Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-06-19
miscellaneous.
GRANDFATHER,S OLDFARM
ss.t AND
WHAT WAS DONE WITH IT.


was on trip in The cars lately and fonnd
myself upon the seat with genllemonly man
advanced in years, 20 whom (as honor old age}
| endeavored 10 make myself agreeable, en-
tou'e.
Afler the interchange ef a few commonplace
remarks, our conversation TUNED dupon the sub
ject Of agriculture, the old end new modes Of
forming, &C., | subsequently ascertained that
my venerable acquaintance was most inlelli-
gent farmer, who had retired in his old age
upon competency. As we dashed along in
The cars he entertained me with the substance
ofthe following narrative, the details OF which
he assured me had lraLspired within his
knowledge.
Speaking Of the exciting progress and i'm
provemenis in agriculture, said he, reminds
me OF an instance that occurred within my re-
memblance, which will relate 10 YOU, if you
are disposed TO hear it. ! thanked him, aud he
proceed on as follows:
Some forty years OF more ago, neighbor o
mine in c., a Mr.. Smith occupied an immense
tract OF land, which be called tfarm" |
was about thirty rods 10 width, aud upwards o
two niles in lengih; upon which he had beel
brought up q "farmer,;' sud where his fathe
and grandfather had lived before him.
Each generation OF the Smiths that ha(
dwelt upon this strip Of land, had contrived L
farm il, each 10 the same Old way, year IN ono
year out, from father 20 son. The place had
never known dollars ineumbrance; scores o
SmNh's had been reared uprn it, generation
ofter generation came and passed away there
and the same cart pa.bs, and the same dilapi'
dated wells and shanlles and decayed tree'
were still visible--almosi the same furrov
had been turned fot hundred years or more
when, ss had been the custom OF The Smlf
families on previous occasions, it finally camt
the turn Of the occupant 10 resign grandfather
old place 10 bis only son, Ben Smith now CONT
10 thirty.
For FIVE and thirty years at least Ben's fathe
had carriedion his farm. In all that long pe.i-
cd, and regular az the year rolled round, Of
regular had Mr.. Smith ploughed up his eigh
acres, moved all the gross that Providence
would grow for him, pasiured his ten sheep
reared his four head OF cattle, faitened hi
three hogs, and wintered ss many cows. Blu
this was not all.
True Mr.. Smith had 0 great farm. He toile,
like trooper, from daylight til dark. Ill
raised his own pork and corn tsuch as it was,
his cattle and fodder, from his own forest ih'
wood he burned; never owed any man far
thing. He contryed even 10 pay his owl
town and county tax. But he was llerall.
"even with The world" for he owed no one
and no one owed him dollar. And so h
lived up 10 seventy.
"Ben,n said the old man TO his son, one eve.
ming, ss they sa; before the FIRE, 81 am getiin
old. | have worked pooty hard here, for
good many years, md have concluded to Civ
it up. 1t Is your turn now"
\ "Afy turn for whai?' asked Ben.
"To take charge Of the farm, Ben. You ar
Young, stout and healthy. am going to Civ
up the homestead 10 you; and II you continu
TO labor constantly as Eve done, and YOU
father did aiore us--you can get good. liyin
offon'tas we have done. We can't lake moth
ing out Of this world with US, Ben. Make
Z we came into il and so wednust 60 oIs. Blu
the old place is free from incumbrance, ther
never was GoIlnr mortgage on it, and hop
there never will be. shall give you the farr
free and clear tomorrow.
Ben slept on this. and the next day he wa
master ofthe farm thirty RODS wide and tw
end d half miles long.
II shall take the place, father" he sale
and earryit on; but not as you and grandfather
and his taiher did,
And though the old gentleman shook b
head and looked earnestly over the bridge
his specs at his son, Ben was as good as b
word; forthwith ne went 10 work in earnest
Spring came. Ben went into The old eigl
acre field and ploughed up one half OF it,
Upon this be had deposited the whole OF II
season's manure, that had hitherto for yea
been spatsely spread uron double the surface
He narrowed these four acres, and harrowf
them we'll. Hoeing time came and Ben hs
only 1ue half ihe space 10 20 over. Thoul
the corn and potatoes looked finely, ard Il
beets, the cabbages, and the carrots grew ma
vellously, and the old man grew crusty, sI
declared il wouldn't DO, there wouldn't |
roofs enough. But Ben went tight along h
own way. Ia
AT The second Eoving ben went into his iol
acIes, but moi with hand Doe. He got son
hind Or q limerick. las the old man iermed il
hitched 20 the old mares heels, instead
hoeiDg bis potatoes msn fssbion; he'd bfgu
with his improvement; bit that cultivator,
Ben called Il, = would ut work no how"
Ben continued the use Of the cultivate
however; The Old genihman continued
grumbie. and he corn and polsioss conIinu'
TO flourish.
Ssn sinItA had gone over to ! nsishbofii