Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-02-09
ing FOR some time with Joe Smith head

ed old Jerry fer home.
She had left the village about two
miles behind when she saw a young
nan trudgipg along ahead of her in the
dussy road. q dilapidated carpet bag in
hand
He seemed to be footsore and tired,
and az Martha was ii kind hearted little
thing, and as there was plenty of room
in the big, coffin boxed buggy, she halted
and asked him to ride.
The invitation was accepted with alac-
rity. and Martha found herself seated
beside broad shouldered, trim built
young man perhaps 25 years of age
His curly chestnut hair was closely
cropped. and his sandy mustache had
been recently trimmed. His dark and
flashing eye proclaimed him to be a
quick tempered individual, while his
square, massive jaw denoted determine
ton, if not obstinacy and pngnacity.
Have you walked far?" queried Mar
tina after old Jerry had logged on some
distance
About fifteen miles," was the reply.
Fact is I'm looking for job. Do You
know of any one around here who would
| like to hire u man for a few montlis."
/ why, yes" said Martha. Papa
hired man has left him, bis farm work
is in terrible shape and he is sick. am
quite sure he will hire you. You. how
ever. will find him very cross. He is al
ways that way when he Is III"
"Oh, | shall not mind that in the
least, replied the young man cheerfully.
II am cut of a job and out OF money,
and under the circumstances would work
for Lucifer himself. May inquire your
manner"
my name is Martha Cummins And
yours
"Js Robert Sharp"
At that moUsent old Jerry turned into
the Cummins door yard and sedately
walked mp to the kitchen door.
Martha, with the assistance Of Robert
Sharp. unloaded her purchases, and tax
ing Jerry by the bride started 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 u week he had the blowing all
done and part of the ground ready for
p gting.
40 old husbandman's mind being
thus placed at rest he soon got the bet
ter OF his rheumatism and went to work
with will.
AS has been already stated. Peter
prided himself on the fast that he had
never had an employee who was able to
do AS much work in day as could he.
It had always been his custom to
race it, with every new man he hired.
When after more or less close and ex-
citing contest his antagonist either
tacitly or openly admitted his defeat
Peter would say:
"Wal, yew dew wot ye kin. Yew
can't hev more NV of n cat than her skin;
an it hain't TO be expected that yew, er
any man in this part NV the kenlry. kin
keep his eend up with old Peter. Dew
wot ye kin,
One evening, having fully recovered
his health and strength. Peter said to
Robert Sharp:
I'm goin' deown tew Piketown this
evenin' tew buy me a new hoe. Tew-
morrer, yew know, we air tew plant the
Green lot tew w'lte flint corn. Yew go
to bed arly an rest Jest all yew kin, fer
yew'll hev tew git right tew the front
tew-morrer. an don't yew furgit it,"
Bright and early the next morning the
two men started for tho Green lot, /"
the hired man carrying a bag of seed
corn, while Peter fiourished two bright
new hoes.
Said the farmer as soon rs the lot was
reached:
I'm jest a-going tew make this new
hoe fly tewday. This piece has got tew
be planted afore night"
With these words, having filled to
overlooking his planting bag with corn
and his mouth with tobacco. he struck
out at n terrific rate of speed, the hired
man following after
Il The sun having just arisen Peter had
discarded his wide brimmed straw hat,
and for greater freedom of movement
had thrown his suspender from his right
shoulder. This latter useful article of
wearing apparel having become detached
III front Htreamed out behind like the
tail Of a kite. His long gray hair was
blown about his swarthy face. his
blue checked shirt, filled with wind,
pulled ont like II balloon; his tan colored
overalls bagged at the knee, and his
mammoth boots. pushed along through
the soft, sandy soil. made a shallow
canal on each side of his row.
Firmly grasping in one big hand his
new hoe and in the other no less than a
half pint of corn Peter. putting and
blowing like Il locomotive. worked him.
self across the field at high rate of
4 speed.
Looking behind him occasionally the
exulting husbandman would yell:
"Come on Come ON. Thought yew
knew heow to plant corn. Git gait on
We. Git gait ON ye. Haw, hawl hawr'
AT the end of the first bout" the
kired man was several yards behind, and
Peter, in "A high state of exultation and
perspiration. took double shuttle on a
fence board which CHANGED to lay upon
the ground near by. He then took a
"chaw Of terbacker." refilled his plant