Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-11-14
Mason Items.

Inc Sunlm eI Is past, anu Autumn ~ OH
the wane; the crops have been gathered
in, and the farmer can now very nearly
estimate his gain or loss from his years
labors This has been IN evontful year,
truly. full OF hopes and fears, and cOrrod-
ing anxieties, most especially to the agri-
cultural community. In this section OF
our country, the crops OF all kinds are in
all probability fair average. The hay
crop was wofully short. Corn tina. prom
ised an abundant harvest in August, was
diminished about one. third by the early
irostS of September, but the unusual
breadth planted, and the great care taken
10 preserve it. have produced very
largc'amount OF excellent fodder for our
stock besides | think ii would be no cX-
aggeration TO say that there have been
harvested double the number of bushels
of potatoes ever before harvested in Ok
ford County in any one year, which with
the present market price rs compared
with the price If hay, will make them
cheap food for farm stock; SO that 1t will
be well to pause and consider before we
haul them five or six miles to the starch
factory, when it will lake seventy or eigh-
~ bushels 10 buy ton OF hay,to say moth
ing of the expense OF moving both. In
consequence of the short hay crop and
poor paslurage, cattle are not fat. and
their price has been quite low rs com
pared with six or seven years past, so
that many an otherwise plethoric pocket
book looks lean, and many u hard debt
stands staring the Woodworking farmer
in the face, and filling his mind with
anxious lorbodings for the future. But
don't be discouraged, brother farmers.
we have most OF us seen harder times
than these. Let us put the best foot for.
ward and keep stiff upper lip, and we
shall come round all right in year or
two. If we but learn wisdom from ad-
versity, our present seeming loss will be
our future gain; SO never give up. Don't
sell out and go West, for that section is
not exempt from trials and tribulations
that try mems nerves, "even rs by fire. "
Dent sell of everything for the sake OF a
few dollars and thereby starve your farms,
If you do, they too will give out by and
by-starved soil costs too much to till
We are having beautiful Fall weather,
and grand time to haul muck, dig
stones. lay understands, reclaim waste
land and prepare for bountiful harvest
next year.
We have had big rain, which was
mnch needed, and big wind whether
needed or not, it had one advantage. 1t
has torn down most all of our old fences,
demolished some old buildings, upset old
bridges, and shown up our weak points
generally, thus preaching practical SER
mon on that old proverb at is an ill wind
that blows nobody some good"
The late fire at West Bethel, which
converted the beautiful buildings of Z.
G. Wheeler. Esq. in few moments into
mass of blackencd ruins, his aged
father and little children merely escaping
the flames, is practically showing up in
the clearest light the high esteem in
which Mr. Wheeler is held by his neigh
bors and people generally, and de.
veloping those latent powers for great
things in the man, for great deeds which
were until now hardly known to himself.
His philosophy is far better than any of
the distractions of the ancients, and ]
think cxcels Diogenes; for when he ar
rived from distance and viewed the
scene of ruin, instead Of sitting down
and complaining, he simply said with
smile lighting up his countenance, "My
wife and babies are safe, there stands my
shop, and my tools are safe, and here |