Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-01-23


Late that evening man dressed as a
common laborer forced his way through
the little knot OF loungers round the
door OF the village inn, and entering
the bar-room demanded a nights lodg-
ing. AS he was signing his name
slowly and carefully, the burly land
lord commenced the usual catechism
for the benefit Of the listeners
"Been furp"
quite ways
"Goin' furp"
THAT depends.
"Lookin' fer workP'
THAT depends, also"
"Cause was goin' 10 say" con-
tinued the landlord, ''that ef you wuz,
Jim Anderson, he wants some hands 10
help with the hayin' an harvestin'.
He lives a mile down the road on yer
left"
Thanks" said the man. "I'll apply
in the morning"
"Prob'bly seen better days" CON-
mented the landlord as the stranger
disappeared. Talks like one o. those
ere swells-kind O. high and mighty
like. Not much OF name"
Each of the silent audience rose.
passed behind the counter TO look at
the greasy, thumb-marked register,
and shook their heads solemnly over
the awkwardly traced signature. James
Brown"
A week OF harvesting TO those who
have been present. and especially TO
those who have assisted. either willing
ly or otherwise, needs no description.
1t means a week Of work so hard and
so sparsely interspersed with hours OF
rest as to be bug-bear even to expert
enced hands.
On the first day the newcomer
worked heroically, though regarded
with suspicion by those already in the
field; the second day was worse than
the first and he threw himself on his
bed at night. too tired to undress.
When he reached the afternoon OF the
third day he Strengthened his cramped
back, wiped his aching forehead,
looked at his blistered hands and
groaned aloud. No one was near
enough to hear him at the time-no one
but pretty little miss passing with a
can Of cooling butter-milk for some
lucky toiler. She paused and looked
at him doubtfully for moment.
"What a pretty little girl, The thought,
vaguely. II wish l dare ask her for a
drink"
"You's one the green hands, bean't
youP" she asked, smiling. Don't We
want a drinkp"
IL do, indeed!" replied the man, fer
vently. She filled the cover OF the can
and whom he had drained it he handed
it back to her with a grateful thank
you," at the same time touching his hat
She stopped at this evidently novel
proceeding and looked at him curl
ously.
"fll bring We some more tomorrow,
Of ye like" she said. "An' I'll asst Bub
ter holp We weth tho hayin' whom e
kim" Then she blushed and hurried
away.
ub-hm-rustic swain,n he solilo-
quized. AS he was leaving the field
that night he was surprised by a sting
ing blow on the shoulder, and on turn
ing TO face his assailant he recog-
nized the rustic swain" in spite Of
the very unpleasant frown on his brow.
"Tll larn We ter meddle with my gall"
he began, ominously.
But, my dear young man" The
''dear young man" never heard the rest
of that speech. He terminated it with
a well-aimed blow in the eye, and fol-
lowed that up by series OF cuffs and
blows and pommellings, very satisfying
to his injured feelings, but very dis
heartening to the recipient, who struck
out blindly, gasping with establishment
and rarely hitting any thing more re-
sisting than air.
Thar" said Bub, giving a last
thwack at the disconsolate figure sitting
on the ground, thar, mabbe that'll do
yo. f I ketoh her a-speakin' TO We
agin I'll thrash ye every night for the
res o the week" Then he went of
with the laughing spectators, very
much the hero OF the hour.
The man on the ground sat for long
time without moving, and no one came
near him. Then he raised his head and
rubbed his bruises feelingly.
IL think I'll get out OF this" he said
at last Farming doesn't seem to DO
as much fun as 1t is cracked up TO be-.
someway." He looked at his blistered
hands reAectively. "I--think--I'll get
out of this now"
Suiting the action to the word he rose,
grooming over his stiff bones, and start
ed once more along the highway.
Boxing lessons are delusion and a
snare" he said to himself.
The next day two young ladies were
taking a morning stroll through apatch
Of woods just outside one Of the little
villages strung upon the dusty thread
OF the State road Suddenly one OF
them gave a stifled scream and drew
hastily back.
"Why, what is the matter, Annap"
asked her companion.