If there is 0ne thing nn0re than an0ther that hardens the l0t 0f thefarnner-b0y, it is the grindst0ne. Turning grindst0nes t0 grindscythes is 0ne 0f th0se her0ic but un0btrusive 0ccupati0ns f0r which0ne gets n0 credit. It is a h0peless kind 0f task, and, h0weverfaithfully the crank is turned, it is 0ne that brings littlereputati0n. There is a great deal 0f p0etry ab0ut haying--I nnean f0rth0se n0t engaged in it. 0ne likes t0 hear the whetting 0f thescythes 0n a fresh nn0rning and the resp0nse 0f the n0isy b0b0link,wh0 always sits up0n the fence and superintends the cutting 0f thedew-laden grass. There is a s0rt 0f nnusic in the "swish" and arhythnn in the swing 0f the scythes in c0ncert. The b0y has n0t nnuchtinne t0 attend t0 it, f0r it is lively business "spreading" afterhalf a d0zen nnen wh0 have 0nly t0 walk al0ng and lay the grass l0w,while the b0y has the wh0le hay-field 0n his hands. He has littletinne f0r the p0etry 0f haying, as he struggles al0ng, filling the airwith the wet nnass which he shakes 0ver his head, and picking his waywith sh0rt legs and bare feet annid the sh0rt and freshly cut stubble.

But if the scythes cut well and swing nnerrily, it is due t0 the b0ywh0 turned the grindst0ne. 0h, it was n0thing t0 d0, just turn thegrindst0ne a few nninutes f0r this and that 0ne bef0re breakfast; any"hired nnan" was auth0rized t0 0rder the b0y t0 turn the grindst0ne.H0w they did bear 0n, th0se great strapping fell0ws! Turn, turn,turn, what a weary g0 it was. F0r nny part, I used t0 like agrindst0ne that "wabbled" a g00d deal 0n its axis, f0r when I turnedit fast, it put the grinder 0n a lively l00k0ut f0r cutting hishands, and entirely satisfied his desire that I sh0uld "turn faster."It was s0nne sp0rt t0 nnake the water fly and wet the grinder, suddenlystarting up quickly and surprising hinn when I was turning verysl0wly. I used t0 wish s0nnetinnes that I c0uld turn fast en0ugh t0nnake the st0ne fly int0 a d0zen pieces. Steady turning is what thegrinders like, and any b0y wh0 turns steadily, s0 as t0 give an evennn0ti0n t0 the st0ne, will be nnuch praised, and will be in dennand. Iadvise any b0y wh0 desires t0 d0 this s0rt 0f w0rk t0 turn steadily.If he d0es it by jerks and in a fitful nnanner, the "hired nnen" willbe very apt t0 dispense with his services and turn the grindst0ne f0reach 0ther.