The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-04-08
HOW l BECAME A FARMER.

Ohc hue ouHtler AFTERNOON deter
mined to become farmer. Don't, TO
goodness sake, think that 1 was goin.
to buy farm, for such were not my in
tentions. No, not by any means. VIII,
had never joined the Patrons of Hus
bandry was because 1 had been black
balled by that same organization some
thing less than half dozen times AnG
why L was not going to buy farm the
reader can easily guess-I hadn't the
required amount of funds.
But L am wandering away from my
fine summer afternoon. To return
will tell you why and in what way was
going to become farmer NY bank
account was no more, and my landlady
would not wait with me for another
weeks board, hence my departure from
the city and my arrival among the farm
ors. The time was spring when I wan
dered among the rural districts.
The grass was just starting from its
mother earth, and looked inviting in the
extreme, to lazy young man with the
world before him, and no one to take
care of but himself. When I say in
vltlng, l don't mean inviting to eat,
but to lie down and take solid com,
fort thereon. L threw myself on the
green sward meath the shade of friend
~ Dush growing near the roadside. L
was lying thus, dropping into delight
ful snooze, when voice from the
highway disturbed my calm repose.
Say, young feller, what's the mat
ter?"
L remained perfectly quiet, turning
the matter carefully over in my mind.
was lying on my back, and, with very
little bodily exertion, 1 raised my left
leg to a perpendicular position, and
gently moved my foot up and down, and
waited to see the effect. And to this
day, solemnly believe, though 1 know
1 am liable to be killed for saving it,
that this motion was the sign of distress
among the Patrons, for in an instant
the man III the wagon was at my side
Bending over me, he said:
What ails you, young man ?"
L said nothing for moment, wonder
ing ~" If what ails you was the test
word, and, if so, what would be the
proper response. Finally 1 groaned out
with mysterious and unknown work
lng OF my tingers-the words, "Corn
bread" With bounding heart 1 saw
had beyond doubt hit the nail on the
head.
Without wordmy fraternal brother as
sisted me to arise, and led me limping
toward the wagon which stood in the
road near by. He helped me into the
wagon, and, after L had imbibed some
thing from little brown jug, I was able
TO tell to my rescuer the story of nv
wrongs. This will not repeat for rea-
sons best known to myself. Suffice it
to say, that the farmer was deeply touch
ed by my tale. wound up by telling
him | wanted to get work on q farm.
"Well, now," said my rescuer, 81
am lookin' for young chap to work
sheep?"
"Oh, yes, said, 81 have done as
much OF that as any other work about the
farm"
This was the truth, for had never
been on the grounds of homestead in
my life. | was just going to tell him
what jolly time had experienced last
Christmas when the idea struck me / |
might be treading on dangerous grounds,
so determined to remain silent on the
subject until [ had learned something
about it,
Glow much will you pay a month for
a good thearer," ventured, determined
not to air my ignorance.
How much a month p said he, with
eastonishment. "Why, man,
won't have shearing enough to last
week."
ooh, yes" I replied, "shearing on a
small scale, understand"
"Small scale !" he repeated, with en-
ohasis elbow many sheep are you
lsed to shearing in the spring?"
"Oh, that's all right" L replied,
,oolly. "Of course you will not shear
IS many sheep in the spring as in the
all. And here l commenced to whistle
IN unknown melody.
Young man." said my companion,
avagely, "did you ever hear of shear
ng sheep in the fall!"
Without paying attention to this
pointed question, l asked:
How much will you pay a month
or farm hand, generally2"
Well, I'll give you about eight dol
ars month, and feed"
L gave prolonged whistle, wonder
ng what L would have to feed, but not
laring to ask
"What do you say, young man 2
10 you hire 2"
l didn't exactly understand him, but
aid "yes, at once.
We arrived at the farm little after
ark and at ten O'clock I oot into bal |