The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-12

/ say, Joe, Salu the 1arnler as ne
came up, "let's go into the village to
morrow. / want to see about some
clothes, and can't stop to wait for a
rainy day, and you can make some
errand in as well as not, so let's go and
have a good time. Let's lay off hall
a day any way.
Joe closed his notebook, and delib-
crately folded his paper, replyingas he
did so, Cant afford TO lose the time,
my boy, don't need any clothes, and,
beside, the work on the farm is already
two or three days behind the point
where should want it to be if were
carrying it on myself"
IF you were carrying it on your
self" said the other, with curl of
his lip, very nearly approaching a
sncer what does that have to do
with laying off half day? Iou
don't suppose fellow is to take as
much pains for old Foster ashe would
on farm of his own, do you?"
why not, John, doesn't he take a
great interest in the men he hires
Are we not welcome to read his books
and papers when work is done, and
doesn't he take as much pains to look
after our welfare as though we were
friends instead of merely hired labor
ers :"
II should like to know what you
mean by merely hired laborcrs ? I'm
as good as old Foster any day, and
don't see any reason why | should
slave myself to death Oh his farm, be-
cause he is sharp enough TO leave
books and papers around where we
can pick them up, just as he leaves
salt where the cattle can lick it. He's
keen old chap, and thinks that if the
men take an interest in keeping up
things. as he calls it, he VIII get more
work out of them but he don't come
it over me, ! can tell YOU"
Now, John, | am really very sorry
to hear you talk in that way, for |
think Mr.. Foster is trying to do Us all
the good that he can. He expects his
work done, of course, since he
paws for it, but a good man can al
wavs get little more from him than
from ANYBODY else in the township,
why, YOU act "a though he had
hired YOU to blow for him. Expect to
have your wages raised, don't you ~
Il certainly shouldn't object if |
didn't receive now as much as ] could
have the conscience TO charge. |
mean to he worth more next year,
though"
but see here, John :" calling after
him, as he was moving away, you
won't be angry if | speak plainly to
YOU?
"Whv. no, of course not"
"Well, then, I'm afraid that it will
make trouble, if you try to get off to-
morrow. for the bows think that You
'sojer' Just little now and then.
They are sure to complain loud en-
ough for Mr.. Foster to hear of it, one
or another of them, if fhey really get
the idea into their heads, and YOU
know. kind a. he is, he won't stand
any nonsense"
Neither will l." answered the 9th
er, hotly, land if any sneak SAYS that
| shirk nv work, because don't grub
like niger all the time, it won't
make any difference with my going to
town when | choose to-"
Next morning, as the old farmer set
on the porch after breakfast, reading
his newspaper, John came around the
house and asked leave to go to the vii
lage for the afternoon.
Looking over the top of his spec
tacles, the old man said:
well, John, we are pretty well
driven, YOU know last weeks rain has
given the weeds such a start that we
shall have brisk work to prevent their
getting ahead of us though of course
YOU understand that, and won't ask to
get off unless it were necessary. You
can 60"
As John passed through the gate
Mr.. Foster turned to his daughter,
who sat near by busy with the farm
accounts, and said:
Mary, just see how many days
and halfdays that young man has
laid off since the Spring work COM
menced."
Running her nimble fingers over the
pages; she said
why father, you don't intend to
charge them to him, do you :"
Certainly not, child, | only want
to know if old Hiram Foster isn't los
ing too much money by hiring hand
who has so much business off the farm
in the busy season."
"He has been away three whole
days and five half days, since work in
the sugar-bush stopped. Shall ] go
back any further than that ?"
NO; that will do. | guess that |
shall have TO recommend John to turn
his attention to something not quite
so confning as farm labor, after this
month is up"
THAT means, sir, that you will dis
charge him, suppose"
"Humph you have guessed it very
nearly" he replied 81 cannot en-
courage loose business habits in aman
whose only capital lies in his muscles,
and / never refuse a man leave to go
when he asks it. Each must judge
for himself as to the number Of holi-
days which he requires, for | wish to
satisfy those whom i employ"
In a few minutes Mary had closed
her book and was gliding through the
half-open door, when her father said
"Child, there was a young man
from the village, out here yesterday
while you were down at the lower
farm, and he wanted TO know if |
should object TO receiving him as
son-in-law."
The girl opened her eyes very wide. |
$50 you are getting tired of me,
father Z"
"Whyput thatinto your silly pate: 7"
why sir, you know have brought
us up to consider your own oc-
cupation the most heathful and among
the most worthy of earthly pursuits.
Now, of course, if were to go into |
the village-for l suppose was wan
ted since you are speaking to me
where would be all my girlish fancies
Of.