The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-01-11

sat three generations of harveSters-
"a men, women and children.
A warm. soothing, natural" odnr OF
oxen and stable came thinly and NOT
unpleasantly into the feast chamber.
which had that dignity of proportion
and fine simplicity of lines which
speaks of Tuscan taste. even in these
humble quarters. A light hung from
the center of the ceiling threw a rath-
er dim illumination over the festive
board. but amply sufficient for us to
see all the good things which awaited
our impending attack. First soup was
served from huge bowls into deep, ca
pacious dishes: next came a rich and
satisfying frittO mistO, and then large
platters, burdened with pasta redo
lent with an herb savOred sauce.
There was plenty OF honest wine to
wash down the huge slashes Of war
bread served out generously to all
Of us.
No Bitterness in War Talk.
! After the pleasant business Of eating
was over the men started talking about
| the war. 1t was a simple. rather OBJ
| jective discussion. without bitterness
or hatred, of something unpleasant
which had to be done, but all must
wish that il should be ended and laid
aside as soon as possible. Then the
conversation waxed warm In the more
direct and personal realities Of the
years corps, and the promise for the
coming seasons. One by one the
little children Struggled closer to their
mothers sides and childish heads
bent sleepily over the table or fell,
relaxed and safe, on arms soft and
solicitous with maternal care. The
drowsiness Of a hard days labor crept
irresistibly upon the men.
We said good night and start
ed homeward the little oil lamp by
the door had flickered out, but faint
moonlight was bathing the landscape
in n soft, mystical indistinctness; far
away the domes and towers OF Flor
ence rose skyward like dream SYM
bols Of hopes and darings, Of love and
, faith.
sat in contemplation. watching the
moonlight wax stronger and brighter,
making more real and definite the pic
ture Of peace on earth spread so Won
, drously before me. till my thoughts
: wandered away to another harvest
, scene. far removed among sterner Out
!, no less peace loving mountains. mar
vest scene of battle wherein men ike
those with whom | had gathered
> grapes today were the protagonists.
r Look, A once fourishing little
r town. with not a single one OF us
[ houses unscathed. and most OF them
). horribly rent asunder. showing lhe
9 debris of what had once been the
h priyacy and the sanctity OF peaceiul
v hearths. In the partial shelter Oh
j. these shells of homes along the main
a streets of the town. countless men are
t sitting or crouching in full hghtihe
:, continent. waiting for orders TO pro
d coed to the front trenches where
l. battle has just been fought ana won
;, Let us walk to the battlefeid' IL
IS reached through pine wood sun
# smoking resinously from the nre'
which the bursting shells have started
II The road is wholly exposed to th'
n range of the enemy's artillery, ou
d thousands Of men have gallanu'
,e crossed 1t in order to reach their com
rades in the trenches beyond. fo'
can see what the harvest has beer
ID here, There are fragments OF shrap
D. mel and unexploded shells along ever
n. foot of the line; by the whir OF tn
e. projectVes still passing over on
Nv heods we can reconstruct the scene o
a fire OF some hours ago the shells whiz
Sc by us with that horrible suggesuN
in rotatory sound which seems TO say
"a Coming. Coming. Bang-and you Ole
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