Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-12-21
DObley'S Man WithaHOe
an Elucldstfuu af NarEbams Poem
flI Mrs as 8cneHt


hAhA JUST aH wei lIrlEH hf
0nce!" exclaimed Mrs. Dobley.
Il had no idea that joining a literary
club meant that one had to perform in
public. 1 simply can't do II.
what do they want you to do, my
dear2" asked MIR. Dobley. "A song and
dance or a cakewalk2 wouldn't mind
little thing like that. You can pick It
up in no time
Its nothing like that" said Mrs.
Dobley, passing a typewriter docu-
mcut over the breakfast table. And
sou needn't make any fun Of the mat
ter, either. The frivolous way In which
you look at everything is tiresome. Now.
what am To do?"
= am sure, my dear" began Dob
ley
"Just read tread III" commanded
Mrs. Dobley, and her husband read:
sHonora COMBS DobIey Dear Madam
At the next meeting OF the Literary clut
the topic OF discussion VII De Markham
poem, The Man with the Hoe As you
have been selected as chief speaker OF the
evening you VIII kindly be prepared 10 re
elite the poem ard give a sketch Of me au-
ihor's career Also 20 give your opinions
as 10 the idea contained DO the work. as vel
as the general style and literary cous.rue-
lion Of the poem"
well, my dear" said Mr.. Dobley
trying to conceal the fact that he was
quite as perturbed as his wife 10y the
letter. "Well?"
well? Why didn't they select you3
What did they send that TO me for'
What do / know about farming"
aYou forget, my dear, that this is not
an agricultural club. but literary so
giety. OF course they refer TO the IA
NOUS poem
What pOem2"
is it possible that you haven't heard |
Of Markham's masterpiece. The Man |
with the Hocg" asked Dohlcy, with /
a reproachful look over the top Of his
egg.
"Why. 1 haven't read anything but
Quo Nadis' this summer, and / oniS /
half read that. You see IL hurts ml
ewes. and besides that I'm too busy
Who was he?"
".The Man with the Hoe% He has
become one Of the most typical of
What was the matter with him
Why didn't he hoe? Where did it hap
pcn?'
1T began with a picture. my dear.
An artist made picture of a man u
a field with q hoe"
'Hoeiug corn, suppose; well. what OF
t2'
"Wel. il was a great picture--tilled
With depth and feeling and life
Il suppose il seemed as though he
we're really hoeing. did Il? I've seen |
/, picture like that--a girl gathering
-oses-you could just see the stems
map"
NO. Il wasn't exactly that. The man
lad stopped"
stopped hoeing? What did he do
hat for2"
He'd stopped to rest and was lean
ng on the hoe"
"Graciousl A hoe isn't a bit com
ortable to lean upon. Why didn't be
il DOWN."
-Why-cr-it was just the artists
dca. YOU see. The man stopping 10
can on his hoe-the laborer in the field
don't you see?-typifying the work
nan Of the aCes-the empty ages
markham wrote
WAS it Markham had the hoe2' 5
"Oh. mol Markham was poet ant |
e saw the picture and saw the poetry
D it. Then Ne wrote the poem ana
allied IL. The Man with the Hoe.
.'was II prctty?" ,
at was a magnificent idea-the hg- !
re Of that man as typical Of the work 4.
patient slave blowing the \
ED"
.'What did he have a hoe for If be was ,
lowing?"
..You don't understand. Don't yo' /;
atch the idea? Labor-the farmer AZ
-ork-plodding along without an idea
sweating over his work" 4,
"You Just said he'd stopped TO rest.
"Er-yes-but when you read IT, /
au'l see the splendid picture Markham +
rev" :
Excuse me. John; was Markham the