Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-04-16

We'll. | did think at first" replied
Sam, that it wouldn't take long. But
now. since I've had a second look at
it. think we won't more than get
started good today
If we could burn it out first" sug-
gested Andrew. lit wouldn't be nearly
so bad
No. but we'd burn up the fence
Couldn't we follow along with wa
ter and put out the rails when they
caught fire.
Good for You, Andrew" Sam ex-
claimed That's the very idea. The
fire will burn UP nearly all the bushes
and briers and kill all the boil weevils
and other insects that are wintering in
there ut the same time. That's why
fence rows ought not to grow up like
this. Insects live in there in winter
and come out to work ON the crops in
summer"
"Well. let's get the water and start
our fire. I'm anxious to see how it
works" said Andrew.
Il have two barrels up at the house. -
Sam explained. Wen unload the
wagon and 20 up and haul them down
full of water"
The horse was harnessed again, the
manure scattered and the boys were
soon back with two barrels of water
and bucket. The fire was started
and allowed to burn only in one direc-
tion-the way the wind carried it.
Sam followed close behind with the
bucket and poured water on the rails
that now and then took fire. Andrew
drove the wagon alongside and refilled
the bucket from the barrels for Sam.
Once the fire had got we'll started it
burned rapidly and in very short
while it had gone entirely around the
field Nothing remained Of the matted
tangle except a few charred bushes
and coarse briers. Taking the brier
hook and the grubbing hoe, Sam and
Andrew had these all down in less than
an hour
We'll. that jobs done" Sam exclaim-
I'd when they had finished, "and it
wasn't half as hard as | thought it
was going to be-"
IF we hadn't figured out new way
TO do it. though, it would have been
hard enough" said Andrew.
Yes Sam agreed. I'VE saved a lot
of work there by using our minds
little. 1t doesn't pay to work without
thinking. and I'm going to mix Il little
of it with my work from now on Let's
drive down after a load of poles and
see how the choppers are getting
along
Hello, there" yelled Fred Martin
when he saw sam and his companion
driving up. You haven't deserted
that job, have your
No the two replied in unison. .'of
course We, haven't deserted it. We fin
ished it, that's all, and now were down
after some poles.'
Jaw. get outt' the two choppers
scoffed. Don't tell us you've cleared
out that streak of briers. Why. a rab
bit couldn't get through it,
No" admitted Sam I'VE didn't clear
quite all of it ourselves. but what W.
didn't the fire did"
"Oh. you burned II ont. did your
rats and IA bbits had to hunt new
country"
Well" Joe Warsan remarked. I'VE
have got the poles for yon-ab bout forty
of them"
Forty My. but you must have been
working sam congratulated Forty
will he enough TO mend the fence
think"
When il came 10 mendin. the fence
Sam bad real rtrlSon to be glad that
his comrades had tohe with him. By
himself ne would have hAen forced to
tear down ii panel OF fence wherever
q rotten rail- was 20 he replaced With
help though. II was rhe work Of only
a minute 10 pry TAP the corners and pui
In new pule
By noon the fence had been mended
all round and the boys retired to
grove OF walnut trees near the branch
to eat their lunches THAT'S JOB No
2 done said sam when they Were
seated land goodness knows how long
ii would have taken me to do 1t If you
boys hadn't come along
We'll il wasn't very hard work" re-
piled Fred Martin lust enough ex
ercise in it to give US a good appe
tite. II you don't believe il just watch
what we do 10 this bacon and corn
bread and these onions
My bur they taste good" said An
drew With his mouth fnll Its
strange. bnt ! couldn't eat these AZ
home and na,v there's not going to be
enough OF il for me"
The boys all laughed and said that
they were thinking the same thing
Sam wouldn't hear 10 his ehums
working IN the afternoon He thought
that they had already done enough. 50
they stayed 70 gather walnuts and ex
piore the creek while Sam went OF to
haul ashes and scatter them Oh the
acre that WAS to be bis prize patch OF
corn
Miles Pagan happened to pass along
while Sam vas NJ work aud leaned
over the fence TO warch him for
minute.
What's thar you're putin on the
land. SAM he asked. after be had
watched the BOY for some time.
Ashes Sam replied. and went Oh
shoveiinS
"AshesT' Mr. Pagan questioned. do
you think ir'il dc any goodfr
'.Of course | do" Sam answered.
Most ANYTHING would do this land