James Whitcomb Riley, a beloved Hoosier Poet that I have loved to read down through the years since my childhood. My father and grandmother gave me the love of books. On a hunting trip to Canada, brought home an antique book of James Whitcomb Riley with beautiful illustrations. I was so mesmerized by the pictures and of course the poems. Sadly, the book was lost through my numerous years of moves, in my early years. This book I found online but it just isn't the same as that beautiful antique one.  His work spanned from 1870-1907. 

The pix at the right is an article that appeared in the Indianapolis News, on June 27, 1977. This article is about a special lady, Sarah Harden whom I had the honor to meet a few years before her death. She was still living in Brown County Indiana.  You see, she is the little girl the artist, and illustrator Will Vawter used for Riley's Books.  It was a common practice in those days that the artists that lived in Brown County would hire young children in the area to pose for the illustrations. Sometimes the case being was of local housekeepers that had their children tagging long during the day, which captured the attention of the artists and writers. Sarah was one of those children. She is the cute little "Orphant' Annie." To add to this story, my sister happened to be married to one of Sarah's sons, Dale Harden. This is the connection with Sarah and how I was so blessed to meet her and shake her hand. She was in the well-pressed blue jeans, and a crisp white shirt that day, with fluffy white hair.  What a delight.