Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-15
H0W 70 Get Rid Of a Rock,

Uriah Abel was q Connecticut farmer, and
in his time a 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
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 large hay cock.
He wanted to get rid of that He would
have "blown it to flinders" as he had a good
many others, but it was within two rods of
''the best room" windows, which might 90 ''to
flinders" 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 he would give five dollars
to any one that would pat that pesky rock
out of his sight"
"Wa'aI meow, don't mind taking the Job
if you'll find a spade and throw in some din
ner, and mug OF cider along in the after
noon"
This proposition was made by a stranger
who had just then come up. He was fair "a
specimen of working Yankee, and Uriah
dropped the broken chain and turned square
round to look him full in the face
6 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. Pm to put the
stone out OF sight, make all smooth about
here, so that you can pillow right along. That's
what Pm TO do, amt it?"
" Yes, that is all | want. | don't care how
you do it, but if you fail l don't pay any,
thing. Do you understand Very well, then
come i'll to dinner"
That done, and large quid o. tobacco adj
justed, the Yankee threw of his coat anC
took up the spade. He gave 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. In three hours
he got out and took careful measurement,
and then dug a little more on one side. Then
lie 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, 81 think I'll take thai
mug of cider"
Uriah, who had been watching him, order
ed out the cider with a right good will. IL
even offered to add "somc doughnuts an(
cheese
While the Yankee was wiping away tht
perspiration aud drinking his cider, Trial
brought his oxen around and hitched a chair
30 the wooden prop.
Il did say l wouldn't pull my oxen again
and don't mean to, cause it only needs
smart jerk"
Jerk it was, and down went the boulder
and with it a shovel full of dirt, and anothe
and another, i'll quick succession, until all wa
smooth and level, and long before night tn,
Yankee was ready to resume his journey.
There" said Uriah, as he handed him tn
five dollars, "there is the best five dollar
that l ever paid for work on my farm. Won
you take another drink of cider? You ar
entirely welcome. l have learned somethin,
of you"
Perhaps some persons who read this ma
learn something-learn how to get rid of SOM
of the boulders that cucumber the surface
and which are often blasted and broken u
and hauled away 'just to get rid of them," a
a much greater expense than it would re
quire to bury them where they lie, entirel
out of sight.