Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-03

freely commented on the methods of /
his young neighbor.
"Tou amt never going to make
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 le-
goombs even if the hysterical culture
club does claim they belong to that
family.
Ernest Hartwell grinned patiently as
he listened to Ezekiers evening lee
ture. Born and bred in the city, an
inward craving for 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 delicious 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 sill said
| and done with, whether she learns
these notions at the minister's hysteri-
| cal culture club or Miss Patty Dunns
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"
at must be 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 l can tell it by that
kink in your eye Anybody ever tell
/ you that you had funny kink in your
eye?"
/ Hartwell rested on his hoe and sur
/ veyed the farmer solemnly. mo, Mr..
Finder: no one ever broke the news to
me. I've been told that had the form
OF bed Stat. the face of a pirate and
! flosSy hair like a doll. but | have al
ways prided myself on my china blue
eyes, and to be told that there is a kink
in one of them is heartbreaking." He
dug despondently at a bunch of wire
/ grass.
Ezekiel spat refectively and let him
self down to the ground. You're a
mighty fresh young man, Mr.. Hart
we'll" he chuckled. but it's a good
thing for you I amt got a daughter"
"Why?" demanded Hartwell, sur
prised.
"Oh. because you'd be dead sot 10
marry her. and wouldn't listen to it a
minute. 1t couldn't be thought of no.
ways" Ezekiel was chewing grass
vigorously.
"Once more I repeat. why? What
objection have you to me as a son-in-
law?"
"First I'd say to her: Young lady,
you shan't marry no sculptor Teller.
Pick out n good, plain farmer boy. and
You shall have my consent and the
blue glass lemonade set l drawed at
the rattle for a wedding present"
I'm plain farmer boy" urged Mr..
Hartwell.
First off. you're sculptor That's
your trade and all you got to fall back
on. There can't be no money in sculp-
ing or else you wouldn't have come
and tried chicken farming out OF a
book"
81 like farming. 1t is my recrea-
ton" objected the amateur agricul-
turist.
It'll be your ruination," predicted
Mr.. Finder, raising a horny finger.
look at that there corn
"Well. look at it, agreed the plant
ar proudly. whats the matter with
1t. Ell? See any taller corn hereabouts?
See any thicker stalks? See any larger
ears?"
mo, don't see none of those things
All can see is that there amt one
row planted straight. They're as zig
gag as though "A tipsy man had set EN-
out" chuckled Ezekiel
That's done purposely There's a
scientific reason for planting 'em that
way!' hazarded Hartwell.
"Humph," snorted Ezekiel testify,
and for little while he was silent.
following Hartwel slowly down the
row of corn. Then he said tentative
ly Il amt never seen none of your
sculping yet?"
NO. qreried Hartwell politely.
Not so much as a wink at it. I've
! y
into that workshop of yours that
guess I'll run in and see what you're
up to, bat somehow it's sort of damp
and chilly looking in there; leastways
it must be if it's full of craven i'm
ages"
HIN" observed the sculptor.
Ezekiel looked disappointed. he was
piqued at Hartwel for not offering
to initiate him into the mysteries of
his workshop.
Il reckon you feel kinder timid about
showing 'em off. but guess we can
make allowances for your being n be-
ginner. You needn't feel bashful
about it. You might some day make
n fGger fit for the soldiers monument
were going to have on the green. and
it would be an advantage for Little
River folks to know what you can do.
We always encourage tome talent"
remarked Ezekiel maenanImouSly.
"Thank you; I'll think it over" said