Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-12
PATRICK

ne Ako0 pecduse ne was not able 70 get
help.
But Sam had got in the habit Of using
his mind. He never initiated other peo-
pie in doing a thing without stopping
to think why; 1t, was done or II there
was better way. He soon found out
that it 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 1t was good idea
to take half day or day of now
and then.
One Of the things that Sam enjoyed
a great deal was to ramble through the
woods and fields and study nature. He
was what is called q nature lover-that
is, he never tired of studying trees
and flowers and birds and insects and
animals. It was mighty hard matter
for him to go after the calves and get
back in time for breakfast. It was not
more than a quarter Of mile to where
the calves were usually found-in,
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 or
suddenly, whistling 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. A
slight noise from some big treetops told
him that crows were leaving their
roost. A louder Tapping meant buzz
yards. A splash in the creek announc-
ed that q bullfrog was taking his morn
ing bath. Now and then a possum
would waddle by or q belated coon
returning from his fishing up the creek
would stop to eye Sam inquisitively.
Crossing the creek and getting pref
ty- close 10 the calves, he would stop.
suddenly again to watch three 0rs four
rabbits at their morning romp ii the.
Farther on he might ind
q strange flower Or shrub and study It,
ever 90 long trying to determine the
name Of it, Sam and Florence were
both nature enthusiasts, and there
were 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 ind something else to interest
him.
and hungry from his walk and found
breakfast waiting, his mother would
ask:
"Why, what makes you so late get
ting back, Sam?" m
"Oh, I've been watching Oh Br'er
Rabbit and Br'er Possum,' he would
reply. He had read the stories Of IN;
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.
$50 far as any on knows" Sam ex-
planned, they're the only bird that de-
stroys the potato beetle. They eat all
they can find, and they do us good
turn every time they go5ble one. More
than that, every single quail eats thou
sands upon thousands Of boil weevils.
Some people used to argue that quail
didn't eat anything except grain. But
We know better now. They eat in
sects Of all kinds, as well as weed
seed"
IF that's so they ought not to be
killed." said Bill.
"Of course not" said Sam. I'VE
don't have any idea how much good
they do us. 1t ought to be against the
law to kill quail at any time: As it
Is, they say insects destroy one-tenth
Of all we produce. If we were to x1n
all the birds there'd be such plague
Of insects that they'd kill everything
all the trees and vegetation Of all
kinds"
Farther on Bill saw a, woodpecker
hammering Justify on q dead tree. He
stopped and pointed with his finger.
"Bet could knock 'im OF with Z rifle
from here" he said.
Don't ever do it." cautioned Sam.
Hes another friend"
wsattss Is" exclaimed 6iii. "a wooii-
pecker kills trees
mo. he doesn't" said Sam. HE saves
trees. A woodpecker never bores q hole
in tree for fun. He's after worms or
making himself q home, and he makes
his home in dead tees. When he
bores into green tree he's after a
worm every time. and he always gets
him. The hole the bird makes win
grow up, but u the worm stays it'll
kill the tree. One woodpecker viii 60
over 600 trees In day and examine
them for bugs. egg deposits and worms,
It doctors the Tree insids and out.
saw woodpscksr. 20 over nearly ev.
cry tree In our orchafd."
well, now, didn't know that" said
Bill. II been knowin' woodpeckers all
my life, but never paid no attention
go. Z ~