West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-27
CHAPTER XVI.
Joe Raiseo Record Crop.


Ia HE summer few by with in
credible swiftncss. There came.
gradually, gently. "A soft haze
- In the atmosphere. The dis
tant hills were enshroudcd I'm purple.
In the woods there were "A few first
yellow leaves OH the gum trees There
was crimson on the sumach bushes
along the fence rows and n CLINT OF
goldenrod Ia the fields and thickets.
The weather was dry, and faint
touch OF GOODNESS I'm the evenings and
the whispering rustic OF dying grasses
stirred by the breeze gave hints of the
fast approaching fall. In the corn.
fields the leaves on the stalks had
withered to dryness, and the ears were
bending downward. laden to the full
with, grain. Thus was seen another
wise precaution OF Nature to protect
the precious kernels. In this way rain
ana moisture were shed from the ear
Instead OF running down inside and
rotting the corn. Every night Joe
learned something new rs he studied
In his room.
Joe and his father and Tom Ralston
made an examination one day I'm mid.
September They pronounced the grain
fully cured and ready TO gather.
Guess we'd better make arrange
ments to have some witnesses here.
hadn't wei" asked Joe
Reckon we had. Wen invite Squire
Allen to come over an make the any.
davies. I'll get Bill Tomllnson and
Henry Wilson to come an weigh an
check It," said Mr. Weston. well
Kill plenty OF chickens an have a
chicken dinner for 'em. Get your ma
to make good potpie an fried chick
en- an such"
"Thatll be fine, and you and me and
Link and Tom can gather the corn. II
Will be pretty slow work. Remember.
there's really four grndes of corn In
that patch, and we've got to keep 'em
all separate" said Joe.
well, well have TO figger II up by
weight rather than by measure, then"
said Mr.. Weston. "The squire has got
pair of steelyards. an Wen let him
do the welghin' so there can't be any
question whatever about the total"
evening and invite 'em for Tuesday"
Suits me-" said Mr.. Weston.
The squire, who was justice OF the
peace for the township, accepted the
invitation, as did the other two. Both
or them were men of standing in the
community. Mrs. Weston and Annie
were In quite n commoti0n over the
preparation Of an adequate dinner and
promised to have one that would do
justice to the occasion.
Bright and early Tuesday, therefore,
the jovial squire drove up In his bug
Ky. He was welcomed by Joe and his
father. His horse was unhitched and
put In the pasture. Two posts seven
feet high had been sunk In the ground
five feet apart near the prize acre and
n beam nailed across the top to swing
the scales to. A big box, with four
wires adjusted SO 1t could be easily
hung on the scales, was ready. The
squire took Its weight - six pounds
even. Mr.. Tomlinson and Mr.. Wilson
arrived, and they also weighed the box
and agreed on the weight, which was
noted In the brnd new account book
Joe had furnished to keep the record
OF weights I'm.
My land, Joe, you amt goin' to pull
an shuck all that corn, are your" in
CURED Mr. Tomlinson. REST of the
Corn club boys has their acre estimat
ed"
II don't want any estimate. 1 want
to know" replied Joe
-Four " us are goin' to work" said
Mr.. Weston. "We1l clean It up heap
sooner'n you think"
"Oh, amt kickln'; just thought you
was maxim heap of trouble for your
SELF" said the visitor
Chairs were brought out for the three
men, and Joe and his father invaded
the acre, going In an orderly and care
full way. starting at the first row, up
one row and down another, getting
the ears from the five ear stalks. Each
gatherer had sack swung about his
neck. In oil there were about three
bushels of this corn. They shucked
the ears as they pulled Then 1t was
placed I'm the box. weighed, and each
boxful was recorded in the book.
After the five ear corn had been
gathered and stored I'm a box at the
house because OF its great value the
four ear corn was tackled There were
some twenty-five bushels Of this. As
each box was swung on the scales md
weighed the number OF pounds was SCI
down I'm the record
Tom Ralston and Link had arrived
by this time, and they were put at
work with Joe and his father gather
Ing the three ear corn Something
over sixty bushels of this was got, and
the bell rang for dinner
It was n fine, hearty meal and cook
ell in the very best OF style Mrs.
Weston blushingly received tho com.
piiments Of thG guests and noted with
satisfaction the full Justice the men
did 10 the ylunds set before them.
(To be ContinuedD