| Show A stream used for irrigation purposes ran from the pond around the hill It sparkled and jusped in rainbow colors over the pebbles in the bottom of the ditch--pebbles worn smooth and jewel-like from the constant flow of water We kids lay belly burst on the ditch bank and noisily lapped up water likecat or madehand cup to drink it from The bank was covered with golden buttercups Manybouguet was picked and tenderly placed infruit jar vase Somebody once told me that ifputhair pulled from horsetail intocan of spring water it would turn intosneke gingerly pulledlong black hair from the tail of 01d Bess and dropped 1t intocan filled with the preclous spring water carefully placed the can underwild rose bush and kept my vigil over it every day for weeks Much to my disappointment the miraculous change never took place Each timepeeked into the can allcould see was the same old lifeless horse hair The strean widened out whereroad crossed it and tiny rivulets branched out from it makinggreat place to wade on scorching sumer days The stream wateredrow of poplar trees loved to watch the birds build nests in the tops of the poplars then scare away intruders with their flapping wings and wild chirping Some of the nests were attached to the very top in suchway that they hung down wi1dly in the wind--but never did they fall climd the trees and catchquick glimpse into witness the variety of colored eges the trees at and swungloved to the nests to The orchard grass grew lush and green and tall between the rows of red astrachan apple trees--a perfect place to run and play and hide We haunted the orchard from the first pink and white Hlossoms until the apples formed and grew big enough to eat Crouching down in the tall fragrant grass withsalt shaker from the house we stuffed our stomachs with green apples We didncare if they puckered our mouths dried up our blood warned or made Indeed our sometimes teeth fall out as we were our teeth became felt like they would fall out -124 so often so sore they |
