Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-23
GIVING Hin 4 SHOW.
BY FRANK Z. SWEET
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OLD Farmer Browulee was moving

old Farmer Brcwulee was moving
u slowly across his big onion field.
He was on his hands and knees, and his
head was bent low SO that his near
sighted eyescould distinguish the weeds
among the tiny, upright onion points.
Now and then he raised himself YEARLY,
His back was TOO old and rheumatic tor
such work. and he wished that one OF
his boys had chosen to be q farmer IN
stead Of business or professional man.
When at home they had taken all such
work Is 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 Wei.
he would not complain: the boys had
bettered themselves, and that was what
he most desired.
When be reached the end OF the row
he straightened his shoulders with a
sigh OF relief. Then look Of surprised
inquiry came into his face. He thought
he knew every boy In the neighborhoods
but there, from the topmoet rail Of his
zigzng fence. q ragged, unknown boy Of
IL or - was regarding him earnestly
As he looked up the boy grlnned conci!-
iatlngly. ......
what Is them things you're so care
ful 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 saes, boy" he said,
angrlly; IAN just suppose you git down
of that fence. Fust you know there'-l
be q rnIl broke, or suthln'"
The boy sprGng nimbly to the ground
but 1t was on the inside Of the fence and
not on the outside, Us the old man had
intimated. ......
I'D Ike awtully well TO know what
they be, mister" he said, as he b9nt
down to examine the green, nsedle-like
points. I've been watchin' you long
time, an 'spose likely they're some eX'
ira fine posies, you're so careful of en-
But cay, II you don't mind, I'd Hke u
try a row OF 'em across. b'licve | can
do it,
The look OF anger on Farmer Brown
lees face became ono OF aston!shment
a boy anxious to weed onions! and not
know what they were. Two phenoroe.
~ that made him almost speechlcss
HE boys had always been willing 70 do
the work for him, but he could not re-
member Tint either Of them had ever
seemed anxious for the Job
"Not--know-onional Well, that
beats mel" Then u quizzical look came
into his face l d'know's. I mind yo1
Rolr' across and back. III sit under
this tree an sort O. keep ma oversight,
You must be careful an not pull up
any onions An say ns the boy
dropped on his knees ustride one oi
the rows, you haven't told me your
nam6 Yet, nor where you come from
boy Cooper; an' Tn one OF the
fIesh-air boys over at that farmhouse
t'other side the hill"
"Uml yes: l b'lieve did hear Sol
Perkins speak OF takn' some street
boye for n week Crazy ldee, thought
it,"
For some minutes be watched the boy
dubiously; then the uncertaintylef'
his face and he leaned back comfortably
against the tree.
Mighty spry with his fingers, an
cnr,sfuf 10 vI1v Ut -ruJ o-'"n- $500 -
thought, approvinRly. do the work
twice as fast IN j can II he 10 IA grceny
U'ml mhkiu' OF another good farmer
lost III him. e'poGe." Here his eyes
closed, ard they had not opened when
the boy came back on his eecond row,
a sharp ,crutiny. and then Bob turned
10 the third row nnd again wcndcd his
way slowly acroes the field, Az he rose
from the sixth row he heard the sbnrp
claug Of bell. Going to the old man,
he touched him lightly on the shoulder
II guess likely that'e your dinner
bell, mister" be said.
Dinner bell? Shol shol 'Tain''
nine o'clock yet. | only test ebet my
eyea Il minute" He glanced up at the
sun, then down at the newly-weeded
onions ard his face heightened into In
creduloua onisbment. you don'i
mean you've weeded six rowsl Why
that's much IA my obstinate old backN
let me do In whole day" Again the
dinner bell sounded. "Yes, that's foi
me, sure enough Won't you come In
an eat with meT'
"No; Mis- Pcrkins'il wonder where
I've gone. But If you don't mind III
come bncIf goon's I've eat. I'd like 70
try them onions again"
"Mindl / should think not. I'm al
ways glad TO run acroEs such help"
10 L.. a.. Col n41fi
Perkins, but when the old man re-
turned TO his onion field he found Bof
aHeady there Gnd we'll down In hie eeY.
cuth row. ...... ...
They worked untl dark; then tho old
man took out his pocketbook Bof
shook bin head and grinncd. II doni
want no money. mieter. but IL you'll
let me como again tomorrow III he
much obliged" .
Come all you want 20. There's
plenty Of work. an we can settle whcr
wcr. through But 1t seems sort o;
bard for you TO come down here on o
vncntion m then work all the time"
"Oh. that's all right. l Ike farm
iu':" and with n quick sprlnR ho was
field
II took three days TO weed the
onions, and when they were finished
the old man agniu tool out bic pocket
book, but again Bob shook HE head
The old man looked pcrplcxcd.
Come, come, boy take the money
he urged ~ don't wnnt nobody tc
work for me for nothiu'. You've
ARMED II, every cent"
Bob ,shufIlctl hia feet and looked nj
tho old man sidownye 81 didn't cnm'
for m moncy," he said; "but thcrc''
eouethiDg clEf. Hnahns my work
suited2" ....
"Yce; good worka l ever had. I'D
Ike 10 hire you for year"
Tho boy'g eyee epnrlhed.
"An' would you b, willin' to hire a
man, too2" he usked, engerly; "opo
who could work lots better than mcY
"No, haven't work for two hands"
Tho cngcr countennuco fell
~ thought muyb, you would" and
Bob began ~ climb over tb" fence de-
jectedly. we woulln't nsk much
wuges. au' we'd work like anything"
'IH he some or your folke2"
my dad"
"Uml Woll therein be no trouble
about work, gucsE. Good hnuds are
scarce, on your father could git plenty
% do In the ueighborhood. Perkins
hirea help. an ~ doce Brown an
Thompson. I've got nn old houeo Tint