Vermont Weathervane -- When the Frost is on the Punkin

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CELEBRATE THE SEASON:
The Time of Falling Leaves
by Mary Lou Healy

Autumn: The Exultant March to Death
by Zephine Humphrey

Emilo's Creations are Gourd-eous
by Kirt Zimmer

A Harvest of Fall Recipes

POETRY:
A Vermont Walk in October
by Daniel L. Cady

When the Frost is on the Punkin
by James Witcomb Riley

GARDENING:
Legends of the Chrysanthemum
by Leonard Perry

EVERYTHING WOOD HEAT:
Drop Me a Liner
by Daryle Thomas

INTO THE OUTDOORS:
Long Trail Therapy
An Excursion into the Woods Rekindles the Spirit.

VERMONT WEATHERVANE BOOK NEWS:
Passing Strange
True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors

Richard Brown's New England
A new book by acclaimed photographer Richard Brown.

GET OUT AND ABOUT:
Views Through Time:
A Driving Tour of Rutland County, Vt.

Vermont Country Calendar

EXPLORE OUR OTHER SEASONS:
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
SUMMER

If you didn't pass through Rural, Vermont to get to this site you may want to make a small detour.

It's worth the trip!

Write Us:
weathervane
@ruralvermont.com
We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions.

or call: 802-645-9631
RD 1, Box 680
West Pawlet, VT 05775

When the Frost is on the Punkin
by James Whitcomb Riley

When the frost is on the punkin and the foddler's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the gujineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bare-headed, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the foddler's in the shock.

They's something kindo' hearty-like about the atmosphere,
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here-
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetisin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a picture that no painter has the colorin' to mock-
When the frost is on the punkin and the foddler's in the shock.

The husky, rusty rustle of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries-kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin'sermons to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the meddler, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in their stalls below-the clover overhead!-
O, it sets my heart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the foddler's in the shock!

-JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY