Stuyvesant: A Franconia Story

Plow

ir ride, as described in the last chapte

as ready to yoke up, as he called

will come. I have got to go

ascended the stairs, to find the keys of his trunk. When he re

as near the trunk. There were clothes of various kinds, some books, and several parcels, put up neatly in paper. Stuyvesant stop

"I wonder what it can be. Oh, I re

watch-ribbon to. Stuyvesant's uncle had given him this compass a great many years before. Stuyvesant had kept it very carefully in his drawer at home, intending when he should go into the country to take it with him, sup

anner in which fishing-lines are put up when for sale in shops. He put this coil of twine, together with the paper, upon the table. He looked at the compass a moment to see w

to the bottom of his tr

here

nd then began to put the things back into his trunk again. He laid them all in very carefully, each in its own place. When all were in, he

e away. He was a very neat and tidy boy about his dress, and always felt uncomfortable if his clothes were soiled or torn. He concluded, th

stairs and went out to the barn in search of

he saw him, "that is a capital frock th

id Stuyvesant; "Ma

ry?" asked

aid Stuyvesant. "She lives

tress there all the

said St

e is Mary,"

said St

into her head to make me such

he operations carefully, in order to see how the work of yoking up was done. He wished to see whether the process w

cattle?" said St

tty stout boy,"

out as I am do it?

rk for you," said Beechnut,

yoke, by means of bows shaped like the letter U. These bows were passed up under the necks of the oxen. The ends of them came up through the yokes and were fastened t

corner of the yard, where there was a drag with a p

xe for," asked Stuyves

"when we go away to work. We are pretty

d the gestures which he had made, and the calls which he had used, in speaking to the oxen, and though he had never attempted to drive such a team before, h

rough one or two pairs of b

id Stuyvesant, "to drive t

n whether your capacity consists mo

asked St

strength to hold the plow, than to drive. I think, therefore, that you had better drive, for

sant l

ost skill," said Beechnut-"c

ne side. He then attached the cattle to the plow. They were stan

ight through the middle of the field. Do you s

ge tree," sa

elm," said

rd upon the top of i

irectly for that tree. Go as straight as you can, and I shall try to kee

the oxen and upon the tree. He had some curiosity to look round and see how Beechnut was getting along with the furrow, but he recollected that

desire to know where she was going to fly to, but he did not look round

e of it. His course would lead him, he saw, very near this nest. His first impulse was to stop the oxen and tell Beechnut about the h

sant. Drive the oxen right on. I don'

the oxen, when he saw a hornet's nest, and he concluded to

pped. Beechnut and Stuyvesant then looked round to

ill find it easier now, for one of the oxen wi

en in returning walking in the furrow which had been made before. In th

must destroy that hornet's nest, or else when we come to plow by that stump, the hornets will s

d so. When he got near to the stump, he put the hay down upon the ground. He then advanced cautiously to the stump with a part of the hay in his arms This hay he put down at the foot of the st

eechnut, "light a match a

n Stuyvesant a small paper c

light it?" as

n lying in the sun," continued Beechnut, "and then the match

stone which was lying upon the ground near by. He then cau

RNET'S

it over and around the hornet's nest, so as to envelop it entirely. He and Stuyves

if he could see any hornets, but he could not. At last, however, when the fire was burnt nearly down, he saw two. They were flying about the stump, apparently in great perplexity and distress. Stuyvesant pitied

team about an hour, but he thought it was best not to ask. In fact he knew himself t

chain from the yoke, and leaving the plow, the drag, the axe and the chain in the field, he let the o

d Stuyvesant, "the o

o drink. There is a brook down there where they

laces to drink in the fields and pastures where they feed or are employed at work, and for their good memory in recollecting where they are. An ox may be

as they went down the path, an

o and see

DRI

, where the sand was yellow and the water very clear. The oxen went out into the water, and then put their heads down to drink. Presently they stopped, first one and then the other, and stood a moment considering whether they want

and Stuyvesant followed them. Beechnut was going to get them some hay. Stuyvesant went in with Be

ld, conversation had been going on between them, about various subjects connecte

ell," sai

to drive?" ask

egin to drive,

an by that?" as

a goad stick and begin. But he very soon gets tired of it, and goes away. You seem to have more perseverance. In fac

sant l

ut, "I have always heard said

," replied Stuyvesant, "that city

erseverance. They go from one thing to another, following the whim of the moment. The rea

f errands," sa

up in idleness. Country boys, on the other hand, generally have a great deal to do. They have to go for the co

t up in industry?

n fact he is scarcely old e

as I am," sa

to have as much discretion. Do you see that l

sant were passing through the gate which led into the y

e hole by the side of th

oulterer. He was going to have I don't know how many eggs and chickens,-but finally he got tired of hi

are there?" a

whole stock. I looked into his hen-house when I bought him out, and fo

in order," sa

u?" said

like to buy the hens of you, if I were

id Beechnut, "but I should like to have you take charge o

with the eggs?"

rs. Henry, or sell them to her, or sell them to me. If you will take the whole care of the

an by that?" as

ens, we must sell eggs enough first to pay for the grain, and

, when his attention was suddenly turned away from the subject, by hearing a loud call from P

re! I've got a gray squirrel;-a