The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-08-19
I'll BROKEN SPEAR.
A HARVEST STORY.

HARVEST TOR
"Paulo post belEunl. Cesar.
"Come, lively nowi" cried farmer Buck,
And donned his harvest fFock,
4" Let's see that ~fifteen-acre piece
All in by five o'clock
The Brights commenced two days ago,
They've got in twenty loadI
Its not our style to come behind,
We used TO show the road.
Let George and 'Shortey' take the cams,
Dennis Will stow away,
The darkey Il pitch and I'll fork of
Let's make her smoke today
We ought to have an extra hand
To keep the rake a-going,
But men are scarce; I s'pose I'm booked
To do this seasons moving"
on went the boys, but in the door,
In pink and white and blue,
Stood little Kit, and pouting asked,
whats Tom and me do7n
She raised her dainty pinafore
With q half mimicked sob
The farmer laughed and hooked his belt:
81 s'pect you'll boss the job"
But a shadow changed the farmers face,
For with one arm at rest
Across the gate a soldier leaned,
One sleeve pinned to his breast;
He looked up to tie morning hills
Why does the soldier grieve?
That mention of an " extra hand"
Has twitched the idle sleeve.
They had not thought Of work for Tom
Mid labors near and far
Tom sat beside his window
And read about the war;
For Tom had done the country's work,
And to these patriot boys
The glory Of the empty sleeve
Turned plovrs and hoes to toys.
The hale old Buck had hustled on,
Had scolded, laughed, and sung
He had his ups and downs and rounds
Liz most folks old or young
He had not marked Toms thoughtful moods
Nor felt that ought was wrong,
But something told the soldier boy
His furlough was too long.
Father" he said with softening eyes,
"Tis just a year to-day,
And twas a morning just like this
fell in Honor's way
sCome, lively now 2 the Colonel cried
Your words brought his to mind;
I was nj first nor bravest then,.
Butt didn't lag shine
1 sowed my blood on Glory's field
And Row 1 reap her soil;
/ sit and eat an idlerls bread
Won by a fathers toll!
What has the Country done for me?
What can the Country do
My pension would not pay the cost
Which here / am to you.
1t would buy a h~urdy-gurdy,"
He cried with a bitter sneer,
"And I'll grind a hurdy-gurdy
Rather than loiter herel'
"No, Tom,n the old man said, "grudge not
But he could say no more ;
He tried again: "While I've a crust"
But broke down as before.
The soldier leaned across the gate,
The teams were now put to-
"Come, lively there ~ called joVial George,
"We're waiting now for you"
Tho farmer strolled among the teams,
But he fumbled at their names,
He raised the collars, smoothed their necks,
And softly called their names;
At length he said "Turn out the beasts;
1 feel-a little down;
Just look to things about the place,
I'm going up to town."
Here was the strangest come-to-pass
That farm had ever seen;
The boys looked on with startled eyes
And said "What does he meant"
Tom came among them, sad and strange,
They looked to him for light;
He sighed: perhaps-he did not know
No doubt It was all right
"Dennis had better take the spade
And finish out his ditch
n Sam, there is some hoeing yet
Here in the onion patch"
The darkey vowed the hay would spoil,
There want no sort of sense
But Tom walked of and heard no more,
But stroIled along the fence.
Soon he called George and Charley round
To where the mower stood;
They got the axe and plafie and saw,
And fixed some bits of wood
To the long lever which in place
The "cutter-bar" retains
NOu- Tom nan u,orE n with hfa foot
While one hand holds the reins-
That night around the supper board
When each was in his place,
And little Kit with folded hands
Had said the evening grace,
Good farmer Buck took from his breast
Apaper-"legal cap,"
Which, while he wiped his spectacles,
BE laid dow in his lap.
We will not wait its reading now,
And you may we'll surmise
TIL farmer read bu poorly
There was something in his eyes;
But twas a strong Conveyance"
With whereas" and " wherefrom:"
Till George and Charley cam of age
1t gave the farm to Tom.
"For Kit aud me, Wen keep the house."
The farmer said and smiled;
"a golden roof protects his head
Who rears q grateful child.
I've done my work, Inc in my hand
God blessings have increased;
A farm like this, 1 think, may keep
One gentleman at leastr!'
Theirs was the quickest ha~ryest-home
That season, near or far,
For Tom had tried the arts of peace
Before the art of war;
And farmer Bright told farmer Buck
As his good hand he shook,
9Th temper Of the broken spear
Shows in the pruning hook"
Tom got the latest implements
And seed from Washington
The Colonel was in Congress now
And glad to help him on
The younger boys with ~ivelier will
Took hold upon the land,
And love and faith and pluck and skill
Made good the missing hand.
NsO York Tribune.