| Show THAT GOOD OLD FENCE ancient and honorable and ent institution that held hon ored place on the farm i among the once necessaries of farm life that reflected prodigality in tho use of valuable timber was the old rail fence observes the columbus dispatch I 1 ile many other almost bygones of rural life its place la farm wastefulness now Is well established and let it had its uses tor which the straight line wire cannot qualify alie old rail fences serrated stretches were the homes of small animal life that now are rapidly disappearing around its umbers there grew the uncultivated blackberry with its sister tho raspberry and among its recesses there thrived the elder whose fruit once was coveted pie material and whose blossoms wye alfe founds lion tor elderberry wine that matrona matrons served of a winter evening when the neighbors gathered the rail fence with its invariable undergrowth was the favorite protection for hob white in winter and from its top he sang in the warmer seasons beneath the little ground squirrel burrowed I 1 rom safe retreat he chattered it some intruder came near to annoy him as he was busily engaged in gathering his store of food tor the snow time to the harvest hand it afforded protection at the end of the long row for a brief respite and its corners formed shaded nooks under which the water jug might be kept and from what royal timber was this old fence constructed I 1 black walnut logs chestnut logs and he smooth lengths of the ash tree were cleft by numerous rail splitters for the seven high fence that stood the storms of decades there was many a black walnut rail whose timber would make the manufacturer of gun stocks chortle with satisfaction had he such a present supply of wood at his command |
