Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-02-10
MiSeellauenMs.
How to Get Rid of a Rock.

Uriah Abel was Connecticut farmer,
and in his time pretty good one. His
farm, like great many other Conpecti-
cut farms, was full of stones, and he de-
lighted to clear them off out of the way
Of the plow. He built great many
rods of substantial stone wall, but he
could not use up all the stone. He had
cleared one field Of all but one great
boulder. About the size of large hay.
cock. lie wanted to get rid of that
HI would have "b,own it to finders" rs
he had good many others, but was with
in two rods Of "the best room" windows,
which might 60 "to finders" at the same
time. So he attempted to haul it out Of
its bed one day. After firing his own
and his neighbors oxen, and breaking
eral chains, Uriah grew wrathy, and de-
clared that "he would give five dollars
to any one who would put that pesky
rock out Of sight"
"Wa'al meow, l don't mind taking the
job if you'll find spade and throw in
some dinner, and a mug of cider along in
the afternoon"
This proposition was made by stran-
ger who had just then come up lie was
a fair specimen Of a 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 [ wont 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 you can plow right along.
That's what l'm to do, amt it p
Yes, that is all want. don't care
how you do it, but if you fail l don't pay
anything. Do you understand Very
well. then come in to dinner"
That done, and large quid Of tobacco
adjusted the Yankee threw Of his Goa.
tand took up the spade. He gave look
at the stone to see which way it would
tip easiest, and then commenced digging
a hole on the lower side large and deep
enough to bury the boulder qaite out of
sight. In three hours he got out and
took careful measurement, and then dug
a little more on ore side. Then he went
to the woodpile and got stout stick of
wood, which he planted firmly with one
end in the bottom of his 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, II think that l will
take that mug Of CIDER
Uiiah, who had been watching him
ordered 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 elder
Urah brought his oxen around and
Litched a chain to the wooden prop.
II did say | wouldn't pull my oxen
again, and don't mean to, cause it only
needs a smart jerk"
Jerk it was, and down went the bould-
er, and with it shovel full of dirt and
another and another, in quick succession,
until all was smooth and level, and long
before hight the ankee was reauy 10 re-
sumo his journey.
There" said Uriah, as ho handed
him the FIVE dollars, There is the best
spent five dollars that ever paid for
work on my farm. Won't you take an.
other drink of cider? You are entirely
welcome. l have learned something Of
you"
Perhaps some persons who read this
may learn something-learn how to get
rid Of some Ct the boulders that encum.
Der the surface, and which are often
blasted and broken up and hauled away,
''just to get rid of thcm,' at much
greater expense than it would require tc
bury them where they lie, ensigsly out o
sight.