Charles E. Burchfield's Dreams, Journals, May 10, 1948

Dreams -

A.  A country road somewhere to the northwest of Salem. A narrow road, lined with beautiful ancient Beech Trees. I wandered down it, and after some time came to a small group of country stores. In a field nearby, some boys were playing. I heard one addressed as “Martin” and it occurred to me that he might be the son of an old schoolmate “Martin Allen”. I called him to me. He was much bigger than I had supposed, taller than I but obviously in his early “teens”. He said that he was indeed the son of Martin Allen. He seemed so bubbling over with health & good spirits that I was won over completely by him. He said that he had to hurry home to supper. I told him to tell his Dad that he had met his schoolmate (giving him my name) and that I used to call him (his father) Mathead Allen—“Yes, I’ll tell the Judge that,” He said with a boyish grin. “Judge”? “I asked “Yes, he’s the Judge of West Fourth St."

B – Out in the country, S.E. of Salem. An old abandoned farm house left open to the elements. An old playmate Drayton Smeltz with me. A wild turkey under a brush near the house. It would walk away in alarm whenever I approached it, but always kept coming back. Eventually, he allowed me to put my arms around it & pat it. Drayton then told me, it was sick and would die. While I was trying to think of some plan whereby I could save it, I awoke.

Charles E. Burchfield, May 10, 1948