Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-12

Tomorrow, sir. I must needs 90 to
answered Matthew. ff''
very we'll; shall expect YOU on the
morrow,"-and upon this the Deacon
passed out to attend to his duties. while
our young friend walked off hurriedlv 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
Before the family had risen from the
breakfast table on the following morning,
Matthew Bernard appeared at Deacon
hoWiand'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
last, 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
today; the boys will show you" said the
Deacon
Matthew followed the boys to the barn
ana aided IN Harvesting the horses-so
aWkWardly, indeed, that the other men
could not repress their merrment-all of
which our friend took good-humoredly.
and when he explained that he was there
only to Learn, the others showed genuine
rural Willingness to aid the newcomer.
1t was dry, warm spring day, with
stiff breeze from the south, which blew
the dust raised by the drag all about him, |
nearly sutfocating 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 thrOugh!' 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 a farmers life reveals il |
self in the care of the stock, poultry and |
other living but unspeaking attachments |
to every well-tO-do farmer. Yes" thought |
Matthew, here 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
ALI OF which he endeavored to perform
to the satisfaction of the deacon, toward |
whom he began to feel the affection of a
son, and who in return answered the
many questions pertaining to the proper
conduct Of successive crops and eagerly
asked by the novice.
HOelng in the heat of June and July.
with the perspiration rolling down his
face-hands bistered 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,
Hammer before you,
Hammer behind you:
Let nothing falter 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 degree that the deacon
would often be astonshed that the work
was going forward SO rapidly It is the
sour and cherries heart that tirags all
things behind it. The cheerful, cOur-
ageous one will push everything ahead Of
lt-and having got it in good motion, the
heaviest part of the task is accomplished
So, 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 he late novice assume the
duties after his second bargain with his
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
which brought the same DUAL
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
through the long winters Matthew's mind
was intent upon nothing except devising
new methods of making the most from
the least. The experience of men of
science he tested, and separated the good
from the worthless. The best alone would
satisfy his ambition-to excel in all things
being his aim.
Could Deacon Rowland be insensble to
VIC htiitC VI SCI vi SCI lIC
such as would delight only in hammering
success out of some doubtful project:
This is service the gods delight ina
service that heaven prospers-more eXalt
ed than the conquerer of battles, the which
draws all men to the feet of the hero who
dare aim at such bountitul benefits re-
gardless of self-"ErcelSj0rr
AS the third year drew to close, Mat
thew took advantage of a rainy day to
meet Deacon Rowland in the sittingroom
for the purpose of getting the old gentle
mans advice upon a project he had long
had in mind-the purchase or rent of a
farm. The meeting was
purely incidental, as Matthew had not
dared to decide for himself It was short
and to the point-as our hero Immediately
preached the subject by saying:
Deacon, | am DESTROYS of having the
benefits of a farm, or SO much so as posi- |
bic for my own use. Shall I buy Or hire /
Onc?"
What farm have you in WE'VE" asked
Rowland
"Southold s-ffty acres at one hundred |
dollars per acre, or One-half for working"
answered Matthew.
Let it alone" CURLY said the Deacon.
why so?" asked Matthew.
"Take mine on halves, and do twice as
we'll as the whole of that"
L will take it." and the verbal agree
ment was finished as the parties separated. |