The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1898-05-21
JUNIOR Theme.


then, little, white, fieecy clouds fioated
over the sun and cast q shadow for Q
moment.
John Upham Was blowing q ten acre
field with two old mules and his neigh
boris pillow. One Ct the mules was
dirty white and held his ears down over
his eyes. The fresh smelling earth chung
to Johns heavy boots ae he stumbled
along the rough ground after the pillow.
and the warm sun shone on his back.
He stopped at the end OF the furrow.
and, Strengthening himself, took of his
big straw hat and drew his shirt sleeves
across his forehead and brushed back
his damp gray hair. His faded blue coat
was torn at the neck and hung down on
one side. He leaned against the pillow
handle and looked about him. breathing
the fresh air in deeply. Far away on
each hand stretched rich pastures and
matches Of dark earth made ready for
planting. Directly below was a more
advanced line OF hanging woods divided
by fields of furrowed crops. Beyond
this was the valley where the woods
grew thicker as il they had rolled down
and hurried together from the patches
left smooth on the slope. Through the
valley. John could see the brook running,
full almost to over flowing with late
rains, and overhupg by low stopping
willows before it reached the woods.
John looked uneasily attwo small boys
who trudged across the field to the
woods with fishing rods over their
shoulders. Then he turned around and
looked up at the house. quarter OF
mile away. The door was open and he
could see his wife etauding on the back
porch with a broom in her hand. He
knew that she was cleaning house that
day. and bad his sister Belinda Ann
there to help her. From where he was
he could see the red and white checked
apron she wore and the buff neckerch'ef
over her broad chest. He could not see
but he knew perfectly we'll Just how
firmly her thin lips we're set and how
very smooth her gray hair was brushed
hack into a tight little knot behind, and
the two deep lines between her eye
brows which were always 80 plain when
she was working hard. He wondered
loneipply to himself if the two boys
who had just passed would catch many
fish. He wouldn't mind little fishing
himself. When he was u boy he had
had the best luck Of any one in the vii
lace. He believed he'd like to try bis
hand at it again some day. Today. for
instance, was perfect day for fishing.
T. would be clouded over beautifully by
afternoon and would rain tomorrow.
Yes. and the field not seeded; not even
half plowed. He cast a scared TOOK
toward the house and started his mules
forward quickly. Back and forth ne
went across the field with the sun on MS
hack and then on his face and
the damp earth cloggirg his boots.
He gave wistful thought to the brooks
running through the young shadows OF
the spring woods, and to the still trout
pools and glanced timidly at the sun
which was covered more and more by
the thickly collecting clouds. Through
the male green OF the willows. he could
gee the silver g.eam of the water and he
turned his mules heads toward the barn.
an water EN- he said softly. "They
need waterin," and he unhitched them
from the pillow. As he went he saw
Abel ZONES in field away to the right.