The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-05-20
Ezekiel's
Daughter
Scientific Versus Common
Sense Farming
By CLARIssA r1ACKIE

Perched on the rail fence and look
ing like an amiable scarecrow, Ezekiel
Finder nibbled a blade of grass and
freely commented on the methods of
his young neigbbor.
You amt never going to make a
farmer of yourself, Mr.. Hartwell.
Your head is too full of newfangled
notions. P'taters is p'taters even if you
call 'em 'tubers' or any other fancy
name. and beans is beans and not lie
club does claim they belong to that
family.
Ernest Hartwen grinned patiently as
he listened to Ezekiel's evening lee
ture. Born and bred in the city, an
inward craving for a country life had
at last drawn him to the pretty village
Of Little River.
You can't deny that Mrs. Flinders
baked beans are more delicio ) since
she learned how to cook them at the
domestic science club. You said your
self that
Maybe so, maybe So waived Eze-
kiel airily. Still, when it's all said
and done with, whether she learns
these notions at the minister's hysteri-
cal culture club or Miss Patty Dunn's
domestic science thingumbOb. the
beans she cooks is just plain beans
after all l don't take no stock in
theories or science or nothing but plain
common sense"
1T must be a great satisfaction to
feel that one can clip coupons from
his stock of common sense" remarked
Hartwell meekly as he hoed between
his rows of corn.
Ezekiel scowled at him beneath his
/ bushy brows. You're laughing at me,
/ Mr. Hartwell. I can tell it by that
kink in your eye. Anybody ever tell
/ you that you had a funny kink in your
/ eye?"
! Hartwell rested on his hoe and sur
veyed the farmer solemnly No, Mr..
Finder: no one ever broke the news to
me. I've been told that l had the form
Of a bed slat. the face of Il pirate and
tlossy hair like n doll, but I have al
ways prided myself on my china blue
eyes, and to be told that there is a kinb
in one Of them is heartbreaking. lie
dug despondently at a bunch of wire
grass.
Ezekiel spat rehectively and let him
self down to the ground. You're q
mighty fresh young man. Mr. Hart
Well" he chuckled. but its a gooC
thing for you I amt got Il daughter"
"Why?" demanded Hartweu, sur
prised.
"Oh. because you'd be dead sot I,
marry her, and l wouldn't listen to it 1
minute. 1t couldn't be thought of no
ways" Ezekiel was chewing grass
vigorously.
"Once more I repeat why? Wha
objection have you to me as son-in
law"
First I'd say to her: Young lady
you shan't marry no sculptor Teller
Pick out a good, plain farmer boy. an,
you shall have my consent and tn
blue glass lemonade set I drawed a
the rattle for a wedding present"
I'm a plain farmer boy" urged MI
Hartwell.
First off. you're a sculptor. That
your trade and all you got to fall bac
on. There can't be no money in sculT
ing or else you wouldn't have com
and tried chicken farming out Of
book"
4 like farming. It is my recrea
{ ton" objected the amateur agricu
r turist-
'Itn be your ruination," predicte
+ Mr. Finder, raising a horny fnge
Look at that there corn"
well, look at itr' agreed the plan
or proudly. Whats the matter wit
it, Ell? See any taller corn hereabouts
See any thicker stalks? See any large
earsT"
mo. I don't see none of those thing
All can see is that there amt or
row planted straight They're as ri;
gag as though a tipsy man had set 'el
4 out" chuckled Ezekiel
lie That's done purposely. There's
II scientific reason for planting 'em tn;
d way" hazarded Hartwell
). 'Humph"' snorted Ezekiel testiI
. and for little while he was silen
. following Hartwell slowly down Il
>, row Of corn. Then he said tentativ
- ly. Il amt never seen none of yol
Bculping yet?"
f. mop" queried Hartwell politely.
d Not so much as wink at it. l.
" often told Maria when l see you goil
is into that workshop of yours that
he guess I'll run in and see what you
IN up to. but somehow it's sort of dan
lie and chilly looking in there; leastwa
it must be if it's full of craven il
. ages"
q HIM observed the sculptor.
Ezekiel looked disappointed. He w
- piqued ut Hartwell for not offeri
to initiate him into the mysteries
. his workshop.
- Il reckon you feel kinder timid abe
showing 'em off. but guess we C
make allowances for your being a |