The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-05
HOW TY DID HIS TASK.

/ uOIl6u Ill ONtf NeN-EllNH13uu III every
neighborhood. Here the raw hides were
converted into boots and shoes which
were at least serviceable and cOmforta-
BILE, though scarcely suited to the tastes
of those who now indulge in French i'm
portations.
One of these useful nuisanceS belong
ed to the Russels of Tory Hollow for a
century, to the annoyance of the Russell
boys for several generations. who each
in his turn must learn the trade Of tan
ming and currying, and serve an ap-
premiership on the cobbler's bench. The
beams of the old building were still
strong and firm, and the watts had
scarcely a leak, the hemlock bark piles
were just as high as when their grand
fathers were boys.
The Russell Mill went by horsepower.
Old StOkey, a blind horse, was the pow
er, and had been for years. He looked
discouraged, as though he never ex-
pected to reach the end, though he still
followed his heightened head and neck
around.
Tyrus Jehosha plat Russell, Jr., was
twelve years Old-they called him Ty
for shOrt-though it seemed to him ne
had lived as long as the hemlock stumps
on the hills, he was so tired of this
grinding, grinding. His work before
school and after, and all day during the
long vacation, was to drag the long
strips of bark up to the hopper, which
looked like a great cOffee-mill, in the
second story, break them into small
pieces, and feed, feed. Oh! how tire
some unless once in while school
mate visited him, and they would play
they were preparing cup of the de-
iciOus beverage for some old giant
tiresome when not a quarter of a mile
away the most tempting stream in which
to fish, swim and wade ran Jolly over
the old stones all summer and froze
smooth as a mirror in winter, each sea-
son bringing its attractions tiresome
there was the endless charm of the
forest on the mountain side, spruce
gum, berries, wOodchucks, humble-bees
and Ty grinding bark so near. 1t
was only after performing heavy tasks
that he ever got away to enjoy any of
these. If the tannery did sometimes
close its throat, there were sure to be
suffering patches of potatoes to attend
and crops of stones to be gathered into
piles. Old Stokey might be turned out to
pasture, Ty rarely was, and never with
the luxury of whole day. No in
deed Mr.. Tyrus Jehoshaphat Russell,
Senior, believed in carrying out Z" earn
ing bread by the sweat of the brow" to
the letter-indeed, it was well he did,
or he would not have earned his ''salt''
in that country of stumps and stones.
Training-day was approaching. That
day of days that can only be understood
when one considers the few amusements
of the times. Training-day, Fourth of
July and perhaps political ''turn OUT
covered the whole for the year. Tvs.
father was Captain, and he knew his
son would have terrible longings to go.
After thinking the matter over, he told
Ty that if he would get ''good START
in the morning and grind twenty-five
bushels of bark, he might have the rest
of the day, providing he would get
home in time to drive up the cows.
The first streak of day found Ty UP.
Old StOkey must be fed, and while he
was eating Iy carried strips of bark up
to the hopper to be in readiness. He
stamped on the creaky stairs, and threw
the bark down with bang, to brighten
any rats or mice that might be ont of
their hiding-places. He did not like
the old tannery in the dark; there were
queer corners about it, and once a lit
tie girl was drowned in one of the watts,
and this would intrude in his mind
sometimes. The grinding began. How
slow the bark moved down in the great
OiI ,,roz
his best. In the neighbOring village,
anvils which served for cannOnS were
firing. Each report sent the blood at a
quicker rate through Tvs veins, and ne
felt sure the mills of the gods never
ground so slow.
81 say, Ty, is that you?' came from
below.
Eyes; what in the world brought you
out so early, Ethan?"
''GOing to the trainingP"
Maybe" sighed t.; his task seemed
endless.
'Pshaw! what you got to doP'
Ty told his trouble.
"Maybe | can help YOU out-want
some more bark up?" and Ethan Helm
drew off his coat.
Eyes, hold on, Pm coming down"
The boys ran back and forth from the
piles of bark to the hopper very busy
for a few minutes. then Ethan ex-
claimed:
Hear 'em? Z tell you it's shame
to coop up boys the first Tuesday in
June, or the Fourth of July either.
won't stand it. I'll just tell you what
did. was to saw and split thirty sticks,
of cord-wood. The way did it was to.
climb out of my window in the night,
and carry out Of the wood-house about
that much already sawed and split
twas a sight easier. Whenfather came
out this morning he called me a smart
lad, and-look here, Ty, do you see
those piles of old ground bark? We
can fix II. Get the baskets, and let Old
Stokey turn an empty mill for once.'
Ty vas in just the Mood to fall in with
the plan, without stopping to think of
wrong. He got the baskets, and they
went to work. The bark fell from the
hopper to the ground floor convenient
to the watts. so they had not far to carry
the rubbish. After working fast for
some time, Ethan, who seemed to en-
gineer the trick, said:
"Now we must grind some to quite
cover this, or the fun will leak out"
This was tho first twinge Ty's con-
science had. ''Cover up''-ne did not
like the sound, for he was a straight
forvvard honest how