The Florida agriculturist., 1907-11-27

Sk1rt1ng the COrnnelQ maze DeduI1Iul
background for the intervening browns
and yellows The sorrel lent dash of
burnt sienna to the stubble field ad-
joining. Mears turned toward the yell
low farmhouse, with it's unpainted
barns and stacks of straw. The farmer
was doing the noon chores. At his
heels bobbed a little figure wearing a
broad-brimmed straw hat "Grand-
son." thought the lad, remembering the
small black eyes peerlng at him
through the barnyard fence that morn
ing GAS much alike as two foxes!
Wonder what mother meant by look
ing so solemn when I told her the
name?
At 80 the farmer came around with
horses and wagon to measure and
gather up the corn. 1t seemed to the
lad as if the heaped basket represented
almost two of honest measure. eff
teen bushe1s,' reported the old man,
and Mears saw his days earnings
dwind1e. Wrathfu11y he started home
ward without a word
"No wonder he wanted to bait me by
talking about city chaps I'd never go
back, only mother and Ruby'd feel
bad if they knew" Before he reached
home, Mears resolved to keep his job
a few days while he hunted for another
The next day there we're twenty bush
els.
"Seems ODE gaining a little" re-
marked Silas Gridley, still giving him
self very generous measure and cycling
the blistered hands cynical1y.
A II th rect Of the vvaa1y th Tor c+11c15
to his work manfu11y, but in spite Of
every effort, could not get beyond his
previous record. Mears met his moth
er's and sisters questions evasive1y
He had secret that they should know
Saturday evening before. He
knew now the old farmer needed him
more than he would admit
"Spose you'll be on hand Monday
morning" was the casual remark at
the close of the week
"That depends upon you, Mr.. Grid
ley" The lad looked straight into his
employers narrow black. eyes. In
school Mears had been known as a
born leader. Nothing fired him like
being "downed." Here was foe wor-
thv of his steel, man voted by his
neighbors ga born skinhint" The lad
squared his shoulders for the conflict
as the shaggy brows in front of him
lowered ominously.
"Mr Gridley, I find that other farm
ers are paying three cents basket. and
give fair measure to the husker You
haven't"
'That will do, young man. 7 didn't
hire We to go sneaking around the
corntrv trying to find out what other
folks were doing. run my own farm
to suit myself" and Silas Gridlev's
shrewd old face fairly purp1ed with
wrath
II have the same right" insisted
Mears, "that you or any other farmer
has-to get the market price for what
[ sell. When it comes to a case of
selling my work, the same rule holds
good'-Mears measured every word
Il have husked ninety-fve bushels of
corn for you in the last five days, by
your own measure-rnore than a hum
dred by any other farmers. I heard
you say the other day that help was
hard to find, and if you could get
enough boys like me to husk your corn.
you could sell it all at more than the
market price. Now don't accuse me
OF listening. You talked loud enough
for anyone to hear who was husking
within twenty yards Of the barn.
Please remember the buyer was trihe
hard of hearing" In vain did Silas
Gr1dley ftme and interrupt The cool,
self-possessed lad talked on to the
point IF you'll pay me what YOU owe