The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-08-11
THE STORM-LIT TRAIL
AS Described by Harold L. Jordan
After Barefoot Tramp Through
The Aftermath of a Shower

This unpretentious bit of descrip-
tive beauty, which in style and
thought reminds the reader of David
Grayson's adventures in Friendship, is
a quotation from a letter received
this week by Ed. Barensfeld from
Harold L. Jordan, Principal of the
Redwood Falls High School, who is
spending his summer vacation in the
harvest fields of Iowa.
This chum and | went over to
Mt. Vernon afoot, a distance of ten
miles. We started out with a ride
which gave US three miles of a lift
on our way. AS we started again,
on foot, and while we were walking
on the crown of a we'll elevated hill,
we noted the rain God lurking in the
heavens, miles to the westward. The
evening was more or less smother
ingly topping off a sultry day. A few
clouds bulged or fiatted out in patch
es overhead. Occasionally a burst of
incandescene jagged the horizon, to
be followed by a growl of thunder.
The theatre of the heavens was staged
for drama by the elements.
We fastened with the speed neces-
sary to get US far along before the
play was on, and yet with a precise
deliberatness required to yield to the
There was no staying the clouds or
the wind or the thunder and light
ming The storm center careened to
the south, and extended its arms just
far enough to the north to reach US
and little past.
Gradually section of murky cloud
spread over US. Over the tops of the
corn fields rustled an up springing
wind. Soon it was sweeping wildly
over US and through US. The or
chestra of heaven was at full blast
in a grand finale before the curtain
rose. Lightning blinded US, and the
intervals between flashes left US in
an almost impenetrable darkness.
We had planned to reach certain
house before we stopped until the
play was over. 1t doomed up ahead
Two or three flashes showed US the
gate and we CROPPED our way through
to the porch. Again over the corn
came another familiar rattle. 1t was
the herald of the rain.
In final reply to our repeated knock
ing came brother to the door and
admitted US. In half hour the drama
had been enacted as far as we were
concerned, so we were on our way
again, refusing the hospitality of our
host who offered US nights lodging.
We found the road veneered with
ooze. | had my "city" clothes on and
did not care to besmear my shoes and
therefore took off shoes and stock
ing. My companion soon did like
wise. | cannot express the perfect
contentment we felt as we slipped
and slid and trudged along in the
dark. The lightning still flashed so
you see we still CROPPED in the dark
ness most of the time
1t is good mud on that road. Up
through our toes it oozed and our
feet wallowed in it in all the thrill
ling delight which youth experiences.
1t took US an hour and a quarter to
walk about three miles, but seldom
has time been better spent. For the
most part we walked along in silence
one of the blessing of an under
standing eomradship, not thinking
much, just yielding to the joys of
our pathway and to the infatuating
charm of the heavens. How | wish
l had had on old clothes as did my
friend For then we could have met
the rain face to face and fearlessly.
| Someone has said, at is a great
mistake always to know enough to
go in when it rains: one may keep
snug and dry by such knowledge, but
one misses a world of Ioyeliness.n