Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-04-15
aqritultural department.
FAgMER SLACK.

A noted characteristic of the Yankee Is the
prompt, restless activity which. cannot brock be-
ing behind hand" 1t is said that we eat in
q hurry. drink IN hurry, sleep in a hurry, get
married in . hurry, and alas. die in a hurry -
Amid the universal prevalence Of the mania for
doing every thing with tclegraphic speed there
are some good easy souls" 10 whom the very
idea of an exception to the general rule would
doubtless be as refreshing as thoughts Of a calm
moonlight evening, during West India hurri-
cane. For the special benefit of such IS the fol-
lowing sketch designed.
Farmer Slack is an aTnwed enemy to haste.
and seems fully persuaded that tomorrow viii
generally answer quite well for his business
to-day. He processes 10 be specially delight
ed with the scriptural injunction Let your
moderation be known unto ali men" Some of
his neighbors maliciously assert that this is the
only passage in tie Bible which he ever
known TO remenlbc-, but OF course this is SLAM
der. Others very positively affirm that he mis-
takes the meaning of the passage in question
but he thinks otherwise, and must give him
the credit of scrupulous compliance with its
spirit IS lie understands it"
1t Is impossible to fully comprehend the re-
suits of his moderation or, as some uncharitably
choose to consider it la.iness, without a hasty
glance at his premises. Our first view of the
farm. while at distance from the house pre-
sent. little peculiarly noticeable, save the ap-
pearance OF the fences and orchard. The for
Iner, to use the graphic description once given
of an old hat, are pretty much shattered The
latter is unpruned, ungratted, and more suitable
for fTre-wood than ANYTHING else
Nearer the buildings our attention Is attract
ed by horseraise, haycart, two three pairs
of wheels and several other farming :yols rapid
II decaying from exposure to the weather. a
little more care in providing proper shelter for
his tools every autumn wcr'i have saved him
considerable unnecessary expense, nor need he
fear that it viii subject him to the charge Of un-
due solicitude for the almighty dollar There
is the well, too, from which the family is wont
10 draw with primitive looking Landpole,"
though Mr. Slack has for several years intended
to furnish it with convenient pump.
TIE barn was once tolerably good, but time
and the elements have wrought sad changes
In several places the boards have been broken
and pieces Of them have fallen off, leaving large
holes, from one of which Protrudes the head Of
,nents. If we enter We shall find large part /
of the moveable articles within precisely where /
they should not be. An examination of the hay /
NOW viii show Us that the hay was cut several /
weeks later than IT should have been, and con- /
sequently only about two thirds a. nutrcious !
and valuable as that of the same kind cut by /
others.
The woodshed presents to orr view only !
pile Of green wood and borrowed axe, the for /
mer conjuring Up visions Of household pro- /
yoked to tie Seeding point by fire refusing
10 burn, and tie latter of 4 ne;ghbor vexed by
the absence of what he would find it couven-
lent to have at home. The interior Of the corn
house exhibits ritiful array Of small and
mouldy corn, the result Of late planting and a
neglect to hoe at the proper time.
On entering the house We see abundant evil
dence that Dame Fortune has bestowed on Far
mer Slack gift which she has frequently de-
MED 10 others-a heipmate Of disposition aud
character similar to his own. CONSIDERABLY for
bearing to criticize either her appearance or
that 6 :hings--generally in her domain. we viii
Just glance al a small table in the room which
Is covered or rather Uttered with books and pa
pers. The books belong 70 the children OF the
family, who attending the district school
All, they have poor opportunity for learning
this winter. Air. Slack is unluclliIy the agent
Of the district, and he deferred engaging a
teacher till the best We're secured by Others, and
he was obliged to employ one poorly qualified.
The paper. all bear dates utterly at variance
with asupposition that he is a regular subscriber
to the periodical Of which they are numbers.
The truth is that the term of his subscription
expired several months since. and lie has not
yet renewed It though fully intending to do SO.
Had our visit been made within the first SIX
weeks of the year, a last years almanac would
have greeted our eyes, bat It's place has recent
y been usurPed by more modern one.
In the cellar, the only thing we can pause to
notice is the scaaty furnished potato-b,n. Des-
pite the rot, which should find it somewhat full
Ter than il IS, if the ground had not been frozen
up quite As early last autumn.
Hoping that all interested are convinced that
Farmer Slack came honestly by his name. we
W II take leave Of him --r-z