The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-04-27
BETTER NOT THINK.
How Farmer Lads Save Themselves Deal
of Worry.


A sturdy chunk of boy was plow-
inc in a field over in Jersey
few weeks ago. The sun was blister
inc hot A lean man sat on fence in
the shade of a maple tree calmly look
inc at the boy. His trousers were in
his boots and his chip hat was turned
up behind. Another man, apparently
stranger, was passing by and stop
ped and leaned on the fence near the
man with the chip hat.
"That must be hot and tiresome
work such weather as this" remarked
the stranger, referring to the plowing.
yes" replied the other, "but the
boy don't mind it. They're all alike,
for that matter"
"Who are all alike?" asked the
stranger.
Farm hands," said the man on the
fence, "and it's a good thing for the
farmer they are all alike"
The man watched the boy as he jerk
ed the heavy plow around at the end
of the furrow and started back across
the field to make another one.
"It's good thing, tell you," the
man on the fence went on, "It's good
thing for the independent farmer that
his hired help has never got in the
habit of stopping to think"
"Ah," said the stranger. "How's
that?"
"How's that?" exclaimed the man on
the fence. "Well, sir, it's something
like this: Take that boy for instance.
He'll answer for 'em all. Last week,
by the way, he left farmer he was
working for because the farmer re-
quired him to walk five miles on an er-
rand. The boy said he wouldn't work
for any man who wanted him to do
work that would tire a horse out, and
so he left and went to work for the
man who owns this farm. Now, for
instance, he went plowing in that field
early this morning. By 6 o'clock to-
night, if the harness holds out and the
plow don't break, he'll have close on
to an acre and a half of ground turned
over. Yes, just about, for he's turn
ing good nine-inch furrow slice.
"Well, now, he's walking along there
like machine, and just as like as not
is wondering how any man could be SC
hard on boy as to expect him to walk
five miles on an errand with the ther-
mometer in the SOS. Now, suppose
that by some sudden inspiration he
should look back over the area Of
ground he has plowed to-day and shoulc
stop to think a minute. And then
suppose he took to counting those fur
rows and then to pacing out the length
of 'em. What would he learn? Why
he'd learn that each one of those fur
rows was 210 feet long, and that before
he got his days work done he woult
have to go back and forth over the
field 420 times. When that fact haC
worked its way under his hat, suppose
he should be moved to pick up a fla
stone and do little ciphering on it
admitting that he knows how tt
cipher, for the sake of argument? Thel
what would he fndp He would SCI
before him, in figures that wouldn'
lie, the to him rather astonishing fac
that, in slouching after the plow acros
the field these 420 times, he woulC
walk about as near sixteen miles ant
a half as multiplication and division
could bring it, with the sun cutting
into him for all it was worth, just lik
it's doing now, to say nothing of tn
wear and tear on his lungs bowling a
the horses, as you hear him now, ant
the not altogether moderate exercis
he gets by jerking that plow aroun'
$40 separate and distinct times.
Nov, then, if he should by an,
miracle be led to thus Unravel th
2 mystery of real honest days plowin
/. do you suppose that when he quit a
}, night he'd jog along home as chippe
: as cricket, put up and care for hi
horses, milk dozen COWS and do
lot of other chores about the house, a
n for $40 month and board, and go
bed feeling thankful that he had sue
a nice easy place and wasn't workin
for man who expected him to wal
five miles in the blazing sun? Do yo
suppose he would? Not much h
wouldn't! Not much!
Consequently, l say that it's a goo
thing for the independent farmer tina
his hired help haven't the habit c
stopping to think. If they had thei
number would have to be doubled an
wages would go up at least $12
month. It's funny that some on
doesn't give the hired help a hint @
two amt it? I'm sure that boy yor
der would be thankful for little fig
uring on his case"
The man on the fence took off hi
hat and famed himself with it an
looked as if he felt sorry for the poo
plowboy.
"Why don't you quietly give hir
the tip on it YOURSELF" asked tn
stranger.
The man on the fence put on his hs
and felt for his tobacco-box.
"Well," said he, "to be consistent,
can't. I'm the Independent farme
he's wOrkinU for IN Y WOrZd