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Chapter 22
Hisfatheropenedthebarnandpassedouttwopicksandthreeshovels.AndhesaidtoTom,«Here’syourbeauty.»
Tomheftedthepick.«JumpingJesus!Ifshedon’tfeelgood!»
«Wait’llabout’leveno’clock,"Wilkiesuggested.«Seehowgoodshefeelsthen.»
Theywalkedtotheendoftheditch.Tomtookoffhiscoatanddroppeditonthedirtpile.Hepusheduphiscapandsteppedintotheditch.Thenhespatonhishands.Thepickaroseintotheairandflasheddown.Tomgruntedsoftly.Thepickroseandfell,andthegruntcameatthemomentitsankintothegroundandloosenedthesoil.
Wilkiesaid,«Yes,sir,Pa,wegothereafirst-grademuckstickman.Thishereboybeenmarriedtothattherelittledigger.»
Tomsaid,«Iputintime(umph).Yes,sir,Isuredid(umph).Putinmyyears(umph!).Kindalikethefeel(umph!).»Thesoilloosenedaheadofhim.Thesunclearedthefruittreesnowandthegrapeleavesweregoldengreenonthevines.SixfeetalongandTomsteppedasideandwipedhisforehead.Wilkiecamebehindhim.Theshovelroseandfellandthedirtflewouttothepilebesidethelengtheningditch.
«IheardaboutthishereCentralCommittee,"saidTom.«Soyou’reoneof’em.»
«Yes,sir,"Timothyreplied.«Andit’saresponsibility.Allthempeople.We’redoin’ourbest.An’thepeopleinthecampa-doin’theirbest.Iwishtthembigfarmerswouldn’plagueusso.Iwishttheywouldn’.»
TomclimbedbackintotheditchandWilkiestoodaside.
