The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-07-22
4 Yankee Farmer :
~~~ In Florida.
BY r. G. ROBINSON.

TN 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 '73.
In those days homesteads donated by
a paternal government to actual set
tiers were plenty, and Dave soon found
one to his liking, on which he built
q cabin and cleared land for a small
orange grove.
With fine disregard for convention
alities and Boston prejudices, and with
a determination to be ''of the Romans
a Roman he discarded shoes, stock
ings, and all superHuities of dress, and
commenced work with magnificent
pluck and Yankee energy.
Looking to bread supply for the
Immediate future, he rented 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, plow 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 to
have been selected, for Dave had never
owned horse in his life, nor had he
ever mounted one or put his hands to
plow."
He knew it was all quite easy, though.
Did ever a man come from "Bosting"
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 horse, Dave
omitted that useful article, a 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 grip of deter
mination, he uttered,t with fine effect
and 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 slight
tug against the bare, upside-down
names, stood gazing in silent wonder
and expectancy.
"Come up, there, 1 tell you'll" said
the farmer. Cant you gee haw?''
The only answer was slight bob
bling of the head.
Come up, I tell you'll" 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
a resembling thwack.
His answer was quart or so of earth
full in the face, thrown by the pony's
hind feet as they went skyward. That
little performance ended, the pony re-
sumed his orr ginal position and look
of inquiry, while Dave took seat on
the ground to review the situation.
II don't exactly know what's the
matter, Sadie" he said. "The man 1
got this beast from said he was an
elegant pillow animal and would go
straight along"
'Well, Dave" said Sadie, II don't
Init f0 hox
their regular habits just like people,
and maybe this horse amt used to
starting so early in the morning; you
know the people round here don't start
to work near so early as this. Let's
wait bit, and maybe he'll go.'
'*sadie," said Dave, eff we're going to
make crop this year We'll have to
start early in the mornings. All good
farmers do, and this horse had just as
well begin now as another time. I tell
you what I expect is the matter: He's
used to having boy lead him when
drawing 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, Il really
couldn't. I'm afraid he'd bite me, he
looks so mad" e.. ~, ~
'Shucks!" said Dave. ''He couldn't
bite you if he. wanted to, for the traces
and pillow will hold him back. You
really must, Sadie. Just try it till we
get him started, then maybe he'll go
all right" -.t
Thus urged, Sadie took the bridle-
e., .,
Dave resumed the handles of the pillow.
Now pull, Sadie" said Dave, ."and
well start. Get up there, you beast!"
sIn response the beast gave snort
and tug that made Sadie jump ten feet
or more and dragged the pillow perhaps
six inches; then he stopped resolutely.
''I'll tell you what's the matter,
Sadie" said Dave; The amt used to your
skirts. Here, you come hold the pillow
and I'll lead him Bit . be
So Sadie took the pillow handles, and
Dave, taking hold of the bride, said !:
'.Now come right along, you ugly beast,
you'll" at the same time giving him a
kick. s5 .s 81
There was another start and sudden
tug; the plow catching on a root, the
handles flew up and knocked the luck
less Sadie into sitting position several
ysr1s away; the pony stopped and
rested. 81 e 81
Well, I'll be jiggeredi'' said Dave,
But I tell you. Sadie, I know it can
b done. and, what's more. + we're 70