Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-12-22


God bless them!-there were warm hearts; and
there also doughnuts in huge piles, and
pumpkin pies in rows; and there were other COM
FORTS for had then discovered bacteria, and
we were in danger from eating good food.
When got cold outdoors could go inside
and be warmed internally. The house painted
red, for that the warm color, like the fire in
the chimney, and l know no other reason why all
old-time farm houses were Of that color. Only
the front was white, and there were green blinds
l think 1t was the fashion, and the time never
was when anyone would be out of faShiOn-in-
novators and radicals excepted Fashion, you
must know, is simply doing what others do and
not bothering your head about it, and believing
what others believe, with just as little trouble
to yourself. 1t is a beautiful way Of keeping us
all alike for what might of it if no two ever
did the 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 a good one. 1t kept
them all together, like regiment. Nowadays
there are some who would throw away the
dictionary and spell the Lord knows how-just as
each one pleases
Over the double door reached the big arms of
great butternut. Do you know there is no tree in
all the world so homeful as butternut? It's arms
are like those of a father and it has not stingy
trait about it. Then you should lie as I have, in
September, and hear Of night the nuts falling
off, one, or two, or three at a time on the roof
Rat tat, tat, until our dreams were full of the
joys Of the morning; or, for that matter, even of
the buildings, which, should come of it wheE the
meats were enough to fill big bowl. Yes, indeed
q butternut pudding with a plenty of cider, is
good even in dreamland. To the back of the house
an orchard, where Spitzenbergs and Pearmains
grew. Some of the trees leaned that we could
walk up them, and sit wish the birds l. when q
boy, knew a robin so well that she built her nest
within five feet of me- while whisted and talked
to her. To the side of the orchard stood fine
grove of Eastwood, in which 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. 1t is fit for worship
The trees friendly and hearty. Their arms
come low down to the ground, as if reaching after
us. What wealth of blossom! There is no sugges-
ton Of niggardliness All, even now I see the
old grandmother in her chair when the petals
came down in great shower and laid lovingly on
her white hair. And the blessed mother beside
her also Nature loved them. There was sweet
fitness, and when we boys came to their side and
brought the ripest Pearmains and Lady Sweets
and otherwise identified them with the fruit,
1t was out Of our hearts. But how shall l ever
get to New Years at this rate, for | am not vet
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, ah, to have them
in ones self and be able to call them out of the
memory that is worth the while. TITS 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. 1t was a place Of marvellous beauty, and of
marvellous work-of that / can testify But Il
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, other one, going about this
treasure island In the midst of the world. "Ah
thls!" and "Ah, thatl' 1T smells like a fresh
young babe" said Granny Williams" Indeed"
said the little mother, 'but had not thought OF
that but as likely as not, for 1t has soft plnlllsh
yellow color" Then she would Snuff at it. like