按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and not to know where or how to get anything to eat； adds something to the zest of life。
By noon on Wednesday； then； I was reduced quite to a point of necessity。 But where was I to begin； and how？ I know from long experience the suspicion with which the ordinary farmer meets the Man of the Road the man who appears to wish to enjoy the fruits of the earth without working for them： with his hands。 It is a distrust deep…seated and ages old。 Nor can the Man of the Road ever quite understand the Man of the Fields。 And here was I； for so long the stationary Man of the Fields； essaying the role of the Man of the Road。 I experienced a sudden sense of the enlivenment of the faculties： I must now depend upon wit or cunning or human nature to win my way； not upon mere skill of the hand or strength in the bent back。 Whereas in my former life； when I was assailed by a Man of the Road； whether tramp or peddler or poet； I had only to stand stock…still within my fences and say nothingthough indeed I never could do that； being far too much interested in every one who came my wayand the invader was soon repelled。 There is nothing so resistant as the dull security of possession the stolidity of ownership！
Many times that day I stopped by a field side or at the end of a lane； or at a house…gate； and considered the possibilities of making an attack。 Oh； I measured the houses and barns I saw with a new eye！ The kind of country I had known so long and familiarly became a new and foreign land； full of strange possibilities。 I spied out the men in the fields and did not fail； also； to see what I could of the commissary department of each farmstead as I passed。 I walked for miles looking thus for a favourable openingand with a sensation of embarrassment at once disagreeable and pleasurable。 As the afternoon began to deepen I saw that I must absolutely do something： a whole day tramping in the open air without a bite to eat is an irresistible argument。
Presently I saw from the road a farmer and his son planting potatoes in a sloping field。 There was no house at all in view。 At the bars stood a light wagon half filled with bags of seed potatoes； and the horse which had drawn it stood quietly； not far off； tied to the fence。 The man and the boy； each with a basket on his arm； were at the farther end of the field； dropping potatoes。 I stood quietly watching them。 They stepped quickly and kept their eyes on the furrows： good workers。 I liked the looks of them。 I liked also the straight； clean furrows； I liked the appearance of the horse。
〃I will stop here；〃 I said to myself。
I cannot at all convey the sense of high adventure I had as I stood there。 Though I had not the slightest idea of what I should do or say； yet I was determined upon the attack。
Neither father nor son saw me until they had nearly reached the end of the field。
〃Step lively； Ben；〃 I heard the man say with some impatience； 〃we've got to finish this field to…day。〃
〃I AM steppin' lively； dad；〃 responded the boy； 〃but it's awful hot。 We can't possibly finish to…day。 It's too much。〃
〃We've got to get through here to…day；〃 the man replied grimly； 〃we're already two weeks late。〃
I know just how the man felt； for I knew well the difficulty a farmer has in getting help in planting time。 The spring waits for no man。 My heart went out to the man and boy struggling there in the heat of their field。 For this is the real warfare of the common life。
〃Why；〃 I said to myself with a curious lift of the heart； 〃they have need of a fellow just like me。〃
At that moment the boy saw me and； missing a step in the rhythm of the planting； the father also looked up and saw me。 But neither said a word until the furrows were finished； and the planters came to refill their baskets。
〃Fine afternoon；〃 I said； sparring for an opening。
〃Fine；〃 responded the man rather shortly； glancing up from his work。 I recalled the scores of times I had been exactly in his place； and had glanced up to see the stranger in the road。
〃Got another basket handy？〃 I asked。
〃There is one somewhere around here；〃 he answered not too cordially。 The boy said nothing at all； but eyed me with absorbing interest。 The gloomy look had already gone from his face。
I slipped my gray bag from my shoulder； took off my coat； and put them both down inside the fence。 Then I found the basket and began to fill it from one of the bags。 Both man and boy looked up at me questioningly。 I enjoyed the situation immensely。
〃I heard you say to your son；〃 I said； 〃that you'd have to hurry in order to get in your potatoes to…day。 I can see that for myself。 Let me take a hand for a row or two。〃
The unmistakable shrewd look of the bargainer came suddenly into the man's face； but when I went about my business without hesitation or questioning； he said nothing at all。 As for the boy； the change in his countenance was marvellous to see。 Something new and astonishing had come into the world。 Oh； I know what a thing it is to be a boy and to work in trouting time！
〃How near are you planting； Ben？〃 I asked。
〃About fourteen inches。〃
So we began in fine spirits。 I was delighted with the favourable beginning of my enterprise； there is nothing which so draws men together as their employment at a common task。
Ben was a lad some fifteen years old…very stout and stocky； with a fine open countenance and a frank blue eyeall boy。 His nose was as freckled as the belly of a trout。 The whole situation； including the prospect of help in finishing a tiresome job； pleased him hugely。 He stole a glimpse from time to time at me then at his father。 Finally he said：
〃Say； you'll have to step lively to keep up with dad。〃
〃I'll show you；〃 I said； 〃how we used to drop potatoes when I was a boy。〃
And with that I began to step ahead more quickly and make the pieces fairly fly。
〃We old fellows；〃 I said to the father； 〃must give these young sprouts a lesson once in a while。〃
〃You will； will you？〃 responded the boy； and instantly began to drop the potatoes at a prodigious speed。 The father followed with more dignity； but with evident amusement； and so we all came with a rush to the end of the row。
〃I guess that beats the record across THIS field！〃 remarked the lad； puffing and wiping his forehead。 〃Say； but you're a good one！〃
It gave me a peculiar thrill of pleasure； there is nothing more pleasing than the frank admiration of a boy。
We paused a moment and I said to the man： 〃This looks like fine potato land。〃
〃The' ain't any better in these parts；〃 he replied with some pride in his voice。
And so we went at the planting again： and as we planted we had great talk of seed potatoes and the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical planters； of cultivating and spraying； and all the lore of prices and profits。 Once we stopped at the lower end of the field to get a drink from a jug of water set in the shade of a fence corner； and once we set the horse in the thills and moved the seed farther up the field。 And tired and hungry as I felt I really enjoyed the work； I really enjoyed talking with this busy father and son； and I wondered what their home life was like and what were their real ambitions and hopes。 Thus the sun sank lower and lower； the long shadows began to creep into the valleys； and we came finally toward the end of the field。 Suddenly the boy Ben cried out：
〃There's Sis！〃
I glanced up and saw standing near the gateway a slim； bright girl of about twelve in a fresh gingham dress。
〃We're coming！〃 roared Ben； exultantly。
While we were hitching up the horse； the man said to me：
〃You'll come down with us and have some supper。〃
〃Indeed I will；〃 I replied； trying not to make my response too eager。
〃Did mother make gingerbread to…day？〃 I heard the boy whisper audibly。
〃Sh…h〃 replied the girl； 〃who is that man？〃
〃_I_ don't know〃 with a great accent of mystery〃and dad don't know。 Did mother make gingerbread？〃
〃Sh…hhe'll hear you。〃
〃Gee！ but he can plant potatoes。 He dropped down on us out of a clear sky。〃
〃What is he？〃 she asked。 〃A tramp？〃
〃Nope； not a tramp。 He works。 But； Sis； did mother make gingerbread？〃
So we all got into the light wagon and drove briskly out along the shady country road。 The evening was coming on； and the air was full of the scent of blossoms。 We turned finally into a lane and thus came promptly； for the horse was as eager as we； to the capacious farmyard。 A motherly woman came out from the house； spoke to her son； and nodded pleasantly to me。 There was no especial introduction。 I said merely； 〃My name is Grayson；〃 and I was accepted without a word。
I waited to help the man； whose name I had now learnedit was Stanleywith his horse and wagon； and then we came up to the house。 Near the back door there was a pump； with a bench and basin set just within a little cleanly swept； open shed。 Rolling back my collar and baring my arms I washed myself in the cool water； dashing it over my head until I gasped； and then stepping back； breathless and refreshed； I found the slim girl； Mary； at my elbow with a clean soft towel。 As I stood wiping quietly I could smell the ambrosial odours from the kitchen。 In all my life I never enjoyed a moment more than that； I think。