The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-07-22
II Yankee FARMER C
e~@ in FLORIDA,
9G&:@GGGG&GGGGGG& &&GG&&&@
BY R. G. ROBINSON.

IN the pioneer days of South Florida
there came from Boston a man
named Dave, with his wife and two
children.
He came, he said, primarily for his
health. and incidentally to better his
fortune, which, never having been
great, had been wrecked in the financial
cyclone of 10.
In those days homesteads donated by
paternal government to actual set
tiers were plenty, and Dave soon found
one to his liking, on which he built
n cabin and cleared land for a small
orange grove.
With fine disregard for conventions
.lities and Boston prejudices, and with
a determination to be ''of the Romans
a Roman he discarded shoes, stock
ings. and all superfluities of dress, and
commenced work with magnificent
pluck and Yankee energy.
Looking to q bread supply for the
immediate future. he rented a few
acres of arabic land from an "old resi-
denter' to plant in corn and potatoes
his new land being sour and unfit;
and he invested the remnant of his
funds in horse, pillow and harness.
The horse was an importation from
the broad plains of Texas, small, an.
gular. slender of limb and wild of eye
An animal with better training or an
cestOrs or habits of thought ought tC
have been selected, for Dave had never
owned a horse in his life nor had he
ever mounted one or put his hands tc
a pillow"
He knew it was all quite easy, though
Did ever a man come from Boosting
who couldn't do anything that any
other man had ever done?
The day after the purchase, in the
early, deWy morn, he took the horse
pillow and harness to the rented field
to begin operations, and his wife and
children went along to see the incep
ton of that happy occupation called
farming"
Never having harnessed a horse, Dave
omitted that useful article, collar
and buckled on the names upside down;
but otherwise he got the gearing fixed
in pretty fair shape.
Then, taking the lines and grasping
the pillow handles with a grip of deter.
-4inat;on, he uttered, with fine effect
ana deep bass voice, a formula he'd
read-in the encyclopedia, perhaps
Gee, Whoa Haw! Git up thar"
The formula was all right, and his
rendering perfect; but he hadn't taken
into account the moods and lenses, past
and present, of Texas pony. That sa.
gacious animal, having taken a slight
tug against the bare, upside-down
names, stood gazing in silent wonder
and expectancy.
Come up, there, | tell you!' said
the farmer. Cant you gee haw?"
The only answer was slight bob
bing of the head.
Come up, l tell you" again said
Dave, and at the same time raising his
right hand, he brought the heavy rope
line down along the pony's back with
d rcsOunding thwack.
His answer was a quart or so of eartl
full in the face, thrown by the pony's
hind feet as they went sIyward. THAI
little performance ended, the pony re
sumed his original position and looI
of inquiry, while Dave took a seat OF
the ground to review the situation.
81 don't exactly know what's the
matter. Sadie" he said. "Ihe man
got this beast from said he was al
elegant pillow animal and would &c
straight along"
well, Dave" said Sadie, 81 don't
know, but seems to me horses may have
their regular habits just like people
and maybe this horse amt used tC
starting 50 early in the morning; you
know the people round here don't start
to work near so early as this. Let's
wait a bit, and maybe he'll go"
Sadie" said Dave, ''if we're going tc
make a crop this year Wen have tc
start early in the mornings. All gooC
farmers do, and this horse had just as
well begin now as another time. | tel
you what | expect is the matter; He.
used to having u boy lead him wheI
drawing a pillow; that's the way lots
of blowing is done. You try leading
him, Sadie, and I'll hold the plow."
'Oh, Dave" she said, 81 really
couldn't. I'm afraid he'd bite me, he
looks so mad"
"Shucks!" said Dave. HE couldn't
bite you if he wanted to, for the trace,
and pillow will hold him back. Yor
really must, Sadie. just try it till we
get him started, then maybe he'll 60
all right"
Thus urged, Sadie took the bride
reins as far in front as she could, and
Dave resumed the handles of the pillow
'Now pull, Sadie" said Dave "ant
we'll start. Get up there, you BEAST"
In response the beast gave a snort
and tug that made Sadie jump ten feet
OF more and dragged the pillow perhaps
sis inches; then he stopped resolutely
TN tell you what's the matter
Sadie said Dave; che amt used to your