The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-04-13
Our YouRg People
Works a Mint; Or, Wilbsrt Fair
laws Notion.

wa - = - S>-A, ~
laws Notion.
By Frank II. Tay Tor, Young People,
What's your name, boy?
The question came so suddenly
that the boy nearly tumbled from
the fence upon which he was
peIched, as Judge Barton stopped
squarely in front of him and waited
for an answer.
'Wilbert Fairlaw, sir" was the
timid reply.
$50 to schoolY
No, sir"
do any work.
'Yes, sir; tend marm's cows
and fetch wood"
well, that's something. But
don't you think there's plenty to do
in this part of the world that's bet
ter than kicking your heels against
the fence all the morning? Now
just look around, my boy, until
you find something that wants fix
ing up, and take off your coat and
O. at it. You won't have to look
far about here" And the judge
gave a contemptuous glance toward
the Widow Fairlaw's neglected farm.
take my word for it, boy" he
added, work Il mint-work' a
mint" And then he turned away,
walking with dignified pace toward
the Willows-the name of his place
Now | think that most boys
would have been tempted to talk
back, but Wilbert only sat still and
looked after the man as he walked
away, and then down at his bare
feet.
Il wonder what the judge meant
by saying, works a mint l guess
it is something about getting paid.
How / wish l had a little money !
but l would like to earn it myself"
Here, bub, get bucket, will
you, and bring my nag some waterT'
This time it was a keen-looking
young man sitting in light wagon
who addressed him.
"Now stir your pegs, bub, and
here's a nickel for Y u"
Wilbert was already on the way
to the well for he was always quite
willing to do a favor, and so he
didn't hear the last sentence. Then
he unfastened the check-rein by
standing upon a horseback, and
gave the tired animal pail of water.
The driver meanwhile searched
his pocket in vain for nickel.
Got any change, bub?'
mo, sir"
''Well, then, never mind; here's a
quarter to start your fortune. l
guess it'll do you more good than it
would me- and away he drove at a
lively pace up the road, and Wilbert
sat down in the grass by the road
side, too happy even to whistle or
dance. So people sometimes paid
for having their horses wateredt
Why not keep watch for teams and
have a bucket ready? There was
plenty of travel over the road. Car
riage loads of eXcursionists went by
to the ''Glen''-a resort about six
miles distant--almost daily, and the
only place to water on the way was
always made muddy by the pigs.
But people wouldn't be willing to
wait while he went clear to the well
every time for water, especially
when there were two horses.
Behind the barn lay an unused
trough, made for feeding pigs.
Wilbert tied a rope around it and
hitching the one old horse his mother
owned to this, dragged it to point
in the road where the shadow of a
large chestnut tree rested most of
the day. Then he built a stone
support about it out of the plentiful
supply of powders in the fields.
Next the water was to be brought.
1t took long time to carry enough
with one pail to even half fill the
trough, and then the very first farm
er who drove along the road stopped
his horses, and looking with some
surprise at Wilbert's improve
ment,' let his animals drink most of
the contents, and was off before
Wilbert returned from the pump.
Several teams watered during the
morning, and one man tossed the
boy ten cents. How pleasantly his
two coins jingled, to be sure!
Early the next morning Wilbert
was on his way to a ravine which
lay back of the big chestnut tree.
He carried a spade and began to dig
where the grass was greenest and
slime was gathered upon the stones.
At a depth of two feet he saw the
hole fill with water, which speedily
became clear as he sat down to rest,
and soon tickled down the slope.
Then he went to that repository
Of all odds and ends, the shed back
of the barn, and selected a number
of boards left over when the fence
was built. With these and some
nails he made a trough to carry
the water down the hill, placing
them one end upon another in
forked stakes, and after two days of
hard work was delighted to find
that his trough was easily filled |
with clear, cool, spring water.
Business was now fairly under
way, and many were the praises be
slowed by passers-by upon his work.
Some paid, and others only said
Thank YOU" The crusty judge, |
who had kind heart in spite of his
rough WAYS, halted his team, and |