Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-14
For the VERMONT FARMER,
How Harry Roberts Lost his Farm.


Harry Roberts was n steady, industrious
young man who had labored hard and saved
his earnings better than the young men gem
orally at the present day. At the age Of
twenty-six, in accordance with an engage
ment of two or three years standing, he
united his destiny with that of Susan Sher-
wood, and the Twain made one" COM
menced, or rather, "began to continue " the
journey of life together. Harry was farm
er,--at least he had always worked on n
farm, and had longed for the day to arrive
when he might have farm of his own
where he would be his own master. He
knew therelwas profit in farming,-of course
there was,-had not Mr.. Somerville, for
whom Harry had worked several seasons,
made all his money by farming? and he was
worth many thousands, besides being the
owner of one of the best farms in tho coun-
ty. And then, q farmers life was so indie
pendent. One icould enjoy all the luxuries
of the garden, the field, and the dairy, with
out expense.
Susan, too was strongly in favor of farm
ing. She should so enjoy working in the
dairy room, removing the rich cream from
the milk in the shining pans, and converting
it into such golden butter! And the care of
the poultry! How pleasant it must be to
watch and care for the little broods, and so
health inspiring, too, so much life in the
open air. You see Susan was a little ro-
mantle in her sentiments. She had been a
teacher and knew but little of real, hard
work, that is manual labor. 1 do not wish
to insinuate that the life of teacher is al
ways an easy one. on the contrary a good
teacher labors hard.
She might, in time, become accustom ed TO
physical labor, but until then she would find
herself wcaried with but fraction of the
exercise in that cool dairy room, or among
her feathered pets, which others more ac-
customed to the work and more experienced
in management would accomplish without
an effort.
But that she did not realize, so while Har-
ry bargained for farm and its accompani-
ments, she was happy and busy investing
her small savings in necessary articles of
furniture for their new home and in prepar-
ing quilts and carpets, sheets and towels, to
the extent of her time and her purse; for,
although she had been for years a successful
teacher, and as such had commanded good
salary and almost constant employment, she
was rather dressy, and somehow had moi
succeeded in saving very large portion o.
her earnings.
Harry, as has been said, had been toler
ably prudent, and by judicious investment o
his savings year by year had accumulated
the comfortable sum of one thousand dol
lars. Five hundred Of this he paid toward &
snug little farm with comfortable buildings
leaving twenty-five hundred dollars secured
by mortgage to be paid in yearly payments
of two hundred dollars each until the notes
were reduced to fifteen hundred dollars; az
ter that payments were TO be gradually in
creased until the debt was Cancelled. Har-
rvs remaining five hundred was of course
invested in stock and necessary farming i'm
plements.
The happy pair took possession Of thei
new home, and commenced housekeeping
early in the spring; indeed, it was the frs
ofApril, but that circumstance of itself nee'
not have made them April fools.
Sugaring soon came on; the season wa
excellent, and Harry Thought that half tn
quantity of sugar he had made would b
amply sufficient to sweeten them for year
and proposed to sell the remainder. Blu
Susan who had enjoyed the 'sugaring OFF, i'm
mensely, and had made many visit to tn
sugar camp to watch Harry at his work, an,
during his leisure moments to eXpatiate Of
the delights of farm life which she had jus
began to experience, was unwilling to sacri
flee so much sweetness. When they ha
company, for Susan was a sociable little lad!
and looked forward with delight to the pleas
ure they should experience in gathering thei
friends under their own roof, when they hat
company, and of course they should have
great deal, she resolved in her own min,
that nobody's table should surpass hers il
tho richness and varieties of the cakes. ant
jellies, and preserves, which should be dis
played. So Harry consented, and Ionly sol,
enough of this first product of his new farm
TO pay the man whom he was obliged to hir,
for a few days when there was an "unconi
mon run of sap.
Next, springs work came on, and Harr
was very busy, while Susan took great pleas
ure in setting hens and turkeys, and at frs
in anticipation, afterward in the realization
of her hopes, in the appearance of as fine
lot of juvenile chicks and turkeys as eve
gladdened the heart of farmers wifi
They amply repaid her care, and as the sun
mer advanced Susan while she yet retaine
enough of her romantic tastes TO admire hi
:" brides for their beauties also began
see the practical side of the question, and
compute the probable result of the sale
her poultry the next autumn.
Harry's selection OF COWS had proved el
cellent, and Susan who really bid fair to b,
come notable dairy woman made many
tub of golden butter, which seldom failed I
bring tho highest market price. So "a
things were progressing finely. The croI
were looking we'll, and Harry began to col
slider himself quite an independent farmer
And in consequence of this feeling of ind
@epdence he began to consider the adylsi