i 



A Bad Harvest 



he wanted the shocks put up — six sheaves against 

 each other, then one at each end, and finally two 

 on top, so placed that they would shoot off the 

 wet ; adding that if he could do twenty acres a 

 day well — that is, about as much as the machine 

 could cut — he would give him two and a half 

 dollars a day. 



Tom was a strong young fellow, but I doubted 

 his ability to accomplish this task, though it is 

 said some men can. 



The machines, however, are usually fitted with 

 bundle carriers, which deposit five or six sheaves 

 a heap, and as these heaps are dropped in 

 iws, it makes the work easier. 

 Thompson now told me there was a man named 

 iones, living about two miles further on, who 

 ith his son had two homesteads close together, 

 d as he had a lot of oats and wheat, he might 

 glad of help both from myself and the team, 

 saying " So long " to both men, and leaving 

 m Nancy and her foal to look after, I struck 

 e trail again. 



The sun was once more setting a red ball, and 

 e moon rising clear and cold in the purple, 

 hen I reached Mr. Jones's. 



\ He and his son were busy stabling their horses 

 d doing the evening chores when I arrived. 

 " Any chance of a night's lodging ? I am 



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