The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-17
CHAPTER /.
THE NEW FARM HAND.

"Do you want farm handP"
II don't know" answered Mr.. Miles,
a well-to-do farmer in the unassuming
neighborhood known as Preston Flat.
The farmer who was engaged in re-
pairing broken whippletree rested
his axe upon the large chopping block,
and gave the speaker a searching
glance from head to foot. The appli-
cant was slender, delicate young
man, with a mild blue eye and auburn
hair. He was not over twenty or
twenty-one years of age, and his soft
white hands contrasted strangely with
the hardened, sun-burned palms of the
farmers two sons, who stood near by,
one with wagon whip and the other
with bride in his hand.
81 don't know repeated Mr.. Miles
as he scanned the youth still more
closely. you don't look as if you
ever did any farm work.
II can learn, replied the pale
youth, his face showing a despairing
look as his eyes fell on his only earthly
possession-a small budget of clothes
tied up in a red handkerchief, and stick
run through them.
On approaching Mr. Miles he had
taken the bundle from his shoulder
and carried it in his hand.
The applicant was dressed neatly
though not extensively. His clothes
however, as well as the bundle, werC
covered with dust. He raised his des
pairing eyes 90 the farmers face, witt
look that at once appealed to his heart
Did you ever work on the farmp
asked the kind-hearted Mr. Miles,
But very little, sir, | can soon learn
though, and am willing to do all can.
Have you long been seeking EN-
ploymentP"
yes, sir, | have been travelling from
house to house, for more than week,
and the young man, or youth, for h,
could scarcely be called man, gazeC
down the long dusty road up which h
had so recently come.
Preston Flat was a strip of countr,
lying on the east side of Preston cree
about a dozen miles in extent, ant
four or five miles in width. 1t was
settlement completely shut in by sur
rounding hills and bluffs. The vale
was undulating and very fertile.
The valley had small village at tn
head of it under the significant nam
of Bushville. In Preston Flat the un
ambitious farmer was born, grew oil
and died, little knowing or carin
about the great conflicts which agitate
the outside world.
He raised his corn, oats and wheat
he fed his corn TO his hogs, horses, cat
tie and sheep; his wheat was groun
into flour by the miller at BushyillC
and furnished him bread.
Nearly every farmers wife was
weaver, and the bang of looms and tn
whirr of wheels could be heard trol
one end Of the valley to the other
The women made the jeans for tn
men and linsey clothes for themselves
The other necessary clothes wer
purchased at the store in BuShvillt
which also afforded a miserable markC
for the products of the farm and VIII;
livestock the farmer had to sell. w
are not speaking of Preston Flat of L
day, but as 1t was many years ago, ;
the opening of our story.
Every tribe has a chief, so every con
munity a head man, and Preston Fl,
was not an exception. ASIDE from II
"great mOgul' who owned the villag
store and post office at Bushville an
with whom every body liked to sho
their familiarity by calling him Dave,
was Mr.. james Miles, the farmer, II