Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-17
How TO Get Rid Of a Rock.

Uriah Abel was Connecticut farmer, and
in his time pretty good one. His farm, like
a great many other Connecticut farms, was
full of stones, and he delighted to clear them
off out of the way of the pillow. He built a
great many rods of substantial stone wall,
but he could not use up ali the stone. He
had cleared one field of all but one great
boulder, about the size of a large hay-cock.
He wanted to get rid of that. He would
have 'blown il to flinders" as he had good
many others, but it was within two rods OF
"the best room" windows, which might so ito
finders" at the same time. So he attempted
to haul it out of its bed one day. After tir-
ing his own and his neighbours oxen and
breaking several chains, Uriah grew wrathy,
and declared that che would give five dollars
to any one that would put that pesky rock
out of his sight"
"Wa'al meow, don't mind taking the job
if you'll find a spade and throw in some din
ner, and a mug of cider along in the after
nOOn.n
This proposition was made by a stranger
who had Just then come up. He was fair
specimen of working Yankee, and Uriah
drOpped the broken chain and turned square
round to look him full in the face.
Yes, I'll give it, and the dinner and cider
too, but won't pull my oxen again at that
stone, no how.
Don't want you should. I'm to put the
stone out Of sight, make all smooth about
here, so that you can plOw right along That's
what I'm to do, amt it ;"
"Yes. that Is all want / don't care how
YOU do it, but if you fail / don't pay any,
thing Do you understand? Very well, then
come in to dinner"
That done, and large quid of tobacco adj
iusted, the Yankee threw off his coat and
took up the spade. He gave a look at the
stone to see which way it would tip easiest,
and then commenced digging hole on the
lower side, large and deep enough to bury
the boulder quite out OF sight IL . ..1r
and then dug little more on one side. Then
he went to the wOOd-pile and got stout stick
of wood, which he planted firmly with one
end In the bottom of the hole and the other
bracing against the rock. Then he began
undermining, and worked till he saw the dirt
begin to give, and found that the rock was
resting upon his brace.
Now" says he, " I think I'll take that
mug of cider"
Urish, who had been watching him, order
ed out the cider with a right good will. He
even offered to add some doughnuts and
cheese"
While the Yankee was wiping away the
perspiratiOn and drinking his cider, Uriah
brought bis oxen around and hitched chain
to the wooden prop.
81 did say l wouldn't pull my oxen again,
and don't mean to, cause it only needs a
smart jerk"
Jerk il was, and down went the boulder
and with it a shovel full of dirt, and another
and another, in quick succession, until all wa:
smooth and level, and long before night the
Yankee was ready to resume his journey.
There" said Uriah, as he handed him the
FIVE dollars, ''there is the best five dollars
that 1 ever paid for work on my farm. WOnt
you take another drink of cider? You are
entirely welcome. have learned something
of you"
Perhaps some persons who read this may
learn something-learn how to get rid of some
of the bOulders that cucumber the surface
and which are often blasted and broken uI
and hauled away ',just to get rid of them, al
q much greater expense than it would re
quire to bury them where they lie, entirely
cut of sight.