Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-01-22
WORKING FOR HIS BOARD

Country lite has charms for those
who are not compelled to love it. A
certain romantic young man who had
spent all his life in the city, either
going to school or tearing calico be-
hind counter in dry goods store.
determined that instead OF spending
his vacation as heretofore, at some
seaside resort he would spend it in
the depths OF the country. He de-
cided to penetrate far inland. and. in
stead of paying for his entertainment
in hard. cold cash. he would work it
out In other words, he would hire
himself to some farmer who needed
help for a couple OF weeks during
harvest In return for his labor he
would receive his board.
With the above idea in his head,
William set out To be in keeping
with the character he was to as
sumo he dressed in his poorest suit OF
clothes and carried few toilet acces-
series and cigars in Il small hand
satchel. William decided to lay the
scene of his operations in Northern
New Jersey, near the York state line
where the scenery is grand and
mountainous; where trees are plenti-
full and birds thick in the air. As he
had chosen the country his desire
was to have his surroundings as ro-
mantle as possible, He pictured him
self going with the husbandmen to
gather the sweet new-mown hay.
singing a merry roundelay. He would
6r.iy ha In fA Il
MIXED by rosy-cheeked milkmaids.
and tn an at even after the pleasure of
the days toll was over, he would join
the merry group OF young people with
wide brimmed straw hats as they
danced gaily on the greensward. their
happy. laughing faces lighted only by
the pale beams of the moon. Such
were his musings as he tramped along
the road after leaving the depot. in
search of the farmer willing to give
two weeks board for two weeks work.
The north Jersey farmer. as gem
eral rule. is not strong on the point of
beauty, neither has he weakness for
gaudy raiment; but for real downright
hard medicines he has few equals
and 1t is popular belief in the north
ern counties that in an encounter be-
tween north Jersey farmer and a
flint the flint would be shattered. He
also has the happy faculty of holding
on to his loose change whenever there
Is scarcity OF pennies in the busy
marts of the seaboard. They say
1.-The Jerseymen are getting ready to
pay their taxes" Some malicious
persons have circulated the story that
every time copper cent gets in that
part OF the country the Indian on it
gives the famous Indian death wall.
for he never expects to see his fellows
again. This story, however. is nearly
all pure fabrication. This gives
some idea of the nature of the guile
less ruralists among whom the gentle
and romantic William had decided to
cast his lot. You also have some idea
of the picnic Willie thought he was
going to participate in.
Williams first application was met
with cold negative; at the second
place the grim farmer said mo. l
don't want no help; me and the gals
kin tend to everything" A third and
fourth application met with like re-
suits; they were willing enough to
take boarder into the bosom of their
families but not a worker. William
became weary OF tramping. but was
in no way discouraged as to the ulti-
mate result of his quest He had
about made up his mind, however, to
board for the night and continue his
search the next day. when he struck
farmer who seemed open to negotia.
lions.
You want to work couple of
weeks for your board. hey? Know
anything about working on farmP"
Not much. sir; but | think / can
learn to be useful readily"
May be you can, but you don't
look extra just as like as not you're
some burglar that wants to git in the
then take what you can find and ske-
daddle. Where did you come from?"
William gave his pedigree straight
and convinced the farmer that he was
not a fiend in disguise. and as he also
CHANGED to know some people in the
city whom the farmer knew, and told
a pretty straight story his offer was
accepted.
AS it was late in the afternoon.
Williams initiation was deferred until
the morning. and he was given an OPP
portunity to get acquainted with the
family, which consisted OF the head OF
the house aud her husband two
grown-up sons and three daughters
well along in their teens. He did not
find it very difficult to get acquainted,
as the sons and daughters were bright
and lively but he was little disap-
pointed when they retired at half
past nine without going out in the
moonlight and dancing awhile, though
he made no comment
II seemed as though he had not
been asleep fifteen minutes when there
was u pounding on the door that
, awoke him with start
What's the matterP" he exclaimed.
Nothing. only time to get up"
He arose and dressed. wondering
what ia the world they arose at that
unearthly hour for The faint streaks
OF dawn were just beginning TO light
up the eastern horizon. When he
went down stairs he found the family
all up and stirring.
Come, mister you go out with the
boys and help feed the stock. said the
farmei.
William went to the barn and STUN
BLEED about by the dim light OF a
lantorn He was put up In the hay