St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-08-01
THE FARMER EDITOR.
Tho Interesting Experience of Journal-
istic Farm Hand.

Deileve, SAID Mr. COtnOn, turning
around, as he was on the front seat OF
the carriage. to face the larger portion
of his audience, 'that l had sooner
write editorials than be a farm hand.
When was boy came to the conclu-
sion that l would strike out on my own
responsibility; that l would carve out a
line of action in contact with the world
at once worthy and commendable. l
left home when was good chunk of q
boy and drifted around on the surface OF
nature some time before l located my
claims and pre-empted a fondness for
good square up and up work. l appren-
ticeA myself to farmer for 81 2 a month,
board and washing. Prior to locating
with the farmer had followed several
callings, but was dissatisfied with each
and all of them. Among the number
being butcher, painter, singing teacher
and member of Bible class in Sunday
school.
..When l entered into contract with
the farmer. he said: Ned, whatever
you do, do it well. If you milk the COW
in the morning. exact the last bit of
ROYALTY from her; if YOU feed the stock
in the evening, don't give them too
much food, for it may tie them up like
the contortionist you see displayed on
the circus posters; if you should be
called upon to get up before daylight,
and hunt for it with q candle, don't
complain. Ned, don't complain; re-
member that the early bird catches the
worm, and that the early farm hand il
a source OF joy to his employer. Eat
whatever is set before YOU and never
complain if there is no butter upon the
table, when it is selling for fifty cents a
pound" This was my initiation into
the duties of a farmer.
had hired to the farmer late in the
afternoon. and when supper was ready
l male grand charge. in company
with three others. upon the banquet
hall. We sat down to a supper of cold
pork. potatoes, and plenty of skinned
milk. From the outset | was affected
with a disinclination to eat; couldn't
eat; that was all there was about it.
After supper the farmer said: Ned; &C
out to the barn and help milk. Look
out for the brindle COW. she is little
troublesome sometimes, but think YOU
can manage her. Armed with the
milk pail l repaired to the barn and
confronted the brindle COW.
The brindle COW had d child-like
simplicity look in her eye. There was
striking difference in her character
as afterward found out-more than in
any COW that had ever seen before, or
have ever seen since. She was raised
in Texas and grew up on the freedom
of the country, until she was just enter
ing girlhood, when she immigrated tc
California and became the property OF
my employer. approached her with
a great deal of caution. She had a
nervous way of switching her tail and
picking up her right hind foot that ]
didn't like and felt solicitous about. ]
carefully put my hand on the cow.
loins and solaced her with those gentle
words, so, Brindle, so.' She seemed
to like the affection which displayed.
l fondled her until thought the coast
was clear and l could get in my worl
and richly earn my salary.
81 commenced milking. but somehow
or other no milk rewarded my labor.
The brindle COW evidently was aware
that was new hand upon the ranch.
l made one great exertion to exact the
fluid from her. The brindle cow-as !
was afterwards informed-nervously
picked up her right hind leg and gently
lied knot in my abdomen. When the
came l shot up into the sky
like rocket and in descending landed
head first in the watering trough, when
was kindly removed to more congen-
al quarters by the farmer and his two
grown daughters; the milk pail was rent
n fragments, while the corral was badly
Uttered up with the remnants of my
clothing. To tell you the truth, didn't
know it was loaded.
.In the middle of the night of the
same evening that this accident hap
,ened, I was rudely awakened by the
armer placing his hand upon my
bruised legs, saying: Ned. it's time to
get up; come, rouse yourself
l thought in my waking moments
hat the brindle COW had again struck
ne. Getting up. lighted the tallow
,andle in my boudoir and laboriously
pulled on my trowsers, or what was left |
If them. Coming down stairs, the |
armer said: Ned. as you had poor
uck in the dairy last night. YOU can |
vrestle with the wood-pile awhile be-
ore breakfast Ash went out doors
title faint streak in the eastern horizon
oretold that in the course of three or
our hours the SUN would illuminate the
urface of nature. l sleepily picked up
he saw and commenced to lay the
oundation for an appetite for break
asst. Twas so sleepy and sore that
ould not exert myself, and laying the
aw down fell asleep with az much
omposure as the fat bov in Pickwick.
81 hadn't been asleep more than hall
n hour before was roughly awakened
y the farmer crying: Come, l don't
'ay You to sleep, l pay you to work.
,ot mad at this rough interruption to
ny dreams. and as the birds were just
to carol their praises to the
morning dawn l left the farm for good.
IS passed out of the gate heard the
armer remark to one Of his grown-Ip
aughters who stood in the doorway:
II l had boy as lazy as that l would
make an editor out of him. And from
hat moment resolved to be a news
aper man. The great success which !
ave achieved in journalism is largely
ue to the fact that I at one time
n