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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 – February 10, 2003 |
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If you travel up the north road some from here, you will see a white horse standing alone in ol’ John’s pasture. It seems that this animal has been there forever, or almost anyway (now, come to think of it, is that horse still part of that farm or not, hmm?) The daughters of the family have come and gone, and it has been said that the white horse was for them to ride. Whether those girls did ride him or not. “Old White” spent most of his years nibbling the grass down short to keep fit, staying out of the hot summer sun by hanging out under the single ash tree along the road right of way.
The road is paved now but wasn’t much less than a decade ago, not quite such a peaceful lane as it was in its gravel road days. Lots more folks have moved out from town to take over the farm houses of the old timers along the way that have passed on. That black topped strip does, however, get you to where ever you are going a few minutes quicker and keeps the dirt and dust off your vehicle if you don’t happen to live beyond its end.
The old horse never does pay much attention to what speed you travel, fast or slow. He seldom moves a muscle when you pass by as long as his belly is full and he is either in the cool of that ash tree or out of the brisk winter winds in that little white shed at the far side of the pasture. He just has to be there yet, surely one wouldn’t take him for granted, a four-legged creature like that. Could it be that for some reason he has moved on as John’s daughters have, like the gravel road has, or possibly passed to the “Great Beyond” along with some of the old timers? |
