Evening star., 1949-03-11

brown bark and small, pinlike
leaves; nor without the black
and-yellow striped caterpillars
that always waited till spring
came to transform themselves into
bright colored butterflies.
For some mysterious reason,
could never think of caterpillars
as future butterflies; always put
them into a category with snake.
though had no fear of them anu
built a small house for them. fire.
quently bringing them parts of
my dinner, from which they
turned in disgust. Mother was
disgusted, too: she had a horror
of all creatures which craWled,
whether large or small. When
she saw caterpillars in the house.
which they entered to escape the
heat, she would utter a Shrek
and leave the room in a hurry.
Whether we were afraid or not,
however, not one of us ever felt
the slightest urge to destroy them.
They were quiet and did not
harm us, and quiet was what we
wanted.
AS I grew up and my brother
was born and brought to the same
place every year for the holidays,
the house acquired even a greater
homelike and comfortable look
The roses still grew. and the
tamaracks still smelled good, and
the worms still looked attractive
to our young eyes. Even though
we may not have noticed it at the
time, we had learned to love our
home. We learned to ride bicycles
and followed our spOrtS-loving
parents on their long rides
through the country. eating under
the pines on the moorS, with the
salted, spicy smell of the sea in
our noStrils increasing our ap-
petiteS. We brought home many
strange things: Sea- shells. large
or small. with curious designs and
delicate patterns which quite be-
wildered us: these shells we placed
reverently on the cupboard in the
kitchen. whence they disappeared
silently after a week. l think
now. that Mother must have had
hand in their disappearance. We
brought home branches Of cherry,
almond. and apple blossoms,
which we placed in the capacious
vases in the sitting room. There
they spread their sweet aroma all
through the house. We brought
home also the bright red poppies,
with their full. trembling leaves
and lack of perfume; these we
kept. out Of pure compassion for
their meaningless existence.
The farmers who lived nearby
welcomed us into their spacious
homes and showed us their farms;
we had a grand time entering into
their every day. simple existence
with eager curiosity. They gave
US pets to bring home; for in
stance, a rabbit. at the killing of
which we felt such a shock shat
mother decided to have around
us only creatures that did not
have to be killed. So we had
guinea pigs, a duck and a hen.
Every year the grand old place
welcomed us back with its former
memories and its promises Of joys
to come-to see a new litter of
pigs, or to learn a new swimming
stroke, or to go Shinnying way
up a tree in the farthest corner
of the pasture to get the new figs.
or to join in the husking of the
corn. or at night, to crouch down
beside the fireside, each one with
his own well-buttered corn-on-
the-cob, listening to grand
mammals stories. Always, we
went back home with wonderful,
new experiences tucked away in
our memories.
Every year the old house was
there with its weather-beaten
front. the newly painted fence.
the old tamaracks, the budding
roses and lilies. and the delight
full, warm, homelike air which it
never lost.
Oh, yes! 1t was indeed darl-
ing place where I passed my
childhood's holidays! l was a
lucky youngSter!