The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-08-29

boots tew bed. Dew ye hear?"
1t was we'll understood that when
Peter said thing he meant it. He
was not only handy with his No. 10
boots, but was a very muscular man
and noted trough and tumble"
wrestler.
In fact Peter stated no more than
the truth when he said
81 kin down anything within ten
miles in Piketown, with one excep-
tion-thet's the rheumatic"
He was also great worker, being
able to "out-hoe, out-m ow, out-chop
an out-eat" any man that he ever
had in his employ.
MARTHA" said Susan q day or
two after the hired man had taken
his departure, 1--WE are out of sugar,
molasses and spice, and you'll have
to go to the village with some butter
and do some trading"
Of Course Martha was perfectly
willing to do so.
She would not only have a pleas
ant ride, but would also have the
pleasure of seeing Joe Smith, who
"clerked it" in Piketown's one store.
Accordingly, after packing n few
dozen eggs in oats and placing sever
al rolls of golden butter in an earth
enware jar, "old Jerry" was hitched
up, and Martha, with a great futter-
ing of ribbons and rustling of skirts,
climbed into the old buggy wagon
and started for Piketown.
She reached the village without
mishap, did her trading, and after
conversing for some time with Joe
Smith, headed old Jerry for home.
She had left the village about two
miles behind when she saw a young
man trudging along ahead of her in
the dusty road, a dilapidated car
pet-bag in hand.
Heseemed to be footsore and tired,
and as Martha was a kind-hearted
little thing, and as there was plenty
of room in the big, coffin boxed bug
gy, she halted and asked him to
ride.
The invitation was accepted with
alacrity, and Martha found herself
seated beside a broad-shouldered
trim-built, young man, perhaps %
years of age. His curly chestnut
hair was closely cropped and his
sandy mustache had been recently
trimmed. His dark flashing eye pro-
claimed him to be IL quick tempered
individual, while his square, massive
jaw denoted determination if not
obstinacy and pugnacity.
"Have you walked tar?" queried
Martha, after-old Jerry had logged
on some distance.
"About fifteen miles," was the re-
ply. "F'act is, Pm looking for a job.
DO you know OF any one around'h here
who would like to hire a man for a
few months?'
"Why, yes, said Martha. "Papa's
hired man has left him, his farm work
is in a terrible shape, and he is sick.
l am quite sure he will hire you. You,
however, will find him very cross.
He is always that way when he is ILL.,"
ooh, shall not mind that in the
least" replied the young man cheer
fully. 81 am out of a job and out of
money, and under the circumstances
would work for Lucifcr himself. May
l inquire your name?"
"My name is Martha Cummins.
And yours-?''
els Robert Sharp"
At that moment old Jerry turned
into Cummins door-yard AND sedate-
ly walked up to the kitchen door.
Martha with the assistance of Rob-
ert Sharp, unloaded her purchases,
and taking Jerry by the bride start
ed for the barn.
"Let me be your hostler," said the
stranger, stepping forward. "You
go into the house and will attend
to the horse"
The young man soon returned to |
the house and was ushered into the
old farmers presence.
AS Peter was greatly in need of
help, and Robert Sharp was greatly
in need of employment, a bargain
satisfactory to both was soon struck.
Peter at once saw that his new
hired man was a great worker.
Within week he had the blowing
all done and n part of the ground
ready for planting. /
The old husbandman's mind being
thus placed at rest, he soon got the
better of his rheumatism and went to
work with a will.
AS has been already stated, Peter
prided himself on the fact that he
had never had an employe who was
able to do as much work in day as
could he.
1t had always been his Gust ON to
race it, with every new man he
hired.
When, after a more or less close