Middletown transcript., 1909-07-10
a DAYS WORK
By MARGARET AsnMBN

N 1CA A@S &<<1 ~ Is 4AGA AGO6A4|A
what his mother had told
him of his Uncle Abner, her
a prosperous farmer
over beyond Denton, who had
limited that Dayid's father was
lazy and not sick; and who had
blighted with a sarcastic speech
her half spoken appeal for help.
He had not come near them for.
three years now
David's eyes snapped with in.
dignation. Guess if he could see
father he'd know whether he was
sick or not! he said aloud, stamp
ing the corn viciously into the
earth. He's a mean old skinaint,
that's what he is!
But with a child's easy change
of thought he soon forgot Uncle
Abner, his fathers illness, and
even his mothers work and
worry, in watching the hawks
circling in the sky With the sun
light glinting white upon their
wings. To and fro he passed,
always to and fro, thrusting
jerking and stamping, to the
thin, irregular croak; " John
Browns body lies a-mould ring
in the grave"
The world had gone hard with
the Watsons during the last
three or four years. Mr.. Wat
sons illness had put a sorry end
to all their plans. The farm was
not yet paid for, the doctors
bills were heavy, crops and
prices were discoursging.
"A good deal Of the time there
had. been no money to hire a man,
SO Bert had done what he could,
laboring early and late, chang
ing works''where it was possible,
and hiring help only when the
necessity was dire. Mrs. Watson
had been brave and untiring, do
ing the indoor work of the farm,
selling butter and eggs and vege-
tables, and caring as best she
could for her husband and the
four children. It seemed to Mrs.
Watson the saddest indication OF
their poverty that David should
be taken from school to assume,
before his time, a heavy share OF
the farm work. His bent little
shoulders attested only too plainly
how well he had borne his part
On this particular day in May
David's responsibilities were
great. He had the planting Of
the corn to finish and a trip to
make to Denton, the market.
town twelve miles away, to take
a grist to the mill and exchange
eggs and butter for the household
supplies.
At nine o'clock six-year-o old
Ella came out to the field with
bread and molasses for him and
a fruit.jar full Of cold ginger
water. He ate and drank eager.
ly, and then lay on his back IN
the grass for fifteen minutes,
gathering strength for another
"stent" with the corn planter.
At noon he went in for dinner,
a weary, dropping little figure,
famished and exhausted.
His mother looked at him
anxiously, and sighed, You'd
better not try to finish the corn
to-day, she said to him, when the
noon hour was over, Stay in
and rest till you go to town.
He shook his head without q
word, and went ont to the field
again.
Bert sha'n't say I spend my
time fooling! he muttered, as he
hurried back to his work.
At three o'clock the corn. plant,
ing was finished. David threw
himself down upon the grass and
lay inert, almost without breath
ing or thinking. At last he
reused himself. It seemed as if
he never could get up or even
turn his hand over again, but he
remembered the task that still
lay before him.
I'll get rested riding to town,
he said to himself, hopefully.
His mother helped him to load
the sacks of wheat into the wagon
and to carry out the butter and
eggs. She gave him a tin pail
with his supper in it, and put a
couple of fresh cookies into his
pocket. She would have kissed
him, but he twisted himself out
of her arms and climbed into the
wagon, saying in a matter Of fact
way:
Well, | guess I'm ready I'll
get back soon's I can. Good by
He drove into Denton at six
o'clock. He could see people
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