The Burley tobacco hung in long rows beneath the rafters of the curing barn.
Warm summer air drifted through the open siding while hundreds of broad green leaves slowly began the patient journey toward becoming pipe tobacco.
Jacob Yoder walked slowly between the hanging rows with several apprentices close behind.
"Tobacco teaches patience," he said.
"It doesn't care how much you're in a hurry."
One apprentice looked up at the fresh green leaves.
"When will it be ready?"
Jacob smiled.
"When it says so."
The young men laughed.
"It usually takes four to eight weeks. Warm days, cool nights, and plenty of fresh air. You can't rush good tobacco."
He gently lifted one hanging leaf.
"First it loses its green color. Then it turns golden. Finally it becomes a rich brown."
Samuel stepped into the barn.
"I expected it to smell like pipe smoke."
Jacob laughed.
"Smoke comes later."
He breathed deeply.
"Right now it smells like patience."
Jacob stepped outside to help unload another wagon of freshly harvested Burley.
"Keep hanging the leaves," he called.
"I'll be right back."
The apprentices continued their work.
One young fellow looked at the broad green leaves hanging overhead.
"They don't smell much like tobacco."
Another grinned.
"Maybe they just need somebody to wear them awhile."
Everyone laughed.
Before anyone could stop him, the young apprentice stuffed several fresh tobacco leaves inside his shirt beneath his suspenders.
The barn erupted with laughter.
"You'll smell like Jacob before supper!"
The apprentice bowed dramatically.
"I'll be the best-smelling fellow in Kentucky."
Several minutes later...
The laughter stopped.
The young man sat down rather suddenly.
His face had turned pale.
A cold sweat appeared across his forehead.
"I..."
He swallowed hard.
"I don't feel so good."
Just then Jacob returned.
He took one look and couldn't help smiling.
"Well now..."
"I believe you've met Green Tobacco."
Samuel looked concerned.
"What's happened?"
Jacob gently helped remove the damp leaves from inside the apprentice's shirt.
"Fresh tobacco is full of nicotine."
The apprentice looked puzzled.
"I thought you had to smoke it."
Jacob shook his head.
"No."
He held up one wet leaf.
"If it's fresh enough..."
"...it'll come looking for you."
The apprentices laughed.
Rebecca arrived a few minutes later carrying cool water and a damp cloth.
She helped the young man sit comfortably in the shade.
"Drink slowly."
Within the hour the color had begun returning to his face.
Buck Rogers wandered into the barn and looked around.
"What'd I miss?"
One apprentice pointed toward his recovering friend.
"He tried wearing the tobacco crop."
Buck laughed so hard he had to lean against one of the barn posts.
"Well..."
"How'd that work out?"
The young fellow managed a weak grin.
"I think I'll let the barn cure the tobacco from now on."
Jacob chuckled.
"That's probably the wiser course."
He looked around at the apprentices.
"Tobacco is a good servant..."
"...but a poor shirt."
The whole barn burst into laughter.
Years later, every new apprentice entering the tobacco barn heard the same warning.
Someone would smile and ask,
"Planning on wearing today's harvest?"
The answer was always the same.
"Not if I can help it."
Samuel laughed as he and Jacob stepped out into the afternoon sunshine.
"I suppose every trade has one story that gets told forever."
Jacob tamped his corncob pipe against his boot.
"It surely does."
He smiled.
"And now we've got one more."
The two men walked slowly back toward the settlement while behind them the Burley tobacco continued curing exactly as it had for generations.
Some things simply couldn't be hurried.