Prairie Gold Part 29

A Field

_By Minnie Stichter_

Sometime I expect to turn a sharp corner and come face to face with myself, according to the ancient maxim, "extremes meet." For, did I not vow to the Four Great Walls that had imprisoned me for nine months, that I would fly to the uttermost parts of the earth so soon as vacation should open the doors? And did I not spend almost my entire summer within sight of my home, and in a field of a few acres dimension?

I caught sight of some flowers, just inside the barbed wire fencing the track, that were fairer than any I had yet gathered for my vases.

As the old song has it, "O, brighter the flowers on the other side seem!" No one saw me get under that six-stranded barbed-wire fence, and I am not going to tell how I did it. But when I got through I felt as well guarded as though attended by a retinue of soldiers. And I found myself in another world--a dream-world!

It was a large field rosy with red clover and waving with tall timothy. A single tree glistened and rustled invitingly. In its shade I rested, refreshing myself with the field sights and sounds and fragrances. It was delightful to be the center of so much beauty as circled round about me. Then I had only to rest on the rosy clover-carpet at the foot of the tree, and the tall gra.s.s eclipsed all things earthly save the tree, and the sky overhead, and the round mat of clover under the tree which the gra.s.s ringed about. I had often wished for Siegfried's magic cloak. Well, here was something quite as good, which, if it did not render me invisible to the world, made the world invisible to me. Who of you would not be glad to have the old world with its "everyday endeavors and desires," its folly, its pride and its tears, drop out of sight for a while, leaving you in a flowery zone of perfect quiet and beauty, hedged in by a wall of gra.s.s!

There were many "afterwards." And the marvel of it all was that, for all I could do, the field retained its virgin splendor and kept the secret of my goings-in and comings-out most completely.

After the daisies, there came a season of black-eyed Susans. That was when the gra.s.ses were tallest and the feeling of mystery did most abound. I know I had been there many days before I discovered the myriads of wild roses near the crabtree thicket--those fairies'

flowers so exquisite in their pink frailty that mortal breath is rude.

Only when I reached the hedge, bounding the remote side of the field, did I enter into my full inheritance. Along a barbed-wire fence had grown up sumac, elderberry, crabtrees and nameless brambles, while over all trailed the wild grapevine, bearing the most perfect miniature cl.u.s.ters, fit to be sculptured by Trentanove into immortal beauty. And this hedge was the source of ever increasing wonder the whole summer long. I depended on it alone for sensational denouements after the gra.s.s was cut for hay. When the field lay shorn, like other fields about it far and wide, I could not have been lured hitherward but for the hedge. There the hard green berries of a peculiar bramble ripened into wax-white pellet-sized drops cl.u.s.tered together on a woody stem by the most coral-pink pedicles ever designed by sea-sprites.

In its time came the elderberry bloom, and its purple fruit; the garnet fruit of the sumach and its flaming foliage; the lengths of vines and their purple cl.u.s.ters--all these and more also ministered to my delight.

About goldenrod time, the school-bell rang me in from the field, but I managed to take recesses long enough to behold the kaleidoscopic views brought before me by the turning of nature's hand. The smooth velvety green of the field with its border of gold and lavender--great widths of thistle and goldenrod following the line of fence--was like the broidered mantle of some celestial Sir Walter Raleigh, spread for the queens of earth. I was no queen; but I did not envy royalty, since I doubted if it had any such cherished possessions as my field in its various phases.

In the November days, the brightness of the fields seemed to be inverted and to be seen in the opalescent tints of the sky. Then, the clearness of the atmosphere, the wider horizon, the less hidden homes and doings of men, had this message for the children of men: "If there is any secret in your life, leave it out."

When it is December and the fields are too snowy and wind-swept for pleasure-grounds, where the only bits of brightness are the embroideries of the scarlet pips of the wild-rose, it is good to nestle by the cozy fireside and conjure it all up again, and nourish a feeling of expectancy for the spring and summer that shall come.

Again, the flowers and waving gra.s.s and drowsy warmth of the summer day; again, the songs of flitting birds, the scented sweets of the new-mown hay. Again the work of the fields goes on before me like a play in pantomime! Again, with my eyes, I follow home the boys with their cows, to the purple rim of the hill beyond which only my fancy has ever gone. Again I quit work with the tired laborer. Again I dream of the open, free, unfettered song that life might be if it were lived more simply, with less of artificiality. And again, for the sake of one patient toiler in the town, whose life-task admits of no holiday, I have the grace to return thither and begin where I left off--the life common to you and to me, the life ordained for us from the beginning.

Your Lad, and My Lad

_By Randall Parrish_

Down toward the deep blue water, marching to the throb of drum, From city street and country lane the lines of khaki come; The rumbling guns, the st.u.r.dy tread, are full of grim appeal, While rays of western sunshine flash back from burnished steel.

With eager eyes and cheeks aflame the serried ranks advance; And your dear lad, and my dear lad, are on their way to France.

A sob clings choking in the throat, as file on file sweep by, Between those cheering mult.i.tudes, to where the great ships lie; The batteries halt, the columns wheel, to clear-toned bugle call, With shoulders squared and faces front they stand a khaki wall.

Tears shine on every watcher's cheek, love speaks in every glance; For your dear lad, and my dear lad, are on their way to France.

Before them, through a mist of years, in soldier buff or blue, Brave comrades from a thousand fields watch now in proud review; The same old Flag, the same old Faith--the Freedom of the World-- Spells Duty in those flapping folds above long ranks unfurled.

Strong are the hearts which bear along Democracy's advance, As your dear lad, and my dear lad, go on their way to France.

Peace and Then--?

_By Detlev Fredrik Tillisch_

_Suburb of London. Three months after declaration of peace.

Time: Noon._

CAST

Mrs. Claire Hamilton--about 35 years of age--portly--simply dressed.

Master Hal Hamilton--her son--about 10 years of age--full of life--dressed in Boy Scout uniform.

Mr. John Hamilton--soldier--botanist--about 39 years of age--tall--well built.

Sergeant, soldiers and pedestrians.

Claire Hamilton is seen fixing her corner flower stand and endeavoring to sell her plants to pa.s.sers-by, but after three futile attempts she becomes tired of standing and takes seat on wooden bench in front of her stand. Takes letter from pocket--sighs and begins to read letter aloud.

_Mrs. Hamilton (reading)._ "Dearest Love and Hal Boy--We are still in the bowels of h.e.l.l--but even this would be nothing if I but knew my loved ones were well and happy. (_She wipes away a tear and continues reading._) Nothing but a miracle can end this terrible war. Give my own dear Hallie boy a kiss from his longing papa." (_She lays letter on her lap and meditates._) Peace (_shakes her head--looks at date of letter._) February 16th--six months past and now it's all over--three months ago--Oh, G.o.d, bring him back to me and my boy. (_She goes back of flower stand and brings out box of mignonettes. Hal comes running in with bundle of newspapers and very much excited--his sleeve is torn. He stands still and looks at mother rather proudly and defiantly._)

_Mrs. Hamilton._ Hal Boy--what's the trouble?

_Hal._ I licked Fritz.

_Mrs. Hamilton._ What for?

_Hal._ He said it took the whole world to lick the Germans.

_Mrs. Hamilton._ But, Hal, my boy--the war is over--you mustn't be hateful--be kind and forgiving.

_Hal._ Make them bring back my daddy then.

_Mrs. Hamilton._ You still have your mother--(_Hal runs to mother and embraces her tenderly._)

_Mrs. Hamilton._ Whose birthday is it to-day? (_He thinks--pause._) This is the 20th of August--now think hard. (_She awaits answer--silence--then takes box of mignonettes._) Whose favorite flower is the mignonette?

_Hal._ Papa's! Papa's! (_Claps his hands boyishly._)

_Mrs. Hamilton._ Yes, Hal--it's papa's birthday and mother is remembering the day by decorating our little stand with the flowers your papa has grown. (_He caresses the mignonettes tenderly._)

_Hal._ Dear daddy--dear flowers--aren't they lovely, mother?

_Mrs. Hamilton._ Yes, Hal. (_She wipes away a tear, trying to conceal her emotions from her son._)

_Hal._ Maybe some day I'll be a famous botanist like papa and then you'll have two boxes. (_Mother is silent trying to keep back the tears and Hal notices it._) Papa is coming home soon, isn't he, mother? (_She just shakes her head._)

_Mrs. Hamilton._ We must be brave.

_Hal._ When I get big I'm going to be a soldier and be brave like daddy.

_Mrs. Hamilton._ That won't be necessary any more--it isn't the people who want to fight.