The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-04-14
Select Calf
.. Written for Geason's Pictorial.
THE
BORROWED TOOLS
SKETCH FOR FARMERS,
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SAMUEL THOMPSON and Nathan Holmes
were both of them farmers, and they
were also near neighbors. Their land
was situated upon beautiful ridge, and
was strong and productive. In the natu-
raj capacity of the soil, there was not a
cents worth of difference in the two
farms; but yet they bore very dissimi-
lar aspect after they had been worked for
a number of years. Mr.. Thompson's
buildings looked neat and tidy. His door
yard was clean, his windows were whole,
his barn was snug and warm, his orchard
looked thrifty, and the trees were care
fully dressed and pruned. Now Mr..
Holmes had no more of family to sup
port thar lid his neighbor, but yet his
house and out-buildings, and the rural
aspect of his farm were very different.
A few rags were to be seen in spots where
there should have been panes of glass;
various things were seen kicking about
the yard that should have been in other
places; there were large cracks in his
barn, through which the rain and snow
sometimes beat; his apple trees were
scabbed with old bark, and the tops were
disfgured by scraggy dead limbs. Mr..
Holmes worked hard-harder, if any
thing, than did Mr.. Thompson; but yet
his matters were always at loose ends,
and he often wondered how it was that
his neighbor pushed things along SO
smoothly, and kept every thing in such
excellent order.
AN, Thompson said Holmes, one
day, in early spring, ashe came up to the
door of the former, have you got an inch
auger?'
Certainly returned Thompson; 4
couldn't get along on farm without
one
Il wish you would lend it to me little
while. have delayed sowing my grain
for two days, because my harrow is bro
ken, and | had no tools with which to
mcnl IT,
Il will lend it to you with pleasure
said Thompson. And then, as sudden
thought seemed to strike him, he added;
They tell me, Mr. Holmes, that you
lost one of your cows yesterday
Yes returned Holmes, with an unea-
sy look, 'one of the best cows | had
But how did it happen?
'She broke erleg.
Broke her leg9 How, pray?
why, you see the floor in my tie-up
had cot rather worn and shaky, and night
before last she got one of her legs through
it, and snapped the bone off like a pipe
stem--so | had to kill her.
'Ab, Mr.. Holmes, those are things we
farmers ought to guard against. A very
little labor at the proper time would have
saved all that
Il know it, said Holmes, with a down
cast look; and J. should have fixed the
Hoor long ago if l had had the tools
But it no use in crying now. What S
done can't be helped
That was always source of great con-
ISOLATION to Mr.. Holmes. When thing
was done, he tried, to feel satisfied with
the reflection that it could not be undone,
though he seldom laid up the experience
for future use. Mr.. Thompson turned
towards the shed door, and led the way
up into a neat, light chamber, and Holmes
followed. Here was stout bench, all
fixed for handy use, and upon it were a
full set of planes, saws, guages, mallets'
hammers, etc, while in small rack
against the partition, were arranged set
of chisels, gimlets, files, and screw-drl-
vers; and overhead hung some half dozen
different sized augers. In short, there
was everything here that a man could
possibly need in building and repairing
about the house.
Mr.. Thompson took down an inch au-
ger and handed it to his neighbor and as
he did so he remarked
Il havn't seen your son Thomas about
for two or three days. Is he sick?
well, not exactly sick, but he's got
very bad foot. He can't tstep on it,
'Ah, how did that happen?
'He trod on an old rusty nail in the
barn-foor, and it went into his foot some
ways
sWhew! that's bad" uttered Thomp
son, with shuddcr. 4 never allow my
bows 10 be around much barefooted.
have found that the pricks and bruises
generally cost more than shoe-leaeher
aside from the comfort and looks
20. Thomas wasn't barefooted, but yol
ethere was hole in the bottom OF hi
hoe: | meant to have carried it dow
>, the village and had it mendcd, but
prgot IT,
An, friend Holmes, I save all sue
klilhcultics as that. | always keep It'll