a. I 



i 



A Good Harvest 



stretches of golden yellow became stubble fields 

 dotted all over with shocks. 



At length there came a time, towards the end 

 of September, whe"n we had the satisfaction of 

 knowing that our wheat and oats were cut and 

 shocked, and it was with a feeling of keen plea- 

 sure that we gave ourselves a few days' rest 

 before the hard work of threshing began. 



The interval gave Tom an opportunity to in- 

 dulge his sporting instincts by going after that 

 useful source of autumn food supply, the prairie- 

 chicken, which were now numerous. At first 

 the coveys were tame enough and could be easily 

 stalked among the shocks, and even came close 

 to our shack ; but as many were banging away 

 at them, they soon gave more chances to the 

 portsman's skill. Tom brought home quite a 

 umber, and we lived well, for they are capital 

 eating, with a lot of flesh on their breasts, if but 

 little on their legs and wings. 



We also took this opportunity to plough out, 

 gather, and house in our cellar our crop of potatoes, 

 which had done well, like the grain crops, in this 

 favourable season. 



Not only does such a season as this promised 

 to be bring money directly into the farmer's 

 pocket, but it provides plenty of well-paid work 

 for the pioneer homesteader able and willing 



285 



