The true northerner., 1875-08-13
THE nROKEN SPEAR.
A HARVEST STORY.


4" Pa,,lo post belluD,. Caesar.
.. Come lively now!" cried farmer Buck,
And donned his harvest frock,
20 Let's see tsat ffteen-acre piece
Al! in by five O'Clock!
The BriQhts commenced two days ago,
m We got in twenty load
It's not our style 20 come behind,
W. used 10 show the road.
Let george and Shortey' take the teams,
q arnis Will stow away,
The ,larkey II pitch and I'll fork Off
Let's make her smoke to-day
We ought to have an extra hand
To keep the rake a-gOing,
But men are scarce; sposo I'm booked
10 do dis seasons moving
on went the boys. but In the door,
IL pink and white and blue,
Stood little Kit, and pouting asked,
What's rom and me do?'
She raised her dainty pinaforc
Mlth a half-mimicked sob
The farmer laughed and hooked his bel:
- pect you'll boss the job"
But shadow changed the farmers face,
For with one arm at rest
Across the gate soldier leaned,
One sleeve pinned 10 his breast;
lie looked mp % Q morning hills
Why does the soldier grieye?
That mention of an "eXtra hand
Has twitChed the idle sleeve.
They had not thought of work for Tom
MD labOrs near and far
Tom sat beside his window
And read about the war;
For Tom had done the countrys Work,
And To these patriot boys
Che glory of the empty sleeve
Turned plOus and hoes to toys.
T'hc hale old Buck had hustled on,
Had scoldos laughed, and sung
lie had his ups ana downs and rounds
Like most folks old or young
dc had not marked Toms thoughtful moods
F..v cole tltut tsta
But something told the soldier boy
Ills iurlough was 100 long.
Father, he said with scftening cycs,
IT'S Just year to-day,
And twas ~ morning just like this
fell IN flouors way
Come lively now = the Colonel cried-
Your words brought his To- mind
was Mt first nor braycst then,
D5t-l didn't lag behind.
sOaed my blood Oh Glury's heid
And BOW reap her soil;
sIt aud eat an oilers bread
Won by fathers toll
What has tho Country done for mef
What can the Country 60 ?
sly pension would not pay The cost
Winch here ! am TO yOu.
VI would buy hurdy-gurdy"
lie cried with a butter sneer,
d" Ana I'll grind Il hurdy
liathcr than lOltcr here
90 No, Tom the old man said. "gruGge not
But be could say no more
lie .ried again =" While I've "a crust"
But broke doN1t ~ before.
The so.dier leaned across the gate,
The teams were NOW put to
Come, lively there ~ called joyial George,
" We're walJing now for yuu.'
The farmer strolled among the teams,
But he iumblcd at their names,
de raised the collars, smoothed their necks,
aud softly called their uamcs;
At length he said: Turn out the beasts;
fcel--a little down;
4ls' look 70 things about the place,
IN going NJ TO town.
Here was the strangest come-tc-pass
That farm bad ever seen
lAr boys looked on with startled eyes
AMI said: " " hat does he mean ?"
tOLI came among them, sad and strange.
They looked to him tor light;
lie sighed; perhdps-he uiu not know
No doubt It was al night
d" Dennls had better take tho spade
And finish out his ditch
And sam, there l. some hooinG yet
Here III the onion patch.'
The darkcy vowed tho Lay would spoil
There want no sort OF sense
But Tom walked of ana heard no more,
liut .trolled along the fence.
; u ne called George and Charley round
10 where the mower stood;
Thcy got the axe and paiie and saw,
And tiNed some bits OF wood
To the long lever which in place
IN" cutter-bar' retains:
y 'v Tom can work il wljH his foot
Whale one hand holds t..e reins-
Th.t night around tn supper board
when each was IN h- T. ace.
And little Kit with foldrG aaud3
Had said tie evening ace,
GOOD farmer Buck tcoa from hls breast
A paper" legal cap"
Nh.rE, while he wiped his spcctacles,
He aid down in his lap.
Ne will not wait IT., reading now
And you may well surmisc
tn" iarurr read but poorly
There was something IN his eyes;
But eva - strong - JuycvanCn.'
With hharea'' and " Whare:rOla :"
IN. George and Charley came Of age
IL gaze ia, iar:n 90 Tom.
" for Kit ant me, Wc'l keep the house."
Tie former said aud smiled:
49, A golden roof prot cts his head
" no roIrs 4. grateful child.
I'VE done my work. and III my hand
Gods blessings have increased:
farm ike tlli., think. may keep
Oae Gentleman az icast!
Iheir, was the quickest Larycst-Lome
IAt; seasou, near or tar,
For Iunl Bad tried the arts OF peace
Before the art of war;
Ana farmer Bright told farmer Buck
a. h.s good hand hc shook,
Tie temper OF the broken spear
Shows M the pruning hook
Ioin got the latest implements
and seed from Wdshingtou-
The GJ.ou", was in Congress now
AMI lad to help him on
AA' t'JuEPr boys with hyelier viii
Io'a hold upon the land.
And love and faith and pluck and skill
wade good the missing hand
-Nsir lork Tribune.