The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-09


farmer, who stood with folded arms
and grimly surveyed his fields.
"No,'' he was saying, II would
not beerudge the payment Of an ecu
per day, a round silver ecu and abund-
ant food-alas, laborers cannot be had
at any price,
But as he spoke the day was break
ing, and he beheld three men advanc-
ing toward the bastide. three stalwart
reapers, the first with the beard blond.
the second with the beard white, and
/ the third with the beard black. And
they were accompanied by the dawn.
"Good morning, Maitre Igoulen, >
said the leader, the capulie, (he of the
blond beard), eve are three laborers
come from beyond the mountains, we
hear that all your gain is ripe and
that You are in need Of reapers:
Maitre. if You wish 10 hire Us b. the
day or BY the task, we are read. 70
begin.''
"No," responded NaiSre Igou?en.
"my harvest is not pressing, ny
wheat is scarcely ripe; ISdo not like
to refuse You work, but can pay you
only twenty cents per day, and, Of
course, furnish YOU your food.'
Now, the three, reapers were Seig-
neur Jesu, Saint Peter and Saint John.
As breakfast time approached. the
little varlet of the farm placed in
his basket three loaves Of black bread,
and three bottles of red wine, saddled
the little white donkey, and ambled
to the wheat field. Returning to the
farmhouse, his master spied him and
cried:
"Varlet, what of the reapers?"
"Master, I found them seated on
the grass, sharpening their sickles.
J but they had not cut. single blade OF
wheat. -
AS ten o'clock approached, the
little varlet of the farm prepared the
grand boire "a hard-boiled egg and a
morsel of cheese for each laborer),
mounted the little white donkey, and
ambled to the field. Returning to the
farmhouse, the master spied him and
cried:
"Varlet, what of the reapers?'
"Master, I found them seated on
the grass, sharpening their slckles,
but they have not cut a single blade
Of wheat"
AS noon approached, the little van
let of the farm prepared the dinner
| Ia soup Of vegetables and mutron)
mounted the little white donkey, and
ambled to the field. Returning to the
farmhouse, his master cried to him:
| "Var1et, what of the reapers?"
"Master. found them seated on
the grass. sharpening their sickles. bat
they had not cut a single blade Of
wheat
As four o'clock approached, the
varlet of the farm prepared the gou-
ter "a garlic salad) mounted the little
white donkey, and ambled to the
! field. Returning to the farm house,
| his master cried:
"Varlet, what Of the reapers?'
"Master, I found them seated on
! the grass, sharpening their sickles,
but they had not cut single blade of
wheat.'
Thereupon the miser swore great
oath, stalked from the farmhouse,
and disappeared in the direction Of
the wheat-feld. Stealthily approach
ing the three reapers, he concealed
himself behind a tree and watched
, them as they sat idly in the shade.
But at that very moment Seigneur
Jesu rose and said:
"Peter,, strike fire.
"Master, I obey" responded Saint
Peter, and. 50 saying, he took COM
mon pebble from the ground. produc-
ed piece Of tinder, drew from his
vest the key Of Paradise, and struck
! fire from the stone.
! Then the Blessed Seigneur turned
and said:
"John, blow!'
"Master, I obey,' replied Saint
John, and, SO saying, he raised the
tinder to his lips and blew the sparks
into the waving, ripened grain. Sud-
denly the whole field was enveloped
in vhirlwind Of flame and !. cloud
Of dense. black smoke. But soon the
flames fell and when the smoke had
rolled away Maitre Igoulen beheld his
,,-1, oo4 ant ood ho1n1 in chaavaS