Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-02-28

to suit myself" and Silas Gridley's
shrewd old face fairly purpled with
wrath.
Il have the same right" insisted
Mears, that you or any other farmer
has-to get the market price for what
sell. When 1t comes to a case OF
selling my work, the same rule holds
good"-Mears measured every word.
Il have husked ninety-five bushels Oh
corn for you the last five days, by
your own measure-more than nun
dred by any other farmers. l 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 huskng
within twenty yards Of the barn.
Please remember the buyer was trifie
hard of hearing" In vain did Silas
Gridley fume and interrupt. The cool,
self-possessed lad talked on to the
point. IF you'll pay me what you owe
that extra cent on a busbel and f1f-
teen cents for the extra five, I'll
promise to have five boys here by
Monday morning. Well finish your
corn in time for you to get the ad-
vance price"
You'll be likely to, you young ras-
cali" fairly shouted the farmer. You'll
get your money and rum"
"All right" said Mears coolly, GER
tain that he saw signs of weakening.
Il can't expect you to trust anybody
when you haven't been honest your
self" And the lad turned and walked
away scornfully.
A quick vision of the financial loss
he was about to sustain flashed through
old man Gridley's mind. 1t wasn't a
pleasant picture to contemplate, in
view of the recent poor crop of wheat.
Mears had nearly reached the road
when he heard an imperative summons
to stop. The farmer came painting
down the lane.
See here" he sputtered, "if you put
| statement down in black and white
that / can depend on five good husk-
ers-fve, remember-I'll pay you what
you ask, though it's agin' my better
| judgment. A bargains a bargain"
Mears ignored the last sentence.
'Ill make out a paper agreeing to
furnish five boys-they'll finish your
corn by Monday night-if you'll give
me a written agreement to pay each
boy three cents for every bushel he
husks, fair measure"
Silas Gridley knew that he was
caught by a boy of sixteen. 1t was
| fortunate for him that he had a saving
sense of humor. Think you're pretty
foxy, don't your he chuckled.
Guess you're no lamb in a horse
trade I'll git that paper in jiffy, but
mind, you'll have to furnish the boys
or you're up against it. And say" he
added, after counting out the addition
al silver, while you're hurrying around
for boys, jest drop into the Barnes
House and tell Mr.. Scudder-that's
the buyer-that Silas Gridley wants to
see him; that he'll be down bout eight
o'clock
Sure you can trust me?" flashed
Mears, with sly twinkle as he started
home. I'm glad l stuck 1t out" he
thought; but l didn't really expect
he'd give in"
The fall months passed quickly,
Much to- Mears' surprise, Mr.. Gridley
insisted upon his staying and paid him
good wages. There was the milk route
to look after, and when his employers
cows shrunk in measure the lad tool
daily drive of ten miles to buy from
the surrounding farmers.
Mears' progress in farming was the
source of much merriment at home
Many were the questions Ruby limo
Gently asked. Were Holsteins better
than Jerseys? Did he think the best
laying chickens were Buff Cochins OF
Leghorns?"
Mears borrowed farm journals and
pored over them after supper
There's no reason why | shouldn't
learn to do something WE'LL" he said
"Book-learning isn't everything, but i
can't go to school, can get scien
| lluC WlCQ6C VI AdA II = 6OOu
healthy work, and pays as well as hal
of the professions"
Mr.. Mitchell's letters were growing
more encouraging. He had improved
rapidly since all cause for worry hat
been removed.
One evening Ruby met her brothe
at the door. What do you think il
going to happen? l can't keep 1t an
other minute. Fathers decided Il
settle in Benton. He has good posi-
ton out there. But that isn't all
There's the finest agricultural colleg
in the West, and he says-Mother, jus
let Mears read it-that boy who cal
get along with Silas Gridley and b
the head Of the family for three month
ought to have the best kind of chanc
to become scientific farmer. "-Younl
Peoples Weekly.