The Globe-republican., 1889-12-25
TWO BUSHELS OF CORN.
How Farmer Brown Succeeded In
Performing Good Deed.

arner brown was SnelllnS lOur OuSn-
els of corn on the cob, which. according
to the mathematics and tabular weights
and measures of old New England days,
would make two bushels of corn for the
purpose of the farm bin or the miller.
He was shelling the four bushels of corn
by the use of common cob in his right
hand, which cob he used to remove the
kernels by pressure. This oldtime way
of shelling corn made the hands hard
and horny, and the muscles of the wrist
strong. Woe be to the culprit who
should have fallen into the hands of a
professional corn-sheller. He might as
well have been bound with withes of
hornbine. The boy who felt the witty
grasp of such left hand, and the appli-
cation of a buttOnwood rod by such a
right hand, was sure to have his mem
ory permanently quickened, and the les
son usually proved effectal. Such farm
ers. from their lordly dialogues with
their oxen, had strong voices as we'll as
hands, and when one of them said ''boy''
it meant much. And ''boy' was just the
word that Farmer Brown said while
sNelling corn.
Harry Brown. the ''boy," started.
''BOy" was word of command from the
generalissimo of the farm.
.'Sir?"
Mrs. Brown was sitting in the arm
chair by the stand, knitting by the tai
low candle. Mr.. Brown was shelling
corn because he had nothing else to do
and slrs. Brown was knitting because
she had nothing else to do, and Harry
Brown was studying a music book by
good old William Billings, of Stoughton,
because he sang in the choir of Hard
Scrabble Church-which was a real
name, and not one made up for story
telling purposes.
Harry had been drawing ''do, mi. sol.
do" when the word of command came.
Boy, seeing we have so much to be
thankful for, I'm going to do Just the
right thing by my duties"
Mrs. Brown dropped her needles.
What was going to happen? She was
thrifty, frugal woman-was Mr.. Brown
going to give away somethingou of their
hard earnings and savings? If so. what
and TO whom? No unworthy person. she
hoped. I've been thinking over this
bushel of corn-I always do deal of
thinking when am Smelling corn"
What you been thinking about,
Eben?''
About the sermon that Elder Leland
preached on the text: For if We love
them that love you, what reward have
We: do not even the publicans SOP
Now, Peter Rugg has not used me just
right, and l am going to make him a
present of two bushels of corn. And
boy-you shall carry it over to him to-
morrow morning on horseback"
Mrs. Browns cap border lifted. She
dove at the snuffers, and snuffed the
candle with spiteful dive at the long
black wick.
"Eben.''
"Well, Eunice?'
Peter Rugg just gets his living by
doing nothin', don't hep
Yes, but he is sick now; and you
know the text. There's no merit in do
in just what you want to do. and havin'
your own way and will, and lookin' for
reward, Elder Leland says"
And Peter Riggs wife. she goes
a-visitin' for alvin. and eats up every
body's plum-cake and apple sass
''Ies, yes. but Peter was shiftless-
born SO. tired like-and she had to eat
Something-and he's sick now.''
We'll don't approve no such doin's
don't believe in encouragin' idleness.
If a man will not work, neither shall he
eat. There now, Eben!"
do, mi, sol, do sang Harry.
.Ihe morning sun shines from the east
And spreads its glories to the west.
He was practicing the lode on
Science" the crowning attainment of
all musical efforts in these simple sing
ing-school days.
"Wen, 1 do declare. Eben, hope if
you send two bushel of corn, of your
shellin', too. to that shiftless Peter
Rugg-I 90 hope"
''What, Eunice?'
THAT il will never get there"
''Sho. Eanice: that amt the right
sperit-when our barns and cribs are
full. TOO, and Peter is the only real poor
person in the town, too. and he's the
only one in all the world that hasn't
used me quite right, too. I'll have to
send it TO him, or else be very poor and