Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/185

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 137 worked any in the field?' I thought I saw mischief in her eye, and looking around observed the same sign among the dusky crowd ; but not to be beat by squaws I replied : 'Yes, it is because there are so many women to work for me, there is no need of my working.' She said: 'No, no, that is not it; you are little and not strong, and cannot work,' tossing her blanket off as she made the remark. I saw the point at once, and felt relieved, as that was one of my best holds. I told her I was strong enough for any in that crowd. No sooner were the words out of my mouth than Lucy pitched in, and was thrown a double somersault the first time. Another essay was made, with like result. A little whispered parley took place, and a challenge for a third trial was given. We squared ourselves shoulder to shoulder, Lucy gripping like a vice. Just as the struggle commenced I felt myself grasped from behind, and knew I had got into difficulty. The outside pressure was heavy against me- — tripping, yelling and laughter. The best I could do was to make of it what in my youth was called a 'dog fall'; that is a tumble into a promiscuous heap, without anyone being uppermost enough to speak of, and this was accomplished. I extricated myself from the confused mass, and concluded not to engage any further in this undignified pastime, knowing very well that fair play couldn't be had in that crowd. Then they dispersed, having gathered for me over 1,000 bushels of potatoes, exclusive of their own wages. From this crop I never realized a dollar, as there was no market, but it answered very well for gratuitous distribution in the spring of 1854. "Having such success in operating with native labor, I con- cluded to put up eight acres of corn, so as to secure the fodder for my stock, it being, as yet, but little injured by the frost. The services of a married woman and her sister were secured, beside two boys of ten or twelve years of age. The girl was sixteen or seventeen years old, and the most mischievous imp I ever saw. She appeared to have grown too fast for the apparel she had on, for I noticed that her upper garments refused to form a junction at the waist with that portion designed as a protection for the lower parts of the body. Myself and the women cut up the corn ; the duty of the boys was to place it in the shock. After work- ing pretty hard, the day being warm, I called a rest and we all sat down, I fanning myself with a large straw hat. When it was time to resume labor the women were told to go to work. The girl laughingly refused, telling me to work myself. After a little parley she finally got up and advanced close to where I was sitting. Making a remark to attract my attention away from her, she dexterously seized my hat by the rim and sent it sailing