The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-28

smoothed the roughness from the ground, broken by
the cultivation of the past summers efforts Aprils
warm sun had dried the earth to a pleasing, mellow
brown. And the weeds the stubble and remnants
of the previous years growth were ready to sink
back to DUST awaiting but the caress of the heavy
bladed pillow. Gus smeled spring in the air Where
the stalks were rotting away close to the ground,
pugently sweet; where the fresh green things were
pushing up thru the cogged massive mats of last
Falls weaving, Springs odors came. Even the
broken ground gave that meant to the
plowman willingness to mother life again.
The manure spread on the fields early in the past
light winter, gave the appearance of blond, dirty
bearded tramp. Beyond the big red barn nature
wore a mask of gray, botched at intervals with
Jaundiced Spring green The corn stubble rose gawl-
lshly, from the pocked mask, where the cutters had
passed with carelessness in the harvest last Fall.
Doc and Prince were doing their first work of
the year. 1t was yet early in the morning and they
playfully brushed against each other; swerving the
pillow and pulling unevenly. The collars around
their full thick necks creaked and the tree ierked
back and forth erraticaly. Ordinarily Gus would
have yelled loud but kindly but this morning he
dashed their broad rumps with the buckled ends of
the long reins. The drafts steadied into a strong
forward pull and the rich black loan turned back
from the plowshare-yawning rolling over and
stretching into wakefulness for another hot Sum-
mer Joyously the earth came back, burying the
grayish brown of stubbe and manure.
Harmon, Frederick and Henry were on their way
to Saturday school, The pastor whipped them if
they came late. Gus thought of his religious train
ing. Took lot of work to be christian. He adj
mired the pastor. The pastor talked so easily and
he would say that Gus boys were bright. That
made Gus nervous, made him feel conspicuous and
his face would grow red he would shuttle his feet
and his hands would seem swollen to inmobility
He couldn't talk to the minister. He couldn't talk
to anyone when they spoke of his farm his family
Gus liked the pastor because he talked so we'll The
nnfTc 1lLyadH cRor Fc4I-
they would talk to him like he overheard them talk
ing with the pastor.
Occasionally Gus looked up the road that passed
the field and barn. His face held no expression;
only his eyes seemed animated; they moved with
doggedness-alot caring to see what they were ex-
pecting. The old woman in bed again. She
was always in bed when the busy time of the year
came around The doctor had been out Thursday
When he left, Gus heard him say that he would
have to be back Saturday, maybe in the morning
The doctor was young Ernest, the beer
belied owner of the grocery store in town had in
PRODUCED the young doctor to Gus. The farmer liked
the way the doctor drank his whskey. He made
no face-never gasped for the chaser of cold water
He was an Englishman-Gus liked the way he
smiled thru his face-covered, heavy Prince Albert
he liked the way he drank his whiskey. Gus never
drank whskey. He didn't like tit always gagged
him and made water stream from his yes. Lager
was alright and old wine was good. Gus did
drink whskey too.
Late in the morning the doctor drove up. Gus
had stopped looking for him hours before. His
mind was occupied with the blowing, as up and
down the field he walked, following the pillow and
guiding it with an easy grip the handles. Doc
and Prince had long since ceased any playfulness
and were concerned only with hauling the pillow back
and forth with a strong easy pull Doc and Prince
were nice horses, all right Gus knew good work
er when he saw The team was among the best
in the township. They looked pretty, too. Heavy,
black names and long hair billowing down over
their hoofs Gus combed their coats every morning
Their forelegs short and full; their hiudlegs
worked smoothly. He liked to watch them az they
took the pow thru the surface of the resting soil
The doctor had fast roam colt Liking the doc
tor Gus liked his horse. The doctors roam was
more spirited than the carriage horse Minnie drsve
He shook his head from side to side as though to
lose the bit that he might gallop away with the
doctors yellow-wheeled, shiny buggy. The doctor
waved his arm at Gus when he dlpve into The lane
and the tiller lifted heavy hand in return In ~
moment he clucked to Doc and Prince and together
the team moved more-noved on after