As we ride across country these beautiful autumn days , we ’ re reminded at every turn , at every new view , what a wonderful land we live in , and how very lucky we are to be here to enjoy it all . For now it is harvest time , and every field is bustling with activity . Our valley is , a diversified one , so here we see a field of lush green hop vines being pulled down bit by bit , and nearby a drier in full operation . A field or two away a farmer is gathering in his 3rd or 4th cutting of alfalfa hay . The apple harvest is in full swing . Some of the trees are so heavily laden with bright shiny red apples they look like Christmas decorations , and are a gentle reminder that that time too is approaching . The pumpkins in the fields and the turkeys strutting so proudly around the farm yards are the typical Thanksgiving decorations in vibrant living beauty . The roadside fruit and vegetable stands have popped up overnight like some of the mushrooms they sell , and here one can feast his eyes on melons of many varieties , green and red peppers , onion , tomatoes , potatoes , yellow apples , red apples , green apples , and more apples .
On one such ride , we met Jerry Ingham , a visitor from the Coast . Jerry was with his parents . When he saw us riding our Walkers by the fruit stand where they had stopped to make some purchases , he hurried out to stop us . Jerry is 14 , and bubbling over with all the enthusiasm of that age . “ May I see your Walkers ? I have one too !” were his greeting words . And then we heard about his Walker , and , in
By Aletha Wiehl
' 4kmAt Cm \ et
the hearing , we learned a bit about Jerry too .
All his young life , Jerry had wanted a horse . But Jerry was the oldest of four children and there was never quite enough money to buy a horse and take care of one . So Jerry continued to read about horses , and look at pictures of horses , and talk about horses , and dream about horses , and the Someday when he would have one of his own . And then one day , the miracle happened .
It was the first day of summer vacation , and Jerry had packed a sandwich and had started walking across town toward the hills and the evergreens and the little brook that just might furnish a trout or two for breakfast the next morning , but was certain to provide a happy first day of vacation . He had walked beyond all the houses and businesses and had just passed the last building before he came to the country , the old slaughter house and cannery . In recent years the cannery had been closed permanently , and the buildings were showing the signs of age and neglect . Once in awhile the old corrals that were still standing would house a few cattle for a night or two while there waiting for shipment . And , sometimes the Humane Society would use them to hold a horse , or cow , or sheep that may have strayed , until the owner appeared , or the time limit for holding them was up . Then , if they were healthy , homes were found for them . If they were ill , or crippled , or in pain , at the end of the waiting period , the Society quickly and painlessly put them out of their misery . Today the corrals were all empty . So Jerry swung along with his eyes toward the tall fir trees .
And then he saw it . Right ahead , in the shadows of the first trees , stood a horse . The shadows were kind , and from that distance , the horse looked beautiful . But , as he drew closer , Jerry saw that every rib was visible , and the hip bones stuck out like those on a starved cow , and the horse was standing on three legs , gingerly resting the other down from time to time . His head was hanging down ’ till it almost touched the ground , and , for a moment Jerry thought the animal might drop down , right before his eyes , never to get up again . “ Hey , you !” Jerry shouted . At least he meant to shout , but actually it came out more of a whisper . But it was loud enough for the horse to hear . And up came the head . ‘ Way up ! And he looked right at Jerry . That ’ s when Jerry really saw the horse . Not the ribs , and the pronounced hip bones , and the pain and weakness , but the wonderful kindness and courage in the eyes , the proud set of the head , the beautiful symmetry of the way the horse was put together . And Jerry thought he was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen !
The horse too seemed to feel from that first moment that Jerry was somebody special . As Jerry reached out his hand to touch the dull coat , the animal gave an almost inaudible nicker , and painfully tried to take that last step between them . But the nicker ended in a moan as he put his full weight on that uplifted leg . Jerry looked at the foot to make sure there was nothing in it to cause trouble , but it was plain to see the swelling in the leg itself .
All thoughts of the picnic were gone now . The one thing to do was to get food and water for the horse . And , after that to lead , coax , and encourage him into the nearby corrals . Later , Jerry checked every where he could to find out who the owner had been , where the horse had come from , but the sheriff ’ s office , the Humane Society , and finally , a one line ad in the paper , all brought no results . It seemed the horse had been dropped from heaven for Jerry ’ s special benefit .
A rather doubtful benefit it seemed to Jerry ’ s parents . To them the horse looked like a bag of bones
NOVEMBER , 1964 23