The Butler weekly times., 1890-01-08
TWO BUSHELS OF CORN.
How Farmer Brown Succeeded in
Performing a Good Deed.

Performing a Good Deed.
Farmer Brown was shelling four bush
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
lie was shelling the four bushels OF corn
by the use of a common cob in his right
hand. which cob he used to remove the
kernels by pressure. This old-time way
OF Shellinr corn made the hands hard
and horny. and the muscles of the wrist
strong. Woe be to the culnrit who
should have fallen into the hands OF
professional corn-shcllcr, He might as
well have been huuni with withes of
| 'lnrnbinc- The boy who felt the witty
| grasp Of such 4 left hand, and the appli-
cation of a buttonwood rod by such a
| right hand. was sure to have his mem
| cry permanently Quickened, and the les
| son usually proved ctfcctal. Such farm
crS. from their lordly Dialogues with
their oxen. had strong voices as we'll as
| hands, and when one of them said boy
II meant much. And boy" was just the
word that Farmer Brown said while
Smelling corn.
Harry Brown, the boy" started.
"Eoy" was a word Of command from the
C"neralissimo of the farm.
'Sir:''
| Mrs. Brown was sitting in the arm
chair by the stand, Knitting by the tai
low candle. Mr.. Brown was shclling
corn because he had nothing else to do.
and Mrs. Brown was knitting because
she had nothing else to DO and Harry
Brown was studying 4 music book by
good old William Billings. Of Stoughton.
because he sang in the choir of Hard
Scrabble Church which was d real
name. and not one made ND 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 something out of theil
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 a deal oi
thinking when | am Shclling corn
What you been thinking about
Ebcn:"
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 so?'
Now, Peter Rugg has not used me jus
right. and am going to make him +:
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. Sh,
dove at the snuffers. and snuffed tht
!, candle with spiteful dive at the Ions
J black wick.
''Eben.'
'.Well, Eunice?''
"Peter Rugg just gets his living b,
doing nothin', don't he?'
Yes, but he is sick now: and yo,
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' 70
, reward. Elder Leland says"
e '.And Peter Riggs wife, she goe
a-visitin' for alvin. and eats up ever,
0 body's plum-cake and apple sass
Yes, yes. but Peter was shiftless-
born SO, tired like--snd she had to ca
tsomething-and he's sick now
We'll. don't approve no such doin'.
don't believe in encouragin' idleness
II man will not work, neither shall b
cat! There now, Eben.'
do. mi, sol, do" sang Harry.
'eIhe morning sun shines from the east
And spreads its glories to the west
He was practicing the ''Ode o
all musical efforts in these simple sin,
ing-school days
We'll, do declare. Eben. / hope
you send two bushel of corn. of 70,
shellin'. too, to that shiftless Pet.
Rugs-i do hope"
what. Eunice?'
THAT 1t will never get there"
t'Sho. Eunice: that amt the rigl
sperit-when our barns and cribs al
full. too. and Peter is the only real po.
, pe-scn in the town, too, and he's IL
:. only one in all the world that hasn
. used me quite right, too. I'll have
send it to him, or else be very poor ar
mean in soul. and carry about with n
| feelin that l haven't done my dut
ard been grateful for all my blessin
Eun:ce. I'm goin' to do it, anyhow"
Well, all that I've got to say is tn
do hope the gv.st will never get there
Now, boy, you may so to Singh
school,