Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-13
THE FIRST FOOT.

They had been working in the hay
field all day with blazing sun burning
down on them most of the time, but
now the last pike was being raised and
the last sweep dragged towards it.
Some of the workers who were await
ing it's arrival were hopping their
faces and watching its tumultuOus
course; some were picking up little
rolls of hay which had escaped on the
way, or wisps which had blown on to
the hedges Kitty Carter was one who
had chosen the latter employment,
and she had got an armful when,
among the branches Of a young ash,
she thought she espied an even ash
deaf Now, every one knows that if
you find an even ash-leaf, l. e., a leaf
which does not end as ash-leaVes ought
to end, with leafet as it's tip, but has
two placed opposite each other, and if
you gather this and put it in your left
foot shoe and wear it till bedtime, and
then put its crumpled remains under
your pillow, you will infallibIy dream
Of the person whom you will marry.
A glimpse Of leaf Of this kind hav-
ing been vouchsafed to Kitty, it was
vexatious to be interrupted by the ar
rival of Farmer Dunthorr's son, even
though he was the very man she
wished to dream of.
What are you lating in the dixie
Kitty" he asked.
ooh, never you mind, Robert" she
answered with coquettish brusqueness.
but l can't help minding. | mind
everything you do. I've had my thoWts
fixed on you all day long. Hasn't no
one ever telPt you that yor're out and
out the bonniest lass in Durham
county,"
Talking that ways just foolishness,
Robert" she replied, coloring with
pleasure
Nov, you know it isn't, Kitty! Don't
you never tax a look at yourself i the
glass? Who has such bonnie blue eyes,
or such shining goldie-brOwn hair, or
such a face altogether? Come along,
you've got what hay there is! Give it to
me; it's big armful for your But
Kitty did not stir.
Come, let's be off; they'll be done
piking directly" She had one foot in
the dry ditch, and as he spoke he tried
to draw her away.
ooh, do be quiet" she exclaimed,
TITS my belief you've gone and made
me lose my even ash-leaf"
And if | have, what would it have
tell't you more nor you know already.
You know who loves you best of all
now don't you, Kitty?"
MAYBE I do, and more likely I
don't" said Kitty perversely.
Kitty, dear Kitty, 10, gracious
heavens! What's going on over there?"
He was looking at a gate at the far
corner of the field, and when Kitty
looked there too, she saw that all the
workers had deserted the pike and
were crowding round this gate in
stormy dispute with a tall young man
whom she did not know.
TITS some one who wants to cross
our field to get to Sunny Brow, and
the men want him to pay his footing
first" said Dunthorne.
'"Then I'll warrant you it's Mr..
heard tell they'd forgive him, and ex-
pected him home for eighteen years!
Let's go and see what he's like after
all that time in London"
ooh, Robert, Robert! Look, look!
They're KILN Of him. cried Kitty. in
wild alarm, for the angry men had
penned Newly into a narrow circle
formed by their outstretched hay
forks, and each moment this circle was
becoming narrower. But Dunthorne
was already half across the field. He
hesrd the mems savage cries as he
went. "You nun pay your footing"
cried some. mo excuses will be
taken" cried others. you chose to
come into our work field when we're
fhrong on pfking, so out wi your brass
afore worse happens to you" The wo-
men were as clamorous as the men
Ding him down" cried one. land just
talk what We think fit out of his
pockets" Whats the use of putting
a fine black coat on yer back"
screeched another, eff YOU don't know
now to behave yersel' like a gentle
man when it's there? Pay yer footing
when yer asked, like other folks, or
Just talk the consequencesr'
/, drop that this moment cried
Dunthorne authoritatively; and Kitty,
who was close behind, thought no
greater hero could exist.
"Nought of t sort! It's we're right,
and We'll hav'tv' Nevertheless some Of
the fork were lowered a little Seeing
this, three men dashed into the circle
and seized Newby-his torn sleeve
bore witness to The strength of their
grasp. Dunthorne broke into the circle
too. and tried to release Newby who
had knocked down one man, and was
now trying to dispose of another. LET
their bayfield,, and Newby's son nun
gay herer'
"He shall notr cried Dunthorne
angrily, and flung off another assailant:
but no sooner was one of Newby's
lands thus set free than he settled the
question by pulling out a handful Of
small change and 1inging it among
the crowd. There. YOU pack of beg
gars, there's what you want! IF you
drink yourselves drunk. You'll not be-
have more disgracefulIv than YOU have
done now' Nine men with forks
against one man with no weapon at
all: but what can one expect in place
like this?''