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I BEGAN haying some ten days
ago, and we are having very hot weather. I can only work the horses two
hours at a time on the mower, it is too hot to keep them at it longer. I am
up every morning at 5 a.m., and I rarely get to bed before io p.m., for
after the day's work is done, there is the cattle to see to for the night,
the horses to clean, so when all is finished I am about done up myself.
We are taxed for the
school-house, and last Monday I went and paid part of my tax by working a
day on the roadway. I had to plough one round of a furrow, 41 miles long—how
would that suit a home farmer? I must admit that I found it rather a long
stroll.
We received the parcel
safely. You do not know what a joy it is to get anything that we know comes
direct from the old home. Jack was delighted with his portion, and remarked
that Granma was a very sensible woman to send him suits instead of all toys.
He is such a quaint little fellow, and so old-fashioned; this of course is
the natural consequence of being always listening to older people's talk,
and having no children to associate with.
We have put up about 30 tons
of hay, enough to last me a twelvemonth, I hope. A neighbour came to give me
a hand and help stack it, and of course I shall pay him back in kind.
The young Scotch lad who came
to me has left again; he was no good for my work, he thought himself above
the work, so I am alone once more; but I cannot afford to feed any loafers,
we both of us have to work hard ourselves and have no time for the so-called
pleasures of life, at least at present.
Well, we are all of us out
here looking forward to the time when our difficulties will be things of the
past, and we can afford to drive round and see others doing the work, like
the farmer is doing in the picture I sent you, cut out of a pamphlet
published by Government as an encouragement. Personally I do not see when
that time will come, but we all live in hope that it may one day.
We are thankful for one
thing, and that is we have no real ill health to contend with. I have never
felt so well in my life, no pains of any kind, if I except the present
moment as I have a pain in my arm; but that is nothing chronic, only a kick
from a too affectionate horse. I shall be glad when I can build a stable
with a wider passage behind the horses' hoofs. |
