Under the Cottonwoods; A Sketch of Life on a Prairie Homestead (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1900. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... XXXII. A Tour of Prairie View. "Ben, what will you be driving at to-day?" It was the morning after George came back and the family was at the breakfast table. "I must plow corn this forenoon on the Hardin place. I might lie off the rest of the day." "Then let's drive around after dinner." proposed George. "All right. That's my ticket." "You'll get all the ride you want next week," said their half sister. "It is just the sort of rest I prefer," declared George. "I feel like a young school boy at the end of a long term. I want to run about and have a good time." As George was drawing water at noon for Ben'steam to drink, the rope gave way and the loaded bucket sank with a heavy thud to the bottom of the well. 'The room for improvement around .here is a good sized one," remarked George. "O, *that's nothing," declared Dave. "That thing's happened before now. I can fish up the bucket in a minute with a plow clevis tied to a rope." Before one o'clock the brothers were driving down the lane. "Well," observed the elder of the two, "it has taken some close financiering for me to get through college. By boarding myself it has been cheaper than hiring board by more than half. With what I had to start on, and what I earned by harvest work in summer, by teaching two winters and one spring, by canvassing one vacation, and by taking care of a church year before last I came out a very few dollars in debt, and without loss of time so far as studies are concerned. 'And now I'm ready and willing to get into active work." "I was at college five terms," said Ben. ' have taught two terms. I'm all the better for my education but I'm not sure I'm a loser for quitting when I did. Finishing a course wouldn't do me the same good it will you. Now we may both of us consider ...