Willmar tribune., 1908-11-04

hurt, but l 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
for gettin' hurt? was studyin' how
to make things more pleasant-like, an
here I've done made 'em worse. It'll be
more work, Looizy. honey. but reck-
on you'll have to 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
in'."
Il 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. "1m 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 ut times he was de-
| lirious. LooiZy 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.
| It was late in the forenoon when he
awokc. 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 he back fore
night an mebbe she wouldn't l 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 Looizy.
| Meanwhile LooiZy was toiling slowly
back and forth across the tobacco
field. The rows We're 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.
gulsh the ground between the rows.
Then she looked back at her work.
| "Six rows done hoed,'' she said
aloud. ITS good days work But
I'm plumb tired''
| Throwing the hoe across her shoul-
der. as she had seen her father do, she
moved wearily 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 long time,' he said.
We've been lookin' for you right
smart
II was busy" she answered, IAN
couldn't spare time for dinner After
this III try to be roun' come noon.
But how're you been all day. daddy?"
"Toler'be 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 a
little smile. What did it mean? Had
he been judging her too harshly? He
drew her hand closer and noticed that
1t trembled as though with pain. He
raised it to the light
"Why, Looizy." and there were won
der and dismay in the voice. "your
hands are all solid blister!'
'1t's only cause they amt used to
the work." she answered hastily. 'I've
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' you! But
you mustn't do it, 1.ooizy. honey. It's
too hard. If you low on hepin' you
might look after the truck PATCH
But Looizy shook her head.
| I'm the Oldest she said, IAN 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 h. 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 Looizy came in with a glow.
ing face.
'The melons are ripenin'." she said
"an' there's goin' to be rnorc'n we at:
ever had before"
A few days later LooiZy reported
that thieves had entered the field tbs
night before and taken some of the
melons. That night the theft was re-
peated Several days passed, and
more Of the melons We're missed.
81 wouldn't care if they want so
pertic'lar." said Looizy. "but they just
pick the biggest an best"
Late that night she was awakened
by small figure at her bedside
"What is it. Molly?" she asked
drowsily.
"fve done cOtched 'em," was the
startling answer. "After you all was
sleep just crept out the cabin an hid
'mong the melon vines. It seemed
most year fore they came. an was
plumb sleepy. But I just pinched my
self. an when they did come up an
told 'em bout we all worl1in' an bout