The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-02-01
CHATTER III.
A TRIAL or HARD WORK.

Walter Browniicld cast n last look,
at the wagon as it rolled away with the
farmer and hi, pretty daughter, then
hcaving a sigh, followed John Miles to
the cOrniicld.
"Dld YOU ever cut corn before?"
asked the young Hercules, when they
came to the cOrniicld.
mo, never did, y answered Walter
"Wcll, sir, then you'll hcv to be
kcerfu or yell split your shin open.
"HOw?'
Don't you see these corn knives is
sharp?"
yes
"Well when yc take a hill of corn
this way" wrapping his strong left
arm around large hill of heavy stalks,
blades and ears and 'yaw;ng it toward
! him. "Ihcrc ye see, when yc strike
it about foot from the ground with
vour knife, YOU have to strike toward
| ve; and if y don't watch It ii go clear
through the corn an into your shin. "
Yes. sir perceive" said the unn-
! itiatcd farmer. You must so regulate
the force of your blow that it will just
! sever the stalks of corn. and yet not
strong enough to-~o yourself bodily
HARM added Walter.
The illitcrate John Miles looked at
the new farm hand with surprise
! His smooth sentences were pleasant
even to Johns uneducatcd ear. His
eye surveyed the slender form Of the
youth from foot To broad high forehead
! and then remarked:
well, We MY not be much on the
work, but ly the tarnation. yc know
how to handle your mother tongue
which is more than | do
"But you have n large fine manly
form. You are gifted 10y God with th1
strength of four men Ike myself. OF
which YOU should be proud.
Yes said John, with a sigh, 81
was made b.g-so was the OK; and TO bc
bic in this world Is to be II drudge.
You are one o these gcntccl fcIIer,
what kin tax like a book; sOmethin
never could learn when boy.
Learn it now, since you are
man. said Walter.
I'm TOO big and aint got time to &C
to school. Pinkey is the only one o Us
children who could learn at school ~
You need not 90 to school to learn
a great many things about the parts oI
speech.
How'll learn, thenP'
AT home"
SCOT no teacher
al could leach you.'
"But we have to work"
"You will find an idle moment &C
casionallv. which. ifproperly improved
would accomplish wonders IN tn,
course of time.
The young man scratched his heaC
n moment thuughtfully, and then said
.P'raps' somethin' could be done il
that way. but we must get TO worl
here. or Wen make no sh~g ator'
noon.
He then proceeded to show Waite,
into the mysteries of starting q shocl
of fodder.
"You help me on the first row
through. and we kin each bring row
back" he said to Walter
The corn was large and heavy with
giant stalks and blades that made the
field seem n wilderness. John an
nounccd that they would cut the iirs
twelve hill square. SO he counted 81,
from the south side and six from the
west. They started in at the south
wost corner. Then he took four hills
th At formed square in the center anc
binding them diagonally took the tops
so as to form rude coop.
That's the skeleton" explained
John ION which we build the shock. y
He then commenced work, graspinG
a hill in his left arm he held il close tc
his shoulder, with one blow of hi'
heavy sword-like knife he severed the
entire hill. Then 10 the next. the next
and the next in such rapid succession
un-l he had gathered sufficient 4
make a In &C armful when he bore It tc
the skeleton and stood up against u
almost straight. the butt end down and
tl'f top up.
Walter stood for n few moments
watching his tutor. and saw gradual,
and even rapidly growing ar und hin
n clear spot. lie began to initiate th'
example of John Milcs. with a partia
success
lie was ss awkward in this ne Johr
Miles would have been in a drawing
room. and the warning cry Of "looG
out for your shins" frequently came Il
h!s cars.