The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-08-12
THE BROKEN SPEAR.
4 HARVEST STORY.

And donned his harvest frock,
q Let's see that fifteen-acre piece
All in by five o'clock
The Brights commenced two days ago,
They've got in twenty load
It's not our style to come behind,
We used to show the road.
Let George and Shortey take the teams,
Dennis Will stow away,
The darkey Il 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; spOse I'm booked
To do this seasons moving"
Off went the boys, but in the door,
In pink and white and blue,
stood little Kit, and pouting asked,
stWhat's Tom and me do?"
She raised her dainty pinafore
With half-mimicked sob
The farmer laughed and hooked his belt:
81 s'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 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 countrys work,
And to these patriot boys
The glory OF the empty sleeve
Turned ploWs and hoes to toys.
The hale old Buck had hustled on,
Had scoldeS, laughed, and sung
He had his ups and downs and rounds
Like 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.
q" Father, y he said with softening eyes,
fS'Tis just year to-day,
And twas morning just like this
I fell in Honor's way
& Come, lively now the Colonel cried
Your words brought his to mind;
Z was MT first nor bravest then,
Butt didn't lag behind.
I sowed my blood on Glory's field
And now reap her soil /;
I sit and eat an idler's bread
Won by fathers toll!
What has the Country done for me :?
What can the Country do?
My pension would not pay the cost
Which here I am to you.
ut would buy a hurdy-gurdy,"
He cried with bitter sneer,
&c And I'll grind a hurdy-gurdy
rather than loiter here !"
g No. Tom," the old man said, ''grudge not
But lie 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,
''Were waiting now for YOU"
The 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 50 Turn out the beasts;
I feel-a little down;
-.JHst 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 mean"
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
4" Dennis had better take the spade
And finish out his ditch
And 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 off ana heard no more,
But strolled along the fence.
Soon he called George and Charley round
10 where the mower stood;
They got the axe and platte and saw,
And fixed some bits of wood
TO the long lever which in place
The I" cutter-bar" retains;
Now Tom can work it with his foot
While one hand holds the reins-
,--,.-.,. s..r supper board
Vi hen each was in his place
And little Kit with folded hands
Had said the evening grace,
Good farmer Buck took from his breast
a paper-"legal cap"
Which, while he wiput. his spectacles,
lie laid down in his lap.
F&Ne will not wait its reading now
And you may well surmise
The farmer read but poorly
There was something in his eyes:
But twas strong conveyance"
With Whereas and % wherefrom -
Tili George and Charley came of age
1t gave the farm to Tom.
- For Kit and me, We'll keen the house,
The farmer said and smiled;
- A golden roof protects his head
Who rears grateful child.
i've done my work, and in my hand
Gods blessings have increased
a farm like this, think, may keep
One gentleman at least!"
Theirs was the quickest harvest-home
That season, near or far,
Nor Tom had tried the arts of peace
Before the art of war;
And farmer Bright told farmer Buck
As his good hand he shook
Ihe temper OF the broken spear
OnOWS III the pruning hook.
Tom got the latest implements
And seed from Washington
the Colonel was in Congress now
And glad 10 help him on
The younger boys with hvelier will
TOOK hold upon the land
And love and faith and pluck and skill
Made good the missing hand
Nelg York Tribune.
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THE FRESHET