Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-06-12
town folks call 'Clod-hopper?' asked

town folks call 'ClOd-hopper?' asked
the Deacon.
Il have thought so, and after mature de-
liberation, have decided to take hold and
master the calling and trust to God for re-
suits, provided can obtain a place to do
So" was Matthew's enthusiastic reply.
young man." said Deacon Rowland,
II like that talk. Are you willing to do
the best you know how? Are you willing
to deny yourself many comforts for the
sake of SUGGEST"
81 am willing" was Matthew'S brief re-
ply;
'How much wages do you expect?" in
quired Mr. Rowland.
"What my services are worth, and no
more" promptly answered our young
friend
"Firstclass help commands about TWEEN
ty-five dollars per month and keeping. /
do not think you could get above fifteen,
and if you choose to try it at that, you
may stay with u.s." said the Deacon.
II was in hopes of receiving more; but
in consideration of my little idea of farm
ing, do not know but the price is sufi-
cient;" and then hcsitating amomcnt, that
he might rapidly consider the subject, he
soon continued, upon the whole, | will
accept your Offer
Every well, SIR" answered Rowland.
"When will you be prepared to begin
work?"
"To-morrow, sir. l must needs go to
Linton before can take hold properly"
answered Matthew.
Every well; | shall expect you on the
morrow, and upon this the Deacon
passed out to attend to his duties, while
our young friend walked off hurriedly to
the village, four miles distant
What passed through his mind on the
way to town is known only to himself,
but the rapid, firm tread bespoke the Man
of Will
Before the family had risen from the
breakfast table on the following morning,
Matthew Bernard appeared at Deacon
Howland's door, clad in homespun, with
a small bundle in his hands-as he after
wards said, sufficient clothing to COM
mence business with"
Having been informed that it was Gus
tomary to do up the chores before break
fast, that they might go to the fields imme
diately after, Matthew requested instruc-
tons for the day.
"You will have to harrow the oat field
to-day; the boys will show YOU" said the
Deacon
Matthew followed the boys to the barn
and aided in Harvesting the horses-so
awkwardly, indeed, that the other men
could not repress their merriment-all of
which our friend took good-humoredly,
and when he explained that he was there
only to learl-, the others showed genuine
rural willingness to aid the newcomer.
1t was a dry, warm spring day, with
stiff breeze from the south, which blew
the dust raised by the drag all about him,
nearly suffocating Matthew with its in
tense mastery. Tramp, tramp, back and
forth over the newly plowed ground. All
day the hours seemed to grow longer as
each successive one came, until our friend
seemed fainting with the unwonted labor!
ooh! how the back ached-how the
limbs seemed ready to sever from the body
how often the embryo farmer turned his
mind to the ease in Yardsticks store--and
how, after each short rest or breathing
SPELL the hero in the man would break
out with, "Hammer it throughn' and strug-
gle on until the supper horn called the
men from the fields.
After the evening meal upon the farm,
the true love of farmers life reveals it.
self in the care of the stock, poultry and
other living but unspeaking attachments
to every well-to-do farmer. "1es," thought
Matthew, "hcre, in these dumb creatures
the ennobling traits of man can find vent
for its talents"
AS the days rolled along, Matthew,
whose whole heart seemed imbued with
the new world about him, slowly gained
the knowledge of duties falling upon him
all of which he endeavored to perform
to the satisfaction of the deacon, toward
whom he began to feel the affection of a
tI,f,
many questions pertaining to the proper
conduct of successive crops and eagerly
asked by the novice.
Hoeing in the heat of June and July,
with the perspiration rolling down his
face-hands blistered and aching back
long rows before him and accustomed
hands beside him-Oh! how manfully did
the young man struggle against the odds,
and as each row was ended, sing joyfully,
s. Hammer before you,
Hammer behind yOu
Let nothing fater with you
Hammer above you,
Hammer beneath you,
And hoe your long row through"
Not only did these words fill his own
weary hands with renewed vigOr, but they
also seemed to fire the hearts of those with
him to such a degree that the deacon
would often be astOnished that the work
was going forward SO rapidly. It is the
sour and cherries heart that drags all
things behind it. The cheerful, cour-
ageous one will push everything ahead of
it-and having got it in good motion, the
heaviest part of the task is accomplished.
&c. when one year had rolled over Mat
thew's services upon the farm of Deacon
Rowland, the latter re-engaged him for an
indefinite time at full, experienced wages.
So aptly did the late novice assume the
duties after his second bargain with his
employer, the Deacon actually found that
much of the supervision of the estate was
wholly useless because of Matthew's fore
sight and tact in arranging the labor of
the men. This Unborn ability created
confidence, which brought the same quail
ity in return.
Everything prospered during the second
year, and nothing Jagged with the third,
by which time Matthew was pronounced
by the neighbors all about as the most
practical and sensible among them all
little reckoning they what the mental toll
the slender boy mastered. By night and
thrOu oh the long winters Matthew's mind