80 THE COUNTRY BOY 



]My only duty then in town was to get up 

 our cows that we let run in the streets nights, 

 hoping they would find some neighbor's gar- 

 den gate open. I used to get them up and 

 milk them, but going into this firm as a shoe- 

 maker was such a big surprise. 



I told all the young men around town and 

 some of the old ones that thought I drew too 

 many pictures; in fact, I told a few girls 

 that thought because I did not have pocket 

 change enough to take them to dances, that 

 I wasn't much. I went home early, didn't tell 

 Father, because he didn't want me to work; 

 just wanted me to study faces and draw. 



I didn't sleep much ; turned and tossed until 

 four o'clock, then got up and went to Simeral's 

 shop. I thought of the cows, but didn't get 

 them up; in fact, didn't have time and didn't 

 think it would look dignified. Simeral came 

 about nine, and let me in, and before he had 

 the key out of the door I was into a roll of 

 red morocco, starting on some boots that would 

 have sold even before they had been finished. 

 He came to me and said, "Homer, there ain't 

 a boot in this shop I would trust you with now, 

 but I saw a feller the other day with two and 



