The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1905-07-20
How Old Job
Was Won

Copyright. Ioo5, IN Frank 4. firesi

A VIII 1VAf i1i OHItttE ~ IT, 81 = -
gigcment because the girl was college
educated, and therefore no account. al
opposed the sons going TO college until
tlc boy in self defense had taken mat
tiers TITO his W hands and gone away
wltii6hT permission to work his own
way. Now old Job was sick. and the
farm was under the inadequate care
of a hired man. and all the springs and
brooks were drying mp and The cattle
suffering. But the obstinate old spirit
was not broken. lie 10 looked up,
ssnarling:
"A windmill agent, eh? Well. tell
him to GO
Something's got to be done. Job.
Our man.
'sYes. yea. I know Old Job drew n
deep. long breath. But the horses and
cattle were needing more water. and
whatever else Old job might ho he low
ed his dumb animals ana would do for
them what be would not dream Of do
ing for himself. The windmill woi.il
be n humbue. for there WIS no water
In the land 10 feed II. but It seemed
the only thing mt hand.
EYES, something's got TO be DONE
he repeated; 80 you can let the man
PIT In his windmill. II will he good
for the birds to build nests on If moth
Ing more. And Hiram win Ike to look
up at II when he comes home. But
sdon't let IL go over $500. That's what 1
offered our neighbor for half his
SPRING grizzly. You can let him go
right TO work. Our hired man will step
spryer for seeing 1t start. He's like
Hiram for ~newfangled things"
lie watched her gather up his al
most untnsted breakfast with trem-
bling hands. nm expression on hor face
such M he had not seen for years. At
the door he called her back.
BEING lt's on our own land, we
ought to be willing TO pay more than |
offered that rascal over the fence for
his spring." he said. 81 haven't any
idea what wlndmills cost, but you can
tell him he may go to $500 and not a
cent more. That will satisfy you and
Hiram and the hired man, maybe.
When | get out I'll sink a we'll a hun
dred feet deep If need be. If that don't
bring wnter III sell and clear out"
Maybe you'd rather I'd sce about
having IA well dug instead of getting
the windmIll?' his wife suggested.
NO." ungraciously. I'D rather at
tend to that myself. l don't believe
either M will bring water. but the
wells the moro sensible. l don't want
folks to say we give up without trying
to do something"
The next day his wife announced
that the farm was being looked ove
FOR the best place. and the day after
that a dry looking knob ut the end OF
the barn was concluded TO offer better
prospects for water than anywhere
else. Old Job listened in grim silence.
The third day he could hear the sounds
of workmen. Ten days later one OF
two OF these workmen seemed to be
busy about the house, and he wondered
what they could be doing. But his OBJ
stinaey would not let him ask ques-
lions.
1t was nearly two weeks after this
when his wife came into the bedroom
one day, her eyes shining.
"lt's done, Job she said, her voice
quayering a little with the very joy of
the news. "and it's all come out so
nice. Here"-and she laid n roll of
money on the bed beside him-'it's
what there was left, Ss2."
Old Job stared at her. you don't
mean they've found water off there to
the end of the barn" he demanded.
"Yes,' TREMENDOUSLY, "and its such
nice water. just like a spring. We've
got 1t piped in the barn in three places
and into the house. II runs right into
my sink. Oh. Job" her voice catching
In a happy sob at the thought. every
things going TO be 50 easy FOR US now.
And you said we could use the $780,
YES" He picked up the Et;le roll
with an odd look on his hard. old face.
"Bdt | don't quite understand, Betty.
| supposed the man would say the
windmill came to just $500 and that it.
wouldn't pun up water then. And
about all tsle piping you spoke orr 1
wasn't meaning to do that Didn't IL
cost a lot? And what did the man
charger
"He-she didn't charge a cent, lob"
a little ~confIsedly. ut wss one Of the
~neiyhbors. And the windmill and pip.
ing only cost $40, and some extras
about $50 more. There was $40 left"
Old Job was silent for some min
utes. Then he pushed the money to-
ward her.
put 1t on some house 1xln's. Bet
ty," he said grualy. II was willing TO
pay $780,"
Then let's run some pipe to the.up-
land pasture behind the barn." she urg.
ed eagerly "Yon know It's always
been too dry to crop. But If it's irri-
gated It'll be one Of the best fields.
And it won't cost over $40"
did the Windmill man say that?"
"Yes, and the bottom meadow on TIN.