Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-03

drive over ter the depot an git YER
freight. They telephoned this mornfn'
it had come"
"Goodp' l cried. ''You might bring
me bag Of cement, too, and a gallon
of carbolic acid"
Eye amt tired o. life SO soon. be
yer?"
NO" said 1, ''but I'm going to show
you rubes how to treat an orchard"
Bert went off laughing, and present
~ saw him driving toward town with
his heavy wagon. 1 walked up to the
plateau field to greet Mike. AS | crest
ed the ridge the field lay before me.
the great, lone pine standing sentinel
at the farther side, and half of il was
frail, young green, and half rich, shin
ing brown.
"She plows tough, sor," said Mike.
as the painting horses paused for
breath, "but she'll harrer down good.
Be the seed pertaters come yit?"
Bert has gone for them," said I.
Let me hold the pillow once"
1T amt so azy as 1t looks" said
Mike.
''Tn do it if I haven't a rib left"
said I grimly.
The pretty daughter had gone back
to her Caesar by the nickel oil lamp,
but she had one ear toward US, and /
caught a corner of her eye, toO-an
extremely attractive, not to say provo
cative eye.
well, now" Mike was saying, "sure
I can run a farm, but what do l be
gettin' fer it,"
Fifty month" said I, (which in
cludes milking the COWS and tending
furnace in winter"
'Sure, 1 got more than that on me
last place and no cows at all"
''Ye're liar, Nike" said Bert.
THAT'S a fghtin' word in the ould
country" said Mike.
This amt the old country, and yer
got fOrty-five dollars" Bert grinned.
Besides, yell be close to yer work.
You wuz a mile an half frum the
sideways. Tibet makes up fer the
milkin'."
'True, true" Mike replied, medita-
lively. "But what be yer runnin' the
place for, Mr.. Upton? Is it a real
farmer ye'd be?'
"a real farmer answered. "Why?"
"Well, l didn't know. I've heard
say yer WIZ a literary Teller, too, Mr..
Upton, and I have me doubts"
"Well, I'm a sort of a literary fell
ler," confessed. But it's you l want
to be the real literary Teller, Mike.
You must write me a poem in pota-
toes.''
Mike put back his head and roared.
"It's a pome yer want, is it?" he cried.
"Sure, it's an grafton I'll give We. I'll
grow We the real home rule pertaters."
WELL" said I, rising, ''do you be-
gin tomorrow morning, and will your
son help for a few weeks?'
1.-The mornin' it is" said Mike, land
Joe along"
1 paused by the side of the girl. "All
Gaul is divided into three parts"
laughed.
She looked UP with a pretty smile,
but Mike spoke: "Sure, but they give
ell three parts to Nora" he said, $50
what was the use o. dividin' it? She
thinks she's me mither instead o. me
daughter!'
"I'll put you to bed in a minute"
said Nora, while Mike grinned proudly
at her.
I'm going to like Nike" said to
IL i L. oI-
81 knoo yer would soon ez I seen
yer" Bert replied. "'The only folks
tibet don't like Mike is the folks tibet
can't see a joke. Mike has a tolerable
number o. dislikers.'
"Well, I've got my farmer" said 1,
"and now I suppose I've got to find
a housekeeper, as soon as the house is
ready to live in. Nora would suit me-"
81 reckon she would, "but she
wouldn't suit Bentford.''
''In other words, want an oldish
woman, very plain, and preferably a
widow"
"With a young son old enough ter
help on the farm" Bert added with a
grin.
II don't suppose you know Of just
such a combination"
Reckon I dew. You leave 1t to my
old lady"
"Mr Temple" said I, "seems to me
I'm leaving everything to you"
oval, meow, yer might do a heap
sight worsep' said Bert.
l went up to my chamber when we
got back, and sat down beside my
little glass lamp and did some figuring.
Added to my alleged salary as a man
uscript reader, along with what I
hoped I could pick up writing, I reck-
lessly calculated my annual income as
a possible $1,000. Out of this l sub
tracted 5000 for Mixes wages, $500
for a housekeeper, $500 for additional
labor. SIS for taxes, and $500 for addi-
lions to my plant" as began to call
my farm.
Then it occurred to me that ought.
of course, to sell my farm produce for
a handsome profit. Bert had gone to
bed, so I couldn't ask him how much
I would be likely to realize. But with
all due conservatism I decided that I
could safely join the golf club. So I
did, then and there. Whereupon I felt
better, and, picking out the manuscript
of a novel from my bag, I went brave
" at the task Of earning my living