The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-28
Harvest Story of Farm Life


watering Doc and Prince and turning them into the
stables for their fork of hay he unhtched the roam
colt; watered and fed him and then smoothed his
sleek coat with heavy currycomb and brush
Gus did not go up to the house at noon. He
wasn't hungry and he spent the hour arranging the
harness on the hooks of the harness room. Some
of 1t needed oiling, we'll, he'd tend to that Sunday
In the carriage shed he saw that the mower was in
front Of the planter. He grasped the tongue swung
the mower and dragged the planter from the she'd
He'd be needing it in few days if the warm weather
kept up.
The sun was lowering over the woods as Gus
turned the tired team into the barn. They'd worked
hard enough for one day. The DOCTORS carriage
was where it had been left in the morning After
giving the roam colt a of oats he fed the team
and bedded them down with fresh, clean straw for
the coming night. When that was done he walked
slowly to the back door of the house. No one was
IN the kitchen-he went to The bedroom he and
Minnie used The young doctor heard him coming
and met him at the door. Shaping him across the
back, he said "Well, Gus, we've found an eight
pound baby girl for YOU Gus pushed by him
without word and looking down at Minnie. NUT
tered, Monday We build das narrowing ben. You
be up cook for poys. Yah We hat some nice
shoats next Fall" Minnie nodded her head and
Gus left the room-he might as well 90 into town
with the doctor. Ernest had good bar back of his
grocery.
Gus Minnie and Hildegarde were leaning on the
fence beyond the covered barn ward watching Ress
when the neighbours boy led the bull to the pen He
led the bull by pole hooked to ring which passed
thru the nose of the animal. Hildegarde was eigh-
teen and few months more. She resembed neither
Gus nor Minnie. Her hair was long and light: her
skin was fair, and blue, low-German eyes peered
clearly thru soft lashes. Hildegarde was pretty:
her shape was alluring. Even when she wore the
dresses that Minnie passed down she was graceful
Gus was never at ease with her. She was like the
pastor and the doctor. She spoke to easily and she
embarrassed her father when he occasionally found
cause to haltingly speak with her. Hildegarde was
indifferent. She did not look at all like the corn
meal-batter-faced Minnie Her hair was always ar
ranged and never askew Minnie knew this and
felt little as Gus did when in her presence
Gus decided to breed Bess to a good bull this
time Well, the neighbor had good bull and GINS
didn't see why she shouldn't have the best Bess
mad one pair of calves already. She was good
motner Her calves were pretty good too, Gus got
good money for them.
Inc nelghbor boy unsnapped the pole and flicking
the bull over the bullock with short yvhin drove
HIM into the enclosure with Bess Inside the pen
the bull paused as the door swung shut behind him
lie looked at the cOw-a low rumble came from his
throat Bess moved toward him. From the other
side Of the fence Gus, Minnie Hdegarde and the
helghOor BOY watched the proceedings with interest
Inc OLD farmer turned to his wife and a smile
broke the stolidness of his heavy German face He
poked her IN the breast with his thumb and mutter
ing an "Ach Minnie" moved towards the house
Minnies eyes nearly closed and turning she slowly
followed her husband up the path that led away
from the pen. The neighbor looked down at
Hhdegarde, and she, fitting back her head looked
up at MN. I: In little while the bull and Bess
were alone-but they didn't care-they were in
love. ~
yesterday Hildegarde and the neighbor boy were
married. And after the wedding the baby was
chrstened, Gustave Adolph Old Gus sat in the mar
ior The room always closed and chll-clean to
muscness ana smelling of no human occupation
lie was sitting in the best chair red plush with all
sorts OF gingerbread monstrosties carved in the
heavy, black walnut frame. lamp was burning
Oh tne center marble covered table. Gus had been
on the back eighty when the first ones had come
Yesterday morning. There fence on the line
that needed little going and besides could NOT
Minnie talk to the people better than an old Dutch
farmer? He had stayed there, walking along the
renee, until Frederick called him with drawn out
on, papa komm ma hirr." He had walked SLOWLY
in. ,,f4o