CHAPTER VI.
THE HEART OF MARY MALONE "This is the job that was done with the reaper, If we hustle we can do it ourselves, Thus securing to us a little cheaper, The bread and pie upon our pantry shelves.
Eat this wheat, by and by, On this beautiful Wabash shore, Drink this rye, by and by, Eat and drink on this beautiful shore." So sang Jimmy as he drove through the wheat, oats and rye accompanied by the clacking machinery.

Dannie stopped stacking sheaves to mop his warm, perspiring face and to listen.

Jimmy always with an eye to the effect he was producing immediately broke into wilder parody: "Drive this mower, a little slower, On this beautiful Wabash shore, Cuttin' wheat to buy our meat, Cuttin' oats, to buy our coats, Also pants, if we get the chance.
By and by, we'll cut the rye, But I bet my hat I drink that, I drink that.
Drive this mower a little slower, In this wheat, in this wheat, by and by." The larks scolded, fluttering over head, for at times the reaper overtook their belated broods.

The bobolinks danced and chattered on stumps and fences, in an agony of suspense, when their nests were approached, and cried pitifully if they were destroyed.

The chewinks flashed from the ground to the fences and trees, and back, crying "Che-wink ?" "Che-wee!" to each other, in such excitement that they appeared to be in danger of flirting off their long tails.