Show TilE THE RANCH IN THE TILE HILLS ol It lt was a curiously well-used well trail Leading across the of the valley And disappearing in the round brown hills We Me followed and the valley vaIley sank be be- hind Over a rise we dipped into a draw Which wandering like an absentminded absentminded absent absent- minded guide Led us among low cedars and strewn boulders I And foothills growing higher con con- At last the mountain hung above us dark daik Shaggy with pines The Tho draw became became became be be- I came a canyon I A cool breeze brought a sweet surprising surprising sur Bur smell And suddenly around a bend we weme came me lOn upturned troughs sheep-troughs and a purple field fieldor Of or lucern pitched between red rocky slopes t We JVe crossed the lucern and crept up upa a hill I Below us wound the field narrow J t. t and Sand long And at its head tall poplars spread their arms Above a n small bush orchard and a ahouse a ahouse house Hugging the sheltering hill in cosy fashion I walked down there to fill a dry canteen At the boxed well A small brown wrinkled man Greeted mo rno pleasantly A bo boy came up Eng Eager r to be of ot service and to talk A grave looking kind looking woman worked in the orchard II While v W use ate dinner on the hillside hillside hillside hill hill- side with I The neat green farm tucked in the glen below The boy came with a n pall pail of small red peaches I I Sent by his mother and he lie stay stayed d to talk He lie said the water in their spring was low This year and so the tho hay crop would be short But nut they'd come out all rl right ht by watering The from the valley vaHey in inthe inthe the tho winter I asked him how ho liked it farmIng farm- farm Ing there Wasn't it lonesome No not bad he smiled We lead read a lot and people sometimes some times pass Hunting for stock or going after posts Or gathering later in the fall Id I'd hate hato to be like Brian Drian though who lives Up near the tho mountain in a shack alone alone alone- No folks no pardner none to fix his clothes Or cook or talk to In n the evening III Ill IIII IllI I wonder if It the little hidden ranch still looks As At ra r. r neat a and contented as it did If It the th sweet odor of mild happiness blows I I About the orchard In the summer I For I heard lately that the woman died And then the the old old man and youngster r me lire alone Carlton Catlton Culmsee o lo |