Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1915 — WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

WALT MASON

The Poet Philosopher. The farmer speaks in heated terms of woes that dog his feet; for fifty million bugs and worms will spoil his corn and wheat. And when he’s tired of using words which taint the passing breeze, he gets his gun and shoots, some birds, which'lived in yonder trees. The farmer keeps a score of cats, and gives them milk and curds, supposing they’ll fill up on rats—-but they are after birds. The birds are death to worms and bugs which desolate the crops, and yet they’re killed with cats and drugs, and guns—-it never stops. The farmer slays his fairest friend, the bird in wet elm tree, then says: “Alas, there is no end -to pests that ruin me!” His righteous heart within him aches, the gophers are so thick, so he pursues a dozen . snakes, and kills them with a brick. Yet snakes devour the . noisome, pest that brings the farmer loss; they swallow mice with eager zest, nor ask imported saucp. The husbandman; the man of woes, would have less cause to groan, if he would only kill his foes, and leave his friends alone.