Warren sheaf., 1915-03-31


hot. suitry day and seemed to belong
more to midsummer than to autumn.
First the melons were carried to the
creek near the swimming hole and
dumped in a clear pool to float round
and round and cool. Then. the boys
were OF on hunt for wild grapes and
pecans. They found both. Winter
grapes and fox grapes they found
hanging in thick, purple clusters from
vines that ran along branches and
from tree to tree. To get them the
boys generally had to do lot of
climbing. but they liked this, though
they had to be careful about getting
too far out on weak limbs
The pecans' huIls were popping open
and dropping their fruit to the ground.
SO they had little to 90 except to pick
them up or chunk the trees to bring
more down. The only competitors they
had were the squirrels and crows.
The crows merely feasted. but the
squirrels were busy in every tree,
gathering their winter supply and stor-
/
tree hollOws.
Autumn is time Of beautiful colors,
and the nature lover, like Sam Powell,
prizes 1t almost as much as spring.
Sam gave his comrades their first les
son In woodcraft-how to see things.
He pointed out to them the flashing
colors Of red aid brown and green and
gold. For the first time they really
saw the sumacs flaming on the hill or
the red birds and jay birds making
red and blue streaks as they flew
swiftly through the woods. He show
ed them how to sit very still and see
the wild things that would come out
and begin their work and play all
around.
The hours passed swiftly, and before
the boys realized it noon was long
past. Being hungry and tired. they
turned back toward the creek and the
pool where the melons were floating in
the sparkling water. In short time
they were there, and, carrying melons
to a grassy place in the shade Of some
trees, they cut them in halves and ex-
posed the juicy red hearts. In j1fy
each boy had d big dripping slice and
was eating it between grunts Of satis-
faction.
They lay in the shade and talked a
long time after they had disposed of
the watermelons. One or two slept,
and Sam and the others amused them
selves by throwing rocks at the trunk
of a tree. Suddenly some one said:
Lets go swimming. I'm going to be
first in" Then the race began. Every
boy was up in second, peeling of his
clothes faster than he had ever done
before in his life.
Three were SO close together that it
was hard to tell which was first. They
gave whoop and, running to the
bank. sprang into the air. They came
down head first, for the water was
deep, and there was no danger OF
striking anything. Chug, chug, chug,
they went, one after the other The
water was as warm as on an August
day, and the boys had fine sport. They
swimming under water, floating, tread
ing or swimming on their backs.
Somehow that afternoon seemed too
short to the boys. They had been
swimming long time when Joe Wat
son spoke up suddenly:
"My, but look how low the suns
getting! We've got to be hiking, boys!"
"Well,'' said Fred Martin as they
/ were dressing on the grassy bank,
we've had our last melon for this
year,
"And our last swim, too added An
drew White
Eyes, that's so," said Bob Pagan,
but they were both daisies for last
ones.''
mo need to grieve, boys" Sam ex-
planned "You forget that Wen soon
have snow and Christmas
That's the truth" they exclaimed
| in chorus. ''They'u be here before we
know it"
This new subject afforded conversa-
ton for the boys till they came to the
place of parting.
Sam himself as he walked slowly
homeward kept thinking of Christmas
The Christmas feeling was getting in
his blood, and that's delightful feel.
| ing to have
The young farmer on arriving home
Immediately set about doing the even
| ing chores. He felt vigorous and fresh
and happy. Nothing seemed lacking
| Nevertheless when he had finished the
chores and gone indoors he found 8
letter that added to his feelings OF
] pleasure. The letter was from Mr.
Burns, the agricultural agent. request
| ing him to be present the following
Saturday at meeting of the Boys
Corn club. when the prizes for the
state and county would be awarded
The following Saturday morning Sam
Powell was up early and away to town
/ to be present at the meeting Of the
corn club. He didn't feel sure that ht
would win prize He thought thai
he might win one Of the smaller coun
| ty prizes. but, as for the first ones OF
fered for the county and the state, Of