by Wendell Berry, 2012
Twenty stories of the Port William membership. Beautiful stories of the love between farmers and their land; their hard, endless work; the way they help each other with their work and their grief; and the joy and love they share in their community. Days long gone now.
Wayne’s favorite is Burley Coulter. When his brother’s boy died in the war (whom Burley pretty much raised since Jarrat was incapable after their mother’s death) Burley just came over every evening and sat with his brother and shared his grief. He was just there for him.
I like this line in the story about the preacher’s wife, a desirable woman, “They had never expected to live independently of the weather or to be free of hardship and struggle.” (Talking about farmers’ lives.)
A funny line in the story of Burley’s long night hunting “The Dark Country.” “He imagines that the dogs have lunched on fresh meat in the lags after treeing, but he doesn’t think it right to eat in front of them without offering them something. Having seen no sign that dogs can count, he gives them a biscuit a piece and keeps the other four for himself.”
Art Rowanberry to Andy, “Do you need anything I got?”
“Arthur, the ‘meanest’ or ‘hardest’ of the Ritis brothers.”
Beautiful stories! Beautifully written! Take you to a place full of life and love, warmth, joy, sorrow, hard work, good work, satisfying work. Pride in the land, lots of love and loyalty and care. NICE! 🙂