Johnnie in the Garden
© 2001 James David Pearce
~~~~~~~~~
"Clem," said Elmo, "let me tell you about Johnnie in the Garden."
~~~~~~~~~
Every time I see or hear the word "Garden," it makes me think of a neighbor we had out near the cemetery.
His name was Johnnie (he had more names, but I'd better stop there).
It seemed as if the mornings were always cold and frosty when Johnnie went out into his back lot ~ just across from our back lot ~ to "slop" his hogs.
While I was pumping water or dumping chamber-pots into the outhouse, getting ready for school or work, Johnnie would "slop" his hogs ~ and sing.
Good Lord, he could sing ~ ~
He always sang the same song, and in the crisp, clear morning air, he could be heard a half-mile away.
He had a beautiful voice ~ and he sang loud.
His song was ~ "I came to the Garden alone, while the dew was still on the roses ~ And the Voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God reposes ~ And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own ~ And the joys we share, as we tarry there, none other has ever known."
And I am sure that everybody else in the neighborhood did just about the same thing I did ~ stood there like for the National Anthem or something ~ until Johnnie finished slopping the hogs and quit singing and went back into his house.
It always got the day off to a good start.
When Johnnie was about 50 or so, his daughter was killed one day after school ~ by her boyfriend ~ with a shotgun.
I don't think Johnnie sang much after that. But even after all these years ~ when I go outdoors in the clear, crisp morning air, I still sometimes can hear Johnnie ~ and his song ~ "In the Garden."
~~~~~~~~~
click here to go to the next chapter
click here to go to the Book Titles