Homesteading 



who worked a sweep for removing the straw in 

 the manner mentioned for haying. 



The farmer also for whom we were threshing 

 had a team for hauhng the grain to the granary, 

 using two wagons, one of which was left at the 

 separator till full, when he hitched his team to it 

 and drew off, while the empty one took its place. 



Jerry gave Tom the job of tending the bags, 

 which are alternately fastened to a pair of spouts 

 to which an automatic counter is also fitted, 

 which roughly measures the number of bushels 

 threshed. As the bags of grain fill up they are 

 emptied into the wagon-box in bulk. 



From the foregoing it will be seen that it takes 

 from ten to twelve men to work a small outfit 

 like the one I am describing, and as in such cases 

 it is usual for the farmer whose grain is being 

 threshed to feed the gang, such times are busy 

 occasions for the farmer's wife, if he has one. 



A kindly neighbour is often on hand to assist; 

 but, alas, there is often neither wife nor feminine 

 neighbour, and the bachelor must struggle through 

 the best way he can. Perhaps, however, the 

 case is hardly as bad as it looks, for most prairie 

 homesteaders know how to cook a bit, and if 

 timely provision is made, and there is plenty 

 of food on hand, some one is told off who can 

 be trusted to cook a good dinner. In the 



138 



