The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-03
LEARNTHE1R4DE.
-.H|.g ftflU bbistt.I n ..
A Town BOY Turning Farmer and
What Come Of Ii.

what Come OF IL.
The following is picture to which /
was an eyewitness, and which at the
time made an impression on my mind
not soon to be forgotten. Some will
no doubt, think it is overdrawn and
that such. scenes are rarely Witnessed ;
nevertheless this is true, and l only
withhold my real name from the public
for fear Of hurting the feelings Of those
who figured in the play.
Some ten years since | knew young
man living in town, following as bust
ness, the bent Of his own inclination,
which was to admire horses and cattle,
90 out to his fathers farms and some,
times do q little work. In course of
time he took wife to himself, who had
also spent most Of her time in town.
The young mans father bought him a
farm, stocked it, and fitted them ont
quite comfortably. Their farm adjoined
mine, and the father of the young man
requested me to keep an eye on the
young folks and help them to learn how
10 manage. E-s--. :
For the first year things went tolera-
bly, well, as the wifes father, who was
a good farmer, lived with them. The
second year, in spite of my friendly ad-
vice, and contrary to my instructions,
things went by the board, as what fol-
lows will show. ....
One December evening, about dusk,
| took notion to call and see my
neighbor. On approaching his place |
passed through the orchard. Here
were his sheep, their locks coated with
sleet and snow, as was every weed, blade
OF grass, and branch of tree. Here
they were huddled together as If to
sympathise with each other in their
distress The house looked as though
the place was deserted; but soon the
owner came to me and said he WAS try
ing to get the COWS out Of field, but
could not, and now they might stay out
all night. This, | told him, would not
do and | would help him to stable
them. But WREN we got them there 1t
was not much wonder they refused to
enter. for the manure where their hind
ieet should be was at least two feet high.
This caused me to remark that they
should clean out the stables oftener.
Yes, he knew it but it was such a job,
as they bedded with corn fodder.
The hogs were running about, squeal-
inc the cattle believing, the cbeep in
the orchard bleating; this added to the
scene overhead, one of those chilly,
gloomy, dismal December evenings that,
al any time, is enough to make one feel
blue to even look ont upon from a warm
room, made me sigh. But, added, the
plantation wagon, the carriage and a
spring wagon stood in the barR-yard;
covered with ice and snow,-the latter
loaded with coal that had been brought
home and backed up to the houseyard
gate, but not unloaded. On going into
the house, the wife said she wished he
would get some wood, as she was baking
and could not get the fire to do right:
| went with him to get good, but 10 !
it was not only icy and covered with
snow, but was green at that. His plea
for this was, that John, the hired man,
had gone to town and forgot to cut wood
before he went
If this article appears in print, and is
read, many will say he ought to have
quit farming. That was my advice to
him, as it was not his occupation, sure
ly. In the spring following, when he
lc:e the farm, he told me he had sunk
500 that year. Fortunately his father
was wealthy, and set him up in a bust
ness better suited to his tastes. That
this is an exceptional case, to even city
raised men, there is no doubt; but l
fear that pretty near approach to it
could be furnished by many OF your
readers. Were / to give date and To-
calitv to this, there are hundreds who
would at once recognize the true parties
thereto. AN OLD FARMER.