Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-10

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u slowly across his big onion field.
lie 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.
Now and then he raised himself YEARLY,
His back was too old and rheumatic for
such work, and he wished that one of
his boys had chosen to be farmer in
stead of business or professional man.
When at home they had taken all such
work rs 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 complains; the boys had
bcttered themselves, and that was what
he most desired.
When he reached the end of the row
he Strengthened his shoulders with q
sigh OF relief. Then look of surprised
inquiry came into his face. He thought
he knew every boy in the nelghborhood;
but there, from the topmost rail of his
zigzag fence, q ragged, unknown boy OF
12 or 10 was regarding him earnestly.
AS he looked up the boy grlnned 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; AN just suppose you git down
off that fence. Fust you know therell
be q rail broke, or suthin'."
The boy sprang nimbly to the ground;
but 1t was on the inside of the fence and
not on the outside, as the old man had
intimated.
I'D like awfully well to know what
they be, mister" he said, as he bent
down to examine the green, needle-like
points. I've been watchin' you a long
time, an 'spose likely they're some eX-
ira fine posies, you're so careful of EN-.
But say, if you don't mind, I'd like to
try row of 'em across. 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.
Not-know-onions! Well, that
beats mel" Then quizzical look came
into his face I d'lnow's I mind you
goin' across and back. III 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 Ostride 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
fresh-air boys over at that farmhouse
t'other side the hill"
"Um! yes; I b'lieve I did hear Sol
Perkins speak of tallin' some street
boys for a week. Crazy idee, I thought
It,"
For some minutes he watched the boy
obviously; then the uncertaintyleft
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 greeny.
Uni 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 turred
to the third row and again wendeG lis
way slowly across the field. As he rose
from the sixth row he heard the sharp
clang of bell. Going to the old man,
he touched him lightly on the shoulder.
81 guess likely that's your dinner
bell, mister" he said.
Dinner bell? Sho! sho! 'Tain't
nine o'clock yet. 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 establishment. "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
mind! I should think not. I'm al
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
already there and well down in his sew
enth row.
They worked until dark; then the old
man took out his pocketbook. Bob
shook his head and grinned. 81 don't
want no money, mister; but if you'll
let me come again tomorrow III be
much obliged"
Come all you want to. There's
| plenty OF work, an we can settle Wheh
we're through. But it seems sort OF
hard for you to come down here on a =,
vacation an then work all the time"
ooh, that's all right; l like farm
in';" and with quick spring he was
over the fence and running across the
field. /
1t took three days to weed the
onions. and when they were finished
the old man again took out his pocket
book. but again Bob shook his head,
The old man looked perpleXed.
Come, come, boy take the money"
he urged. a don't want nobody to
work for me for nothin', You've
ARMED it, every cent"
Bob shuflled his feet and looked at
the old man sideways. ~ didn't come
for no money" he said; "but there's
something else. Has-has my work