A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 052

A Basket of Chips after life. The greatest of all was the out of door life which I took to like an Indian, - and much resembled one also.4y In this way I was much like my father's father who was a great hunter and fisher. I began with the very primitive weapon, the bow and arrow, and learned to make them myself. To become an expert marks- man was the work of many years practice. My mother always cooked any bit of small game I brought home and we often had a fine bird pie which my father enjoyed as much as I. I well remember mv most successful hunt with the bow and arrows. This was in winter and my hunting had to be done before break- fast or after school. And this morning I brought home nine snow birds. I do not now approve of the killing of birds as there is alwavs an abundance of fresh meat. My son Willard hunted birds in his youth but it was with a field glass, which is a better way. If most youths of today get up in time for breakfast they are doing well. I have painted a picture in reminiscence of my boyhood and called it "The Boy Pioneer." It is a boy sitting near an old tree mending an arrow, with his bow and arrows and a dead bird on the ground near him. I had hunted all morning for the model of this bird but to no avail, and was going home discour- aged, when suddenly I saw just the thing, but it was at a great distance. I tried it anyway and the bird fell to the ground. An important change was made in this picture through the advice of the publishers. The dead bird I painted out and more life of brilliant color was introduced all through the canvas. The copy- rights were bought by the publishing company of New York in ** "Lehi is well suited to the life of an observing child. The lake [Utah Lake], the moun tain [Mt. Timpanogos) and the field are stored wi th riches. To young James the habits of living things - bird, insect, water fowl, and fish were known. The willows that feathered the creek, the flowers and weeds, opened their secrets to him. The distant mountain streams, the orchard, and the grain patches, the truck garden, and the meadows all were sources of inspiration. So among Lehi haunts James T. Harwood found inspiration for a multitude of pic- tures." Horne, Devotees, 5 1; Horne, "Harwood," Y Wj 2 1 (January 19 10) : 12 1.