Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-25
AN AMUSING EXAMPLE.

in our primary soils, where large rocks are
lmoedded firmly in the soil, and lie thickiy on
the ground, they are a great incumbrance to
the cultivation of the land; and If to be got out
oil the way are great expense in their reno
val. Masy of them are worked into stone
FENCES, but as better stones for such purposes
usually abound on the same premises, the
huge rocks are little less than a nuisance, to
De got rid OF In some way, and usually by blast
ing, picking up and carrying away altogether,
when they can be devoted to no useful pur-
pose.
There is another way of getting rid Of them,
which we can best illustrate by a case in point:
Some years ago, wealthy townsman bought a
country place, rude farm rather, having good
capabilities for fine residence, a few miles out
OF town, and went to work to improve it. In
laying out his building ground, q huge granite
rock, OF seven feet in circumference, lay deeply
imbedded in the light yellow loan, where he
proposed to have his lawn. The rock he must
nave out OF the way, and as he had no tools to
blast 1t with, he set to work with half dozen
labsrers, and two or three yoke Of oxen, to re-
move it. The owner "bossed'' his work him.
self; but as he knew much more about mer-
chandise than moving rocks, the work went on
but badly.
He ordered levers and hand spikes; the labor.
ers shoveled a hole on one side, to get the lever
under the rock; they dug holes on the other
chains were wrapped around it and hooked.
and the cattle whipped up and bawled at by
the teamster, all to no purpose The chains
broke, the workmen gabbled, the teamsters
scolded, and the " boss" fumed and frctted 1t
was no CO. decidedly, after toiling at the rock
half-s-day. There it lay, heavy, sullen, i'm
movable.
As they were aboutleaving for dinner, a lank
looking Yankee came travelling along with a
stick over his shoulder, and a bundle tied in
cotton pocket handkerchief hanging on the end
OF 1T. Hearing the NUS over in the field,
he turned from the highway to the fence near
where the men were at work, and took look
to see what they were about. The men had
now scattered, leaving the owner of the prem
iSes still at the rock, where he quietly stood,
apparently musing on the ill success of his
morning labor. Singing out to him our Yankee
friend exclaimed
Say, neighbOr, what We dewin' on ?"
Feeling exceedingly nettled, yet still willing
to receive comfort from almost auy quarter he
muttered half angrily, yet somewhat Goa axingly:
I've been working here all day with a lot
OF stupid fellows, and couple Of teams, to get
out this rock and here il lies as fast as ever and
believe shall have to abandon it after all -
Dew tell never :" said the Yankee, climb
ing over the fence, and approaching the pro-
prietor-where he carefully laid down his bun.
die, containing probably the most of his spare
wearing gear" And what do you want to do
with it ?"
Nothing in the world but get it out of sight
some way or other, so that shall never see it
again"
"Sartin. Never want to see the rock again,
So"
"Yes out of sight; that's all care for"
And hoew much ii ye give ter put the pesky
thing where ye won't see it agin-never
why, I've fooled away five dollars on it
already and /! will give five dollars to any
one who'll do the job"
Sartin?'
"Yes. sartin'
oval, throw in my dinner for I'm plaguy
hungry, and keep them pesky fellers eout of
the lot, an give me good shovel an I'll dew
1t for ye this afternoon"
The bargain was struck, the Yankee given
his dinner, and about one O'Clock, D. m he was
seen coat of and sleeves rolled up, of q pleas
ant day in the month of April, shoyelipe awav
like all possessed, " in sinking hugo hole on
one side and partly under the rock aforesaid.
The owner, Of course, was not far away, direct
ing his men about other labor which they pros
ecuted with more apparent success than their
mornings work. Long before sunset our Yam
kee sung out to his employer, and bcckoned
him with his hand to come TO the spot He
was there In moment, and found a huge hole
which would furnish cellar for a moderate
sized building
Say, Mister, yew jest take holt o. that eend
o this ere pry, and bring it round here, while
L throw round t'other eend. SOS to give the
rock jintle tarve, an guess we'll fetch is
30 the boss, now playing the workman,
did as he was bidden; and the lever was laid
sofhat when the Yankee had thrown out a
Few shovelfulls more Of earth, the stone was
nicely balanced upon it, and stout lift would
throw 1t directly into tho pit
" But don't we want some help? Stay a
minute, and I'll call my men to help YOU"
"Not single head on 'em, 'thout yew want
EN- buried in that pit-the best possible use
such idolat' us set o. critters can be put tew.
Wen dew it ourselves"
So saying, our Yankee just eased tho fur
ther end Of his lever, while by bis direction
his employer, with handspike on the other
side OF the rock, gave it a gentle lift, and over
went the enormous bowlder into the pit, with
Its upper side laying full two feet below the
surface of the adjoining ground. Seizing again
the shovel, before the sun was fairly set, the
stone was covered in, and the surface leveled.
Our Yankee rolled down his shirt sleeves, put
on his coat, and .gravely turning to his en-
ployer, remarked:
"Now, Squire, that ere FIVE dollars, if yew
Will! Fair bargain, amt it? You'll never see
that ere stone again, unless you dig for it,
Certainly, here's your money, and if / had
to pay you twenty it would be knowledge very
cheaply gained. 1 shall know what to do with
the rocks on this place hereafter"
"Not with them pesky bog trotters, about ye.
L guess the afternoons work'l set me on about
another hundred miles towards the west, and
III be jogging. So, good night, Squire
And away trudged our hero towards the far
West, and to competence; leaving our newly
instructed farmer to vex and fret himself with
his workmen as occasion might offer.-Ameri-
can AgrIenlturfst.