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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer December 22, 2008- - No. 98 |
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Betty and Laurence lived in the not-so-large, not-too-small, neat and tidy farm house with the giant weeping willow in the side yard. Two young children were born and raised on the place. They grew up, married and moved away after finishing high school. Grandma Katie lived in the house too, she was as much a part of the family as anyone. Her stories went way back in time, far beyond the beginnings of this one. Three generations together in the house made farm life a lively and interesting daily occurrence. Life was good, time seemed to stand still. The willow tree out in the yard continued to grow larger and more impressive with each passing year. Grandchildren appeared on the horizon; Grandma's long life of more than 90 years came to a close.
The daily routine of work on the farm went on as usual for Betty and Lawrence. Life pleased them, their farm along "the north road" (88 th Ave.) was the place to be. Lawrence worked the land just as he always had, Betty beside him as a constant helping hand. They always had time for any neighbor that asked a favor or was in need. Someone forgot to inform that ambitious couple that they were moving on in years. Lawrence passed away on a hot July day at wheat harvest time. His life ended in just the way that he would have wanted it to be, right out there in the fields as he was bringing in a bumper crop of grain.
Betty stayed on the farm for another year or two, but the place wasn't the same anymore. She moved into Coopersville where she lives on a paved street in the town. Some young folks, from not far away, bought the farm and moved into the old house one day. One of the first things they did was take down that messy old willow tree. They are putting up a new and bigger and better house right there next to the old one. The good old home will soon go the way of the weeping willow tree. New stories are already being made there on that 80 acre farm. Josh and Laura will have to tell them to you someday -- in the shade of one of their newly planted someday-big-as-the-old-willow maple trees. |
