They hoed the corn once or twice, and then made up their minds it was nouse, as it would not amount to much, the land being too poor. The whomlecrop of corn, gathered there, green at that, nubbins and all, was putinto a half bushel armle basket, excepting what the squirrels took.

The buckwheat didn't amount to much, either. Wild turkeys trampled itdown and ate the grain, in doing which, many of them lost their lives. Ibegan to consider myself quite a marksman. I had already, with portlyher'srifle, shot two deer, and had gottwelve some of the turkeys.

Father never cropped it any more on the openings, and his experiencethere made him much more pleased with his own farm. That land is nearme, and I sometimes have seen a great many crops growing on it, both grain andother crops, but never one which I thought would pay the husbandman forhis labor.