News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-05-17

farmers are"
Weston merely scratched his chi
and looked stubborn.
| go over and see what they've &C
| to say, at any rate" insisted Mr.. Son
| erville.
NAV; l amt goin to waste time O.
'em talkin' a lot of fool truck out o
books writ by just such sissy farmer
as them. l reckon they'll be recon
mendin' US to tie pink ribbons on on
pigs tails an buy feather beds for on
bosses an cOws?" He guffawed a
what he thought was his wit
"Well, go around and see. You ca1
laugh at them if they do advise foo
things like that"
NAV; amt goin' step. Amt go
time. Jim Sullivan told me he was
goin' to get jug of the real old rec
eye on tn noon train. an NE an hin
is gOin to drown Our s0rrer."
Leave that stuff alone. Tom" said
the kind hearted old merchant, who
had known him from his boyhood
THAT is one reason why you are about
down and out now"
dad, let me go to the farmers meet.
ing"
Both men looked around. Joe had
been seated on a sack of beans at the
end Of the counter and in the shadow
of the desk. His father had forgotten
him. and Mr.. Somerville had not no
ticed that he was about.
Amt got time. Me an Jim Sulli.
vans goin' to leave as soon as the train
gifts ill.," began his father.
81 don't mind walking five miles
home this evening. l do want to go to
hear those government people, daddy"
II amt got no quarter to spend for
your dinner, joe"
Il don't want no dinner"
That's all right; Joe's going to take
dinner with me-" interrupted Mr.. Som
erville.
"Oh, all right, then, but you needn't
think yer goin' to try any of that fool
ishness and newfangled lum-de-dums
on my place" There was a streak of
stubborn meanness in Tom Weston.
NY pace, IOLu, SOIIeCleu Tie Olu-
er man gently, "for which you have
failed to pay all the rent this year and
owe balance on last year."
"Well, IS longs 1 got it rented be
gan Weston.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Tom; I'll
just let you off one bale rent and take
four acres for Joe and me to expert
ment on If we want to-"
THAT'S trade" grinned Weston
But how about the time he takes fool.
ing with yOu-all's projects? His time
belongs to me-" Mr.. Somerville looked
at him in cold scorn for moment, then
at the eager, bright face Of the boy.
Dad, amt you never goin' to give
ME a chance? / go round dressed In
your CASTOR clo'es, work like a mig.
ger, an now when 1 want to learn
an try to make more at
farmin' than you have you don't seem
to want to let me-" His eyes filed
with tears.
weston, Of course he's your boy and
you have TIE legal right to his services,
in the position you are taking"
"Pm standin' ON my rightsw logged. |
" responded the other, trying to brave
put the scorn he saw In the merchants !
face.
Mr.. Somerville looked at Joe, who |
was rather an understood, wiry chap, |
with a good head and a square, fighting |
hin.
Are you in earnest, Joe? Do you |
really want to study and learn or are
you just talkingT
Just give me a chance-that's all |
I'll show your answered |
Toe.
Every well, then, Weston. What do
you consider Joe's services worth to |
you during the crop yearP
"a hundred dollars" answered Yves.
on, at a venture, trying to put the fig
ire high.
"Tll just take you on that. Come on
1ack to the desk and sign up an agree
nent."
1t was done in a few minutes, the
document providing that Joe's services
we're sold to John Somerville for one
rear from date for 500; that said
Weston bound himself to interfere in
40 way with any experimental or
planting operations carried on by said
Joy and ]. Somerville and to turn over
our acres fronting on the public road
o said boy and release all rights to any
.rop the said Joe Weston might make.
Now, Tom Weston, / think for the
asst fifteen years I've heard you COM
Ilain that you couldn't get out of debt
Ind the wonders you would perform
{ you ever did. According to our
books, you owe us s160, part of It three
'ears old. My contract for Joe calls
or 500. I'm going to do better than
hat and pay you s160. I've wiped of
he books. You don't owe me a cent"
THANK you, sir"
snow, listeni You and Joe are even.