The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-11-20


be able to make money by raising and
selling it for seed. So they would not
let us have so much as a single kernel,
lest we should be rival sellers and come
in for a share of the profits.
They had a perfect legal right to keep
it all; vet Tom and did not take that
view, and we were SO indignant as often
to speak of them as pigs!' 81
The matter made sad breach in our
hitherto friendly relations. The heads
of the two families took no notice of the
quarrel; but we boys did not speak to
each other for over a year. We grew
thoroughly imbittered-all the more so
that we had formerly been so intimate.
But worse difficulties followed.
Next spring Jim and Ed planted the
seven kernels with great care. They
could not put it in their garden, lest it
should mix with the sweet corn, nor yet
out in the field on the west side OF the
road, where the ordinary corn was. SO
they reserved little plat, about a rod
square. in the wheat-feld on the east
side of the road. up next the line-wall.
This plat they dressed richly and plant
ed the seven kernels in three hills. 1t
was a warm, sheltered spot.
But just as the shoots were breaking
the ground, the crows, or one crow, lit
down on the plat one Sunday morning
before breakfast and pulled up all but
two of the spears, which were just
breaking ground.
NV brother and were made aware
of this disaster next morning by seeing
Jim and Ed putting up q horrible
$. scarecrow" in the plat, and fear we
were not very sorry on account OF it.
The two remaining kernels, however,
came ND and grew with the same vigor
and strength which had marked the
growth of the stalk among the potatoes.
Tom and often watched them from
our side of the line-walL Later in the
season, Jim and. Ed set stakes about
them to support them in case of a vio-
lent shower. Both stalks matured and
had each two fine large ears.
From August till into September, the
boys used to come out every day to see
| that the corn had not been molested.
Already the shuck had begun to crack
off from the ears, showing the rich
dark red tint.
One morning near the 18th of Sep
TENDER, they went out and found every
kernel shelled off the cobs, on the stalks,
and gone, nor was there track or a
trace to indicate the character of the
robber. Probably two more angry boys
| could not have been found in the whole
State. aianns $50 - esste3
The next thing. in fact the first thing
Tom and heard was that Jim and Ed
had charged us with taking the corn
that they had called us thieves in pub
lie. All the neighboring boys were
talking of the matter.
We felt outraged. To call q boy .
thief is decidedly worse than calling
him hog. We knew no more thar
/ they what had become of their corn
Even our parents were. j think, a little
offended about the charge; for no father
| likes to have his son called q thief
4 remember our folks asked us abou
it and that, finding Tom and 1 reall.
knew nothing about the corn, father
babe us keep very quiet and make NJ
threats. saying that the truth might.er'
long come out. - M
October and the greater part of No
vembef passed The days had nov
grown very short, and the weather wa
biting cold. But snow had not We
come; and enc afternoon which hat
been rather more sunny. father had Sc
Tom and me grubblng up some sumach
in the east field. We made pile o
i these, ready for burning. 4a 94a
Il Down next the line-wall there ha,
lain, on our side, an old red oak log
f<xx. c<,yv1o xvoos 20 szst1.'isrffis iaH +t-9
This oak had, stood nearly on the. lin
and had been felled because it shaded
SO much tillage ground. The trunl
had been left lying where it fell. Blu
it was now good deal decayed. Fathe
babe us take the oxen and drag it up t.
our pile. This we did Just at sunset
and then set to work to split it up; il
order to throw it on the brush-pile, t.
burn. 'es t"''ysi g %.
We had been pounding away at it TO
some minutes, when there suddenl,
darted out of hole in the end a littl
striped squirrel. or "chipmunk. Tn
little creature rudely awakened from
! his winter torpor, by our heavy blows
! took refuge in near stone-pile.
We supposed it might have nest in
! side the old log. But we were hardl
! prepared for the sight that met on
eyeswh at last we got the log; open
there, inside it. nicely packed in punk
J together with fully half a peck Q
wheat, was that red corn-nearly
quart-every kernel of it, l dare say!
We shouted. f-..s.. - :
II Then we called father.
u He laughed well. Ps'1t as't sA
.ssaDon't touch it, said hs.rs -
Then he called Mabel, our little sister
l and babe her run down to " neighbo
Carrolrs'' and ask him and the boys t
come up as quickly as they could.
II On our stepping back from the To-
for few minutes the poor chilly littl
squirrel ran from the cold stone-pil
back into his nest,dwith faint littl
chuckle. So that when Mr.. Carroll an
the boys came up the innocent littl