Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-07-22
Happiness iu the Hay.FIeId.


In most other kinds of farm-labor there
is something disagreeable. Flowing
when occasionally, falling to turn the sod,
one gets on his knees, and lifts with mis-
hands and arms what the plow failed to
do, that the furrow may be open for the
next slice--is sure TO dirty ones hands,
and bend unpleasantly ones back, if il
does not (fguratively speaking) break, it.
Then, in planting, one always gets his
shoes full of dirt, and whole boots (espe-
cially for boys) are the exception, not the
rsle. Later in the year, when hoeing
comes-as the New -Englanders call the
manipulation they give the earth in the
potato and corn fields-working where
the thermometer marks at least 1909, with
the soil Under ones feet in a condition to
roast eggs in from three to five minutes
STOPPING at each hill TO pull out weeds, OF
lessen the number of stalks giving the
sun, meanwhile, good, square chance at
ones back-is not an occupation so un.
speakably desirable as some amateurs
might imagine.
But when July comes, and farewclls
have been spoken to the corn and pota-
toes, the scythes ground, the moving.
machine put in order, and all else in
readiness for effective work, there is
one treads, and the fragrance of blossoms
and the new-mown grass, that enthraIls
one, and makes every enthusiastic tiller oil
the soil unspeakably glad in his joyous and
delightful work, .r-t
All this in general Let us come down
| to particulars. The work Of haying can
be made especially pleasant isr7s
FIRsT-By beglHain9 early. There is q
Joy in working when your labor produces
the best and highest results There is a
comfort in cutting fresh grass and curing
1t for your coWs-in such way as will
bring TO them the most satisfaction and
the most good-that is never found in
moving dead-ripe stalks that they would
not touch when green, and only will "a
prevent starvation when gathered into
the barn. Besides, if you are driven by
! your work-perplexed as to which field to
cut first, when all are waiting and wasting
all the delights of the season vanish.
SRCoND.-Pdn beforehand Each days
work should have the distinctness of a
campaign in the directors mind when the
morning comes. 1t is generally best tc
settle the prominent points the night be
fore, and when once decided upon, al
vacillation or change is for the worse.
=. S.THRD.-InsiSt upon pronptneSs. Make
each man do his work in the time speci
fed, and at the time specified. An hours
delay will sometimes disarrange whole
week. 1t is like battalion in an army
failing to put in an appearance when
ordered. ~
FoURTH.-NtUer lenUe TIL Tomorrow tohai
can be done to day. Ifyou have an hour al
night, grind the scythes then, and NOT
wait till morning. Ii you have load OF
hay in the wagon at six o'clock in the af
ternoon, pitch it off then, and not wait
till the morrow. If there is cloudy
day, NOW uneven places with scythe
and not wait for sunshine-you will be
needed elsewhere thenS and thus, in every
department, keeping yourself master o.
the situation-driving the work instead
of the work driving you. s.-...
By so doing, the pleasure that naturally
comes of the season and of the business
will be doubled, and instead of discomfort
and distraction, there will be joy of what
you are doing and in what you do
Hearth and Home.