The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-06-04


clutlrd that she might as we'll trv here
first, As long al it came in her way The
gate Of the farm yard stood open and
Mr.. Kennedy was lu>t coming out with
his team. on the way TO II distant field
for his days work.
Coed morning. Mr.. Kennedy. | am
glad that | came before you were gone,
for | want To see you this time. How
are you getting on with your spring
work."
"Eh - said the farmer somewhat sur
priSea at this question from Il woman.
"Eh! Well. fairly, I guess. l amt
usually much behindhand, am I?' He
returned question for question with a
self-Satisiied chuckle.
No, you are not, and that is why |
have come to you first. Mr.. Allen Is
going over Monday to give Joe Denton
Il hand at getting his oats sown, and he
Thought may he you would like to go,
too" Mrs. Allen knew her man too
we'll to put it in the light OF q duty.
and one that he must be reminded Of bv
Others.
We'll. I don't know, Mrs. Allen.
What get | work for. and | work hard
/ h'ain't got over much sympathy with
men that are always behind with their
crops.
But you know Mr.. Denton has been
sick all winter; and may be he is little
discouraged, and if his neighbors should
turn III and give him a start"
w ho else have yon talked wlth?"
Nobody vet. l wanted to start with
You, for I knew you could influence
Others
Mrs. Allen was somewhat of a diplo-
mat, and knew that Simon Kennedy
| liked to be thought charitable, whether
he was so or not.
We'll, I'll see. Mothcr!" At the
sound Of his voice Mrs. Kennedy came
ont upon the porch.
Why; good morning, Mrs. Allen.
! Won't you come in?' she called out
hospitality at the sight of her neighbor:
bit before Mrs. Allen could answer,
| her husband spoke again.
! Mother, Dick Allen and l are think
ing of going over and helping ice Dem
! ton next Monday. He's somewhat be-
hind with his work Do YOU think we
can afford to lose a dav Of such weather
| from onr own affairs ~
con. it would be such good thing"
/ said the kindly soul. Il know he amt
abe to do anything. and it worries him
| and Keeps him down all the time. And
you know you sail last night that you
conId not do much more here till the
ground got some dricr."
Never mind what | said replied
! her husband, with some discontinue.
a good farmer can always find work
! to do. Bat l guess l might as we'll
join Allen. Sc, tell him I'll be on
hand Monday"
oh. thank You. Mr. Kennedy. Now.
/ I'm going right over to Eansom'+. and
will say You sent me; and, by the way.
Richard SAID he was going to take seed
enough to SOW all the land he could
| plow. and iced for his own team. And
! you and l. Mrs. Kennedy, must hay g
an eye on the dinner"
At Ransom's Mrs. Allen was sure of
her ground, and had quiet laugh with
I her friends bccau-c Simon Kennedy
! was to pose as one Of the cricinatOra OF
! the scheme.
| lsansom not only agreed TO come
! himself, but youched for two other
/ young farmers that he knew would Join
! them bnt who were too far away for
Mrs. Allen to see in person. He would
| ride over to their farms on Sunday and
tell them-"a good day for good
deed" And he would get up a spiiit of
friendly rivalry among the men. to see
who would be first on the ground, SO as
! to be sure of getting in full day )
work. Ransom agreed with Mrs. Allen
that the field must be plowed and
! planted before nightfall; aud his wife
/ began forthwith upon Il supply of cakes
and pies, for which she was famous, so
/ that her portion might make up for
! others who would have less time to
prepare.
Then Dick and his mistress went on
through the bright spring morning over
MANY a mile of level road that wound
between fair homesteads. And they car
ried with them such brisk and honest
air of CHEEKY hope and helpfulness that
every one, almost, gave in his word at
once, promising to be on hand at Den
tens on the coming Monday morning.
When Mrs. Allen returned home late
that afternoon, tired but happy with the
success OF her mission, and looked over
the list with her husband, 5he
found that she had fourteen men
and teams provided ono more than
they had counted would be needed.
SO, even allowing for mishaps. there
was little doubt but that Joe Denton's
oat field would be we'll plowed and
planted.
All that !bright Saturday, Denton
wandered in and out of the honse, rest
lessly. He was anxious to go to work
and was only restrained by the plead
ing of his good wife
Now, Joe. dear, do wait until the
first of the week, at least. You will bt
hurt much to wait Just little longer.
"But. wife, there will be so many
other things to do after little, and
don't want to be behind hand all the
season, and / can see that Allen is fin
ishing up his oats to-day. | hate to be
gin after every one else is through"
Il know it is hard to sit still wher
you want to work. But you must try
to be patient and not begin too soon fol
vonr strength"
BY dint of persuasion she managed t.
, keep him moderately quiet; bnt all day
, Sunday he was anxious for the morrow
. to come SO that he could begin to tur,
, the brown furrows. He loved to work
, in the ground, to see his bright p!ow
share CLINT in tho long rows of freshly
. turned earth. He was no laggard from
habit or liking.
/ But early as Denton and his wifi,
: were astir on Monday morning, other:
! were there before them. Ransom, moi
, to be outdone at the game that he him
, self had proposed. was on hand long be
t fore the sky began to grow gray in tlt
east.
d Allen was not far behind him. a"t
the others came in thick aud fast.
9 Denton and his wife could hardly be
lieve the evidence of their senses wher
they saw the array of men AMI teams
|