The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-04


cellent ht. He beat me down on the
price to 10 cents and then made me
sign a paper saying that I hadn't rob-
bed a house or taken them OF a trav-
eler's nose. When I wanted to turn
the money into food, he made me pay
5 cents a pint for milk and skimped
the measure at that. I was about to re-
sumo my journey when along came
stranger who announced that there
was coal oil on the farm and that he
would locate the exact spot for $50
in cash. The farmer was believing ev
cry word he said and raking up his
last cent when departed.
ION another occasion as was saun-
terinS over the state of Connecticut q
farmer who took me in to hoe corn and
reform me invited me to attend a
camp meeting with the family for q
day. On the way over to the grove we
got to talking about Biblical events,
and l found that my boss was badly
mixed up on several matters. felt it
my duty to set him right, and after
we reached the grove he found that
was correct. He didn't have much to
say ON the way home, but after we
had arrived and 1 had embarrassed
the team he turned on me with:
"'Look here, Joe, 1 shan't want you
any more
Anything wrongT I asked.
Eyes. l never had q man handle 4
hoe in q cornfield faster than you do,
but when 1t comes to a tramp knowing
more about Daniel in the lions den
ho In NUT xvif
"This isn't at all q bad world" con-
tinued the G. o. D. man after a wait
to light his pipe, "and I'm not kicking
about the way a farmer in northern
Michigan used me few years ago. 1
had been working for my board for q
week when a prize contest came on.
Most every farmer for ten miles
around had a yoke Of oxen, and most
Of them believed he had the best pull
ers. 1t had been arranged to test their
strength by hauling a wagon loaded
with stones, and the best pullers were
| to have 4 cash prize Of $50. Forty
| yoke of oxen had been entered, and the
contest was to take place on the coun-
| ty fair grounds. I don't know who In
vented the OK yoke, but It is sure he
never studied the anatomy Of an OK.
The bones Of an ox's shoulders are the
same as those in horse, and yet the
or yoke Ia fitted with bows as against
a broad collar. 1 had thought Of the
matter many times, ana when this con-
test came up explained my views to
my boss. The result was that he threw
away the yoke and equipped his oxen
with regular horse collars. He not
only won the prfxe, but the idea was
adopted all over the country at once.
I went to the contest with him, but a.
we were ready to start for home he
handed me Is cents and said he had no
further use for me.
"sWhat's happenedr asked.
"'You are too blamed smart he re-
piled.
".As over them horse collars for oxen
It wouldn't be week more before
you'd be finding out that IL = cows
tail was tied to her horns she'd milk
herself, and the hired man would have
nothing to do after supper
"When the village Dogberry can
| omen court on a tramp, he is at his
best" resumed the tourist AZ old rec
objections brought a smile. 1--WE beer
before him q dozen times over, and he
has always made the most of the oc
| casion and awed the crowd with his
maxisterial dignity. One night, afteI
I had been turned away from thret
successive farmhouses and was rest
ing under q roadside tree, thunder
storm came up and q bolt struck Z
farmers barn. The building wal
burned tn the around, and next day 4