DISILLUSIONMENT

Darrell Byington

The haying season is now on hand. The farmers on Sunnyside have coordinated with each other as to when each farmer would schedule the cutting, bunching and stacking of the hay. This is necessary for many workmen are needed for several days to complete the stacking. This would not have been a problem if the farmers had unlimited income to hire the necessary help. Instead labor was exchanged among the farmers.

The Byington farm was first so the mowing and bunching was done. It was now time to stack the hay. Lyle Maughan agreed to be one of the hay men and then when the Maughan’s hay was ready for stacking, Darrell would be the one exchanging for Lyle.

The day of the Maughan stacking had arrived. Darrell harnessed his Dad’s team of horses, hooked them to the hay wagon, and was at the Maughan farm at 7:00 a.m. The wagon, loaded with hay, was taken to the stacking area and unloaded. Then Darrell took his wagon back into the field for another load. This was continued until noon when everyone went to the farm house for lunch.

Darrell unhooked the team, took off their harnesses, led them to the watering trough, and placed a pile of hay for them to enjoy while he was having lunch.

Mr. Maughan brought his team of horses and wagon to the barn area. He tied the horses, still hooked to the wagon, to a fence and proceeded into the house for lunch. What a shock! Mr. Maughan, the Bishop of the Mormon Church wasn’t going to feed his horses. When I went into the house, I asked him if I could take care of them.

He said, “No.  I will feed them in the evening.”

After lunch I returned to my team and looked at the Maughan team. The horses were “skin and bones”. Their heads were hanging low. I looked at Dad’s team of horses and realized why Dad was known for having the most outstanding team in the valley.

When I returned home that evening, I told Mother and Dad about what Mr. Maughan had done. They said it was too bad since horses were such a vital part of farm work. Dad explained to me to always remember to give the horses the same vital attention that I would personally want.

Over the years I told many people about this occurrence and how it had changed my opinion of Mr. Maughan, the Bishop of our church.

Seventy-two years after this experience, in the year 2002, I was visiting in the area with my nephew.  As we drove around the countryside we ended up on the Maughan Road and the farm house where I had worked. I asked Carl to stop. I told him about this problem which had occurred in 1930 and how terrible it was. 

Carl said, “You mean that you haven’t forgiven Mr. Maughan for not feeding his horses?”

I suddenly realized that I had harbored this thought about our Bishop all these years.  Mr. Maughan had eleven children and they all turned out to be successful individuals. He had raised a good family and had contributed to the welfare of the community.

This is the last time this disappointment in an individual would be mentioned. Amen!

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