Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-12-23


selves! And under those caves
God bless them there were warm hearts; and
there were also doughnuts in huge piles, and
pumpkin pies In rows; and there were other com.
forts, for no one had then discovered bacteria and
we were In no danger from eating good food.
When we got cold outdoors we could go Inside
and be warmed internally. The house was painted
red, for that was the warm color like the fire In
the chimney, and know no other reason why all
Old-time farm houses were Of that color. Only
the front was white and there were green blinds
/ think It was the fashion, and the time never
was when anyone would be out Of fashlon-in.
novators and radicals excepted Fashion, you
must know, Is simply doing what others do, and
not botherng your head about It, and believing
what others believe, with just as little trouble
to yourself. 1t is beautiful way of keeping US
all alike for what might come of 1t II no two ever
did the same thing, or believed the same thing,
or wore the same coat, or, for that matter. loved
the same person? The old-time people had rea-
son for the catechism. 1t was good one. 1t kept
them all together, like regiment. Nowadays
there are some who would even throw away the
dictionary and spell the Lord knows how-just as
each one pleases.
Over the double door reached the big arms Of a
great butternut. Do you know there Is no tree In
all the world so homeful as Il butternut? Its arms
are like those of a father, and II has not stingy
trait about it, Then you should lie, as have, In
September, and hear Of night the nuts falling
Off one, or two, or three at time on the roof
Rat, tat. tat. until dreams were full Of the
Joys of the morning. or, for that matter. even OF
the buildings, which should come Of II when the
meats were enough to fill big bowl. Yes, indeed!
butternut pudding, with plenty Of cider, Is
good even In dreamand. To the back Of the house
was an orchard, where Spltzenbergs and Pearmans
grew. Some Of the trees leaned so that we could
walk up them, and sit with the birds. ], when
boy knew q robin so we'll that she built her nest
within five feet Of me, while whistled and talked
to her. To the side of the orchard stood a fine
grove Of Eastwood In which were fifty hives Of
bees, In two long houses-two rows In each house,
There Is nothing so wonderful In the world as an
apple orchard In blossom. II is fit for worship.
The trees are friendly and hearty. Their arms
come low down to the ground, as II reaching after
u.s. What wealth Of blossom There is no sugges-
ton Of nggardliness. All, even now / see the
old grandmother In her chair, when the petals
came down In a great shower and laid lovingly on
her white hair, And the blessed mother beside
her also Nature loved them There was a sweet
fitness, and when we boys came to their side and
brought the ripest Pearmans and Lady Sweets.
and otherwise identified them with the fruit.
IL was out or our hearts, but now snail i ever
get to New Years at this rate. for I am not yet
half around the house, and my soul will not let
me hurry on. To see things and hear things when
they happen Is well enough but, ali, to have them
in ones self and be able to call them out Of the
memory, that is worth the while. IT'S better than
any monograph.
There was an Offset In the turf. Just beyond
the harvest pear; and this was where the little
mother had her pinks, and poppies and bachelor
buttons and cinnamon roses, and johnnie jump
ups II was place of marvellous beauty and Of
marvellous work--of that can testify. But 1t
was delicious In the early morning before the day
was on gridiron-and again after shutdown. You
should have seen the little mother and Granny
williams or some other one, going about this
treasure island In the midst Of the world. "Ah,
this" and "Ah THAR ut smells like fresh
young babe" said Granny Williams" Indeed"
said the little mother, ''but had not thought Of
that but as likely as not, for II has soft pinksh
yellow color" Then she would snuff at It, like
any professor examining new chemical mixture.