The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-24


field seem a wilderness. John an
nounced that they would cut the first
twelve hill square. So he counted six
from the south side and six from the
west. They started in at the south
west corner. Then he took four hills |
that formed square in the center and
binding them diagonally took the tops
so as to form rude coop.
That's the skeleton" explained |
John ION which we build the shock"
He then commenced work, grasping
hill in his left arm he held it close to
his shoulder, with one blow of his
heavy sword-like knife he severed the
entire hill. Then to the next, the next,
and the next in such rapid succession
until he had gathered sufficient to
make large armful when he bore it to
the skeleton and stood up against 1t
almost straight, the butt end down and
the top up.
Walter stood for a few moments
watching his tutor, and saw gradually
and even rapidly growing around him
clear spot. He began to initiate the
example of John Miles, with a partial
success.
He was as awkward in this as John
Miles would have been in a drawing
room, and the warning cry of 'look
out for your shins' frequently came to
his ears.
But after q short time he became
more skilled in the use of his heavy
sword, and found that by ordinary
care there would be no danger of even
slight wound.
Shock after shock of tall stalks rose
in the field, leaving broad trail be-
hind them. Ever advancing into that
impenetrable jungle and sweeping all
before them, the young men moved on
without stopping.
John Miles seemed to work faster as
he became warmed up to it, and Wal
ter Brownheld in his youthful ambition
strove TO keep pace with him.
The sun rose higher in the heavens,
and the morning, which at its birth
was cool, grew warm before twas one
fourth over.
The hotter grew the day, the faster
John Miles worked. His strong arm
seemed never to tire. Starting in with
a merry whistle he kept it up through
the entire day. The higher rose the
sun, the hotter the day became, the
faster he worked, the shriller sounded
: his whistle over the field.
| Walter made manly effort to keep
} pace with him, but found that impos-
: sible.
The perspiratiOn streamed down his
heated face, and even through his
shirt. The corn blades chaffed his
neck and the side of his face, until
every stroke he made caused intense
pain. But he had started to do or die,
and made no complaint. On the road
, aWas WSgary tramp and starvation; here
3 was labor and pain, but food and shell
4 ter. He contrastad his pleasant labori.
} Gus condition, with his life of few
months ago How different How he
> had been Inundated. The sense oil
J the great wrongs he had endured
seemed to steel his arm and rouse hi.
;. fainting spirits.
e Try as he would he could not com
. pete with the robust son of his employ
er. Like a racing hurricane Johr
S Miles swept around Walter, leaving
naught but the bare field, while the in
experienced youth was struggling witt
n few hills of corn.
it Would that arm never tire, would
), that piercing whistle never cease
d thought Walter, as he struggled t
e keep up with the young farmer. JOIN
h saw that he was doing all in his power
d to keep pace with him, and knowing
r that no farmer in the entire flat coulC
y do that, he did not attempt to hurr1
l. him. Thus hour after hour passed
o To the painting Walter, it seemed
It ages; John Miles seemed to gain un
1t tired strength and rapidly with eacl
y stroke. His blows fell faster and HI
heaped the corn up higher while hi
At whistle sounded louder and shrille
upon the morning air.
1T They had been continually advanc
is ing into the dense wilderness, and Their
e had seemed no end to it, Not breez
ID was stirring or could stir in that dens
corn, to cool the brow of the almos
lie fainting youth,
W AT last when his head grew heav
lie and throbbing, when he was dizz
from heat and felt as though he wa
Iy chilly instead of warm, they suddenl
lie burst through the wilderness, and
Of neat little farm cottage that stood in
grove of elms and oaks, was Just acros
Il the fence.
)e Let's 90 to Uncle Dams and git
e. drink, said John, as the last shoe
rs of fodder in the row was completed
sticking the knife in the ground
Walter was willing to do any thin
a which promised a momentary respit
from the sultry heat of the burnin
70 sun.
is The sweet, cool breeze came to kis
his forehead the moment he emerge
n from the tall, dense corn.
Of They climbed the fence, and wake
through the grove of elms to the CO.
tage door,
A pleasant-faced old man. near sixt
years Of age, was sitting on the froI
porch in his large, easy armchair, er