Jonas on a Farm in Winter | Page 5

But come, boys, be helping me load, while we are
settling this difficulty, so as not to lose our time."
So the boys began to put wood upon Jonas's sled, while the
conversation continued as follows:--
"Can't two persons work together, unless one is master, and the other
servant?" asked Josey.
"At least," replied Jonas, "one must take the lead, and the other follow,
in order to work to advantage. There must be subordination. For you
see that, in all sorts of work, there are a great many little questions
coming up, which are of no great consequence, only they ought to be
decided, one way or the other, quick, or else the work won't go on. You
act, in your work, like Jack and Jerry, when they ran against the
horse-block."
"Why, how was that?" said Josey.
"They were drawing the wagon along to harness the horse in, and the
horse-block was in the way; so they both got hold of the shafts, and
Jack wanted to pull it around towards the right, while Jerry said it
would be better to have it go to the left. So they pulled, one one way,
and the other the other, and thus they got it up chock against the
horse-block, one shaft on each side. Here they stood pulling in
opposition for some time, and all the while their father was waiting for

them to turn the wagon, and harness the horse."
"What did he say to them," said Oliver, "when he found it out?"
"He made Jack bring it round Jerry's way, and then made Jerry draw it
back again, and bring it along Jack's way.
"When men are at work," continued Jonas, "one acts as director, and
the rest follows on, as he guides. Then all the unimportant questions are
decided promptly."
"Well," said Josey, "let us do so, Oliver. I'll be director."
"How do they decide who shall be director?" said Oliver.
"The oldest and most experienced directs, generally; or, if one is the
employer, and the others are employed by him, then the employer
directs the others. If a man wants a stone bridge built, and hires three
men to do it, there is always an understanding, at the beginning, who
shall have the direction of the work, and all the others obey.
"So," continued Jonas, "if a carpenter were to send two of his men into
the woods to cut down a tree for timber, without saying which of them
should have the direction,--then the oldest or most experienced, or the
one who had been the longest in the carpenter's employ, would take the
direction. He would say, 'Let us go out this way,' and the other would
assent; or, 'I think we had better take this tree,' and the other would say,
perhaps, 'Here's one over here which looks rather straighter; won't you
come and look at this?' But they would not dispute about it. One would
leave it to the other to decide."
"Suppose," said Josey, "one was just as old and experienced as the
other."
"Why, if there was no reason, whatever, why one should take the lead,
rather than the other, then they would not either of them be tenacious of
their opinion. If one proposed to do a thing, the other would comply
without making any objection, unless he had a very decided objection

indeed. So they would get along peaceably.
"Now," continued Jonas, "boys are very apt to have different opinions,
and to be very tenacious of them, and so get into disputes and
difficulties when they are working together. Therefore, when boys are
set to work, it is generally best to appoint one to take charge; for they
haven't, generally, good sense enough to find out, themselves, which it
is most proper should be in charge.
"For instance, now," continued Jonas, "which of you, do you think, on
the whole, is the proper one to take the direction of the work, when you
are set to work together?"
"I," said Josey, with great promptness.
Oliver did not answer at all.
"There's one reason why you ought not to be the one," said Jonas.
"What is it?" said Josey.
"Why, you don't obey very well. No person is well qualified to
command, until he has learned to obey."
"I obey," said Josey, "I'm sure."
"Not always," said Jonas. "This morning, when you were upon the
haymow, and I told you both to go down, Oliver went down
immediately; but you remained up, and made excuses instead of
obeying."
Josey was silent. He perceived that Jonas's charge against him was just.
"Besides," continued Jonas, "there are some other reasons why Oliver
should command, rather than you. First he understands more of
farmer's work, being more accustomed to it; secondly, he is older."
"No,"