Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-02-05

now / BEClNEN rANNER


ircord my experience mot because
10 contains any thing very romarka.
hle nor that | think IL valuable hc.
cause ii Is mine, hut that Others who
are situated as ! was, perhaps may
see to realize what they have been
bng waiting 10 secure, home in the
country. ] was born and reared in
New York city, and save an OCCASION.
nlly visit to friends living in the coun-
Try, | knew nothing offarm life until
within the past few years. | learned
the cabinet makers trade, and wor-
kcd at it steadily for twelve years.
During that time found a use for ar
,iclcs of my own make, to the extent
of six chairs, with other things inpro-
oortion-four children Aaving fallen
10 our lot.
Having no capital, was obliged to
"cmain a jowrneyman, or do piece
;ork' and any one knowing the act
g competition that has prevailed in
lis business, can readily believe that
Iter making both ends meet, at the
ears end there were but little left to
lap over with Asmy little ones grew
up around me, regard for their health
aId morals, and anxiety to meet in
rreasing expenses, melted me to try
and secure Il home in the country,
In the Spring of 1854 | received an
ofer to work in village inTthis coun-
tny, which | gladly accepted, as it
brought me one step nearer what !
3sired. | looked for aplace in
tile village, whore | could have a
Jecc of land to cultivate, believing
that | could make a beginning, l could
work out to the end | found q COM
irritable house with two acres ofgrOund
attached, at q moderate rent, and it
would have done you coed to see the
Gelight Of the little ones when we took
possession. They had never conceiv-
Il of such oxtensiyepl Fairgrounds, hav-
hlving always been confined to 4
narrow back yard, and an occasional
walk in the crowded city streets.
Islipulated with my employer for
me enough to work my garden, and
lade commencm't. 1t was awkward
,usincss l assure you. Ny ncighsors
nust have laughed at my simple ques-
lons bat they were very kind and
.idlng me; l had the satisfaction Of
,2eing my own vines and eating their
uit and the probability ofsome day
,,ting under my own fig tree became
Hite inspiring, Being entirely igno-
ant, l was not afraid to try what l
,aw recommended, and thought l was
Dmetimes laughed 1T for following
he book, as they called it, | learned,
a time, that printed experience was of
zen as valuable as that learned by
word of mouth-in fact some Of my
vegetables raised in what they called
new fashioned ways" We're far. r.supe-
rior to any that my neighbors.couId
show.
To be suro, / had many failures at
irst. The bugs would Destroy the
yines. the hens scratched out some of
my finest seeds, and some of my plan
tings turned out nothing, because of
my ignorance, but at the end Of the
irst Summer, found that by work
ng morning and evening, with an oc-
.asional day when the weeds threat.
med to get the start of me and with
only little paid out for manuring,
ploughing and preparing the ground
hada full supply Of choice vogeta
5les for the family, had sold enough tC
help to pay the store bills, and hac
learned sufficiently to try gardening
On a larger scale the next season,
/ then ventured to hire two acres
additional, in which, besides giving
better pasture for my COW, | could
plant patch of potatoes and another
ofcorn. 1t was q good year with me
\ large strawberry plot which | haC
set out the previous Spring, yielded fl
nelly. The fruit sold at good prices
and brought me nearly $40. Otho.
products of my garden were even be
yond expectations, and the corn an,
potatoes would have done honor TO q
ny farmer. This was not all. Tht
family was never so healthy, and my
two boys was becoming quite expcrJ
in the garden, to their advantage anc
mine also. We worked hard, but W,
saw the faults Of our labor and W.
were content.
Inow felt safe to invest my littl
capital of a few hundred dollars in buy
ing place which l could call my own
and the next Spring received a dee,
for ten acres Of land, a little more dis
tant from the village, but yet near {
nough to enable me to continu
my regular business. | did not fec
quite ready to give up my trade, a
which | could make a comfortable liy
ing, though twas becoming more an,
mere irksome, and longed for th
time when | could lay down the say
and the plane, and take hold of tn
plow and the hoo. This year l hire