34O AFTERMATH 



"She don't want that foreroom kept dark and 

 closed like the custom hereabout, and so I 've took 

 the shutters clean off and let the sun in full, for 

 that 's all Doc says she needs, 'Sun and fresh air 

 and some'at to look ahead to,' sez he. 



"I don't half so much mind livin' at the farm 's 

 I thought to, now the shutters is off and there 's 

 no dark corners. I 've minded that 's what all 

 o' us are hankerin' for in this world, though some 

 don't sense it. 



"Yes, the vines and berries is nice, and as good 

 as you '11 find this time o' year. I 'm satisfied, 

 too," he continued, answering the question in my 

 eyes, as he smoothed his silvery beard, in which 

 some leaves had caught, and looking dreamily up 

 across the hillside. "Yes, content, though jest 

 only a stalk of wayside Silkweed goin' to seed 

 natural in its ha'nts with plenty o' sun and air 

 and something to look ahead for that the eye 

 can't yet see." 



Then, a rapt expression blending with his far- 

 off smile, he continued on his way, the load of 

 aftermath falling across his shoulders like a Druid's 

 garment. 



November, Indian Summer, Aftermath, all too 



