The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-07-06
That Is What Two Mill City
Boys Discovered
BACK TRACK FOR HOME
They Did Not Like Guessing"
Heaped Upon Them BY
Farmer
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Somewhere along the dusty roa(
between Mankato and Minneapolis
two schoolboy chums are trudgins
YEARLY on their way to the city, hop.
ing to reach home before they
starye." Gus" and Rob" have ha(
rather strenuous time the past
couple of weeks, and have come tt
the conclusion that this talk about
the good farmer" and soldiers Of
the SOIL" is not, in vulgar parlance
just what it is cracked up to be. They
will own perhaps that there may be
good farmers" but they are posi-
tive and unanimous in the decision
that they have met one of the mean
fellers" a
Gustave Nelson, 449 Park avenue
and Robert Lane, 1925 Columbus ave-
nue., Minneapolis, after busy term
at school, saw vacation time and
summer days coming through the
rose colored glass of hope and as
piring dreams. Young men were en-
listing for the war, but Gus and Rob
are too young yet for soldier boys
although there is splendid material
IN process OF preparation.
Would Join Soldiers of Soil.
Lets join the great army of SOL
diers of the soil, >" suggested Rob
enthusiastically, reading a large pa
triotic placard which loomed up in a
store window.
Gee, wouldn't it be fun to get out
in the country and see the cows and
chickens on nice big farm" said
Gus, eyes glowing and boyish face
flushed. ~
Yes, and hoe potatoes and beans
wood, and do the Chores" added the
more practical Rob.
Lets do it." said Gus.
Eyes, let's" said Rob.
Could Use Two Boys.
Finally farmer was located at &C.
neva, Mimi, who stated that he
could use two boys on his farm this
summer, and Gus and Rob spen,
several perfectly good dollars each
for railway tickets and journeyed to
the place. Alas, and alack, for their
rosy dreams! Unaccustomed to farm
work, although willing to learn and
Industrious, the city boys did not
make hit with the farmer. He was
a practical" farmer, and intended to
"get the most for his money" From
early morning until long after the
birds had gone to roost he kept the
boys busy, and there was no kind
words to remind them of "home and
mother" The schoolboys stood the
labor bravely, although the days were
hot and long, but the independent
spirit of Young America objected to
the strong words of the farmer, who
"cussed" at them and berated them
for whatever went wrong on the farm.
And They Quit.
Lets quit" said Rob, at the close
of an eventful and terrible day.
eyes, lets" said Gus.
Hes a mean feller," said Rob.
''Too mean to work for" said Gus
When the boys decided to quit the
farmer swore mighty oath, and said
he would not give them a cent UNI
less they worked the entire month,
so the boys started on the weary
tramp, back, back, back to Mime
apolis. About 4:30 yesterday after
noon they arrived in Mankato, and in
quired the way to Minneapolis of a
passer-by. After some conversation
they were asked how they liked hik-
ing" is for fun, and they were simply
that they were not hiking" "Hik-
ing is for fun, and they were ismply
walking home. Again they started
on, two dusty, tired boys, hoping to
get horne sometime tomorrow.