The Mankato Free Press

Mr. Everett, our local artist, at the instance of Mr. J. F. Meagher, has taken a cabinet photograph of Mr. B. H. Girlich's three bright, intelligent and fine-looking children, who ran a Wood's Twine Self-Binder, in Decoria, in this county, during the recent harvest, cutting and binding 130 acres of wheat. These children are the youngest ever known to operate a self-binder, and the success attending their efforts speaks volumes for the great simplicity of the Wood Machine. The Harvester is 6 feet cut, and in this instance was drawn by four horses—three on the wheel and one leader—Mr. Girlich thinking it safest to allow the children to use his oldest horses. Paulina, a bright intelligent girl of ten years, rode the leader; Johnny, six year old boy, rode the off wheel horse; and Willie, nine years old, occupied the driver's seat, and operated the machine as successfully as a grown person.

The field they worked in was adjacent to the public highway, and was visited during harvest by many persons passing that way, as well as by neighbors. Some expressed surprise that children so young should be permitted to ride on horseback in front of the sickle, and also assume the responsibility of managing a Harvester; but they went through without a scratch, which is more than older people do. It is a big card for the Wood Self-Binder, and nothing could more completely illustrate its simplicity and excellence.

Mr. Girlich has a large farm, and has two Wood Wire Binders also, and it is supposed that the father occasionally looked to the children and the Twine-Binder also Should any one doubt the story, we advise writing either to Mr. Girlich or to J. F. Meagher a man who is known to the people of Minnesota as one of the leading citizens of the State.

Con, The three make a very pretty group, as bright and as intelligent as we have seen for many a day, and one which promises to retain great celebrity for the remarkable feat accomplished by them.