SUNSHINE AND SHOWER A SKETCH OF HARVEST TIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 11

SUNSHINE AND SHOWER A SKETCH OF HARVEST TIME.

By H.J.A.

It is a dull grey morning, and a heavy pall rests dome-like over all the land. This is the first day of the drawing-in of the harvest, and forth must go the workers to gather the fruits of the earth. The reapers have been at work already for two days, and the piled sheaves await transport. Wherefore there is early activity, for an early start meaneth much. Not yet 5.30, but the horses are eagerly muzzling the rich oats in their stalls, while blue-fingered gjjpoms polish their glossy coat 6. Big, strapping animals they are, massive brutes, but quiet withal. Over in the kitchen the cook hurries his preparations for the first of the halfdozen meals of harvest day. To satisfy the- hunger of nigh a 6core of men requires some little labour. A huge pot of homely porridge steams vigorously on the glowing range, chops sputter and sizzle enticingly ..in their accumulated fatness, while loaves of bread and pounds of butter spread down the length of the table invite demolition. On a side bench are ranged rows *""" upon rows of pint mugs, soon to be filled with the savoury boiling tea. Hearty appetites and powerful jaws attack the wholesome viands, and with hunger satisfied, the men step outside and proceed to where the big, heavy waggons are drawn up. A thin up-rising vapour from a long shed and an occasional heavy stamp from its interior indicate the stable building, and from here presently emerge those fine horses whose splendid proportions and glossy coats we have just admired. They are placed in position, four to a team ; forks, ropes, poles, and covers are thrown in, men clamber aboard, and to the cracking of whips and cheery words the houses break into a slow, steady step and commence their day's work of going back and forth, laden with the spoil Of harvest riches. The mist still hangs low and the^chill air strikes keenly, for the sun, though he has nominally risen' some little time, has not • yet made his presence felt through the • enveloping mist. Away on the borders of the downs a bleak hillside, Bcarfed with deep ravines and split into razor-edged shoulders, rises in abrupt outline. Among the gloomy deeps the mist sinks lower and lower, settling like an entwining sheet on the very floor, where no stirring morning breath disturbs its repose. But ever and anon the sharp, clear-cut edges of the hill merge- and fade as a thicker misty mass drifts slowly before the' awakening air of the uplands. Directly opposite the homestead there juts down from the craggy hills a broken promontory, which thrusts its tooth-like length aggressively upon the plains, and along its tortuous foot a faint suggestion of feathery trees shows where . . the hidden river lingering dreams. You scarce can see the banks that round it lie; That withered trunk, a tree, or shepheTd eeems, Just as the light or fancy strikes the eye. Even the very sheep which graze hard-by, Sc blend their fleeces with the misty haze. They look like clouds snook from the cold grey sky Ere morning o'er the unsunned hill did blaze — The "vision fades as they move further off to graze. But the sun, as we have been gazing, has been making good advance, and at last there comes a great wedgelike beam of gold which cuts down into the hollows and rolls back the mist in eddying banks, gilds tree-stem and cottage roof, and makes a golden and ever-broadening way through a land of misty white. And at N its manifestation there bursts from the gorse hedges a brighter throaty song ac the birds of the field welcome the coming of the harvest day, and the lark, swinging high upon the cool "-ings of morning, carols joj r ously from out "the deepening bluey dome of heaven. Between the thorny branches of the gorse and o'er the tufted tussock there gleams the beaded outline of the spider's labour, each drop of dew scintillating with crystal clearness, while every blade of "grass seen against the sun is decked with gorgeous gems. At the increasing warmth the men, hitherto sitting stolidly smoking, exchange quips and jokes, the driver shakes his Teins briskly and 6peaks cheerily to the horses, and the very animals themselves feel the bright life of the benevolent sun and swing along in their steady walk with a purposeful vigour exhilarating to witness. Presently the sandy country road is defierted, and the- way leads over closecropped sheep pasture, where the broad wheels roll softly as on velvet, and the clanking of the chains alone rises on the now quivering, joyous morning air. At last there appears ahead the bare-shaven field pin-headed with bristly stooks. In the lower corner stand two big stacks of last year's straw; a dray is pulled close alongside, and two men clamber up with keen-pointed forks and cast a quantity of straw into the vehicle wherewith to make a basis for the present stacks. The stack-builder chooses his site, spreads the 6traw thickly in a circle, and quickly and scientifically knocks the waiting sheaves into position, one against the other, " in such a way as to form a solid basis and core for the stack. This is an all-impor-tant .matter. A good stack may not be built on an ill centre. The following sheaves are laid in circles with the heads inward, and the recurring layers soon give to the stack recognisable shape. In- an adjoining field the reaper and binder moves with crashing clatter, and the big rich sheaves fall heavily. The sun is now shining brightly and warmly ; a gentle breeze just -tempers his rays; rustles the fat ears bf grain and sets them whispering softly to each other. And the swaying murmur mingles with the liquid gurgle of the cool waters beneath the overhanging willows, and the com-

bined tone forms an idealistic background for the chirping of the birds and the in-_ creasing drowsy hum of insect life. The swinging heads give to the field rich morsels of gorgeous colouring — a full flaming yellow, a deep and sombre russet, a nut brown, and, in clistant corners, a perfect purple haze. Here in the hollows are" thick and verdant patches of green, and there on the ridges, where the full strength of the sweeping breeze caught the tender shoots in youth, the heads gild to a delicate orange tone. Over all the field the ears are full and rich, and the farmer, verily, will be . . . . enriched with bounty of the soil. The reaper cuts great gaps into the standing crop, and the big field of waving "wealth is fast falling. The birds rise in darkening clouSs before the advance of the horses, only to whirl and whirl again and resettle. They, too, are reaping the bounty, of Nature's beneficence. The sun- now swings upwards towards his zenith in the turquoise dome of heaven, where still a few silver fragments from the morning mist float gently by. Back we turn to our own field, and find the stack already attaining quite respectable proportions. The drays have had many goings and comings, and each trip has marked a distinct accession to the growing store. The first flush of the worker's strength has passed, and occasional glances are cast down the winding road in search of the " tucker cart," with its gallons of hot tea and generous country slices of bre^id. This is morning tea, and forms but a whet to the appetite for the dinner proper. Harvest time is an anxious time for the farmer. He is continually looking at the weather-glass and watching thofie out-of-door signs which denote a change in the weather, and with which none are so familiar as those who spend so much of their time in the open fields. The farmer is dependent on the weather for the safety of his crop, and can never say what that will be until it is safely garnered. Wherefore he grudges not good victuals to his eager workers, and recognises that the extra sheep and few dozen of loaves are an immaterial consideration where good grain is in the question. A short rest and smoke, and the workers are again spread afar. The lower length of the field is now clear, and the drays have to climb upwards on the gently undulating ridge for their loads. Here big loads are impossible : " small loads and quick returns "is the present motto. Ft is a pretty sight to see the laden drays returning to the stack. The driver, perched up aloft, guides Ms intelligent team almost with a word as down bhe slopes the laden waggons come, steadily gaining impetus, till the wheelers throw their sturdy haunches into the moving mass and slide bodily, all four hoofs together, for yards at a stretch, while the leaders skip excitedly ahead. So the round of work goes on till dinner is announced, and then in the pause it is seen that the weather has been making for change. Not now does the sun shine unchallenged, and not now does the breeze caressingly whisper with ozone breathings. Against tin advancing army of clouds banking gloomily in the west the sun is struggling, while the breeze, once warmly seductive, has now a sterner, a chiller touch, and sends the heated workers hurriedly in search of their coats. The whole western vault of heaven is now covered. The clouds are banked in grim array. Patches of purple, anon growing darker, are interspersed amidst massy fields of ashen grey. And skirmishing on the banks of the advancing host .are innumerable flying squadrons of elusive scud, which, detaching themselves, fly apprt into nothingness. Plainly the wind is nursing its fury, and the time will soon be when the peals of Jove will thunder and echo reverberatingly. The breeze ceases — a deathly stillness pervades all Nature. The sky lowers gloomily. A frightened chirp sounds harsh from the hedge where the huddled sparrows cluster. A stamp and 6hiver from the nervous teams come almost as a blow upon the sensitive electrical air. The air dies ; the earth holds her breathings and awaits in cowering expectancy the falling wrath of the heavens. A sullen mumble rolls threateningly from out the ravines of the environing hills, and then, crash upon crash, follows the artillery of the clouds. And the very noise is an unbelievable relief. Peal follows peal, and the crashing thunder draws nearer, nearer, and yet nearer. The lightnings blaze in forked wickedness, and the horses, dance in terror till sacks are thrown over their heads, and the poor brutes stand shivering, while their massive limbs become clammy with sweat. Again the heavens blare; peal echoes peal ; muffled roar succeeds resounding crash, and then, striking sudden and swift across the plain, comes the pent-up rushing wind burdened with the stinging rain. The noise of its approach is like the tearing of a hurricane through a forest of trees, like to the spurning of the foaming spume from the hard-lashed waves against the iron granite coast, an all-pervading, threatening, incessant, sibilant hiss. And the stinging rain bursts upon us, descends in steady, slanting sheets, and beats furiously upon the naked earth. The water rushes through the hard stubble, and the insignificant creek raises its voice in shrill clamour, and with wild shrieks of joy bursts downward on its way to the All Father, Ocean, bearing on its foaming, frothing waters sticks and straws and all the accumulated rubbish of a harvest field. The drooping willows lash their lengthy limbs in the boisterous wind, and rain incessant tears upon the seething flood. The landscape is blurred through the haz© of driving rain, and all life cowers for shelter. The black thunder clouds roll over and disappear amid the riven hills, around whose crests they sport in Titanic majesty. Lo ! the rain ceases, a rift appears in the scudding clouds, and with dazzling brightness the gorgeous sun bursts through with a flood of imperial colour. And all the earth claps its hands for joy.