AN OLD FARM 143 



stained and heavily varnished furniture, 

 "bought in Milwaukee"; the rag rugs, 

 oval in shape, and somewhat humpy in 

 places where the turns had been too 

 quickly made; and on the wall, over- 

 whelming the "family portraits," and 

 commanding the whole room, a monster 

 worsted watch pocket, having an intense 

 grass-green background, and fronted with 

 roses, puffed out like inflated cheeks, and 

 as richly flaming as the body of a scarlet 

 tanager. 



In this room I kept some of my books ; 

 in this room I studied, in this room I 

 dreamed a lad's dreams; in this room I 

 "threatened to do something in the 

 world"; yes, and later, in this little room 

 I prepared (surely the word needs italics) 

 my first sermon. 



A Chapter in Democracy 



This old farm I want, if I can muster 

 the gifts, so to illuminate as to make ap- 

 parent some of its fine characteristics. 



