The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-22
PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
N Bit O. Print
BY SHAN +. BULLoCK.

along Thrasna river; and already had we
more than half of 1t safely won and gath
cred. Never before, not even in that ia
nous summer, years ago. that saw Hal and
oneself masters in Emo, had haymaking
brought fewer cares or pleasanter toll. The
weather was glorious-bright firm August
days-help was plentifal; you had but to
NOW, turn over the swathes and carry in,
only to work and pray God for more of His
good sunshine.
And how we did work in that time Of
golden weather. Hardly had the mists be-
gun to rise O. mornings. when you heard the
jingle of the traces as the horses went over
the hills from Emo; like ghosts you saw
them plodding home of evenings through
the dusk All the day long the whirr of the
moving machine, the hum of the tedder, the
shouts of young Hal urging the horses, came
Untiringly over the hills. It was up with
the lark, wash sleep from your eyes thank
God for your breakfast, then strip like
man. shoulder rake and fork and boldly
face the big sun. From dew-rise to dew
fall. that was our day. 1t was do or ole
with US; for who but a fool ever dalies
when the sun chases rain from Irish hills?
And had not the pigs flown joyfully? So
said the wise heads, when last Emo big
meadow was made in August.
At it, then, my lads, said we and one and
all buckled to. All! but we were happy
hard as nails, brown as turf, strong as
young bulls. How we shouted and sang,
laughed and Yelled how the hills rang with
our babel! 1t was a very feast of work.
mad riot of sweet toll. For months and
months had the weather been playing with
us; now we were flouting it, fooling it; early
ard late were stealing marches upon It;
making ready for that great time when "a
dainty we should point to work well done.
and jeeringly ask the weather to do its
worst.
Yet, who could tell? Poor Irelands
weather goddess was tickle jade never
could one tell what torrents of tears Jay
deep behind the flash of her smile. To-
morrow it might be pouring; a week hence
might see the river level with it's banks; ten
days might so and leave the water soaking
to the roots of the hills. At it, then, lads;
at it with might and main. Never heed the
morrow; this day at all events is glorious.
Look at the glory of it; not speck en- the
blue, the horizon as firm as brass, the sun
marching royalty for his kingdom beyond
the mountains. Now now is the time; four
great days already have we had. four days
more, please God, are in store; with shout,
then, and a heart, my lads-with a heart
and shout.
So one and all we buckled to. How happy
we were How good it is even now to re-
call that time and to picture the scene
there before ones eye. There is Annie
Trotter, STOPPING over her baby as it lies.
well hidden from the fierce eye of the sun,
behind haycock. Not far off Judy Brady
is letting out" ropes from a pile of hay,
and young Ted is twisting them from the
end Of a rake Look at Anne Daly-Fat
Anne her friends call her-arms bare.
cheeks flaming like June roses, staggering
along over there beneath a mighty load;
there's a fine figure of a woman for you.
That man in shirt and trousers and big
straw hat, the man with a pipe in his
mouth just now calling on Wee James to
hurry up wild him." he is James DAILY
wag and philosopher. and the husband of
Fat Anne Hurry up wild ye,' shouts he.
Fright me son, answers Wee James; then
runs, leaps right over Mike Brady as he
stoops to tie his boot, and with a skirl goes
sprawling over the great ring of hay which
presently he should fashion into trim-built
truck" ''Woh-woh!" shouts the master, as
the long teeth of the horse rake take the
ground. "Back!' he shouts, and tugs at the
handles Right he calls, and off steps
the horse, with little Johnny Brady at its
head, off with its great cracking golden
load
Away over there, close to the hill-edge,
among the lush newly-mown swaths and
outside great plot of grass in which the
corncrakes sit covering. Hal (has the rascal
spied Biddy and her tea basket, one Won
ders) is unyoking the horses from the now
ing machine and with a shout for every
blow, killing the flies that lie gorging their
blood. A fine confusion of sounds. of shout
Ior4e - oya1
of jingling and whirring and clanking fills
the meadow; there is not enough air stir
ring to flap a shirt-sleeve; like the breath
of a furnace the heat comes pouring from
the great brazen ball of the sun, sweeps
over the Emo hills and smites us there in
the valley by the cool, winding river.
Tea time!" calls the master; and at the
word down went rakes and forks (for what
Irishmdn of worth ever dallies at sight of
"tay?'O, and from all sides we came flock
ing in; this one running and wiping his lips,
that one Fastening with a child in his arms
and a dog at his heels, the master stepping
along in his portly dignity. Hal staggering
up with his hat on his crown and whip
in his hand. Ted jumping the swathes in his
young vigor. the women chattering as they
came, and holding foolish discourse with
Annie Trotters baby
OIle anu dll CAME AOChluS III anu BdlleTeu
in a ring round Biddy, the servant, and her
huge basket of brown bread and butter,
oaten cake and butter (what epicures we
were in those days, to be sureD and her
big can of steaming tea. Down sat we; off
came our hats up went the voices in cho-
rus. Now, Bi6dy," said they, I'VE girl,
ye." "Ah. slap it out" went they. Fire it
round, Biddy, agra" Och. hearts alive"
said Wee James, whose soul we knew was
athirst for Congo. the Whit that comes
from it." LAY, ay." answered Mike Brady.
rubbing his lean jaw; Its as fresh almost
as the inside of a haystack, so it is Aw,
hurry up, Biddy, We girl; hurry up"
SO Biddy hurried up: into porringers and
mugs emptied the can, piled bread and but
ter on the mouth of each. from one to an
other passed them round I'm obliged to
We, Biddy; more power to yer elbow me
girl, said we, and fell to. The tongues lay
silent, smack went the lips all round the
ring, and within five minutes of our coming
you could not have found near Biddy's bas-
ket wherewith TO feed a sparrow.
We'll, thank God for that" said we, then
hale