FullReads

I

IT was the last of autumn and first day of winter coming together. All day long the ploughmen on their prairie farms had moved to and fro in their wide level fields through the falling snow, which melted as it fell, wetting them to the skin—all day, notwithstanding the frequent squalls of snow, the dripping, desolate clouds, and the muck of the furrows, black and tenacious as tar.

Under their dripping harness the horses swung to and fro silently with that marvellous uncomplaining patience which marks the horse. All day the wild geese, honking wildly, as they sprawled sidewise down the wind, seemed to be fleeing from an enemy behind, and with neck outthrust and wings extended, sailed down the wind, soon lost to sight.

Yet the ploughman behind his plough, though the snow lay on his ragged great-coat, and the cold clinging mud rose on his heavy boots, fettering him like gyves, whistled in the very beard of the gale. As day passed, the snow, ceasing to melt, lay along the ploughed land, and lodged in the depth of the stubble, till on each slow round the last furrow stood out black and shining as jet between the ploughed land and the gray stubble.

When night began to fall, and the geese, flying low, began to alight invisibly in the near corn field, Stephen Council was still at work “finishing a land.” He rode on his sulky-plough when going with the wind, but walked when facing it. Sitting bent and cold but cheery under his slouch hat, he talked encouragingly to his weary four-in-hand.

“Come round there, boys!—Round agin! We got t’ finish this land. Come in there, Dan! Stiddy, Kate!—stiddy! None o’ y’r tantrums, Kittie. It’s purty tuff, but got a be did. Tchk! tchk! Step along, Pete! Don’t let Kate git y’r single-tree on the wheel. Oncemore!”

They seemed to know what he meant, and that this was the last round, for they worked with greater vigor than before.

“Once more, boys, an’ sez I, oats an’ a nice warm stall, an’ sleep f’r all.”

By the time the last furrow was turned on the land it was too dark to see the house, and the snow was changing to rain again. The tired and hungry man could see the light from the kitchen shining through the leafless hedge, and he lifted a great shout, “Supperf’ra half a dozen!”

It was nearly eight o’clock by the time he had finished his chores and started for supper. He was picking his way carefully through the mud, when the tall form of a man loomed up before him with a premonitory cough.

“Waddy ye want ?” was the rather startled question of the farmer.

“Well, ye see,” began the stranger, in a deprecating tone, “we’d like t’ git in f’r the night. We’ve tried every house f’r the last two miles, but they hadn’t any room f’r us. My wife’s jest about sick, ‘n’ the children are cold and hungry—”

“Oh, y’ want ‘o stay all night, eh, ?”

“Yes, sir;it ‘ud be a great accom—”

“Waal,I don’t make it a practice t’ turn anybuddy way hungry, not on sech nights as this. Drive right in. We ain’t got much, but sech as it is—”

But the stranger had disappeared. And soon his steaming, weary team, with drooping heads and swinging single-trees, moved past the well to the block beside the path. Council stood at the side of the “schooner” and helped the children out—two little half-sleeping children—and then a small woman with a babe in her arms.

“There ye go!” he shouted jovially, to the children. “Nowwe’re all right! Run right along to the house there, an’ tell Mam’ Council you wants sumpthin’ t’ eat. Right this way, Mis’—keep right off t’ the right there. I’ll go an’ git a lantern. Come,” he said to the dazed and silent group at his side.

“Mother'” he shouted, as he neared the fragrant and warmly lighted kitchen, “here are some wayfarers an’ folks who need sumpthin’ t’ eat an’ a place t’ snooze.” He ended, pushing them all in.

Mrs. Council, a large, jolly, rather coarse-looking woman, took the children in her arms.”Come right in, you little rabbits.’Most asleep, hey? Now here’s a drink o’ milk f’r each o’ ye. I’ll have s’m’ tea in a minute. Take off y’r things and set up t’ the fire.”