The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-17

They had passed a small farmhouse
situated on hill with field extending
along the road, inclosed by misera.
bic fence
There's that trihing Jack Hawk
ms, " said Mr.. Miles to his daughter,
pointing to a man with dark brown
whiskers, road-brimmed hat, in his
shirt sleeves, sitting on the fence near
miserable old tumble-down gate.
"I'll declare, he's the LATEST man in
the entire fiat. Always sittin' on the
fence and never dom any good. Be-
sides he keeps that tramp Bill Martin
about him all the time, who is twice as
trifin as he"
"How do they make living, father,
if they don't work." asked Pinkey,
who, farmer girl like, knew no honor
able means of support save manual
toll.
Il do not know, daughter; that has
always been a mystery; some people
can sit on the fence all day and never
come to want, while others work for
dear life an can hardly make ends
meet. But they do say Bill Martin is a
thief, an he may steal enough in his
tramps to keep Jack and his family
from starving"
A small boy, the son of Jack Haw-
kins, ran to the fence to peep through
at the father and daughter as they
drove by. They saw Jack Hawkins
team of gray mares harnessed to the
pillow and standing just inside the gate,
while Jack Hawkins himself sat on the
fence, as if he was waiting for them to
approach.
"Helloa, neighbor Miles" cried
Jack, as the wagon came opposite
him. Going to town to-day?"
Eyes, Jack; are We putting in your
wheat" asked Mr.. Miles, refining in
his restless horses.
"Just commenced blowing for it, "
answered Hawkins, a grin on his face
that made it at once distrustful.
"Why amt you blowing now
stopped to take restP"
mo, broke clevis, and Bills gone
to the house to get one"
"How long since We had that field in
cultivation"
"Some three or four years." sale
Jack, descending from the fence anC
advancing to the wagon. He was {
man about forty-fve years of age, will
bushy hair and beard, crestfalleI
gray eye and square, massive chin
He came forward at his usual lazy
stumbling rate, and Familiarity put one
foot on the hub of the fore-wheel mex
to him, supporting his elbow on tn,
knee of his elevated leg, and resting hi
chin in his hand, he seemed to squar,
himself for two hours talk.
"Got a new hand, l her'dP" sale
Jack
eyes; hired one yesterday"
"D'ye think he's much account"
Cant say, I've not given him fai
trial yet" answered tn farmer.
Ale is rather delicate fellowP"
Eyes, rather"
Don't look as though he'd eve
done much farm work."
mo, he says he never did, but h
seems willing to learn"
"Do you think he can do it, if h
does learnP
81 don't see why he should not"
"Why, he's rather weakly, yo1
know"
Rather a slender young man."
"Yes; don't look as though he coulC
manage fiery team, or do a har,
days work. "
CHOSE slender chaps sometimes de
ceive one"
l what has he been doin'?" aske,
= Jack.
"Clerking in a dry-goods store"
} "WhereP'
= cat Queenstown
= "a clerk, hey?'
1 That's what he says he's been dc
= ing"
= "a regular ladies' gentleman, then,
l said Jack, with shy glance at Pmkey
"One O. them fellars what can measur
/ calerco, talk soft, and walk on ego
? without breakin' EN-"
n "He seems willing to work, and
5 perfect gentleman" answered Nj
+. Miles. Then, to change the converse
a ton, he said: "How much winter whei
do you intend to put IMP"
/, Dunno" was the answer; ''som
Q fifteen or twenty acres, | suppose"
0 "You are rather late commencing fc
!, that much"
d "Ya-as; but if l don't git it all il
I'll have to be content with putin
n part. "
d You haven't plowed five furrov
T yet"
o "No; just commenced" said tt
o careless Jack Hawkins, shifting his fo
1t to the ground and putting the, 9TH
foot on the hub. "Our clevis broi
1t and Bill went to the house to git tt
V other"
t, you have your grays, yet,' sa
Farmer Miles, as he gazed over Il
n fence at the two rather likely-lookiI
e gray mares attached to the pillow.
1t Eyes, an it's shame to hev to no
'em to a plow."
lie "Why?o
fn ,,.o lotb 1 -,