The Penn's Grove record., 1885-08-15
Not His Vocation

He would employ himself at some con-
genial task ID the bright fields, where
pure breezes blow, flowers bloom n
birds sing in the wind-tossed boughs.
Such was the determination Of
John BOYLE six months ago. But "once
a miner always a miner" A few days
ago John returned a wiser if not a sad
der man. Meeting his old friend and
mining partner, James Bean, John was
questioned IN regard TO his expert
ence.
"Wel," began John, 81 became an
sericulturist. James, my experience
has taught me that an agriculturist Is
the noblest work OF God"
docs he beat an honest man,
JohnP"
sYes, James. in a horse trade"
81 suppose you were high in the ranks
of the Changers, won a badge as big as
a dinner plate, turned out in all the
professions, and made speeches at the
meetings2"
"a Grangerl Poohl Why, James, /
was old Agricols himselfP'
sob iudeed2"
Eyes; l used to speed the plow,,.
James
''And sacrificed to Pallas founder of
the plow and the plowman's toilF"
Exactly James,"
ssYou also hurled the glitteTing
reaper through the golden grainY'
"No. James, no. / guided the
shining share through the emerald
sward,"
Beautiful What says Virgil?"
A. -A-rVu efonr
And guad nm till he groans beneath nus toll,
TIL the bright share Is buried in the soil
"AhI James, sweet is the recollection
of those days. Why, l was a second
Cinclnnatusl''
"Indeedl John shake hands with
me-"
"With pleasure, James. Take the
palm of a 'horny.handed son OF TOLL
AMI James, l late my bread on the
sweat of my face "
ga very Adaml But, tell ne,
John, where did you do all this farm
ingP" .,,
up IN Washington Territory. All
was done within the boundaries of that
one Territory. l never plowed across
the line into strange and inhospltable
regions, never, James"
at was well with your ambition
joint was well that you we're not
on Rhode Island"
SIT was, James-it wasp
"Dare | ask for some particulars IN
regard to your experience while pursu-
ing your laboTs il the capacity OF a
husbandman2"
you may James. Upon my arrival
in the fruitful wales of the Territory
named, 1 engaged myself to a landed
proprietor and was allotted the congo
NAL task Of preparing the fecund SOIL
for the waiting seed. Girding up my
loins-with a piece of ballng rope
went forth to exeoriate the bosom OF
old Mother Earth"
"You mean to say, John that you
plowed2"
"Aye, James, 1 plowed. For the
a of three hours l guided the shin.
ing share' and a noble pair of Cayuse
steeds-steeds to which | at once gave
classic names, and very appropriate
ones, l may o say"
"Did you name them Galathe and
Podarge, after the horses Of HectorY'
"No, James; but AmbasteT and
Abatos, in honor of the horses OF
Pluto"
"With those horses of HadeS You
plowed for three hours, Johnp"
"About that period of time, James.
Then a most unforeseen circumstance
gave a new direction to my mental and
physical energies. A root, James-a
root, In appearance resembling one of
the mighty serpents of Africa-a most
49, .--A n~I nratanfh1 gtGDlF
INTO my face, causing two front teeth
and the classic outlines of my nose to
disappear. The plow unguided, pro-
ceeded into the pedestal upon which at
q former period had lowered a noble
oak, where it remained stationery,
while l, James continued to progress.
proceeded, James, to drop all euphe-
mism-I proceeded over the handles of
the plow and over the top of the
stump, while Abaster and Abatos,
with the beam of the implement of
agriculture, went through two worm
fences and to the realms of old Pluto
himself, for aught l know"
"a regular smash-up, John2f
ait was James-it was. While not
perhaps equalling what we may imag-
inc of the wreck of matter and the
clash of worlds still 1t was a wreck
too painful for contemplation. And,
James, l did not linger neal the
scene.n
"You departed2n
"Aye, James, l departed. In emu.
latlon of the star Of empire, westward
1 took my way. Across fields and
commons | sped o halted in my occi-
dental flight until my eyes were glad
dened with the sight of masts and sails
in the seaport town Of Steilacoom.
Cincinnatus of old left his plow in the
furrow, IN the crumbllng soil, exposed
to the yicissitudes of time and the
elements, but James, l left what re-
manned firmly anchored in lasting
oak.n
"Where it probably remains implant.
ed to this dayp"
~ know not, james, know not. !
only know that from that hour, preg.
nant of painful and disastrous events.
1 ceased to be a tilleI of the soil. Fol
three long hours | enjoyed those calm
Joys which soothe the soul of the hus,
bandman. my heart trilhng Georges
equal to the original Virgilian."
lyon were a Bobby Burns, John2'
81 was James
But pleasures are like peoples spread,
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed"
''From Bobbie himself"
"As l beheld the masts of Steilacoom
James, I said, this day leave [ tn
t%reacherous land: my blowing nov
shall be to pillow the raging mainY"
Sin other words John. after all you
hne notions about surface life ant
Granger joys, at the end of three hour
you took waterPn
Don't be slangy, Jamesl l becam
temporarily n OF those that go dow
to the sea on ships that do business i
great waters"
kIRg orange.