Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-12-28
The Hired Mans Tricks.

A correspondent was ut lama City, Iowa,
few days SINCE and was witness to scene
between farmer and a wheat buyer named
Jake Borton. Jake came along as the farmer
was pouring the wheat from his sacks into the
spout at the side Of the elevator, and he
noticed the wheat was plugged, that is, that
the top of a sack was all right but the middle
and bottom were the poorest kind. The fol-
lowing conversation ensued:
Hello! my FRIEND" said Jake. plugged
your wheat, did you?'
The farmer paused in his labor and wiped
his sun-burned brow and replied: q guess
not don't think it is
sDon't think it is" yelled Jake sLook at
this, and look at this" he said, holding up
both hands full of grain.
well, it does seem to DO different grades
said the astonished farmer. Il don't see how
It could have happened"
Your boys did it, suggested Jake
aNo," he replied, that cannot be, for have
always taught them to be straight, and I know
them to be good, honest boys"
Hired many again suggested the never
firing Jacob.
cit must have been him. and in went another
sack of the mixed wheat
~These hired men," unused Jake, will ruin
us all Only yesterday Joe Smith socked
load Of plugged wheat on me that his hired
man had fixed up for my special benefit
Poor innocent JJe felt terrible about it Last
week Deacon Jones unloaded fine load Of
barley; that is, it was fine at the top and bot
tom Of the sacks, but his hired man had
plugged the middle with stuff that would not
sell for screenings. The good deacon would
hardly believe that the young man could do
such a wicked thing 1 have worn of my
shirt sleeves, and my arms are callous to the
elbow ramming them into sacks for nest-eggs
that those ungodly hired men have lain for
me- Now and then the boys do it-boys that
walk not in the ways of their fathers, but get
to roaming around Sunday, smoking cigars,
drinking beer, and finally wind up in abusing
the confidence Of their honest fathers in dos
ing me unbeknown to them.
Ceases have occurred where the wives have
actually stole away to the granary while their
husbands were toiling their lives away, and
put up aload or two Of mixed grain, but these
cases are rare, and the main run Of scoundrels
are the hired men, imposing on the honest
farmer. Now some folks would think that
you fixed up this mess but Of course know
better have had experience; it's always the
same story, and nine times out Of ten any
farmer will tell you that it is the hired man.
We have got to put them down. Your fair
name is at stake. See here, my friend, will
give that villainous varlet Of yours lesson in
common decency. Twill dock you twenty-five
cents bushel for this load, and you take it
out of his wages"
@Id-o-nt think that will do, said the farmer,
she might kick"
sLet him kick" replied Jake, ayou send him
to me, FL settle his hash. You take it out,
and if he won't settle with me I'll refund.
Here's your ticket, corner bank; drive on and
let that other team come up. Iwant to see
what kind of hired man he has got"
off Oh
whistling, balanced his scales for the next
deal, and pretty sood the farmer was seen
sitting on a pile of grind stones in front Of
store, figuring on q piece Of shingle with
red chalk, and it was more than likely he
was figuring up how much he had made.