The National tribune., 1900-09-13
PETTISHLY.

every time precisely where it should with
the precision of a machine. At the end
of a rod the Deacon was a full pace
ahead, with 81 sweating and straining
every nerve to keep up. Pretty soon the
Deacon was rod ahead of 81, and at the
end of the field had time to go back and
carefully adjust the ties on the shocks be-
fore his son got through. Shorty was still
back somewhere in the middle of his row,
wildly slashing around in his endeavor to
keep up. Some stalks he cut off even with
the ground and some yard high, produc-
ing ragged-looking field and a bundle OF
stalks that was hard to handle or shock
Purity hot work cutting corn. specially
when you amt used to it," said the Dea-
con, noticing Sis steaming face. Il held
back little to favor you on that account.
I'll go still slower next time"
In taking the row back 81 was able to
keep abreast of his father, but he felt hui
inflated by the belief that his father was
holding back" In his desperate effort to
keep up Shorty slashed more wildly than
ever, and as he started to tie shocks the
Deacon quietly remarked:
81, you'd better change places with
Shorty, and put him next to me- 1 can
help him out. Then, agin. your life's more
valuable than mine, and belongs to your
country. I'm an old man, and ready to
die, which you amt. If he should slice
my throat in one o. them wild slashes O.
his twouldn't be as great loss as yours"
Here, you fellerS," said Maria's voice.
scornfully, from over the fence. Nice
way to come to visit us, and spend your
time cutting corn, without coming near us.
Did you come clear up here just to work
in corn-feld? Has pap vaccinated you
with his idee that his purtiest thing in all
the world is patch of ripe corn? That
corn amt worth more'n IS cents BUSH
''They were paying 30 at the depot last
Saturday, Maria," said the Deacon.
We'll, l don't care" pouted Annabel,
who was alongside of Maria, ''75 or 80
cents bushel don't make no difference.
We're certainly worth more'n that
81 was over the fence in an instant and
had hold of Annabels hand. Shorty fol-
lowed, rather sheepishly, and stood silent
before Maria.
80, go back to your corn-cutting." she
said, with an assumption of hoydenish
haughtiness. Il wouldn't disturb you for
the world. Everyone TO his taste, say l.
Men that come clear from way down in
Georgy to spend their time in corn-field
can just stay there, for all of me. Me
and Annabel just started out to see what'd
become of you. We thought that mebbe
you'd forgot the way to the house, and got
lost in the high weeds. But We see we
hain't no attraction to compare with 90
Seht toih VII 30 Ddch 10 mouse.
Mothers awful anxious to see you, though, |
81. And you, too. Mr.. Elliott"
Annabel was standing looking fondly at
81, and the hand that was disengaged
was picking from his breast the burrs
collected there.
Don't pick 'em off, Annabel," cried
Maria. Let 'em stay. 1 hope they'll |
for going among them instead O coming |
to u.s." |
She gave a slap with the pan-leaf fan
she carried across Shorty's chest, which |
sent the Spanish needles singing deeply |
into his flesh. But he did not vince That |
adorable woman could have broiled him
on Goals without extracting a niurmur.
why don't you say something, Mr. |
Corporal Shorty" she asked pettishly
You don't seem bit glad to see me-"
Why, Miss Maria" Shorty STAN
mered, "hOw can you say SO? 1 never
was so glad to see anybody as 1 am to"-i
And then stopped and got very red in
the face, for fear that he was opening his
heart to the view of everyone.
Come, girls, let the boys Alone" called
out the Deacon. ''Set down there in the
shade, under that black walnut, while wei
cut another row around, and then we'll
all go in. It's getting on toward o'clock,
when Sunday begins, and with Sis and
Shorty's help I've cut purity good days.
work, SO tnat can KNOCK on with q clearI
conscience"
And sleep through the sermon tomor
row without bad dream" gibed Maria.
Now, daughter" expostulated the
father ''you know never sleep through
a sermon. sometimes shut my eyes to
rest 'em, for they're tired from the hot
sun shining in 'em all day, and l may
doze little when DIR. Gibbon is giving
his views on Free Will, for know thai
they are all right, and agree with mine.
and l needn't watch him, but as for really
sleeping in church, l never done that in
my life."
'What makes mother so particular to
take box O. cloves along with her, to
give You whenever you begin to nod?'
asked Maria.
YES" laughed 81, "and how about that
,ockroach she handed you once to throw
put o. the pew, and you thought it was
l Glove, and bit its head off? Was you
videawake them"
"Come," said the Deacon hastily ''if =