Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-02
Harvest Hands
(Copyieht. 1871. by Associated Literary Press,


They wanted harvest hands In
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas-all over the
west. They wanted them so bad
that very high wages were offered
and agents sent east TO- talk and adj
yertise. II was free fare out. with
keep on the road. and then So per
day and the most liberal board for
weeks and weeks. 1t was the great
est chance for the students working
their way through college. and scores
of them took advantage OF it.
:: Dwight Carleton, OF Columbia
looked upon it as special interpo-
sition of Providence. In six weeks he
could earn sufficient to take him
through the winter term. He had
no wealthy father to back him.
Fourteen hours per day in the har-
vest field, and the farmer carrying a
crouch because he could not make 1t
fifteen, A bed on the hay In the
barn. and every man still hungry as
ne arose from the liberal table,
The husky workers groaned and per-
spired and stood it. Those who had
never roughed it kept on as long as
they. could. and dropped out and were
paid off and told to go. And when
Dwight Carleton was handed MS
wages: otter ten days OF back
breaking work. he found them insuf-
licent even to pay his railroad fare
back as far as Chicago. And then
some one stole his spare clothing. and
when he "hit the pike" he had
nothing to carry in his hands.
There came day to Dwight Carrie
ton when he had to sit down by the
roadside and wonder II he could ever
make another mile Exhausted with
hunger and tramping and exposure,
and fever burning him. he sat with
his head in his hands and his courage
all gone. And then the children from
the country school. quarter OF mile
away, came along on their way home
and stopped to look at him and make
comments. And a little later came
the schoolma' am in her pink sunbon'
net and clean calico dress.
you are Ill.," she said as she
glanced at the young man.
He nodde his head.
"Well. come back to the frst
house. That's where l live. My faith
or IS farmer. but I'm teaching this
school this term. You are III and
weak. Take my arm"
But Til penniless." replied the eS'
harvest hand with rueful smile.
Come now, and We'll walk SLOW
w."
It vas after the patient had got to
the house and found a bed and the
telephone had summoned doctor.
that the farmer came up from the
field to say to his daughter:
"For the last two years you've
been trying to turn this house into
q tramp hospital. and now you've
done it! That Teller Is playing pos
sum on you. He's got to get out or
this and move along"
The father was taken into the bed
room of the half-asleep. mutterug
Young man and shown the palms OF
his hands. They were blistered.
Guess he's been at work some:
where's and played out, but 1t amt
for US to pay his doctor bills: and
nurse him" :.
81 can pay. father. from my school
money"
"Humph; And when he gets able
to 20, he'll steal my best horse
1t was. twoHweeks before the pa
tient was able to leave his room. and
two more before he was moving
around outdoors. Before that he had
told his story and written letter to
be mailed to New York city.
"Trying to get through college.
hump!" was the farmers reply. Ma,
orr Susle's soft as butter. She be-
lieves every word that Teller says.
and you keep your eye out that they
don't elope together. That letter TO
New York was only a blind. It'll
never be took notice OF"
But it was. There came an an
swer and a big money order. and
young Mr.. Carleton was to get some
clothes and come. on as soon as he
could. He owed something to the
farmer. At a family council the
farmer reckoned that $50 would be
about right.
HE shall never pay 1t. father" ex-
claimed the daughter as the red
blazed up in her cheeks.
Then who will?"
az will! ! told you SO in the be-
ginning. That money is only g. loan
from q friend"
Out In the orchard, the day before
he left, the ex-harvest hand tried TO
pay the money to his nurse, but sne
held her hands behind her and SAID
she wanted to be his creditor.
For how long," he asked.
"Till you-you-"