Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

almost white. They tell me cows belong to neighbors & get into the land they have rented. Tell me shortest routed (sic) to Gowanda but I prefer the hilltop road. When the father comes, they ask me to ride up. Hill rough & rocky & I am jolted a lot. The boy I liked – part way up he jumps off & runs ahead. When we catch up he is picking bittersweet berries –; Hill top flat & wide – superb feeling – late sunlight – low flat clouds – sweep of hills – ; Walk too hurried to enjoy much. Walk east a while then strike northerly (sic) road going to Gowanda. This walk was superb even tho (sic) I walked till I sweat. The view westward extend for miles over several valleys – the sun was low, the clouds flat & radiating – the air cold & invigorating – ; Sunsets – men working with wagon in corn field – as twilight comes I see I will be pressed for time – My train is due at a quarter past seven & it is already getting dark & my watch says 5:30. In a dip in the road I came upon a stark vision of a house – in spite of my need for haste I had to draw it. ; Darkness falls & I have not yet come to “40” Bridge – the road is steadily going downward so I know that I am approaching it. It is now 5 min. to six. I determine to hail the first machine that comes, altho (sic) the loneliness of the road (it is long since I saw a dwelling) would make an autoist hesitate to stop for an unknown man. The first machine proved to be overloaded with laughing boys & girls – no chance here. The second came along at brisk pace – they were slowing down – it stops – the driver was alone – “Ride?” he asked. He takes me all the way to Gowanda – it was six miles mostly uphill & I would hardly have made it walking.