South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-21

friends. Did you ever hear the glad.
laughing voices OF the pine tree
Well you who have not have missed
rare treat.
And then, ! have learned TO whis-
tie in imitation OF my birds and they
will put their heads on one side, look
and sing again as If they would teach
me TO do IL better. / have never
been able to initiate the little wrens,
that build their nests so close 10 my
kitchen door, that If 1 chose / could
reach into IL. Then the robins, the
bluebirds, the brown thrush, orchard
orioles, wild canaries, bob whites,
whip pOor-wills, American hooking
bird or cat bird, but best of ali 1 love
the grosebeak, bird with brilliant
plumage and many thrills. also like
the scrappy blue jay even if he does
destroy my robins home and Kill the
young members Of the family, for the
robin in turn will kill something else.
Do you know that every bird dies a
tragic death?
Another simple pleasure is to mock
the little screech owls and have them
come out from their daylight slum-
Der Even the old hoot-owl and the
croaking frogs are to me, no longer
a dismal sound, for ii is their way of
expressing the joys of life. One of
the pleasures of living in the country
is TO be free from any set rules or
custom. A woman should not stay in
or around the home simply because
she is looked upon as being out of
her element in the field. If she has
time and strength-and there are no
small children TO do for-and she
takes pleasure in being out there,
then there is where she should be.
1t is not necessary that she should
know just how much corn or grass
seed or potatoes or wheat to SOW to
the acre any more than that her hus-
band should know how many tea
spoons of baking powder are required
for one quart OF -four. There are
books that will tell you if you must
know.
But I'll wager that she does know.
for usually all farm work is discussed
at meal time Each one gives their
views and the best plan is adopted.
We who live in the country. need
not lack the time for self improve
ments. We work hard, of course, but
so do the city people.
But even while we work, I have
| found it possible to absorb many
beautiful thoughts. If I come across
anything that appeals to me. 1 write
| il on a large white card and tack il
where I spend so much of my time.
And then, as we watch the changes
| of the seasOn-the night and morning
| of nature-We cannot help but instill
into our minds and hearts that which
is of the most Importance to us, our
| religion.
After we moved into the country
] the Rev. DIR. -, of whose church |
was a member. would. from time to
| time. make us a call over the tele-
! phone. and ask why he never saw me
at church Finally, after a few years
| had passed, and l had exhausted all
| trivial excuses L told him that il was
| not necessary for me to attend
| church for / had religion all around
/ me. That I got it out of the atmos-
phere which l breathed and in every
| thing / could see.
When ! hung up the receiver, |
was shocked at the way I had talked
| TO the reverend and wondered what
he would think of me. In a few days
he telephoned again and wanted 20
know just how he could find our
| home, and said he wanted to come
out SO come he did, that very day