American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-08

move the surplus plants, leaving one
about every two feet In the row.
AS oon as this was done the oats
were ready to cut, and the two boys
tackled the job with hand sickles.
twisting a few Of the oat stalks about
each bundle and turning the ends IN
der so as to tie them. Five hundred
and fifty bundles Of oats at 4 cents a
bundle brought so 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 iu~xuriantly growing
crab grass, which was making faster
progress than the crop. Ills prize acre
Of corn was getting grassy also, and
the corn was about waist high. IL was
time for more fertilizer. He scattered
a generous handful about each bill.
her with a light pillow 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 a
hundred pounds Of the commercial
stimulant placed in the rows. AS soon
as this vas done the potatoes needed a
blowing and got It. then an applica-
ton OF fertilizer to the cotton and a
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 MI. Weston
seemed TO have taken a new lease on
life and a better grip on everything
He had plowed the garden and hxed
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 owe 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 n finished and
left as soon as possible: now when the
family met it was a 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. | could; everything is getting
along nicely and won't need another
working until next week. What's upT'
It's your birthday, and your father
and and Annie thought we'd make a
holiday Of it"
II declare, | have been so busy 1 for
got itr' laughed Joe.
Il didn't" said his mother.
The subject was dropped, but on that
morning Joe was allowed TO sleep until
s o'clock. a most unusual thing for him
Then the wagon was ready. and the
whole family climbed in for a day al
Magnolia Dell, some five miles distant
There was a beautiful large spring a
the Dell. which fed a clear, small lake
famous for its fish. Poles were provid-
ed. crickets caught for bait, and sOoI
the party vas busy landing sun perch
blue Dream and rock bass. A frying
pan had been brought along. with salt
meal and lard. At dinner time tn,
abundance of fish was prepared FOL
cooking. Joe got three good siZeC
tones to set the frying pan on anC
built a fire.
When the fat was almost boiling
the fish were rolled in the meal. saltet
and dropped in. In a few minute.
each one vas cooked to a crisp, colder
brown.
The dinner in the basket Mrs. Yves
ton had provided was a fine one {
supplement the fish A pitcher Of lem
onade made from the icy water of tn
spring and favored with sprigs o
mint from its edges completed The re
past. partaken Of with keen appetite
whetted by the zest of novelty.
After ~loungfng about on the moss,
carpet beneath the great magnoli
trees in pleasant laziness both Joe an
bis father fell asleep. each with a bun
die of fragrant fern for a pillow. Will
they slept Mrs. Weston and Ami
washed the dinner things. packed then
in the wagon and caught a pretty goO'
string OF perch for the morning
breakfast. Ii was nearly 6 o'clOcI
when the tired men folks wakene'
from their nap
Come on. Joe: let's have a swim
then we've got to be hitching up TO 2
home" said his father.
Down at the lower end OF the LAX
was a famous swimming hole. wit
firm, sandy bottom and a springboar
to dive from. Both went into the ws
ter at once, and after a good swim an
a brisk rundown each felt as II he wer
treading on air when he walked
Dusk had fallen over the land whe