The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-12-23

| said Betty between her SObs, ''an-an
| the runaway horses stompt him. Mig
gers shouldn't be lowed to have young
| lns in the read
WAS the pickaninny saved?" asked
LOBBY eagerly.
Her father nodded
..The child want to blame" he said.
IAN | couldn't help a-grabbin'- An
surely the young In's worth more'n it's
cost me- | amt a-mutterin' agin the
hurt. but do most p'intedly hate to
lose the crop an not have money for
The land. If only could have the hurt
an be able to work just the same
Never mind, daddy; it'll come roun'
all right" she said quietly. Just you
rest easy an don't worry. We all can
/ look after things"
"An'-an' you don't feel hard on me
i for gettin' hurt? | was studyin how
10 make things more pleasant-like. an
here I've done made 'em worse It'll be
more work, LOBBY. honey. but reck-
On you'll have to help Betty now an
Rgin. There'll be the hens an pigs to
| look after an the housework an the
tendin'. Well have to be clost, but |
reckon the hens II bout give US liv-
in"
81 done told you not to fret. daddy
she said softly. Just you rest easy an
pend on we all to look out for things.
AS for your hurt" slight flush creep
ing into her face, I'm glad of it. That's
worth all the land an the crops in the
world"
AS the night came on his foot grew
more painful and at times he was de-
lirious. LOBBY remained with him
until after midnight, when, as he grew
more quiet, she called Betty to take
her place. Soon after the old man
sank into a quiet sleep.
1t was late in the forenoon when he
awoke. Betty was working about the
room, and be could hear the voice of
little Molly outside calling the chick
ems.
where's LooizyY' he asked
81 don't know. She done took some
She lowed maybe she'd be back fore
night an mebbe she wouldn't. | asked
her to help me first, but she lowed
Molly an me could look after the
chores an homework"
The old man sighed. He had been
hoping for better things from LOBBY.
Meanwhile LOBBY was toiling slowly
back and forth across the tobacco
| field. The rows were long and the
work hard and laborious, and the girl
made little apparent progress. But
gradually as the hours went by her po-
sition shifted from one side of the
! field to the other All through the
| long. hot day she worked, not pausing
to eat or rest and only stopping when
the shadows made it hard to distin-
guish the ground between the rows.
Then she looked back at her work
six rows done hoed," she said
aloud ITS a good days work. But
I'm plumb tired
! Throwing the hoe across her shout
der. as she had seen her father do, she
moved YEARLY toward the cabin. On
entering she found Betty in the act of
setting the supper of grits and mo
lasses upon the table. Her father look
ed up quickly as she came in.
you've been a long time" he said.
We've been lookin for you right
smart"
Il was busy" she answered, "an'
couldn't spare time for dinner. After
this III try to be roun' come noon.
But how're you been all day, da6dy?"
'Toler'ble peart." Then as she sat
down beside him he reached out and
took one Of her hands in his and look
! ed up into her face. Her eyes were
clear and she met his gaze with
little smile. What did it mean? Had
he been judging her too harshly? He
drew her hand closer and noticed that
it trembled as though with pain. He
raised it to the light.
"Why, LOBBY" and there were won
| der and dismay in the voice, your
hands are all solid blister.'
ITS only cause they amt used to
the work she answered hastily. 1--WE
been that lazy my hands are act'ally
gettin' soft. few days in the field
an they'll be good hands for work"
"An'-an' you've been workin' in the
field all day." he said slowly. AN |
a-lyin here an misjudgin' youl But
you mustn't do it. LOBBY. honey. It's
too hard. If you low on helpin' you
might look after the truck patch"
But LOBBY shook her head.
"I'm the Oldest" she said, "an' must
look out for the mans work. If Betty
an Molly have time from the house
work they might help in the truck
patch
AS the weeks went by LooiZy's
hands became accustomed to the work
and the blisters disappeared. When
she had finished hoeing the tobacco
/ she went to the cotton field From
! there she went to the melons
One day LOBBY came in with glow.
/ ing face.
THE melons are ripcnin'." she said.