St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-06-16
PATRICK

sweet potatoes, after stripping on the
vines and feeding them to his hogs.
and found that he had $50 bushels of
''punkin yams." He stored twenty-five
bushels for home use and sold the
other 125 bushels at 81 per bushel
Sam Powell! never forgot what the
government agent told him about seed
When his contest acre was at maturity
he went down the rows and tied
strings to the stalks that bore the most
and the finest ears.
In the same way. also. the young
farmer selected his cotton seed Here
and there in the rows be found stalks
that were unusually large and perfect
In shape. These were generally in
some rich place where they had been
particularly favored If they were
heavily loaded with bolls and the bolls
were large and low down on the stalks.
indicating that they would open early.
Sam tied white strings on them In
conspicuous places.
1t may seem that with all this work
Sam Powell had little or no time for
pleasure or recreation. Such was not
the case, however, though be some
times had to work longer hours than
he liked because he was not able to get
help.
But Sam had got in the habit Of using
his mind. He never initiated other PEG
pie in doing a thing without stopping
to think why 1t was done or If there
was better way. He soon found out
that 1T pays to keep oneself fresh and
vigorous. By taking the proper rests
and breathing spells and working at
certain hours he found that he could
do as much or more work in eight
hours as in twelve. After that he did
not commence work before daylight or
quit after dark. as he had been doing.
He saw also that it was a good idea
to take half day or a day off now
and then
One OF the things that Sam enjoyed
great deal was to ramble through the
woods and fields and study nature. He
was what is called a nature lover-that
Is, he never tired Of studying trees
and flowers and birds and insects and
animals. 1t was mighty hard matter
for him TO go after the calves and get
back in time for breakfast 1t was not
the calves were usually found-in a
little meadow beyond the creek-but
the earlier Sam started in the morning
the later he would usually be in re-
turning.
He would get up sometimes while it
was still dark and only the first red
streaks of dawn showing in the east
He would get out in the fresh air and
throw out his arms and take deep
breaths and walk about the yard for
few minutes; then he would be off
suddenly, whistling a lively tune and
scattering the dew from the grass and
plants with his feet.
He liked to sit down on the creek
bank in the dim light of morning and
watch the world just waking up.
slight noise from some big treetOps told
him that crows were leaving their
roost A louder tapping meant buz
yards. splash in the creek announc-
ed that bullfrog was taking his morn
ing bath. Now and then a possum
would waddle by or a belated coon
returning from his fishing up the creek
would stop to eye Sam inquisitively.
Crossing the creek and getting pref
ty close to the calves, he would stop
suddenly again to watch three or four
rabbits at their morning romp In the
dewy grass. Farther on he might find
q strange flower or shrub and study it
ever so long, trying TO determine the
name of 1t. Sam and Florence were
both nature enthusiasts. and there
we're few flowers or trees the names
Of which they didn't know.
Finally. the young farmer would find
the calves and start them home. and
he might get there by sunrise if he
didn't find something else to interest
him.
When he came in. fresh. bright eyed
and hungry from his walk and found
breakfast waiting. his mother would
ask:
'Why. what makes you so late get
ding back. SamT'
'Oh. I've been watching oil Br'er
Rabbit and Rr'er Possum." be would
reply. He had read the stories Of On
Gle Remus and always called animals
by the names the old darky gave them.
One Saturday morning Bill GoOge
climbed over the fence and came to
where Sam was at work.
Hello. Samr' he greeted Say,
let's go fshin' this evenin'."
Are you up with your work p ask
ed Sam.
You bet I've quit loafn' round
when they's work needin' dom. Every
things right up to now"
4~-ta< hrA
glad to go. | was just thinking
about It"
-WeIl, IN git the bait and be long
bout o'clock after you. Say. Sam.
you shore are raisin' a powerful lot o.