Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-26
CHAPTER III.
TIE HARVEST.

CHAPTER III.
TIE HARVEST
Bnt life even Mt Chill Farm ia com
posite. IS not all milling, and July and
wheat harvest had como. Year alter
wear Helen had dreaded TINS southern
b'sGtai as the uninitiated conSder It,
DR.. Mason could not get on with hired
strangers to 10 his work.
Before the war, when he and his
neiehhors helped each other AMI sent
their teams and hands jlngling and elng-
iuC from farm TO farm, and each laborer
stood mp for the honor OF his MASTER 8
maine. 1t was conocuial, pleasant work TO
go among the honest fellows ana hear
90 Sargaut. Narse Doctor "Naryaut,
Norse Thomus.' How's Missis 80
" How's Miss Hcl,n2 Here's leetle
hyar for her and see the loug-eared
raomt drawn from hat or pocket and
given 10 the rosy child on the pony 10y
his side. And many barrels Of cider
aud stronger than CIDER toO-attested 20
the satisfaction Of the mastcr-but that
Was all over now.
a few unwilling men who called them
selves "crack Graders nov led a few
more unwilling men and women WHO
called themselves crack binders, and
these iilel aud tested under bis very
ewes. and If demonstrated with left for
other scenes after getting their pay and
thcir dinners. which no true servant
ma. ter oi the Old time can yet bear TO
withhold. no matter what the mlsde
meanor Of the black SO they iran
over the good man, and 1t was no
wonder Le dreaded to see his tall wheat
grow golden in the sun, for 1t told hIm
Of loss. worry. and modification. one
bright morning Helen stood on the porch
and looked ont 10 the distant field,
whence sho heard the well known sound
of sharpening the cradles.
Come. father, let US ride to The har-
vest field.
"There is no need TO 50 /; they will DO
ma well without me- | cant stand look
ing at them. lose all patience. How
ever, If vou Wish 20, 60.
I'm lttlo while they were riding
slowly awayTllelen listening to the Oft
told tale of chow things used to be.
"l ook az them, papa ~ she eald rs
they reached an emlnence overlooking
the wheat. About thirty men and
women were marching evenly as soldiers
across the wide field, the sun flashing on
the Graders blades, and the biuders
quickly and deity tying and throwing
back the heavy bundles.
eft is Ike the old time, cried tho
Doctor eauopng to the brow OF the hill
and watching TO see how long they would
20 ON like that. When they reached the
corner they stopped, and two boys with
large buckets and tin dippcrs went TO
every man and woman with q refreshing
drink. a little halt for breath and then
such o burst OF song that the welkin
rang. "Shout, shout, We are gaming
ground. and the blades flashed, and they
sprang forward 10 their work again.
"Who is leading them? ~ cried the
Doctor ] cannot see. Is 1t that mu-
latto Of Brents?
"No." said Helen. 81 cannot see,
but be is spleudi1-looking man. 1
think, She added slowly as they rode
forward 81 think it's but-no. hes,
1t ~ IT.. Noyrr.'
conc of uatuie's noblemen,' cried
the old Doctor "a true leader Of men.
After they had gone quite around the
big square they were emitting tho lender
looked up and took of his hat and famed
himself once or twice and put his hand
across his forehead.
"Make him stop, Father, he ia not
used to staying IN the mill, and they
rode a. rapidly as they could down the
steep hill and across the wide, swelterng
plain. But It WAS IN vain the Doctor re-
monstrated at the highest pitch Of bis
voice. Phil only laughed, and his blade
few faster.
II was in the afternoon that hottest
bour. from % 1t that suddenly the din
of the harvest field seemed hushed to
Philip. q pain shot through his head, and
with dlsinay the hands saw hun suk
down upon The ground.
They bore him to the cool shade near
the spring and laid him down upon u
bed OF coats aud one Of them went Oft
for Dr. Mason.
"Come. daughter" Helen put mp
such remedies as her father told her and
they rode 10 tile spot
The hondshsd All stopped working and
stood in IA circle around him as he lay
like death Itself in the shadow Of the
great trees.
She batlel his head in ice-water and
belped the old women TO rub his hands,
and then when there was nothing more
20 do she sat 10y him and watched with
her father for some sign OF returning
life.
80 mixed in him that nature might stand
mo and say TO all the world this was a
man " repeated DR.. Mason rs he looked
Al him. 81 never met truer gentle
man / would like 10 lot some OF his
people know but they could e i . SG' sSlIs
And for the yery pity CT 1t Helen looked