Preacher's Piece

The first job I ever had paid $2.50 a month. I was eight years old at the time. My job was to shake the straw bedding for our 42 cows in the dairy barn. My younger brother helped me. We’d climb up into the hay mow, throw down the bales we needed then “roll” them to the place where we’d cut the twines and shake the straw. It was a big job for a couple of little kids after school everyday. We’d get off the bus, grab a snack, change clothes and head out to the barn. Dad would be in to milk at 5 o’clock so we didn’t have a lot of time to goof off.

The next job I had paid a little better but it was...