West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-05-11

Its your birthday. and your father
and 1 and Annie thought we'd make
holiday OF IT,"
81 declare, have been 50 busy for
| got it"' laughed Joe.
II didn't" said his mother
| The subject was dropped. but on that
morning Joe was allowed TO sleep until
s o'clock, most unusual thing for him.
Then the wagon was ready. and the
| whole family climbed I'm for day at
| Magnolia Dell, some five miles distant.
There was beautiful large spring at
the Dell. which fed clear. small lake.
famous for its fish. Poles were provld-
ed, crickets caught for bait, and soon
the party was busy landing sun perch.
blue Dream and rock bass. A frying
pan had been brought along. with salt.
meal and lard. At dinner time the
abundance OF fish was prepared for
cooking. Joe got three good sized
stones TO set the frying pan on and
| built n fire.
When the fat was almost boiling
the fish were rolled I'm the meal, sailed
and dropped I'm. In n few minutes
each one was cooked To a crisp, golden
brown.
The dinner I'm the basket Mrs. Yves
ton had provided was a fine one 10
| supplement the fish A pitcher OF lem.
onade made from the icy water OF the
spring and favored with sprlgs of
mint from its edges completed the re
past partaken OF with keen appetites
whetted by the zest Of novelty.
After lounglng about on the messy
carpet beneath the great magnolia
trees I'm pleasant laziness both Joe and
his father fell asleep, each with a bun
die of fragrant fern for pillow. While
they slept Mrs. Weston and Annie
washed the dinner things, packed them
In the wagon and caught pretty good
| string of perch for the mornings
| breakfast. 1t was nearly 6 o'clock
when the tired men folks Weakened
from their nap.
Come on, Joe; lets have a swim;
then we've got 10 he hitching up to go
home" said his father
Down at the lower end of the lake
was n famous swimming hole, with
firm, sandy bottom and sprlngboard
to dive from. Both went into the wa
ter at once, and after good swim and
n brisk rundown each felt as If he were
treading on air when he walked
Dusk had fallen over the land when
they got out OF the deep shadows of
the woods about the lake. In the mys.
terious recesses Of the forest Il little
screech owl gave its shivering cry
again and again The whippoorwills
in the distance kept advising the whip
| ping OF poor WILL" while others in
sisted that they were Just poor WINS
| widow"
Katydids were arguing with one an
other that Katie did-or she didn't-a
never ending controversy. A great owl
I'm giant cypress tree among the long
| festoOn OF gray Spanish moss wanted
10 know "Who-who-w cooks for
you-u, ah?' Back I'm the lake among
the marshy edges and lily pads the
bullfrogs began their sonorous chorus
"Deep-very deep. very deep-deep"'
Not very. Not very! Not very
''Jug-er-ruml jug -er-rum! Jug
er-rumr
| "Deep-so deep-deep"'
Myriads OF great cleaning firehies
danced I'm the denser shades. In the
east, as the wagon rolled beyond the
confines Of the forest. the immense
rudy full moon hung just above the
horizon Of field and meadow
ooh, isn't 1t beautiful" exclaimed
| Annie and her mother I'm one breath.
With the cool air OF night came
scents Of woods and fields. the odoN OF
wild flowers, OF growing things. The
air here became heavy with the per
fume Of yellow jasmine; farther on.
| the scent OF magnolia blossoms. Sud
denly from high above them a food OF
| ripping melody seemed 20 make the
| mOOnbeams vibrate.
The hooking bird~ cried Joe. It's
| the sweetest music I'm the world, for Il
Is the best OF the songs OF all the other
birds, improved by the mocklng bird
| himself!'
The joyous rascal seemed to hover
above them I'm the enchanted silvery
radiance, for as the wagon rolled in the
gate at home the liquid notes OF the
sweetest songster OF the south followed
fainuy, as II in echo TO the memory OF
| perfect day.
! Jocs four acre farm" was now one
OF the show places OF the ncighborhood.
me county road ran hy 10. and al
most any time NJ day could be seen a
w"koh' NM. "i h'Isroack or some one
moot uhaer inc shade thc big oak ON
tHe o'Her side ". cNtcnded It's
branches almost aero Che highway
tiI ana you ever 500. such cornT'
NY, mat corn $50 green 900 its GOD.
most ''acN-aHd stalk ns big as my
"INi now.