with light winds
that played about shedding the music
OF many murmurings. while the ferns
hanging gracefully over the stream had
! mingled with the trees and low clus-
tering bushes TO filter the warm de-
iightful sunlight. a cardinal had
whistled so gaily from the glen that 1
christened IL Cardinal Glen immedi-
ately
There was a change now. 1t was
one of those solemn, impressive mo-
ments in nature, rendered vivid by it's
very inaction. The sky was overcast
not by a single very black cloud. but
by dull, quietly menacing gray clouds
! forming a continuins blanket The glen
was dark. and listened in vain for a
birds note The bodies OF the trees
erect. bare. standing close together and
grouped In semicircle. around me
impressed. even oppressed me. with n
strange. ominous feeling. They seemed
as spectators, an audience assembled
Slender saplings fought hickories
rough, noble oaks and tall towering
majestic pines, all silent. waiting
Second by second passed. Still silent,
still waiting. Over and over my
questioning eyes sought them won
deringly. ] grew restless. yet hest
tated. for deep within me was the con-
seriousness that this audience would
not be disappointed But why were
they waiting thus? Not leaf ventured
a single gossipy whisper
Then suddenly the lowering curtain
of the sky was cleft straight down from
heaven to earth. 1t seemed, by a bril-
liant forked, darting flash of light
ming, with a binding radiance OF sill
very, fiery and steel-blue in one. A
deep clap of thunder, followed stimuli
taneously with a mighty onrush OF
wind, to which every tree bent its
foliage crest and not n leaf was with
out a tongue. They were no longer
silent, but had become n mighty voice;
no longer standing waiting. but they
seemed running headlong. And /. too,
ran, making for the railroad shed at
the crossing, half n mile distant. Rain
fell in sheets long before l reached it's
shelter, but at last I gained it. and
for three-quarters of an hour j was
alone In the tumultuous privacy of the
storm.
Wnen 1t was over I continued walk
ms, along the track homeward. EeVry-
where now the rain awakened flowers
lifted their happy, delicate faces up
ward. / passed, too, a small farm bor-
dcring on the railroad. The dwelling
was nice looking. and the garden
showed up well, but, disgrace of dis
graces. the pig pen, where the animals
were supposed TO stay day and night.
into it from every side! Thus a rain
always meant from one to fifteen
inches of water standing in the pen.
l cannot conceive how the owner could
have allowed it, What would become
of the pigs? Suppose young pigs are
kept in such a place. will 1t not seal
their doom? Pigs must have drinking
water. and should never be turned into
a pasture in which there is not plen
tiful supply of fresh water; but a case
Of putting them In soak. as this farmer
seems to have done, Is entirely wrong.
Another thing, don't have mistaken
ideas about, is the pig and the orchard.
THE orchard is good for the pigs, and
the pigs are good for the orchard"
says an agricultural writer, and 1t Is