The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-06-04
"A NEIGHBORLY LIFT.
JAMES *. REEVE.


Farmer Allen was sitting nt his COM
Portable break fast table one morning i'll
early April. About him was every evil
dence of thrift; his children were we'll
clad. and upon their cheeks was the
ruddy glow of health; his wife smiled
happily at him from across the table rs
she poured his cup Of fragrant coffee,
and added to it generous measure
of cream the product Of their own
sleek Jerseys. The sun shone warmly
in at the window, the birds We're sing
ing merriIy i'll tie trees. the young
grass on the lawn was showing patches
Of bright green here and there. Spring
was abroad in the land.
Il shall finish sowing the west field
today" said Mr. Alien. "Then We
shall be through with the oats in good
season. and Monday can begin opIow
the corn land. l am getting good
start with the work this year. and il the
weather holds good the crops will III! be
pnt in in fire shale. And You know.
Mary, "A crop we'll s"wn is half grown
Yes, l am glad you are not being
pushed. as you were last year. Eichard.
But l am afraid all our neighbura are
not so well off i'll that respect as we: |
wish they were.'
True, Mary. see that Denton has
not turned Il turrow Vet. His lard is
not quite Us dry rs ours, and so not
ready TO work quite aS early. But |
am afraid the poor fellow isn't able to
do much this year
81 was over there Yesterday. He
looks bad. and | guess he isn't we'll
man yet. And they are worried
about the FARM Mrs. Denton
said that Joe Wasn't fit to work,
but that she coull hardly keep
him from it, aud | know that they
haven't money TO hire help, for it has
taken everything they had to pay the
doctor bills this winter and keep up
the interest on the mortgage"
Farmer Allen rose from the table and
walked ont to the barn rather more
slowly than was customary. And while
he was putting the harness on his two
good grays he worked thuughtfuilv,
and hesitated once or twice rs if not
quite sure that it was what he wanted
to do, and chewed vigorously the while
at wisp Of hay, as ii that might solve
his problem. Finally, when the har-
ness was all adjusted lie left the grays
standing in the stalls, and walked over
to the box where he kept his driving
horse.
II guess you must go out this morn
ing, Dick" lie said, pattinc the sleek,
brown coat. Il reckon the mistress
wants you, if she didn't say So"
Dick wlinnied good-natnrcdly, and
lowered his fine head to receive bit and
bride, as if to say that he would much
rather be out ofdoors this fine spring
morning than standing idle in his box
and he fairly prance,i with exuberauce
of spirits when his master placed him
between the shafts Of the light buggy
and then drove around to the front of
the house and stopped before the gate.
Mrs. Allen smiled as she watched her
husbands movements, and walked down
the path to meet him. There was such
perfect understanding between those
good people that it seemed sometimes
to lessen the need of words.
Il concluded, Mary" said the farmer.
with glance Of humor in his face, that
we had better take play spell Monday,
if the Weather holds good. You know
I've been working pretty hard this
week, and all work and no play makes
Jack dull boy"
Yes" Mrs. Allen nodded at hel
husband understan,iingly, and waited
for him to go on.
Perhaps we had better make little
picnic of it, and invite some of the
neighbors. Iou and Dick might take
the morning 10 see about it, and if yor
amt home by dinner time 1 guess the
boys and | can make out"
"Who had better see, and what shall
I say?"
Allen laughed contentedly by way O
answer.
"lf you say to others just what yor
said to me this morning. ! guess it viii
be enough. don't believe any OF then
can lie any more set about going on Will
their work than ! was to begin plowine
that corn-tield Monday morning. Anf
as to whom to see why, there's Ken
nedy, and Ransom, and both the Thom
ases, and any one else you come across
Denton has about twenty acres tina
ought to be plowed and sown right away
Let me see. Ii we have ton teams t.
plow, and three to harrow, and thre,
to drill, we could Just about get it don,
in day. I'll hire Sam Williams will
his team he amt hardly able to Civ,
the time himself. and I'll get hand t.
work Denton's team. Besides myself
that will leave thirteen for you to drum
up. DO you suppose you can do it -
Allen closed little anxiously. Whel
he came to figure mp it seemed prett,
large undertaking. He was by no mean
certain that thirteen farmers could b.
found in that neighborhood vino wcr
willing to lose day ort of their bes
season for the sake Of "lending IL hand
to neighbor. 1t was good deal t.
ask of them.
Il shall try hard. Richard; but mayb
Iwon't get back till late"
Never mind; we'll get along all righ,
And, Mary, suppose you tell each ma
to bring oats enough to SOW all th
ground that he intends Ito plow, an
fodder for his own team. And as fo
dinner. I guess we can leave that t
you.'
It was not Aliens way to half do
thing, and he was determined that
this lift was to be given to Denton.
should be done right. There must b
no expense for seed. nor for feeding a