Arizona republican., 1902-11-22
HODGE AS HE IS


 The farm labcrer who has to do with horses begins his day betimes. Winter and summer he rises at five o'clock, if not earlier, and by seven the teams are led out During the more genial sea sons of the year the early hours are no hardship; in winter, however, when the world driDs moisture from every pore, and the damp creeps into ones bones, when the sun lies late abed, and thick mists toe often threaten to strangle the siCkly day at birth, then the carter is of opinion that them as can bide indoors med think theirselves in the best place." For close upon four hours the monotonous work goes on ito al.' agenst" the field. backwards and forwards, horses and men, toil someIy, clumsily. step by step, never hurrying, seldom stopping, turning, with lifting of the plough and much whoa whoaing," ct the end 0; the furrow. to start a new one just like the others.
 Two furrows-from the starting point, that is, across the land" and back again-constitute what is known as a bout" the word being derived from the French bout; and common question among the men is How many bouts hast thee made today h'wever?" The human part of the ma chine must be always alert. The horses may and do refresh themselves with . nap while they walk. They are walk ened from their dreams of warm stable and an extra feed by the crack and the smart of the whip. and the voice of the carter boy crying in would-be gTuff tones, Pull up Bull err" and poor Butler responds with alacrity to the call, knowing full we'll that If a dwun't answer to his name purity quick, he'll get another taste O the whip" Some ploughmen pace in stolid silence: others-they are usually these who have not tempted fortune by matrimony-W histle and sing. The particular class oi ditty these cheerful spirits affect at different periods is de- cided by current events of local or general interest. Thus during the war martial airs held the scale. About Christmas time shepherds Watch Their FIccEs by Night Herald An gels Sing, and the Faithful are ex- horted to come in every field, so that at last the passerby is fair to soothe his vexed ear with the thought that this season once fled, will not return until the hymns have had a chance of renewing their freshness, like clothes that are put away for awhile. One year revivalist hymns were the fashion and the horses stepped out to the tune of ''TO the work, to the work, there is labor for all,' which somehow seemed a gratuitous statement in the mouths of these sons of toll. A cynically minded employer, however, declared that though them young chaps are wonderful fond O goin' to class an singh, "To the work he did not find he benefited much by the enthusiasm.
 From time to time throughout the morning short halts are made to scrape the clogged share. Occasionally the tedium is relieved by a scud of rain, when men and boys huddle under the lee Of the horses, that stand with dropping heads and depressed mien as If conscious of the unfairness of their treatment. Or perhaps one of the lads will be allowed to guide the plough in order that he may get his hand in and learn to drive a straight furrow Very apt pupils some of these little fellows are, and a lad of fifteen may be seen ploughing alongside his father, and managing his own horses with the skill of grown man. Eleven o'clock brings