The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-21
THE FARM HAND.

She was on the front stoop, mending
Farmer Thornley's stockings, when
Baxter, the new farm hand, came and
sat down on the rude seat by the door,
and hung his palm-leaf hat upon his
knee, and took his pipe from his mouth.
"Do you mind the pipe ?" he asked.
Polly looked up in surprise none of
the farm hands had ever consulted her
on the subject before even Mr.. Thorn
ley himself smoked and smoked without
dream of asking her permission that
is, whenever Miss Hannah was not near
to reproach him with turning their SUBJ
stance into smoke.
"Mind the pipe !" returned Polly.
mo; I like it better than Mr.. Thorn.
ley's;m
There's a difference in tobacco" :"
Polly, not being posted in the merits of
the staple, dropped the subject, and the
pipings.
"What are you thinking about %
asked Baxter, as size delayed her needle
and meditated.
"I-I was thinking that Mr.. Thorn
ley's hand would make two of yours.
You weren't cut out for hard labor, Mr..
Baxter"
"But the hard labor was cut out for
me, eh J.? Its a mighty fine night, Miss
Polly. Wouldn't you like to walk
down by the brook and find some vic.
let's"
eyes; but Miss Hannah may want
me-"
"Miss Hannah has put on her specta-
cles and gone to borrow Neighbor Hook
ers newspaper, and Thornley, is steal
ing q smoke in the orchard. It's as
good as play to see him tuck his pipe
into his pocket, at the risk of setting
himself on fire. whenever he hears
footstep." And then the two young peo-
pie strolled off to the brook, and
listened to whip poor will making pen
sive music in the edge of the woods, and
watched the evening star push the filmy
clouds aside and step forth.
Young Baxter had been on the Thorn
ley farm a month or so. He happened
one day to knock at the door and ask for
a nights lodging he had small bag
slung across his shoulder, and a sun
burned countenance, which quickened
Miss Hannah's pulses. ga tramp /"
said she. GOOD gracious, Polly, shut
the door quick No, no, we don't take
dodgers. Well be murdered in our
beds-and the spoons my grandfather
left me Didn't tell You to shut the
door, Polly2 No, we don't take folks
in; you'll find 'commodation further
down the road, at Hooker's Or" But
just then Mr.. Thornley, came up, eau
tiously knocked the mud off his boots,
and said:
froY,ra Dnllx,
"I've been tramping some distance"
said the stranger, with a frank smile,
"and I'd like to put up for the night
somewhere. However, if your family's
uncomfortable at the idea, maybe you'd
let me sleep in the haymow ?"
''The impudence |" cried Miss Han
nah, from within. "That would be
mighty handy for him to make off with
Lightfoot and the colt, wouldn't it,
now 4? Where's your wits, Hiram Why
don't you say mo-, up and down ?"
GAS to that" drawled Thornley,, :" a
fellow must sleep somewhere and then
I s'pose you wouldn't mind working it
out in the morning, ell P"-with an eve
to the main chance. "I've got some
plowing I'd like done right off,"
"I'll drive your pillow for nights
lodging, and thanks" returned Baxter /;
cor mend your fences, or repair your
clocks. I'm not above earning an honest
penny"
Lor', if he's willing to lend hand"
capitulated Miss Hannah, "I'd give
him an attic chamber and welcome. He
amt near so rough-looking as 1.
thought" she confided to Polly, later.
Hes got an honest face and handy
fingers, if he is forty tramps."
Baxter showed himself SO ready on
he morrow, Farmer Thornley, suggest
ed ne should spend another day in his
employ, and then the work in hand ran
over into the following day, and as nc
body could finish it SO well as Baxter
he naturally staid on and on, till. at the
end OF the week. Thornley, admitted.
Maybe you're as good hand as I'd GET
if l waited till Christmas perhans vo5,J
like steady work for the summer with
board and wages ?" Wv"