P9
only thought being, when one camé close enough, to “hit ’em,” and
if the.stone came anywherenear thé guiltless songster,, every waiting
milkman or maid of thè town could hear us yell, “Geé ! that was â
close one,” and thereby knew why the herd haid-gone to feeding again.
A well known voice would generally, at this interval, bellow across
the cornfield that separated the river from our house. It was then
that We hurried through the dusk toward the ’scattering Seattle and
-home.
■ At the parting of the way we would linger long enough to' plan
tomorrow, backing away and talking. I used to watch till he was
hid from sight by the willoWs along the path, as he turned and ra,n
for home? Being left alone always brought up the question in
my mind as to whether or not my somewhat irritated sire would
deem it advisable to bring again the customary barrel-stave into play
upon my person; because of my untimêly arrival. Boys are op
timistic and the day is always an hour-ahead of what-it is to grown-
ups? Why. should I worry over coming events ? It was nice any
way to stop at the gate and listen to the whip-poor-will, or some other
night-bird pour his plaint to the peeping stars or lonely moon, and
hope you wouldn’t have to wash your feet again tonight.
S. R .,’ll.
U niversity
of
O regon M onthly
The Call of the Prairie
When the wind blows o’er the prairie,
1tAfl its "grasses sway and bend
Like the waves of a great ocean
Rising, falling without, end.
And the running grass-waves ripple,
And the lark soars high above,
And the clouds at the horizon
Cool the mountains that they love.
Then the full voice, o f the prairie
Swells up from the breezy sea,
Swejls rich with deep-toned message,
Calling “Be thou' boundless, free.”
R. F.