-lle- 
     
     it was the duty of the farmer next on the schedule to move the equipment 
     
     to his barn and arrange for help in setting it up. Quite often, the 
     
     transfer was made at night, after the regular day's work had been finished. 
     
     To me, there was something strangely fascinating in the hustle and hurry 
     
     by lantern light as the machinery was loaded up and started on its journey 
     
     down the dark country road to the new location. Fascinating too, when we 
     
     sometimes worked late to complete the job, was the scene inside the barn, 
     
     lighted only by lanterns that seemed to push the soft, velvety darkness 
     
     back just a little. And, as a fillip to my sense of superstition, there 
     
     was always the slight tinge of apprehension as to what might be lurking 
     
     in the shadows beyond the lantern's range. 
     
     modern 
     
    

    
     Compared to/machinery serving a similar purpose, the old-time threshing 
     
     rig was Simple -- perhaps primitive -- but it was practical and efficient. 
     
     It did the job with a minimum of problems and delays. When the treadmill 
     
     was superseded by the gasoline engine, the new device was hailed as a 
     
     great advance,’‘<* a time saver. There would be no further need for rest 
     
     periods; the forenoon would be one uninterrupted rally. However, it didn't 
     
     work out quite that way. Frequently, especially on a chilly morning, the 
     
     engine would refuse to start. ‘often during the day it would sputter, 
     
     cough, quit, and defy all efforts to get it going until an expert came out 
     
     from the city to tinker it back into action. Operations were occasionally 
     
     held up for days at a time, while some essential spare part was being 
     
     secured. Farmers bitterly lamented the passing of the old horsepower. 
     
     Eventually, the rig-ownera acquired a modicum of expertise in dealing with 
     
     balky engines, but it took a long time to restore public confidence in thei) 
     
     reliability. | 
     
    

    
     Present day procedures, though better adapted to modern modes of 
     
     harvesting, have become mechanized beyond the recognition of anyone 
     
    
   
   
    
     familiar with the era of the drum and the horsepower. The old, friendly, 
     
    
   
   
    
     neighborly spirit that was a part of threshing time has of necessity