Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

And now if the man who owned the place wanted to be mean he could put them out tomorrow. But instead he hired the man for another week. And did I see the people in the Ford? The woman is a cripple and just had a fight with another woman. They started calling each other “whoors” (and here his laughter bubbled forth). She was always fighting with someone. – He went on to his apple picking and as I sketched I heard him whistling merrily. When I was done and walked on he called “Did ya got it drawed mister?” He has stayed on my thoughts ever since – a fine healthy type – and rare enough such types are now. ; I passed the house that I supposed had just been vacated, it was a peculiar one the barn & house connected thus: ; [Sketch of house and connecting barn]; Further on, I saw a little building down the road & heard a terrific racket going on it accompanied by chants of laughter. A couple of boys were plundering a house. As I came along & they saw me, their manner was comical. They thought I would “go after them” and they edged away towards the creek. I had too often as a boy experienced the thrill of a rock crashing thru a window to say anything to them. It was a little school house – it was an ugly square 20th century product and was better out of the way anyhow. As I passed down the road it was not long again till I heard window panes crashing again.Shortly past here I found a little hillock where I sat down to eat my lunch. The sky was overcast now, the air cold, and the feeling one of November – After lunch I proceeded on my way. I met a herd of cows coming along the path single file – the last calf: sun comes out telling that day has suddenly jumped from morning to late afternoon – the young farmer boy with wagon – the boy a real rural type – lanky, thin, raw red face with yellow hair