Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-24
CHAPTER V.
AN OLD AcoIrAINrANcE

A gruH elamorlng from without,
and a tremendous humping on the
side of the building, awakened Ros-
sitter the following day. The unusual
sensation of finding himself in clean
and comfortable bed created for Il
brief space a great wonder in his
mind, and it was not until he espied
Joe Becraft sitting upon the edge
of his cot yawning and stretching
himself that he became fully aware
where he was lying. The instant
he scrambled out upon the floor he
knew that the air had changed dur
ing the night. for fresh breeze
swept in an adjacent window. Drops
of rain glistened in the pale dawn
on the grass where it was not shell
tered by the trees, but Rossiter dis
covered when he went towards the
barn for morning scrub that it was
only the edge of the shower that had
touched the Merton farm. The at
mosphere, however, had cleared and
the dust was laid, so that everyone
was in excellent humor.
AS he came out from breakfast
with the Becrafts two men were
bearing the last double hop-bo3 into
the yard across the way where the
picking was to begin. Presently Jack
Parmelee appeared and announced
that everything was IN readiness,
Whereat there was u general move
ment towards the yard. The women
and girls had provided themselves
with great sun-hats and cotton
gloves, and Rossiter observed that
some of the boys had also procured
protection for their heads.
docs one need gloves of any
sort?'" he inquired of Joe Becrafff
II don't see that you have any, ~ : :
"Jim an l never pss EN-. Mas the
reply. IF the vines bother you at
first, you'll find your skin'll get
toughened to 'em after little"
Jack Parlnelee had the apportion
ment of the pickers, and at RIOS
STEERS request he was placed at a
box adjoining his friends, where he
could talk across the rows to them
He had for his companions Il ear.
penter from lllica, who was gut of a
jon; and HIS wife and son, boy OF
Jim Becraft's age. He fell into pleas
ant conversation with them, and as
they had frequently been in the hop
fields before, they gave him such
simple instruction as was necessary
in regard to picking. Shortly after
operations began an additional l;
pickers arrived from Hintonvi1le, an6
the scene became an animated one
Cries of "Hoppole!" rang up and
down the field. The pole-pullers
With their. hop-dogs IAN instrument
for pulling poles consisting of ;
to9thsd clamp attached to a stou7
strap hung about the neclO, hastenee
hither and thither supplying the
needs of the pickeFs, stripping ant
stacking the poles as fast as the
hops were removed from the vines
Acauaintances shouted greetings ant
gossip from bne box to another
Then, az the sun grew high, awning:
| We're suspended for those who OBJ
Jected TO the neat.
Rossiter thoroughly enjoyed it all
The oilor of the hops was delightful
to him, and erelong he found his fin
gers growing nimble, SO that he wa;
| gYatifed TO see from the pile in hi.
boNthat he was holding his own fair
| ly well with his fellow-toilers. b,
and by, shortly after half-past eight
Some zone shouted "Hop-sack!"
MY goodness,'' exclaimed the car
| pepterls wife, that's quick work
Fhey must have dumped Suppose
we try it, Ben, and see how mucl
we've COTS
ia s'du,np," Rossiter discovered
meant to empty the hops from on
partially filed box into another, 81
that they should have less time t,
settle, The carpenter at once pro
eeeded to carry out his wife's sug
gestion, but when he had finishe,
they still lacked two inches of hav
ing one level box.
Lets hustle" said he. "perhap
We'll get the second" They mad
their fingers fly, and soon he, toe
was yelling "Hop-sack!'
Jack Parmelee speedily appeare,
with several bags of coarse stuff I'm
der his arm, into one of which h
emptied the hops from the now brim
ming box. Then he handed out
strip Of cardboard upon which wa
printed