The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-12-16
BY FRANK h. SWEET.

0LD Farmer Brownlee was moving
slowly across his big onion field.
He was on his hands and knees, and his
head was bent low so that his near
sighted eyes could distinguish the weeds
among the tiny, upright onion points.
His back was too old and rheumatic for
such work, and he wished that one of
his boys had chosen to be a farmer in
stead of business or professional man.
When at home they had taken all such
work as this from him, but now the last
one of them was packing his trunk for
the city, and hereafter he must do his
own chores and onion wedding. Well,
he would not complain; the boys had
'bettered themselves, and that was what
he most desired.
When he reached the end of the row
III: Strengthened his shoulders with a
sigh of relief. Then look of surprised
inquiry came into his face. He thought
he knew every boy in the neighborhood;
but there, from the topmost rail of his
zigzag fence, Il ragged, unknown boy of
- or - was regarding him earnestly.
AS he looked up the boy grinned concil-
iatingly.
"What is them things you're so care
full bout tendin', mister?" he asked
Farmer Brownlee's face darkened.
The idea that anyone could be so ig-
norant as not to recognize growing on
ions never entered his head.
None of your sass, boy" he said,
angrily; IAN just suppose you git down
off that fence. Fust you know there'll
be rail broke, or suthin'"
The boy sprang nimbly to the ground;
but it was on the inside of the fence and
not on the outside, as the old man had
animated.
I'D like awfully we'll to know what
they be, mister" he said, as he BENT
down to examine the green, needle-like
points. "Tve been watchin' you long
time, an 'spose likely they're some en-
ira fine posies, you're so careful of 'em.
But say, if you don't mind, I'd like to
try row of 'em across. 1 b'lieve I can
do it,"
The look of anger on Farmer Brown
lees face became one of establishment.
A boy anxious to weed onions! and not
know what they were. Two phenome-
ma that made him almost speeches..
His boys had always been willing to do
the work for him, but he could not re-
member that either Of them had ever
seemed anxious for the job.
ssNnf-l-n WALL &l,.k
beats mel" Then quizzical look came
into his face. I d'know's 1 mind you
goin' across and back. I'll sit under
this tree an sort O. keep an oversight,
You must be careful an not pull up
any onions. An say" as the boy
dropped on his knees astride one of
the rows, you haven't told me your
name yet, nor where you come FROM"
boy Cooper; an I'm one of the
5resh-air boys over at that farmhouse
t'other side the hill"
"Um! yes; l b'lieve 1 did hear Sol
Perkins speak of takin' some street
boys for week. Crazy idee, thought
It,"
For some minutes he watched the bow
dubiously; then the uncertainty left
his face and he leaned back comfortably
against the tree.
Mighty spry with his fingers, an
careful as one of my own boys" he
thought, approvingly. do the work
twice as fast as can, if he is a greeny.
I'm! maxim of another good farmer
lost in him, I s'pose." Here his eyes
closed, and they had not opened when
the boy came back on his second row.
A sharp scrutiny, and then Bob turned
to the third row and again wended his
way slowly across the field. AS he rose
from the sixth row he heard the sharp
clang of a bell. Going to the old man.
he touched him lightly on the shoulder.
II guess likely that's your dinner
bell, mister" he said q
Dinner bell? Sho! sho! 'Tain't
nine o'clock yet. I only jest shet my
eyes minute" He glanced up at the
sun, then down at the newly-weeded
onions and his face heightened into in
credulous astonishment. "You don't
mean you've weeded six rows! Why,
that's much as my obstinate old backll
let me do in whole day." Again the
dinner bell sounded. Eyes, that's for
me, sure enough. Won't you come in
an eat with me?'
'No; Mis- Perkins'll wonder where
I've gone. But if you don't mind III
come back soon's I've eat. I'd like to
try them onions again."
"Mindi T shon1d +h;nl mt T,r, n,
ways glad to run across such help"
1t was nearly half mile to Solomon
Perkins, but when the old man re-
turned TO his onion field he found Bob
Vi