Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-22

r7OEL HART folded the letter and placed it
sa in his inside pocket 1t read simply: -
EH Il leave for Denver, Friday and will stop
- Es at Morris, to talk things with YOU.
Esgy But to him those words meant much: for
~AI one thing, they represented almost the only
secret that he had kept from his mother.
lie stopped a moment at the barn door to look
across the corn and wheat fields, whitening beneath
the fierce heat Of the july sum- then he saddled Pinto
and started the ten-nlile race to Morris.
Two great events in Joels life had come the
year that he seventeen: one the death OF his
father and the other change within his own heart
He sometimes thought the one had come at the
time it did that he might have strength to bear the
lett the home so empty had laid upon the boys
young shoulders heavy load Of responsibility
family had moved INTO the West. and the clear dry
air Of the plains, Sh had done so little for the
crops had given adoe> months OF life to the hopeful
failing mac. 1t was that which had kept up their
hearts during those first two years OF drought, when
hundreds of settlers had given up and gone back
1T doesn't matter" Mrs. Hart would say, so
long as father keeps we'll and happy"
Joel never failed to nod assent and neighbors
We'll, maybe the Harris stick it out They've
got money back East"
ger those eastern resources, or how heavily
they hat been drawn upon.
Then came their year OF plenty, with its generous
rains, when the father, IN his wheel chair upon the
por3,, could look fields ripening to abund
ant harvest and, in a voice which grew each day
weaker. would talk OF the good times which, were
strong; the years OF drought had plainly been ex-
ceptona the soil was as fertile as any in the world
prosperity had 10 stay; and Joel and his
mother who only too clearly the end that
coming so quickly now, encouraged him in all his
hopeful prophecies.
The auturnns rich harvest had been gathered in,
winter had passed and then had come exactly such
spring as they bad known those first two years.
Dry winds swept for days across the prairies there
was scant rain in May and almost in June.
When July came, they could see that nothing but
speedy and abundant rain could save even fraction
We'll be ruined if it doesn't rain" Joel said to
old Dr. Cameron, to whom he had gone for advice
and comfort. 1--WE couldn't sell for the cost of
buildings 1t isn't myself; I'm young and strong
and can earn living anywhere; but mother hasn't
the health She used to have, and Ruth and Sadie,
they're little They can't work. and it can't be that
they 90 lose all that their father saved for them
when he WIS well and strong. And then, at the
worst, are better off than others; there doz-
shs yes hundreds who Will suffer more tina" we
Have you ever read Of the who cultivat-
denly looking up at the boy. "Now these western
plains they may have been meant to be irrigated.
they may be best adapted to crops that you have not
ATS all SO new" answered JOEL "No I never
looked at it that way before IIl-Il have to think
It's like the parable in the Bible about the houses
somewhere the floods have and the winds
right, only" his voice died out and for some
moments he sat silent.
DR.. Cameron had had a hurry call to the next
town to see patient and Joel walked with him to
the station, shook hands with him and stood watch
ing as the train pulled slowly out, On the rear plat
form two men, apparently tourists, standing
and as they were whrlcd past, scrap Of their con-
versaton reached his ears
simply depends whether dry farming
and the rest was lost in the rumble of the train
But the half dozen words stuck in his memory
and all the way home, whenever he ponder
ing what DR.. Cameron had said. he was wondering
what "dry farming" might mean.
Mother" asked Joel, as he sat down next morn
ing at the breakfast table, whats dry farming?"
Il don't know" she answered. "What makes you
ask? don't think ever heard of it before"
81 heard two people talking about it yesterday
ind thought maybe it something that would
help US"
II think It's chickens" announced Sadie
Joel and his mother laughed, for it was family
Joke that the poultry always paid no matter what
the season. but the answer did not satisfy JOEL