Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-05-29

5S@ ldsos his own N. team ga ,,s often ten
of row while he sat on the fence, his
chin in his hands, wishing it were
dinner-time. They called him "Long
iawed Joe" on account of the unusual
length of his face. 1t was also pain
fully thin, but this was relieved by
clear, wholesome color and light-blue,
placid eyes. He was good-natured,
and was never known to be angry.
Il tell you now, Joe," said his broth
er, as they were unhitching at noon.
I'm not goin' ter stan it no longer"
"Thats what I've been thinkin',
Bill, replied Joe; "this works awful
hard"
You know what I mean, an you
can't turn it off that er way"
what do you mean, Bill ?"
: mean won't work myself to death
while you loaf half the time"
DO l loaf half the time?"
yes; you know you do"
That's argument why | should loaf,
Joe."
"How?"
well, if didn't loaf half the time
you'd work yourself to death"
You're er fool" said Bill, pettishly
lashing his mule with the plow lines.
Maybe L am, Bill. but I never hit
my mule when l git the worst of an
argument"
You're too lazy to do anything"
80, no i amt. / fixed old man
Brayton's silver bull's-eye last night
when you was asleep, and set it runnin'
right straight along"
Thar you go ergin Because you're
disposed to tinker, pap bought you a
lot of tools that only he'ps keep your
mind often your plowin'. He never
bought me nothin' in my life, but he
humors you-because you're lazy, 1
reckon"
81 never had my mind ON plowin',
Bill, so them watch-makin' tools can't
keep my mind off it. If pap never
bought you nothin', p'rhaps it's because
you never asked him. But if you want
anything five dollars can buy, here's
the money. made it last week, tink-
erin"
81 don't want your money" said Bill,
knocking his brothers hand away and
scattering the coin over the ground.
"But if you amt too lazy you can let
down the bars"
Joe picked up the money and let
down the bars; Bill passed through,
down the lane, to the horse-lot.
"Bilrs good boy" he mused, slowly
putting up the bars, "but he's awful
high-tempered. wonder how man
feels when he's right mad ?" His mule,
kicking at fly, struck his shin. "Look
out, Rhodom, that's my leg you're hit
tin. There aint much meat on it, but
what it wants in flesh it makes up in
bone"
When Joe went to his "tinkerin'
room," as Bill called it, that night, his
tools were gone. He said nothing
Next morning Joe was gone. He left
letter, which read:
DEAR BILL: The crop is about laid by. 1
leave you five dollars to pay somebody to
do the rest of my wo k. / wasn't cut out
for a farmer, but think 1 can make a livin'
tinkerin' watches. Your brother. JOE.
His father looked solemn, but said
nothing. His mother went into their
bedroom, smoothed down Joe's pillow,
and cried. Bill said:
Hell come back when he gets hun.
CRY; which won't be more'n week, at
furthest."
weeks, montns, years passed. Inc
bluebird built its nest In the hollow
stumn. the crow with one eve on
p:II,F - 1j ,:1e ~ AZ =
Dill gun, nelpeu hiLisell 10 tne early
planting. The June-bug "dodged the
woodpecker among the tall corn. The
orou ,,oda ;to Smo1lou,n ,ndar Al a
4""i hii"ao Ao' n1S1 oi ..,
cow-pea vines, ana nlled It's crop With
the ripened grain the coon had thrown
down The 'nossum GROWN fat on ,,er.
-: - - D. - r.
sliinions, leil easJ prey W hunuers
when frost gllStened IN the starlight,
and might have been proud of his an
,,ooro,oo ,yhon o,o,n;ebo od ,,,;+h su,oa+
Peaiahoo "noh' "iV'i 9"1o'
potatoes, ne graced the farmers table.
But Joe came not, nor any tidings OF
him.
~ = L,;ol,t so,.;no, ,,,orn;no ,rbo,,
i, oiisno 'Pii"S iioi "hen
suckle blossoms around the door and
Bill was busy in the field, letter came
TO Joe's mother, II said:
mi.
t DsAn AK moTnnhi rye yea,s II seems on t tGns
to toy you. u because @ use you haven t he ard from mt, me-
When l left home l made up. my mind "a
do something for myself before L wrote
back; wern no good In the ileld, and as
IA i"u tha nt, and WI al
ar ~ NJ naGa a Ionn atorv short fo,
ain't much With tho nep have dnna some.
thin, for m ysalf Tva yot n GOOD buainaas