Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-17

But ere had finished my audience
was half way downstairs. l rose, and
leisurely put on my clothes and went
downstairs, guided by piece OF tallow
| candle sputtering in an old dirty
lantern. When landed in the kitchen
/ found the farmer, his son, and two
| hired men standing before a bench, on
which were about q half dozen lanterns
similar to the one in my bed-chamber. /
was astonished. Could it be possible
that these dirty lanterns were produc-
tons of the farm?
Here's your lantern, young Teller"
said the boss" as heard the two men
call him.
took the proffered production. and in
solemn silence we marched through the
back door in single file, and wendell our
way in the direction OF the barn the boss
taking the lead, the two hired men next,
and the author gallantly bringing up the
rear.
thought this strange way of going
to breakfast, but said nothing. [ was
not thoroughly awake, and, as we were
thus marching along, / fell into sort of
a doze, and dreamed | was on railroad
train and the men before were my brake
men.
"All aboardl" / shouted, swinging my
lantern above my head.
/ suddenly became aware of my mis-
take. / had struck the next man in front
of me on the nose, and, strange as it may
seem, he was without doubt dreaming
the same thing as / was, thinking him.
self conductor also; for he turned
toward me and said something. / could
not tell whether it was "All aboard" or
not anyhow, he swung the lantern in
such way that il struck my head, and
the lantern was smashed to atoms.
What's up?" said. "Are we off the
tracks"
He made some remark about uncoup-
ling me, but as was no hand to debate
turned and followed the train, while my
brother conductor went back to the sta
ton to procure another lantern and re-
turn on the next train.
will not relate what transpired while
at the barn, but let the reader guess we
did something by saying after two hours
work we returned 10 breakfast, which
consisted chiefly of cold turnips and fat
salt pork, with nothing 10 drink but
black coffee without milk or sugar.
When breakfast was over we again re-
paired to the barn-this time TO shear
sheep. They were all huddled together
in small pen near the barn, where they
had been put the night previous. The
boss and i got into the pen for the pur-
pose of catching and handing out TO the
two men who were TO carry them to the
barn.
On getting in / was cautioned to look
out for the old ram. But ] was not
afraid determined not to catch the old
ram and thus remain unhurt. But alas!
for human nature, how sadly was | de-
ceived. For a wonder, my first attempt
TO catch sickly-looking lamb was a sue
cess. picked him up in triumph and
started to where the man was waiting,
but on the way my burden became res
tive. So put it down in the center of
the pen and stopped fondly over it TO
rest myself. / was thus standing over
the helpless sheep when voice called
out:
Look out for the ramw
The next thing ] knew | was flying
through the air over the fence. i struck
the ground face downward, of course.
Presently / arose and, finding no bones
broken, struck out into the open country
beyond. The farmer laughed, the hired
men ditto, the sheep bleated, the dogs
barked and well, never mind that.
Before / was out of hearing the farmer
made some remark about paying for my
meals and lodging, but, without needing
his plaintive appeal, rushed bravely on,
vowing never to look on Granger again.
N. Y. Union.