When morning came--not morning proper--but it was sometime after
midnight, Travis Gully was awakened by the sound of someone cutting
wood. Peering from beneath his blankets, he saw a lighted lantern at the
cook house. Other lanterns were being carried to and fro among the
horses in the barn. Sleepy individuals were crawling out from every
conceivable place--from the hay mow and machine shed, carrying their
inseparable blanket rolls. At the well men were busily pumping water by
hand, the wind having died down during the night. Not being sufficiently
awake to fully realize the meaning of this activity, Travis Gully
stretched his tired limbs, rolled over, gave his blankets an extra tuck
and drifted away in slumber. Not long, however, was he allowed to remain
in this condition, for he was suddenly startled from his dreams by a
gruff voice shouting: "Roll out, here, you fellows," and started to a
sitting position, with tired sleepy eyes blinking in the bright glare of
the lantern light, he beheld the boss standing over them, smiling
amusedly at their bewildered looks. Their first day in the harvest field
had begun, the first of many just such days that were to follow before
they could return to their homes, and during the long winter evenings
recount to the eager listening wife and children the varied experiences
through which they had passed, embellishing each little incident with a
tinge of humor that could not be appreciated at the time of its
occurrence.
Dressing hurriedly, they went to the barn to care for their horses and
found them munching contentedly at their morning feed, which had already
been given them. Seeing the other men busily harnessing their teams
they, without question, did likewise, resolving to be governed in their
actions by the example of the older hands; they waited expectantly for
each move. One of the men, more congenial than the others had proven,
asked them how they had slept. Upon being told, he suggested that they
bring their blankets into the hay mow where, he assured them, they would
be more comfortable. This was the first intimation they had that they
were not to be provided with a bed, but must choose their own resting
place. They were soon to realize that the hours for rest were as scant
as the accommodations for enjoying them, and adapted themselves to
prevailing conditions. So after converting the watering trough into a
lavatory for making their morning toilet, they proceeded with the rest
of the men to the cook house for breakfast; after which, having no
special duty assigned them, they were at a loss to know how to proceed.
It being yet dark, they stood awkwardly around, while some of the men
brought out their teams, watered them, and springing upon one of the
horses rode back in the direction from which they had come the evening
before.
They did not remain long in doubt, however, for the owner of the ranch
came from the house and instructed them to follow the road over the
hill, where they were heading grain, and to await his arrival, adding
that their horses would be sent out later by one of the boys, who would
drive them while on the job. This arrangement was a disappointment to
Gully, who had hoped that he might be permitted to drive them, but he
made no complaint, and they did as they were bidden.
When they arrived at the place indicated by the owner, they found the
header with the horses hitched ready for starting. Three header boxes
were awaiting the arrival of teams and drivers. A circle had been cut in
a large area of ripe grain and a few loads piled in the center,
indicating where the stack setting was to be made. The driver of the
heading machine, or "header puncher," as he was called, was groping
around in the uncertain light, oiling up or adjusting the drapers or
elevator canvas.
In a few moments a wagon came from the house with a barrel of water, a
few additional pitchforks, and some extra parts of machinery that might
be needed in case of a breakdown. Our friends were assigned their
respective duties; Gully was to be stacker, the molder as "spike pitch"
or helper in the stack yard, the professor was "loader," and the soldier
was given a pitchfork and sent to turn the grain in the "backswarth," a
narrow strip cut around the entire field before the regular heading is
begun. This is usually cut green and allowed to cure for hay. So with
their horses being driven to a header box the siege had begun.
For five weeks, each day being identical, days of constant grind, short
nights, and three trips to the cook house, days of blistering heat, the
sunrays being intensified by concentration and reflection from the
shining surface of the glistening straw. The light soil, mostly volcanic
ash, being pounded and loosened by the constant tramping of the horses
in their many trips to and from header to stack; lifted high at each
turn of the "bullwheel" of the header and sent flying in stifling
clouds, clogging the eyes, ears, nose and mouths of the workers, while
trickling streams of perspiration from beneath their hatbands washed
furrows through the accumulated mass on their faces.
The first week of this toil tried the spirit of our party almost to the
breaking point. Night would find them bowed down with aching backs from
the unaccustomed strain of pitching the heavy grain; hands numb and
cramped, with blistered palms; throats dry and parched from the intense
heat and dust from the straw. They would sink down upon their blankets
in the hay mow and sleep the sleep of utter exhaustion, but the hopes of
our homesteaders were being constantly revived by the receipt of
encouraging letters from home.
Opportunities for getting these letters mailed were few, it was
explained, but by sending them to the camp of the surveyors they were
taken to the distant town and forwarded; and such news as they brought.
"All are well at home. Do not worry; we are doing splendidly. Of course
we miss you very much and want you with us, but when you do come home,
you can stay. Just think, a party of the surveyors were on our land
today and have driven stakes showing exactly where the irrigation ditch
is to run." Thus wrote Gully's wife, and others would tell of rumors of
large land deals, whole sections and half of townships, being purchased
by big companies, all to be immediately improved. Houses were being
erected in every direction; parcels of land heretofore considered
worthless were being filed on; a school house was being built and,
really, things were beginning to be quite homelike.
Upon receipt of these cheerful missives the disappointment of the first
season was for the time forgotten, and the men entered into their daily
toil with cheerful hearts, filled with the anticipation of the
realization of their dreams. Thus on through the ensuing threshing
season up until the later fall, when it seemed that a snowfall might
occur any day, did our sturdy homesteaders toil on until the last of the
golden grain was sacked and hauled to a place of safety. Then only did
they turn their faces homeward, with the indispensable blanket rolls,
the old canvas telescope grip, now more dilapidated than ever, thrown at
random in the wagon; with overalls out a knee, the frazzled threads of
many colored patches indicating the earnest efforts of their wearers to
make them last the season through; hats out at crown, and well worn
shoes, they were indeed a travesty on the party who had left their homes
only a few months before. But each sun tanned face was wreathed in
smiles, for securely tucked away in those well worn overalls was a snug
sum, their harvest wages, that insured them and their loved ones
against want during the coming winter.
They were going to their "own homes." They did not have to move or worry
about a new location for the following year; things were different now.
This money they had earned, hard earned, it was true. Think of the many
comforts it would buy--shoes for the little ones, and much provisions,
and by judicious expenditure additions might be made to their homes.
They could at least weatherboard them and make them more comfortable.
Such were the thoughts and suggestions that filled the minds of these
faithful home builders throughout the first day of their journey home.