the complete writings-4-第4章

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ing　hither　and　thither；　to　get　the　hymn…book；　or　a　palm…leaf　fan；　or　the　best　whip；　or　to　pick　from　the　Sunday　part　of　the　garden　the　bunch　of　caraway…seed。　　Already　the　deacon's　mare；　with　a　wagon…load　of　the　deacon's　folks；　had　gone　shambling　past；　head　and　tail　drooping；　clumsy　hoofs　kicking　up　clouds　of　dust；　while　the　good　deacon　sat　jerking　the　reins；　in　an　automatic　way；　and　the　〃womenfolks〃　patiently　saw　the　dust　settle　upon　their　best　summer　finery。　　Wagon　after　wagon　went　along　the　sandy　road；　and　when　our　boy's　family　started；　they　became　part　of　a　long　procession；　which　sent　up　a　mile　of　dust　and　a　pungent；　if　not　pious　smell　of　buffalo…　robes。　　There　were　fiery　horses　in　the　trail　which　had　to　be　held　in；　for　it　was　neither　etiquette　nor　decent　to　pass　anybody　on　Sunday。　It　was　a　great　delight　to　the　farmer…boy　to　see　all　this　procession　of　horses；　and　to　exchange　sly　winks　with　the　other　boys；　who　leaned　over　the　wagon…seats　for　that　purpose。　　Occasionally　a　boy　rode　behind；　with　his　back　to　the　family；　and　his　pantomime　was　always　some　thing　wonderful　to　see；　and　was　considered　very　daring　and　wicked。

The　meeting…house　which　our　boy　remembers　was　a　high；　square　building；　without　a　steeple。　　Within　it　had　a　lofty　pulpit；　with　doors　underneath　and　closets　where　sacred　things　were　kept；　and　where　the　tithing…men　were　supposed　to　imprison　bad　boys。　　The　pews　were　square；　with　seats　facing　each　other；　those　on　one　side　low　for　the　children；　and　all　with　hinges；　so　that　they　could　be　raised　when　the　congregation　stood　up　for　prayers　and　leaned　over　the　backs　of　the　pews；　as　horses　meet　each　other　across　a　pasture　fence。　　After　prayers　these　seats　used　to　be　slammed　down　with　a　long…continued　clatter；　which　seemed　to　the　boys　about　the　best　part　of　the　exercises。　　The　galleries　were　very　high；　and　the　singers'　seats；　where　the　pretty　girls　sat；　were　the　most　conspicuous　of　all。　　To　sit　in　the　gallery　away　from　the　family；　was　a　privilege　not　often　granted　to　the　boy。　　The　tithing…man；　who　carried　a　long　rod　and　kept　order　in　the　house；　and　out…doors　at　noontime；　sat　in　the　gallery；　and　visited　any　boy　who　whispered　or　found　curious　passages　in　the　Bible　and　showed　them　to　another　boy。　　It　was　an　awful　moment　when　the　bushy…headed　tithing…man　approached　a　boy　in　sermon…time。　　The　eyes　of　the　whole　congregation　were　on　him；　and　he　could　feel　the　guilt　ooze　out　of　his　burning　face。

At　noon　was　Sunday…school；　and　after　that；　before　the　afternoon　service；　in　summer；　the　boys　had　a　little　time　to　eat　their　luncheon　together　at　the　watering…trough；　where　some　of　the　elders　were　likely　to　be　gathered；　talking　very　solemnly　about　cattle；　or　they　went　over　to　a　neighboring　barn　to　see　the　calves；　or　they　slipped　off　down　the　roadside　to　a　place　where　they　could　dig　sassafras　or　the　root　of　the　sweet…flag；　roots　very　fragrant　in　the　mind　of　many　a　boy　with　religious　associations　to　this　day。　　There　was　often　an　odor　of　sassafras　in　the　afternoon　service。　　It　used　to　stand　in　my　mind　as　a　substitute　for　the　Old　Testament　incense　of　the　Jews。　　Something　in　the　same　way　the　big　bass…viol　in　the　choir　took　the　place　of　〃David's　harp　of　solemn　sound。〃

The　going　home　from　meeting　was　more　cheerful　and　lively　than　the　coming　to　it。　　There　was　all　the　bustle　of　getting　the　horses　out　of　the　sheds　and　bringing　them　round　to　the　meeting…house　steps。　　At　noon　the　boys　sometimes　sat　in　the　wagons　and　swung　the　whips　without　cracking　them：　now　it　was　permitted　to　give　them　a　little　snap　in　order　to　bring　the　horses　up　in　good　style；　and　the　boy　was　rather　proud　of　the　horse　if　it　pranced　a　little　while　the　timid　〃women…　folks〃　were　trying　to　get　in。　　The　boy　had　an　eye　for　whatever　life　and　stir　there　was　in　a　New　England　Sunday。　　He　liked　to　drive　home　fast。　　The　old　house　and　the　farm　looked　pleasant　to　him。　　There　was　an　extra　dinner　when　they　reached　home；　and　a　cheerful　consciousness　of　duty　performed　made　it　a　pleasant　dinner。　　Long　before　sundown　the　Sunday…school　book　had　been　read；　and　the　boy　sat　waiting　in　the　house　with　great　impatience　the　signal　that　the　〃day　of　rest〃　was　over。　　A　boy　may　not　be　very　wicked；　and　yet　not　see　the　need　of　〃rest。〃　　Neither　his　idea　of　rest　nor　work　is　that　of　older　farmers。




VI

THE　GRINDSTONE　OF　LIFE

If　there　is　one　thing　more　than　another　that　hardens　the　lot　of　the　farmer…boy；　it　is　the　grindstone。　　Turning　grindstones　to　grind　scythes　is　one　of　those　heroic　but　unobtrusive　occupations　for　which　one　gets　no　credit。　　It　is　a　hopeless　kind　of　task；　and；　however　faithfully　the　crank　is　turned；　it　is　one　that　brings　little　reputation。　　There　is　a　great　deal　of　poetry　about　hayingI　mean　for　those　not　engaged　in　it。　　One　likes　to　hear　the　whetting　of　the　scythes　on　a　fresh　morning　and　the　response　of　the　noisy　bobolink；　who　always　sits　upon　the　fence　and　superintends　the　cutting　of　the　dew…laden　grass。　　There　is　a　sort　of　music　in　the　〃swish〃　and　a　rhythm　in　the　swing　of　the　scythes　in　concert。　　The　boy　has　not　much　time　to　attend　to　it；　for　it　is　lively　business　〃spreading〃　after　half　a　dozen　men　who　have　only　to　walk　along　and　lay　the　grass　low；　while　the　boy　has　the　whole　hay…field　on　his　hands。　　He　has　little　time　for　the　poetry　of　haying；　as　he　struggles　along；　filling　the　air　with　the　wet　mass　which　he　shakes　over　his　head；　and　picking　his　way　with　short　legs　and　bare　feet　amid　the　short　and　freshly　cut　stubble。

But　if　the　scythes　cut　well　and　swing　merrily；　it　is　due　to　the　boy　who　turned　the　grindstone。　　Oh；　it　was　nothing　to　do；　just　turn　the　grindstone　a　few　minutes　for　this　and　that　one　before　breakfast；　any　〃hired　man〃　was　authorized　to　order　the　boy　to　turn　the　grindstone。　How　they　did　bear　on；　those　great　strapping　fellows！　　Turn；　turn；　turn；　what　a　weary　go　it　was。　　For　my　part；　I　used　to　like　a　grindstone　that　〃wabbled〃　a　good　deal　on　its　axis；　for　when　I　turned　it　fast；　it　put　the　grinder　on　a　lively　lookout　for　cutting　his　hands；　and　entirely　satisfied　his　desire　that　I　should　〃turn　faster。〃　It　was　some　sport　to　make　the　water　fly　and　wet　the　grinder；　suddenly　starting　up　quickly　and　surprising　him　when　I　was　turning　very　slowly。　　I　used　to　wish　sometimes　that　I　could　turn　fast　enough　to　make　the　stone　fly　into　a　dozen　pieces。　　Steady　turning　is　what　the　grinders　like；　and　any　boy　who　turns　steadily；　so　as　to　give　an　even　motion　to　the　stone；　will　be　much　praised；　and　will　be　in　demand。　　I　advise　any　boy　who　desires　to　do　this　sort　of　work　to　turn　steadily。　If　he　does　it　by　jerks　and　in　a　fitful　manner；　the　〃hired　men〃　will　be　very　apt　to　dispense　with　his　services　and　turn　the　grindstone　for　each　other。

This　is　one　of　the　most　disagreeable　tasks　of　the　boy　farmer；　and；　hard　as　it　is；　I　do；　not　know　why　it　is　supposed　to　belong　especially　to　childhood。　　But　it　is；　and　one　of　the　certain　marks　that　second　childhood　has　come　to　a　man　on　a　farm　is；　that　he　is　asked　to　turn　the　grindstone　as　if　he　were　a　boy　again。　　When　the　old　man　is　good　for　nothing　else；　when　he　can　neither　mow　nor　pitch；　and　scarcely　〃rake　after；〃　he　can　turn　grindstone；　and　it　is　in　this　way　that　he　renews　his　youth。　　〃Ain't　you　ashamed　to　have　your　granther　turn　the　grindstone？〃　　asks　the　hired　man　of　the　boy。　　So　the　boy　takes　hold　and　turns　himself；　till　his　little　back　aches。　　When　he　gets　older；　he　wishes　he　had　replied；　〃Ain't　you　ashamed　to　make　either　an　old　man　or　a　little　boy　do　such　hard　grinding　work？〃

Doing　the　regular　work　of　this　world　is　not　much；　the　boy　thinks；　but　the　wearisome　part　is　the　waiting　on　the　people　who　do　the　work。　　And　the　boy　is　not　far　wrong。　　This　is　what　women　and　boys　have　to　do　on　a　farm；　wait　upon　everybody　whoworks。〃　　The　trouble　with　the　boy's　life　is；　that　he　has　no　time　that　he　can　call　his　own。　　He　is；　like　a　barrel　of　beer；　always　on　draft。　　The　men…folks；　having　worked　in　the　regular　hours；　lie　down　and　rest；　stretch　themselves　idly　in　the　shade　at　noon；　or　lounge　about　after　supper。　　Then　the　boy；　who　has　done　nothing　all　day　but　turn　grindstone；　and　spread　hay；　and　rake　after；　and　run　his　little　legs　off　at　everybody's　beck　and　call；　is　sent　on　some　errand　or　some　household　chore；　in　order　that　time　shall　not　hang　heavy　on　his　hands。　　The　boy　comes　nearer　to　perpetual　motion　than　anything　else　in　nature；　only　it　is　not　altogether　a　voluntary　motion。　　The　time　that　the　farm…boy　gets　for　his　own　is　usually　at　the　end　of　a　stent。　　We　used　to　be　given　a　certain　piece　of　corn　to　hoe；　or　a　certain　quantity　of　corn　to　husk　in　so　many　days。　　If　we　finished　the　task　before　the　time　set；　we　had　the　remainder　to　ourselves。　　In　my　day　it　used　to　take　very　sharp　work　to　gain　anything；　but　we　were　always　anxious　to　take　the　chance。　　I　think　we　enjoyed　the　holiday　in　anticipation　quite　as　much　as　we　did　when　we　had　won　it。　　Unless　it　was　training…day；　or　Fourth　of　July；　or　the　circus　was　coming；　it　was　a　little　difficult　to　find　anything　big　enough　to　fill　our　anticipations　of　the　fun　we　would　have　in　the　day　or　the　two　or　three　days　we　had　earned。　　We　did　not　want　to　waste　the　time　on　any　common　thing。　　Even　going　fishing　in　one　of　the　wild　mountain　brooks　was　hardly　up　to　the　mark；　for　we　could　sometimes　do　that　on　a　rainy　day。　　Going　down　to　the　village　store　was　not　very　exciting；　and　was；　on　the　whole；　a　waste　of　our　precious　time。　Unless　we　could　get　out　our　military　company；　life　was　apt　to　be　a　little　blank；　even　on　the　holidays　for　which　we　had　worked　so　hard。　If　you　went　to　see　another　boy；　he　was　probably　at　work　in　the　hay…　field　or　the　potato…patch；　and　his　father　looked　at　you　askance。　　You　sometimes　took　hold　and　helped　him；　so　that　he　could　go　and　play　with　you；　but　it　was　usually　time　to　go　for　the　cows　before　the　task　was　done。　　The　fact　is；　or　used　to　be；　that　the　amusements　of　a　boy　in　the　country　are　not　many。　　Snaring　〃suckers〃　out　of　the　deep　meadow　brook　used　to　be　about　as　good　as　any　that　I　had。　　The　North　American　sucker　is　not　an　engaging　animal　in　all　respects；　his　body　is　comely　enough；　but　his　mouth　is　puckered　up　like　that　of　a　purse。　　The　mouth　is　not　formed　for　the　gentle　angle…worm　nor　the　delusive　fly　of　the　fishermen。　　It　is　necessary；　therefore；　to　snare　the　fish　if　you　want　him。　　In　the　sunny　days　he　lies　in　the　deep　pools；　by　some　big　stone　or　near　the　bank；　poising　himself　quite　still；　or　only　stirring　his　fins　a　little　now　and　then；　as　an　elephant　moves　his　ears。　　He　will　lie　so　for　hours；　or　rather　float；　in　perfect　idleness　and　apparent　bliss。　　The　boy　who　also　has　a　holiday；　but　cannot　keep　still；　comes　along　and　peeps　over　the　bank。　　〃Golly；　ain't　he　a　big　one！〃　　Perhaps　he　is　eighteen　inches　long；　and　weighs　two　or　three　pounds。　　He　lies　there　among　his　friends；　little　fish　and　big　ones；　quite　a　school　of　them；　perhaps　a　district　school；　that　only　keeps　in　warm　days　in　the　summer。　　The　pupils　seem　to　have　little　to　learn；　except　to　balance　themselves　and　to　turn　gracefully　with　a　flirt　of　the　tail。　　Not　much　is　taught　but　〃deportment；〃　and　some　of　the　old　suckers　are　perfect　Turveydrops　in　that。　　The　boy　is　armed　with　a　pole　and　a　stout　line；　and　on　the　end　of　it　a　brass　wire　bent　into　a　hoop；　which　is　a　slipnoose；　and　slides　together　when　anything　is　caught　in　it。　　The　boy　approaches　the　bank　and　looks　over。　　There　he　lies；