The Washington herald., 1911-06-11
The Farm Boy

farm during the autumn months--
say from the first npe1ring Of or
freezing pp Up Of The 'IPsed%9'r pPonds9 he u Sss sss
the same dreary rows OF corn and potatoes
to go over as he had during the spring and
summer; and the rows are Just as long, and
erence The boy viii tell You that himssiE
with a quick sparkle coming into his eyes,
and the fash Of health on bis cheeks grow
ing deeper.
aching and monotonous, and with only the
long incoming under the cherry trees to re-
lievc its tedinm; but in the fall--- Wei. any
how, it is different he WIN tell ycu, a. he
throws back his shoulders and looks at you
A fellow sets tired. Of course, but he
doesn't think much about IL until night, and
then there are 80 many other things to help
or pond, or an hour or two in the hammock
under the cherry tree, with the dog, Rover.
running about barking at the 6refiies and
Harvest days are proverbiaIly long. but The
boy does not dread them as he does the
planting and hoeing. There Is somethina ex-
hihrating in the shocking and husking Of
corn, and IN the uncoyering and measuring
The contagious. thrill Of the occasion even
creeps into the frosted heads and rheumatic
limbs of the old men, and makes them crack
Jokes and try unavailing races with the
1t is hard work, it is true, and the boy
goes to bed with aching back and limbs: but
somehow. harvesting never makes him weary
of the farm. and he wakes in the morning
with fresh store of energy which Will car
ry him through the day.
And there is the picking and sorting Of
apples; barrels and barrels Of smooth, firm
greenings, and richly tinted Baldwins, and
fragrant beilhowers. Some Of them win qo
into the storeroom, and some into the cel-
lar, and some be sent away to market; and,
ii it Is apple year, there may be great piles Of
good keepers to store in deep pits in the earth
to mellow, and flavor during the long winter
months, and be uncovered in the spring, when
apples are scarce.
The boy has his fhyorites for each month,
and almost each week; and be eats them
with the enormous and ever-cravine appetite
OF farm boy.
As the days grow shorter. his work may
be hurried, to catch up with the season; but
and inyigoratmg. He works brisEiy and ui,- i
consciously, and his whistle il as CHEEKY and
care4free as that Of the quail which comes
to him across the stubble. He Is already
making plans for nutting parties and enAres,
and half the weariness is forgotten in glowing
anticipations for the future.
After the apples are gathered and stored
away there are pumpkins to be brought I'M
from the field; and they are piled IN
great yellow heaps, to wait until frosty nights
make it necessary to remove them TO some
warm corner Of the barn or cellar
Then comes more huskina and stacking I'M
OF immense piles ct corn-staiEE, as reserve
food for the COWS during the winter; and after
that, perhaps, few days Of cranberry pick
BY this time the work ia being acauahk
up" ard the boy has frequent Opportunities
tn go after cheatnuta and walnuts and 70 yet
snares among the birches and in the deep
woods, where he thinks there are "siems3 II
quail or partridge.
he has chums who come 10 zee him from
the neiEhboring farms, and they 20 Of ia
couples and trios and qpartetsf and tbex
scatter through the woods aud come t5H6ih6r
without danger Of strnys or defections
They compare knives, and snarcs and runa
and, IN moments of extreme confidence make
impressive illusions TO their plans when they
In the evenings they gather in firnt one
house and then another and they crack ncia
end play games and tell stories But nnIik1
tier elders, who are gathered about the ifc-
place their stories deal with the future IN
But even when there are no neiehhprine
farms the boy Is not lonesome He "chnma~
with the HORSES and cows and sheep and the
colta, which run from the master and hirpa
man come % him with enay AAnfnnee a
He i familiar with the notes a hirds ana
has peculiar ways of calling. them. hut II "A.
ways shy about exhibiting his powers before
strAugerH
He grows up with a love for the woods ana
fields, and for the birds and animals. and
when he goes out into the world, with bis
broad shoulders and CHEEKY face there Is moth
ing which win ever eiface them from biz
brain and heart
II had dozen boys, and wished 20 at
them for the hest possible me Of their lives.
would be glad 10 begin their education with
preparatory course on . good farm.
---------- T