The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-16
HARVEST TIME.

| tlc ctttle, sinct early III tIc ioitliODnf
had been lying in the shade, or stand
ing in the little pools of waterfall that
was left of the brook that usually ran
through the pasture-and standing
there, placidly switched their tails and
contentedly munched their everlasting
cuds, seemingly as happy as though
the pasture was knee deep with fresh,
dew besprinkled clover.
In the stubble field adjoining there
were no such signs of contentment.
All day long, while the sun was the
hottest and fiercest, men and teams
had hurried from the field to the barn
and back again, going in with wagons
piled high with the sheaves of grain,
and coming back empty, save n to the
boy or man who drove the horses.
1t was the last day of 'wheat haul
ing" and Squire Stevens was anxious
that the crop should be housed, to be
threshed at his leisure.
1t was nearly sundOwn, and the i'll
| tense heat of the day was somewhat
abated. Not until then did venture
far from the low, rambling house that
seemed to retire in the shade of the
great elms that lowered above it and
| find my way down the little, grass
grown lane toward the great barn.
The last load was entering the barn
yard, and the Squire, with his big
straw hat pushed back and with pitch
fork in hand, walked with tired, but
satisfied tread behind the wagon.
He stopped when he saw me and
chaflingly said:
'Well, Missy, you come along TO help
when the sun goes down, do you, and
the last load is in ~
"Oh, no." replied, ''I didn't know
you needed help, or | should have been
here before"
The Squire laughed.
'Lots of account you'd be in the har-
vest field, now, wouldn't you? But /
can tell you that my sisters used to turn
ont with hearty will and help when
the work was pushed. Yes sir; father
used to say that Cynthia was the best
son he had"
"But, Squire" put in, ''you would |
not allow your daughter To go into the 1
harvest field and help haul grain, now
would you -,
ALLOW? Why, bless your heart, | |
l.,Ff Har
horse team. Not that | want to, he |
added after pause, ''for times have |
changed, and there amt the necessity !
for il nOw."
l burst into a laugh to think Of DOro- |
thy Stevens in the harvest field the !
daintiest little maid in all the country |
round, with proud little will of her |
own, and yet 2 lovable disposition. She |
was the apple of her fathers eye, and |
many staid old neighbors considered !
her spoiled daughter.
While we spoke she came bounding
into the yard on her saddle horse, and |
with nod to me, she turned 20 the
Squire.
well, Pop, how's the wheat: Do
we go to Europe this winter? Have
you reaped what you sowed:'
Folks usually do" said the Squire,
as he helped her dismount.
''Well, yes," ," replied Dorothy, 'unless
the crop fails, yoI know, and | believe
that happens sometimes. Do you
know" she ratified on, talking to neith-
er of us in particular, 1--WE been think
ing of that very thing to-day. 1t Is
promised that whatsoever a man sOws
that shall he reap but it seems to me
that holds good more especially with
weeds than il does with a good crop.
| know Pop here fusses around
sight about his seed wheat and his seed
corn, aud then the crops fail some
times, while if a little bit of cheat gets
into the wheat once it lasts for years.
And guess it's pretty much the same
way with sowing other things good
deeds, you know, and all that"
Dorothy" said the Squire, ''you're
getting to be regular passimist. Let's
go to supper and see if good square
meal will do you good"
And we all went into the house.
al think, Dorothy" said the Squire,
as we sat at the supper table, THAT you
expect the harvest ofa good crop too
soon. You mustn't cut your wheat b.
fore it is ripe"
'Oh, don't think So" slid Doro-
thy, from her place at the head of the
table. 81 see great many fields where
a harvest of any sort seems impossible.
came past the HAZARD place this af-
ternoon, and if you'll believe it, there
was Abby herself out in the wheat field,
with that boy that lives there, getting
in the wheat"
The Squire looked at his plate, NUT
tering something about being great
shame
That's just what | thought and
said" continued Dorothy. IL told her
it was not right for her to be doing such
drudgery, and reminded her that men
were intended to do that kind of
work. But she only said:
For men must work and women
must weep and then added, We'll,
Dorothy, | prefer To do a little more
work and little less weeping for my
part, and went on tossing the sheaves
up on the wagon.
Now, what | want to know is, when
is Abby Hazard going to reap her re-
ward? There she has been toiling away
on that little farm ever since | can re-
member, kind, faithful and intelligent,
doing more good to this neighborhood
than half the men put together; and
yet her life becomes harder every year.
Where's her harvest?''
There was curious look on the
'Squire's face as he said:
''She might have had harvest years
| ago if she would only cut the grain
when it ripens."
Dorothy looked at him as though she
did no; understand, but he seemed to
have nothing more to say, and after
| time she asked:
"Why has she always lived there
alone?"
because she's very foolish wo-