Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1916-04-05
CHAPTER XVI,
COPYRIGHT, 1913,
BY HARPER & BROTHERS.
Joe Raises Record Crop.

CIeulDlG SWlICueSS. Inere came,
gradually, gently, soft haze
~ in the atmosphere. The dis
tant hills were enshrouded in purple.
In the woods there were few first
yellow leaves on the gum trees. There
was crimson on the sumach bushes
along the fence rows and CLINT of
goldenrod in the fields and thickets.
The weather was dry, and a faint
touch of GOODNESS in 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
and moisture were shed from the ear
instead of running down inside and
rotting the corn. Every night Joe
learned something new as he studied
in his room. ."
Joe and his father and Tom Ralston
made an examination one day in 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. Well invite Squire
Allen to come over an make the affy
davies. I'll get Bill Tomlinson 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 a good potpie an fried chick
en- an SUCH"
'That'll be fine, and you and me and
Link and Tom can gather the corn. It
will be pretty slow work Remember,
there's really four grades of corn in
that patch, and we've got to keep 'em
all separate" said Joe.
"Well, We'll have to figger it up by
weight rather than by measure, then"
said Mr.. Weston. "The squire has got
pair of steelyards, an Well let him
do the weighin' SO there can't be any
question whatever about the total"
Cali right, pa. Les ride over this
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
of them were men Of standing in the
community. Mrs Weston and Annie
We're in quite commotion 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
gy. 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
a beam nailed across the top to swing
the scales to. A big box, with four
wires adjusted so it could be easily
hung on the scales was ready. The
squire took it's 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 brand new account book
Joe had furnished to keep the record
of weights in.
My land, Joe, you amt goin' to pull
an shuck all that corn, are you?" in
quired Mr.. Tomlinson. "Rest Of the
Corn club boys has their acre estimat
ed
81 don't want any estimate. l want
to know" replied Joe.
-Four of us are goin' to work. said
Mr.. Weston. well clean it up heap
sooner'n you think
ooh, amt kickin' 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 a sack swung about his
& neck. In all there were about three
b bushels Of this corn. They shucked
b the ears as they pulled. Then it was
\ placed in the box, weighed, and each
boxful was recorded in the book
After the five ear corn had been
Il gathered and stored in a box at the
house because Of it's great value the
four ear corn was tackled There were
Il some twenty five bushels of this. AS
II each box was swung on the scales and
weighed the number of pounds was set
down in the record. AZ.
Tom Ralston and Link had arrived
BY this time, and they were put al
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. II
II was q fine, hearty meal and cook
ed In the very best Of style. Mrs.
Weston blushingly received the com
Dllmenta Of the guests and noted witt