The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-29

| vas the only up-LO-QaL9 machinery
that the farmer had. Windheim, the
farmer, used to point with pride to
about 20 acres Of wheat, which was
| fast coming to a head, and inquire
whether we had the same in Can
| ada, and when told him about the
huge farms and the up-to date ma
chinery used in our country, he
would shake his head and walk
away. No doubt he thought that
was a liar. Little did he know that
he was hundred years behind the
times. Life to me on that farm was
very monotOnous. In the forenoon
we would hitch a horse to a wagon
and go to the clover field for load
of feed. Fritz, the farmers son,
would cut the clover and l would
fork it on the wagon. They had a
splendid crop Of clover, and cows
looked extremely we'll on 1t.
often wondered what they would
have done If they were turned out
to feed off a straw stack. When we
had our load we would drive back to
the cow shed, where I would throw
off the load. The afternoon was
generally occupied by thinning out
the root crop, the two girls and my
self generally working together.
was not very expert with the hoe
and later on when the crops got
growing, large bald patches showed
up where I had been working. Tur-
nip sprouts and weeds were alike to
me in Germany.
On several occasions Fritz and I
went out to cut down the thistles
which were very plentiful in that
region. Armed with a long stick on
the end Of which was a sharp, fat
knife about two inches wide, we
would move carefully through the
grain and stab at the roots OF the
thistle (Which was Of the Scotch
Variety cutting it off and leaving it
lying It was very tedious job and
l was glad when we started haying
the first week in July The mower
was not in working order, so Wfndheim
and his son got busy with the
scythes. Only enough hay was cut
in a day that could be cooked that
evening before knocking off work.
Myself and the two hired girls used
to turn over the hay when cured
with small hand rakes, and they
were very particular over the job.
Every particle had to be turned over
to get the benefit Of the sun. When
we had the job done we would rest
in the shade till it was time to start
cooking. A rake pulled by one horse
gathered the hay into heaps, and
then we got busy, great care being
taken in the building Of the cocks.
After all was cooked @ hand rake
was pulled over the field, and every
straw carefully gathered up, and we
proceeded to the house for supper.
Next morning, to my surprise, we
spread all the cocks out again and
during the course of the day turned
the hay once more, and in the even
ing cooking it again. It seemed to
me to be a great waste Of labor; as
there had been no signs Of rain the
evening before, but Windheim evil
IDENTIFY took no chances It was not
until we had repeated this perform
ance three times that the hay was
considered At to load. 1t was then
spread out again and after two hours
Of sunshine was drawn into huge
heaps with the horse rake. A large
rack was then brought in and we
commenced to load up. The two
girls were inside the rack tramping
down the hay and building the load,
and Windheim and myself pitched it
on. I have haye in different parts Of
the states and Canada, but never
worked so hard as I did on that Ger
man farm. thought the load would
never get finished, and 1 was wiring
ing with sweat and aching all over
when the. old man said we had
enough. There was about two tons
on that time, and we led the horses
out on the road and headed for the
hay loft. Right through the gates Of
the barn-like structure we drove, and
when we had the wagon in the cor
rect position, the two horses were
looking into the living room Of the
house I was the unfortunate victim
selected to pitch off the load and I
confidence in my ability to show the
square heads howHt should be DONE
Being inside the building no air
could circulate, and soon was
blinded with sweat. Those girls had
loaded and tramped that hay GER
tain way, making 1t extremely diff
cul to pitch off, and it was a great
relief to me when that load was
safely slowed in the loft. Frau
Windheim then brought out a bottle
of schnapps, it being the custom in
harvest time, and swallowed a
g1assful and out we went for another
load
When we came in again the old
man ordered his son to pitch Off the
load, whilst passed it back to the
girls who tramped 1t down. Pretty
soon Fritz was played out and he
abused and cursed those girls till he
was black in the face. They thought
would have to unload it and had
packed it accordingly. All the loads
after that were built properly and it
was comparatively easy to unload.
but I was now sick and disgusted