Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-03

Her father nodded
"rhe child want to blam." he said.
AN couldn't help a-griObin' An
surely the young un's worth norc'n it's
cost me. | amt a-muttcrln' agin the
hurt. but do most p'Intcdly hate 10
lose the crop an not have money for
the land. II only could have the hurt
an be able to work Just the same
"Ncver 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
for gettin' hurt? was studyin how
TO make things more pleasnnt-likc. an
here I've done made 'cm worse. It'll be
more work. LOBBY honey. but rcck.
OH you'll have 10 help Betty now an
ag'in. 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 Il lly-
In"
81 done told you not to fret, daddy"
she said softly Just you rest easy an
pend on we all to look ont for things
AS for your hurt" slight flush creep
ing into her face. I'm glad Of II. That's
worth all the land an the crops In the
world"
Az the night came on his foot grew
more painful. and at times he was de
lirlous. I.oolZy 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 quiet sleep.
II was late In the forenoon when he
awoke. Betty was working about the
room. and he could hear the voice Of
little Molly outside calling the chick
ems
Where's Looizy?" he asked
II don't know She done took some
pone an bacon an left fore sunup.
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 housework''
The old man sighed He had been
hoping for better things from LOBBY
Meanwhile LOBBY was toillng 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 pc.
sition shifted from one side ~ the
field to the other. All through the
long. hot day she worked. not pauslng
TO eat or rest and only stopping when
the shadows made II hard to distin-
guish the ground between the rows
Then she looked back nj her work
six rows done hoed." she said
aloud. ITS 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 net 81
setting the supper Of grils 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"
II was busy" she answered. AN
couldn't spare time for dinner After
this I'll try TO be roun come noon.
But how're you been all day. daddy"
"Toler'ble peart" Then as she sat
down beside him he reached out aud
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 1t mean Had
he been Judging her too harshly; He
drew her hand closer and noticed that
II tremblcd as though with pain. He
raised It 10 the light
"Why. LOBBY" and there were won
der and dsmay In the voice, your
hands are all solid blister!'
Its only cause they aIn't used To-
the work" she answered hastily I've
been that Lazy my hands are act'aly
gettin' soft. few days In the field
an they'll be good hands for work"
"An'-an' you've been workln' In the
field all day" he said slowly. AN /
allyn here an misjudgin' you. But
too hard. If you low on helpin' you
might look after the truck patch
But Iooizy shook her head,
I'm the oldest" she said. AN mnst
look ont for the mans work. IT lciiy
an Molly have time from the house
work they might help In the trllrt
patch"
As the weeks went 10y Louizy's
hands became accustomed 10 the work
and the hlisters disappeared When
she had finished hoelng the to'ar,u
she went TO the cotton field Frnn
there she went 10 the melons
one day LOBBY came In with glow
ing face
THE melons are ripenin," she said.
IAN there's goin' TO be more'n We All
ever had before"
4 few days later LOBBY reported
that thieves had entered the field the
night before and taken some Of the
melons That night the theft was re-