Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-12-15
rFrom Harper's Weekly ]
FARMER BELLS THANKSGIVING.


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from Harper's Weekly
FARMER BELLS THANKSGIVING.
A cozy, comfortable home was Farmer
Bells. Originally it was one of those old
fashioned farm-houses which are "pretty
much all Kitchen" and the kitchen as de-
lightful spot to pass a winter evening in
as you would find in day ride. But as
he prospered, Farmer Bell had built mod
ern front to his house, so that he now had
a parlor, where there was mantle-piece
surmounted by two gilt vases filed with
dried grasses, and centre-table covered
with books and daguerreotypes, and fash
ionable stove with flying cupids on the
sides. On great occasions, such as Thanks
giving Day and Christmas, the parlor was
warmed and occupied; and throughout
this goodly land there was no man who
observed Thanksgiving Day more reGgi-
ously than did Farmer Bell That day
had never passed over his head without It's
every item of customary observance-from
the going to ''meeting" in the morning,
down to the cranberry sauce, without which
no holiday turkey is perfect success
And it was wont to be Farmer Bells cheer
ful boast that Thanksgiving Day had never
passed over his head in gloom. But this
year the good man looked forward to the
coming Of that day with painful feelings,
for it promised to be accompanied with
| little comfort. Farmer Bell had been un-
fortunate.
In the spring, Mr.. Bell, looking forward
to his son Leonard's contemplated mar.
riage with Miss Emily Sutton, the pretty
music teacher in the village, had resolved
to risk his all in a great speculation that
would, inside of year, net him good
thousand dollars of clean profit, and this
was to be Leonard's marriage portion. Sc
Farmer Bell commenced buying up lear
cattle. Owing to the army demand fol
beef, cattle were bought up very clean al
over the country, and prices were very
high. At that time there was a good
prospect of an advance, and even ifprice:
held on as they were he would make al
excellent profit. He mortgaged his farm
to Squire grippe, hard old fellow in the
village, who refused ia take mortgage fol
full year on the house, but agreed t.
transfer it to the cattle in the fall if the
farmer was not ready to pay; and Farmer
Bell was not the kind of man to trouble
himself about such a matter. Though
call his enterprise speculation" it wa
not of that precarious order Of enterprise
which flourishes in Wall Street; it wa
simply the turning of all the energies o
his farm in one direction-that is to say
the feeding of lean cattle for the market
Few mundane things could be more Ger
tain than that the prices of beef would
long rule high; and as the farmer wen
about the country picking up one ''crea
Iture here and another there, and paying
leash down for each, he soon got togethe
as fine herd of lean cattle as you will of
ten see in any pasture-ffty of them
bought for something less than two thou
sand dollars cash, and certain to sell TO
at least three thousand when fattened.-
Three thousand dollars was an immens
sum of money to Farmer Bell, as it is t.
lmany well-to-do farmer who never kney
want and never expects to.
| When the news ofthe peace came, som
Thought the farmer was in bad mess, an
advised him to sell out for what he coul'
get; but it was not his way to relinquish
scheme easily after he had once set out o.
lit, and so he held on. As prices contir
ued good, and even improved, after tn
peace, Farmer Bell considered his boy
fortune as good as made; and so the tim
for the wedding was set, and due prepara
tions begun. 1t was to be ON Thanksgiv
ing Eve-eve of the happiest day of tn
whole year, in Farmer Bells opinion.
Leonard Bell was fine young farme
of twenty-five, of an intelligent, well-reao
mind, who had intended to adopt pre-
fessional life, but had found by a little ez
perience that his robust physique woul'
not endure so much confinement and S
had resolved on following out his father
! line of life. He sang bass in the choir c
the Methodist church in the village, wher
!, Miss Emily Sutton played the organ, ant
there be had formed the acquaintance wit
her which had ripened into love and pre-
posal. Emily was an orphan, born an
reared in distant State, who, after he
parents died, came to Reyton and reside
with an aunt, and supported herself b
giving lessons on the piano-forte, and play
ing the organ for a salary of $50 year
, Notwithstanding she had very prett
face and lively disposition, Emily was
remarkably sensible little woman, as sh
sufficiently showed by her appreciation {
. Leonard Bell. Farmer Bell was quite de
R lighted with his sons choice, and was ne'
er tired of animadyerting on her exec
s lence.
''No matter if she is poor, Leonard, b
would sometimes say, with great oster
tation of contempt for wealth, ''thats n
5 more than your mother was when ma
! iried her. She never brought me cen
but she brought me what's a thousan
r times better, a tender heart and sensibl
head. and busy hand, Aud look how
have prospered." For Farmer Bell col
sidered himself decidedly a wealthy maj