The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-02-02

A CURE FoE4 HARD TIMES.

ft1ns acre! ana mere YOU are taxing three
cultural papers; and all because you have one
acre of ground! How many such papers
would you have to take if YOU had hundred
acresg
i shouldn't probably, need any more than l
take now; you know, Mr.. Chapman, go
through all the motions on acre, as well as
on hundred
A man can throw away money without any,
il he has a mind to- For all the good you get
from these per 'odicals you might as well prob
ably. throw the money they cost into the fire, they
are nothing but humbugs.'
4 pay in all. only eight dollars
Eight dolIarsl enough TO buy tip top barrel
Of flour and leg Of bacon and then you read
these periodicals, there Is twice the amount of the
money spent in time reading them
Il do usually read, or hear read, almost every
word there is in them; my boys and | take turns
in reading, and one reads aloud while the rest
work
Complete nonsense no wonder your shop
don't turn out any more boots III day than 1t
does
Perhaps we don't do as great days work,
some days, as some Of our neIghbors, but L
guess that in the course of year, we turn out
as many according to the hands at work, as most
do
Il suppose it is out of these publications you
get your foolish notions about so many kinds of
fruit trees One of my boys came home awhile
ago, and said Mr.. Briggs had got lots of fruit
trees and such things that cost don't know how
much, and wanted me to buy some grape vines,
pear trees, and so on. l told him it was all fool
ishness, and not to let me hear him talk about
spending money SO foolishly.'
You have, | dare say. laid out ten or fitten
dollars this spnng?
Yes, nearly much again; l have laid out
twenty five dollars for trees and garden fruits
Twenty five dollars | wonder you are not
on the town, or in Jail. at least, before now
Il am not afraid of either. I'll bet you the
twenty-five dollars, III sell you that amount of
fruit from those things for which paid the TWEEN
ty-fve dollars, in five years
Done! I'll stand you; your trees will cost
you hfty dollars, sure, in money, besides the
time thrown away in setting them out and taking
care of them
AS for the time spent in setting them out, or
taking care of them, it is as good exercise as
playing ball, wicket, any thing else. w hlle
were setting them out, one of your boys came
to get my boys to go over Mr.. Moody s. where
he said there was to be great time playing ball;
and L have doubt, your boys spent Just as
much time playing, as ours do with their trees
and SO FORTH and then something is done, but IN
playing, the strength is all laid out for nothing
We'll, it don't cost anything to play ball, but
trees cost money.
The foregoing conversation occurred IN the
shop between two neighbors, both boot makers,
in town not more than twenty miles from
Boston
Mr.. Briggs, in whose shop the conversation
took place, man of more than ordinary in
tehgence, for of his advantages and circum-
stances in life. He had been poor boy, and
by industry, observation and economy, had
worked his way up in life, and reared and well
educated a family of children who, like himself,
were industrious and steady For the few years
past he had become Interested in horticulture,
and both for exercise and amusement, had turned
his attention to cultivating his 'one farm.
His attention first called to this, by means of a
back number Of the New England Farmer, which
was put round some things bought at the store.
Mr. Briggs found this SO interesting that he pur-
chased another at the periodical depot, and then
he became regular subscriber. His sons be-
came interested in the same direction, and the
interest of the father and sons increased to the
pitch indicated in the foregoing conversation.
In time, every inch OF the acre of ground was
brought under the spade, and almost every best
variety of fruit had place there, and the farmer
and sons found pleasure and profit in the garden
after being cooped up in the shop till the 'stent
was done and the exercise was far more profta-
bic than the spasmodic, violent exercise taken in
games.
Mr.. Chapman, the other neghbor, was a man
of the common stamp. He looked upon every
thing new uncommon, As folly, and nonsense,
and was ready to at every one who stepped
aside from the common track 1t looked simply
silly 10 him to see man STAY at home from mus
ter. or training. or shows and spent his time
in cultivating garden or instead of lettering
away The evening at the store smoking, and
hearing telling a deal of nothing, or worse,
10 spend the evening At home. reading such
nonsense as the Farmer and Horiieulturist af-
fords
Years pass. and Mr.. Briggs one acre farm
shows that he and his boys have not read the
papers IN vain. They have learned how TO set
out tree. and how to take care Oft after it was
setout. Every thing showed it received the right
kind of food and care and stra,htway began to
bring forth fruits meets for good cultivation. In
short time the wants OF the family were more
than supplied, and the surplus found ready
market with the neighbors At good prices
ihese early apples so rich and tempting. when
all other apples We're So green and hard, and
then such pears; they Went as fast as the sun and
house could ripen them al three. four and five
cents apiece. Then such rich. ripe rrapes-too
tempting for the coolest To pass without a water
ing mouth. Mr.. Chapmaa's family We're almost
the best customers for the tempting fruit-frst
having learned their excellence by the hharal;sv
OF Mr.. Brigg. who never failed 10 send specimen
OF his best to his neighbor.
The fifth season came 1t was fruitful wear
Apple, pear. peach, plum ani all other trees wert
loaded with fruit. keepingi in mind his converse
uon with Mr.. Chapman. Mr.. Briggs had directed
his family to set down every cents worth of fru
sold to Mr.. Chapman and his family This wear
as 1t happened. was year Of extreme hard times
ihe boot business al It's worst ebb; little work
and very low wages-and vet the price of every