Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
agricultural department.
HOW A BOY BOUGHT A FARM.

HOW A BOY BOUGHT A FARM.
Several years ago, youth OF sixteen
years, of good sense, and fair English
education, not having profitable employ
ment at his fathers home in Kentucky,
sought for employment among his enter:
prising neighbors few miles distant; anc
although wages were low in those days OF
gold and silver currency, he saved from hue
first years wages $40. He was then II
years old, healthy, lively looking, aspiring
and ambitious to become useful, noble and
perhaps great. He had already learned
that money loaned at high rates of interest
was oppressive to the borrower, and react.
ed on the loaner, and in the falling of prices
of nearly all articles in the commercial
world; that men sought justification fol
their bankruptcy and delinquency in the
fact that they had paid large rates of in
terest. Feeling, therefore, that legality,
as well as justice, was necessary to every
mans dealings with his fellow men, he
loaned his $40 to an exemplary, enterpris'
ing, and prosperous trading men in hif
neighborhood, at the lowest rate Of interest
known in business in that State, viz {: SIX
per cent. per annum. He worked another
year, clothed himself in neat Kentucky
jeans and other cheap but neat articles Of
apparel, and went to the country school
three months in the winter of that year,
and learned the rudiments of Latin and
something of the higher branches of math.
ematics, working for prosperous and liberal
farmer evenings and mornings to pay the
boarding; and at the end Of the second
year, or when he was 18 years of age, he
had saved $96 more. His character fol
integrity and industry began to be better
known in the neighborhood, and his SER
vices were sought for.
He worked on farm and rode as col
lector for trading men and the Sheriff oi
his county and at the end of his nineteenth
year had saved $110 more. With the in
terest accumulated on his other two years
wages he had now $500; was comfortably
clothed, and had good business education
which he improved from one winter to an
other, till he became scholar, both lit
orally and scientifically. His influence and
usefulness increasing, he had, at the age Of
twenty years, $3.50. At twenty-one he had
accumulated $3.50, and was we'll known fol
his activity of life, as young man of in
telligence, virtue, and usefulness, as well as
a young man Of very attractive manners
and ways.
He moved to Western State where land
was cheap, and entered $50 acres by a land
warrant, which he purchased with $3.50 OF
his money. He made good selection Of
land, in good region of country; he used
a portion of the balance of his money in
improving his land, buying little stock,
and few Implements for farming, and the
second year he raised small crop. Having
gone to his new neighborhood with about
S4OO in money, and used it cautiously, he by
degrees gained the name Of responsible
citizen and a good paymaster, and his infu'
ence rose gradually from his appearance
among his new and scattering neighbors.
Year after year he raised a crop, continuing
to read the best newspapers, periodicals,
and books, which still further improved his
mind till sheep, cattle, and other stock
grew up in focks around him, more land
adjoining him being purchased from time
to time, till now he finds himself, when
scarcely arrived at the middle Of life, a
gentleman farmer of wealth, surrounded
by comfort and many luxuries, esteemed by
neighbors both far and near, and would re.
ceiYe, the suffrages of those who know him,
to any Office for which he might be nomi-
mated, irrespective of party politics, 80
firm is their confidence in both his ability
and integrity.-.S. Louis Journal Of Agrs'
culture.