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

should II all be smut up In booksT' 1t Is so,
said my father. God made the world, and he
put the flowers here as well as the potatoes.
have no patience with those who do not follow
God" ITO be sure" said my little mother "and
the weeds are here to teach us diligence and pa
tlence." but the quack," said my father, that
might as well be left out" And the burdocks," v
said she, "are excellent for beer, and the leaves
are good for draughts." Perhaps, II we could
see IT," said he, "all things are good" "'Tis for
us to make the best of everything" said she. And
as our Jim came up. she put her hand on MS
arm and on mine. and then said slowly: ITS
world In which we can make beautiful boys ana
girls-if first we ourselves are right. What more
could we ask2'
And the birds, ali, but you should have seen how
they nested about that house. "They will eat all
the Cherries" said my Uncle George, and he raped
his cane Justify the floor Of the porch. But our
father smiled and said LET us count them all
Into our family. and plant for them also when we
plant" So he put in few rows Of peas more,
and said, They are for the orioles" And dozen
cherry trees down by the fence were for the robins
and for the cedar birds who have cherry tooth.
Then he went up to the woods edge, nearby the
big beeches, where there were wild cherries, and
into these he put scions Of finer sorts; "for the
BIRDS my boys" So the robins, and the bluebirds,
fnches, and the catbrds. and all other sorts Of
thrushes and fnches and can't tell you how many
more came to us; and they filled the trees with
nests and they paid for all they took In song and
helpful labor. And robin built Its nest In the
window seat of his bedroom and sang to him In
the morning. while he lay In his bed. All, yes.
they worked well together, my father and the
BIRDS
The barn was not far away. "'Tls not decent"
said the little mother. There should be shade
for the cows and the pigs and the hens" You
are right, little mother" said my father; and he
brought load of willow sticks; and he planted
them all the way around the barn and Its yard.
And these grew and throve nightly, and at last
they were great grove. that hung all over the
barn and hid II. The little mother said, did
not tell youT-and then she drew the breath coolly
through one corner Of her mouth us she surveyed
the transformation "Indeed, you did. little moth
er-you said it-and no one would have done 1t.
had you not" And the hens cackled their delight,
and the cows at night lay down facing the moon.
as II slfted In between the leaves and all day they
were nicely comforted from the sun. And when
old Daisy went to the tub to drink she would look
up between sips, as II to say "The Lord be praised
for this shady yard" true barnyard is de-
lightful place. full Of peace and love. Lilah. the
collie, comes and puts her head through the gate
once an hour, and, surveying matters. says, "Yes,
all Is as II should be all Is correct" then she goes
back to run along where Jim and l and our father
are at work in the orchard Or II II be-and II
really ls--or II ought to be- New Years day, she
looks In at the kitchen window, and waits till we
open the door that she may curl up by the fire.
But George III gets up on his hind feet TO the
door latch and rattles It, and then waits till we
let him In. A true cat is half human. All, II
buff they could once get articulation what
for they would rout out and dispossess half or
more Of the human SORT So with quack and
thstles, and talking cats, and collie dogs, we
should be made either wiser or killed off,
"Come," said my uncle George, 'let us make our
New Years call !" In those days It was not yet
forgotten to be neighborly, and once year we all
expected to look In on each other, and break
bread, or at least cut cake. And we sat down to a
bit of gossip and exchanged news; and when II
was over everybody knew all about everybody
else and there was no need at all to print IT, But
shall tell you nothing at all about It. II was our
own business and we were simple folks. and you
who live today have your big notions and your
new ways and you laugh too easily So our New
Years day went by In Its own homely way, and we
had our calls; and we went home at night and
rubbed our hands and our stomachs and were con-
tent Not one Of US envled your telephones and
telegraphs and other knck.knacks--or ever gave
them thought Bless the Lord. enough Is enough.
and II Is not likely you have any more idea OF
what will be about hundred years from now.
Indeed think they viii call you savages. Pish.
but what world Of conceit 1t Is.