St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-10-27

harvest-time came on.
Farmer Grigsby's crops had turnet
out we'll that year.
His hay Wa pat mp In long 4icks Il
the barnyard, where his wheat va
also stacked. awaiting the coniol
"thrasher"
On . certain Saturday. MrA Gri9s6.
and her daughters were busy with th,
weeks baking. Half . dozen pies, ,
gallon jar Of seed cookies and . good
ly supply of light rolls and crust,
brown loaves had already been drawl
from the oven and set on the wide
pantry shelf to cool.
A homo-cured ham was gsnNy sim
mering over the stove, and the twelvs
o'clock dinner was under way.
Farmer Grigsby sat moodily await
ing the coming meal, when Ton
GriRsby dashed into the honse.
Forest flresl' he shouted "Ths
fence hes caught, an its almost up L
the stacks!"
In = moment al was confusion. Th>
farmer seized . spade and rushed K
the rescue of his crops
His wife and daughters eagerly fol
lowed, each armed with stout cudgel
to assist in battling with the devour
ing element
For weeks there had been drought
leaving the grass and unde-brush u
dry As tinder. The flames swept rap
idly forward. Rail fences and fallsl
brushwood crackled In the fierce heat
Bravely the anxious family Tough,
for their possessions, only to b
bafIled and driven back by the relent
less hameA
Overcome at last by exhaustion and
despair. Farmer Grigsby dropped hi
weapon and groaned aloud.
The crops must go!' he sighed,
hopelessly. II am q ruined man. II
we can save the ole homestead, it,
more'n / expect"
But, even - he spoke, an enoourag'
ing shout was heard from the deserted
footpath, which led across lots"
keep . stout heart, neighbor. Well
see you throughv'
Every eye turned in the direction OF
the cherry sound. to behold the stall.
wart figure Of Seth Stubbledeld hurry.
ing forward, = stout spade on u
shoulder.
At his heels came his con BEN, ..
ing . long-haudled shovel, ana 10:
ing closely after him were MrA >
blefield and Susan, the one bandlahing
. rake and the other . hoe.
New strength was infused into the
Grigsby family by this timely rein
forcement. and all hands fell to work
to bafne the advancing enemy.
The men, with their spades. beat out
every fresh blaze made by the spread.
ing flames The boys tore down en-
dangered fences, and carried the rails
out Of harms way.
The rake and hoe, In the hands Of the
women, were used to good advantage in
drawing dead leaves and other debris
away from the line of the eneroach-
ing hre. and the girls brought water
around in tin pals and handed drip.
ping gourdfuls of the refreshing ele-
ment to the thirsty and perspiring
workers
Their heroic efforts were crowned
with victory 1t last. The persistent fos
was conquered, with NO moro serious
loss than the destruction Of . few rods
Of rail fente.
AN we'll turn In an give ye = rail
splittin' to make them good" volun-
teered Farmer Stubblefleld.
.'An' now your wheatstscks and hay
ricks il safe. neighbor, / reckon We
mays well be gittin' along" he added.
mopping his face. IF you'd only =
blowed the horn to let M know you
was In trouble we'd = got here sooner.
But, anyhow, the dangers all over
now"
Yes, thank you. ole friend" an
swered Hiram Gri9sby, in : stihed
voice. II hadn't the right to expect
no help from you, sitter bein' % mean
~ to sue you"
''Poohl pooh! I'd . been meaner'n
pusley if I'd stood by an saw your
crops burnt up An you done right "a
sue me. Id ought to keep my part o
the fence up" confessed Farmer Stub
bleheld, eagerly. But I'll pay all the
damages my cattle has done in your
cornfield. An I'll"
"You won't-you shan't!' interrupt
ed Hiram. They haiA't done NO dam
a9e. an won't hev . cent"
Here the worthy farmer broke
down. His feelings choked further
utterance, and grasping the hand Of
his late enemy, he gave It hearty
shake, which was quite - heartily re-
turned.
I'm sell every hoof . stock on my
farm bat Whist I'll keep 'em from