Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-08

Harper 4 srothsrs.
der SO as TO Tie them. Five hundred
and fifty bundles Of oats at 4 cents a
bundle brought 500 more Then Joe
turned the oat stubble under and bed.
ded the acre for Mexican June corn.
He put Link to work hoeing the COT
ton and killing the luxuriantly growing
crab grass, which was making faster
progress than the crop. His prize acre
of corn was getting grassy also, and
the corn was about waist high. It was
time for more fertilizer. he scattered
a generous handful about each hill,
then with a light plow run twice down
the middle Of each row threw the loose
dirt toward the stalks and covered the
fertilizer. A good rain fell next day.
and one could almost see that corn
grow.
Two days later, when the ground
was dry enough, Joe ran a furrow
through the ''beds'' he had thrown up
where the oats were and planted the
Mexican June corn, fertilizing with q
hundred pounds Of the commercial
stimulant placed in the rows. As soon
as this was done the potatoes needed a
blowing and got it, then an applica-
ton of fertilizer to the cotton and q
blowing such as he had given the corn.
The days were busy ones for Joe and
his father. Both were out Of bed by
daylight, to meet only at mealtimes
and at night Somehow Mr.. Weston
seemed to have taken new lease on
life and better grip on everything.
He had plowed the garden and fixed
the fences, and for the first time since
Joe could remember the family had an
abundance Of all sorts Of vegetables.
Now that the rough work Of planting
the garden was over Mrs. Weston
claimed that and the chickens and two
pigs and the cow as her special prov
ince, assisted by Annie. The out of
doors exercise was good for both Of
them. and they looked healthier and
happier than Joe had ever seen them
before.
The meals used to be silent, gloomy
occasions where each one finished and
left as soon as possible; now when the
family met it was q joyous occasion.
and each one seemed to have some
thing amusing and cheerful to tell.
"Son, aren't You going to take a rest
day after tomorrow" asked his mother
one day in mid-June..
"Well, l could; everything is getting
along nicely and won't need another
working until next week. What's up?''
Its your birthday, and your father
and and Annie thought we'd make q
holiday Of it."
Il declare, l have been 80 busy I for
got itT' laughed Joe.
~ didn't" said his mother.
The subject was dropped, but on that
morning Joe was allowed to sleep until
= o'clock. a most unusual thing for him.
Then the wagon was ready. and the
whole family climbed in for day at
Magnolia Dell, some five miles distant,
There was beautiful large spring at
the Dell, which fed clear, small lake.
famous for its fish. Poles were provid-
ed, crickets caught for bait, and soon
the party was busy landing sun perch,
blue Dream and rock bass. A frying
pan had been brought along, with salt,
meal and lard. At dinner time the
abundance Of fish was prepared for
cooking. Joe got three good sized
stones to set the frying pan on and
built fire.
When the fat was almost boiling
the fish were rolled In the meal, sailed
and dropped in. In a few minutes
each one was cooked to a crisp, golden
brown.
The dinner In the basket Mrs. Wes-
ton had provided was a fine one to
supplement the fish. A pitcher of lem
onade made from the icy water of the
spring and favored with sprigs Of
mint from its edges completed the re-
past, partaken Of with keen appetites
whetted by the zest of novelty.
After lounging about on the messy
carpet beneath the great magnolia
trees In pleasant laziness both Joe and
his father fell asleep, each with bun
die Of fragrant fern for pillow. While
they slept Mrs. Weston and Annie
washed the dinner things, packed them
In the wagon and caught a pretty good
string Of perch for the mornings
breakfast. 1t was nearly 6 o'clock
when the tired men folks Weakened
from their nap.
"Come on, Joe; let's have a swim:
then we've got to be hitching up to 20
home," said his father.
Down at the lower end Of the lake
was a famous swimming hole, with
firm, sandy bottom and a springboard
to dive from. Both went into the wa
ter at once, and after a good swim and
brisk rundown each felt as IL he were
treading on air when he walked.
Dusk had fallen over the land when
they got out Of the deep shadows Of
the woods about the lake. In the mys-
terious recesses of the forest a little
screech owl gave its shivering cry
again and again. The whippoorwills
In the distance kept advising the whip
ping Of poor WILL" while others in
sisted that they were "just poor Wills
widow"
Katydids were arguing with one an.
other that Katie lid-or she didn't-a