Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-15
DAILY SHORT STORIES

you myself. Ill give you every tenth
bushei, and you can pay me $3.50 a
week for board. What do you say to
that."
lust as you like, grandfather"
"Yery wei. Then Wen call Il bar.
gain. and when you're through with
THAI 1paybe something else viii turn
up, drid II you should be out OF n Job.
!, why, your little room will be ready for
you, and l won't charge Il cent more
than Si.50 week. seeing It's you.
Hezekiah."
HezeHah was disagreeably surprised
ut the. turn affairs had taken. IL had
never occurred TO him that his grand.
father, who had cared for him ever
since he was left n helpless little or
| phan ten years before, would cast him
OF simply because he had tried to
thrash the master ami wouldn't go to
school,
But he started for the barn. trying
very hard to look as IL things were
turning out exactly as he had expect
ell they would. He even managed to
whistle family as he passed the win
dow. through which he felt his grand
father was regarding him. but the last
melancholy note died away long before
he reached the barn.
He1ekiah never knew before that his
| grandfather had harvested so many
peas. There they were. brown aud
crisp and inviting, piled In rough, I'M
even masses to the top of either NOW
and slowed away on the beams above
him.
The boy tossed down n great heap
into the middle of the thrashing floor.
picked up his fall and began opera.
tons. But IL was OF no use TO try TO
make himself believe that he liked to
thrash peas.
He tried to buoy himself up with the
thought that he was earning money,
but long before night even this thought
failed him as he began to realize that
unless he got along considerably faster
than he was then doing he woulc
barely earn his board.
He kept steadily at his task for
week and then cleaned up and meas
ured what he had Enthusiastically
forty bushels, of which his share, of
course, was four bushels. Peas were
worth GO cents n bushel; accordingly
he earned $40. After paying his
board he would have 30 cents left
an average OF 10 cents day.
lt was discouraging. Grandfather
Griggs said not n word. but the boy
knew well that II he would only ac-
knowledge himself In the wrong and
promise TO go back TO school and obey
the master the old place In his grand
fathers heart and home was ready for
| him.
But pride would not permit him to
yield, and all through the short De-
cembcr days and the first month OF
the new year the regular clip.clap OF
the fail was heard without intermis-
sion and the heap OF peas I'm the gran
airy grew and grew till 1t amounted to
| go bushels
| HcYekialI had almost completed his
task and was rejoicing to think thas
he and the iail, which, I'm spite OF
| their long standing fellowship, he cor
daily hated, were about to part COM
pany.
| A boy is like colt. Nothing is so
we'll calculated TO drive the nonsense
out OF his head and make him trust
h.
kiah did not know this, but lie was
quite conscious that he did not feel as
he had felt six weeks before.
He had been doing some hard think
Ing while swinging the fail and had
begun TO see that ho was not altogeth-
or the fine fellow he had always imag-
lned himself TO be.
He had worked harder at this Job OF
thrashing peas than he had ever done
at anything before, and yet his earn
ings were barely sufficient TO board
and clothe him while thus engaged.
He thought the matter over and came
to the conclusion that he owed his
grandfather something for all those
years OF helpless childhood, wherein
the old mans love and care had been
watchful and unremlttlng.
HeZekiah had conscience. IL WINS
very Ike other boys consciences, full
OF contradictions and absurditics; but,
for all that, It pointed out that the
least no could render TO his GRANDPA
Their for all his Kindness was willing
obedience.
He made up his mind he would do Il,
and as he welded the nail above the
last flooring" he was bravely resolv-
ing TO tell his grandfather all that was
In his heart SO deeply engrossed
was he In pondering over this good
resolution that he did not observe
dark shadow which fell between him
and the sunlight that streamed through
the open door till voice said:
We'll, Hezekiab, you're just about
done, see"
The boy looked UP ana saw the
benevolent face OF his good grand
father smiling down upon him.
You've done very well-very well"
continued the old man approvingly.
I'D no idea that you would keep at
Il till they were finished. believe