Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-14

bility of purchasing horse. Thus FAR he
had owned no team except an excellent yoke
of oxen, their house being within easy walk
ing distance Of church, stores, and postofice,
and mills also being convenient. But now,
after haying and harvesting they should have
more leisure, and would wish TO make many
visits, and Il would be much cheaper TO keep
a horse than 10 hire one. The hay crop had
turned out bountifully, the oats were splen-
did, and he could keep n horse in addition to
his present stock as we'll as not.
This argument he used in favor Of his
position one day while discussing the sub
ject with a neighbor, an old acquaintance
who took the liberty to advise him to be
without horse for the present. Then buy
another COW; it will be more profitable than
a horse" was the reply Of tho practical farm
er. at will cost you good deal before you
get through, besides the one hundred and
twenty-five or fifty dollars paid for the
horse. II you could use horses instead Of
oxen to work your farm, 1t might answer"
he continued, but ON your farm as well rs
mine the slower moving oxen work to bet
ter advantage, and are really a source of
more profit in the way of growth, and less
liable to accidents that often lessen the value
of horse and sometimes ruin him COM
pletely."
=" But you keep horse" argued Harry
speaking without consideration for he well
knew that his neighbor had been out of debt
for many year.
81 do not0," replied his friend. But /
got along without one for several years when
1 commenced farming. My wife always
said that the little walk to church did her
good; it refreshed her after her mornings
work in the kitchen and dairy, and she was
better prepared to listen to the sermon.
She usually walks to church, now, you
know"
Yes, Harry knew it. lie knew, too, that
Susan was !. good walker and enjoyed walk
| ing to church as we'll as his neighbours wife.
But there was one more argument IN favor
of the horse and that was the anticipated
round of visits the coming winter. But by
this time his friends patience was little
ruffled and he replied briefly, there is such
thing as making and receiving too many
visits"
Receiving no encouragement in this quar-
| ter, chad he been satisfied in his own mind
that his plan was wise one would he have
taken solmuch pains to secure the approval OF
a,disinterested person7) Harry went home to
discuss the matter for the twentieth time
with Susan. The same arguments pro and
con were employed that had been offered
nineteen times already, and though both
agreed that as far as profit was concerned it
would be better TO dispense with the horse,
still neither could give up the idea of " en-
joying themselves next winter" What was
the use of laboring hard through three sea-
sons and then shutting up like hermts dur
ing the remaining oneP" Accordingly n
horse was purchased, n good animal, for one
hundred and twenty-five dollars, for though
Harry Roberts might err in judgment Of
many essential matters, he was no bungler
in his estimate of a horse or any Of the live
stock pertaining to farm.
Harry gave his note due in one year, fol
as yet little more than sufficient sum &c
defray the expense of housekeeping had
been realized from the sale of butter. the
only farm product he had yet to sell. Susan
had purchased n new summer hat Of course
and so soon after her marriage it must be
nearly equal in elegance TO the bridal hal
which graced her head few months before
and besides many really necessary articles .
new summer suit, together with CATERS
gloves, and ribbons, had swelled the dry
goods bill to an amount which really aston.
ished Harry, although he never thought o.
| 81. 10, o1
dressed, of course.
What might be realized from the sale o
fall butter, the poultry, the grain, and 81
forth, must be applied on 1.-THE payment du'
on the farm the coming April, so the hors'
must be paid for with a note. Neither coult
Harry pay cash for a wagon, but wagon h
must have. He soon learned of one for sale
which had been IN use but short time
Just as good as new, and cost one hundre'
and forty dollars, land could be bought TO
one hundred and ten. His neighbor tolC
him Joe Kingsley had a good, stout-buil
wagon in good repair which could be pur
chased for sixty dollars, and Harry went L
look at it. 1t was heavy and not stylish, an,
Harry decided in favor Of the higher price,
one, Quieting his conscience by misapplyinI
the maxim, " The best is always the cheap
est" The next purchase was a harness 70
thirty-fve dollars, which was paid from tn
proceeds Of the butter.
Not to weary the reader longer with de
tails let me merely state that Harry's crop
fulfilled their early promise of a bountifu
I harvest Susan's butter found ready mar
! ket, and the poultry made no bad show n
the time for selling drew near. When NeN
Years day came Harry and his help-mee
, put their heads together and jotted down tn
principal items of their yearly income whic
5 stood as follows:
J 200 bushels of potatoes. at 40 cents, . 500
100 lbs chickens, at is cents, 1870
300 lbs turkeys, Mt l8S cents, 500
$50 lbs butter, at 40 cents, 1000
800 lbs pork, mt cents, 1870
Total, 266 G
The above represents merely the produc
I sold. Harry had raisedla number of bushe
: of corn, but he wisely considered that
t would be more profitable to feed his COW
! during the winter than if sold. lie had ais
seventy-five bushels of oats, but his hors
s must have grain, they should need some fC
e visitors, and some would be wanted for SEED
e The butter, all but the last five tubs, ha
:, been sold to pay running expenses. Fror
It the amount above stated thirty-five dollal
= must be deducted for sleigh and thirty fc
e a buffalo robe and lap blanket, leaving on
d one hundred and eighty-one dollars wit
n which to meet the payment and interest dr
It on the farm the coming spring. They fe
: rather +" blue at first, but finally console
d themselves by saying " it was the first yea
y and it cost great deal to get started; ne'
+ year they could do better, and they would |