Butte record., 1856-02-09

books IN the house.
ooh, that 5 it; and what do | want
with books What's the use Of them
| guess they can't teach me farming =?
Your book farmers aren't worth much
always trying something new, and
coming out with short crops"
"Ah! but, friend Burritt, books
teach many good and useful things be-
sides farming; and to tell you the
truth, really think would be very
useful to your children, whom | know
you love, and would like a little more
Intelligent than their neighbors'. Now
if you spend FIFTY dollars IN good books
viii make such a selection as, | am
sure would be instructive to your chill
dren."
.Wlcv! Fifty dollars laid out in
books Why, you must be joking y
Ne, am not, never was more serl-
Gus in all my life My only motive
for suggesting it is, the interest | feel
for Yoar family; and will promise
you, that, if at the end Of six years
You repent Of the purchase, ! VIII re
fund tie fifty dollars, with full inter
est for the whole time"
Farmer Durritt, looked puzzled. He
respected his neighbor; he knew him
to be a good friend, and although he
thougt the suggestion a foolish one, yet
he was touched 1t the kind interest
expressed in his children. After a
silence Of some minutes, as if he knew
not what to say, he replied-"Well,
well, III think Of It,"
4 day OF two afterwards, the same
friend visited the farmer, and before
lie had time to return to the converse
ton, the farmer said, Il have been
thinking Of what you said, and out Of
respect for you, here are the fifty dol
lars for the books; it, a foolish affair,
and wouldn't like to have it get a.
broad bat" added he laughing, ''i'll
hold you to your promise of paying
principal and interest at the end Of
six years. | CAPT lose much by the
investment"
His friend took the money with
great pleasure, and he saw that u new
fight was about to dawn on farmer
Burritt's household The books were
purchased. Besides some good reli-
gious books, including several biogra-
phies, he had selected choice volume
or two on agriculture and gardening,
several on general history and natural
history, few good books Of travels,
and various other books, some to en-
tertain and TO awaken thought. In
due time they were properly disposed
in a little case, this kind friend, alrea-
DIV familiar with the children, now
carefully showed them how books were
to be used, enticed them to read, and
even made them promise to spend some
Of their leisure time in finding out
what the books contained. After some
difficulty, he got things into right
train; both boys and girls began to
be interested.
We pass over two years. The seed
has been sown. Was there any pros
pcct Of a harvest? No one can pass
Mr.. Burritt's farm without receiving
some improvement. The external as
pect of the old homestead has more
comfortable and cheering appearance.
Instead Of the struggling and insight
" objects which used to be seen around
the house, every thing has tidy look.
The grass is growing, the Towering
shrubbory creeps up the walls and a
dorns the pathway, the vegetable gar
den is in better taste, the ornamental
accompanies the useful, and gives evi-
dence that the youngsters in tie fam
lily have been studying the books on
gardening. A glance inside shows a
better regulated family, and more obe-
dent and well-dressed children. Far
mer Burritt acknowledges that Thom
as, his Oldest boy, has got something
out of his books, which has saved la
Dor, and improved his crops.
Other years pass, and the improve
ment Is still more visible. Mr.. Bur
ritt, rather ashamed Of his defcien-
cies, has been reading, and, marvellous
to tell, has spent an additional fifty
dollars in books. His conversation has
become more intelligent. lie knows
something besides farming, and his
whole manner has undergone favora
Die change. The religious books have
accomplished their mission. Religion
dwells in that household and has Its
altar there. There can be no com
plant that books have rendered the
children idle, for they have been a
new stimulus to industry. The farm
prospers more than ever and the farmer
has abandoned his prejudices against
the various improvements IN agrcul-
tural implements, and has obtained a
good insight into the advantages OF
Agricultural chemistry. Mrs. Burritt
IS proud Of her girls and boys; aud well
She may be, for there are none Ike