The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-03-13
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Another Batch or Instructivc
Essays Lately Read he. "
fore Tint body.


rARMEH's HoNRs; WHAT THEY ARE; WHAT
I THEY SHOULD BR.-BY y. n. HOLLOWAY
OF FAYErrR.
. Ia presenting the subject assigned
us. IN the programme for this institute,
il will not be expected that we can take
more than a hasty glance OF the farm
ers' homes as We find them in the
county.
The term home implies much more
than we are in the habit Of ascribing
to 1t. As commonly used il refers to
our dwelling place or location. This,
however, Is very narrow and insignifi-
cant definition of the term. We pro.
pose therefore to consider IL in broad
er sense, as applying TO all outward
surroundings ns well as the inner con-
struction and make up OF the several
elements OF the family. To the casual
observer, the homes of the county
would be classed as indicating wealth,
competency and poverty-terms inap-
propriate and OF no significance when
We scruntihize all the elements that
make the household. So far, then. as
outward signs go, we may consider
them as unreliable in forming correct
conclusions; neither can We but partial
ly deduce from them the lessons we de-
sire to impress. We can best convey
our ideas OF the great difference be-
tween many homes as they are. aud as
they should be. by presenting two
classes, one OF which, we are sorry to
say. too often finds its like in our coun-
ty, varying only in proportion, while
the other will, in some measure, reflect
many OF our best homes, which should
serve as patterns to the young as they
start in life.
Let US glance at these. Go with me
through the county for a day. An ear
ly start and short drive brings. ms in
sight Of a splendid mansioa, built in
outward appearance in the latest style
OF architecture. The surrounding of
barns aud sheds are on the same mag
nificent scale; the fields are numerous,
with the best of fences. and all indicate
prosperity and thrift. judging from the
growing crops. a. bs ~ s.,
Let MS make the acquaintance OF the
occupants, and learn the history OF
their lives and the source of their sue
cess. a.
As we swing the gate, our first salu.
tation comes from calves, pigs, lambs,
ducks, geese and chickens, indiscrimi-
nately bundled together--all important
and useful in their place, but a nuis-
ance. We look for.ths graveled walks,
the Towering borders, the rose and lily
the pink and peony, the evergreen and
noweriDg shrubs, they are not here.
We pass to the door, the ring of the
bell ia responded to by a staid and So
ber-looking lady, bent with years Of Ia
Dor and toll, who bids US enter. Intro
ducing our mission as one of observa-
ton, relating 10 farmer's homes, the
following colloquy ensues.
How long have You been a resident
OF the. county? How large n family
have yonp What is the size OF your
farm. and this beautiful house, how do
yon like ity
Well 1 will answer you as well as /
can.
Let me see--John and / were mar
RED 40 wears ago, in the state OF New
York. We came directly 10 Michigan,
with only money enough to get us here
and bny from the government 40 acres
OF land where this house stands, ID was
then n thick wilderness; we worked
hard and by my help we soon had log
house built and n few acres cleared,
making us comfortable home. In
that We lived for 80 years; aad in the
meantime John kept adding to the
farm az his means would admit, until
he got 400 acres. These he has now.
We have raised ten children; eight
have gone from us. Two are yet with
us, but they will soon go. Ofthe chill
dren away four are married, gone west,
settled on new farms and are struggling
for a living between grass.hoppers and
drought. Two have gone 20 the city
10 find clerkships in stores, and two
are we know not where. IL is long.
long time since they left home, and We
know nothing Of them. Ny heart is
nearly broken. and / cannot dry my
tears when 1 think Of them aud wonder
IL they are yet living, or il will he
permitted to gaze upon their features
again. John is almost a cripple from
hard work, there is 80 much TO do on a
large farm, aud then the times are SO
hard, wages SO high, he can't afford 90
hire. We wanted 10 go 10 the centen-
nial last fall, and again visit the home
Of onr childhood, which we have not
seen for 40 years; but we found il
would draw too heavily on the little We
have laid by for a rainy day, aud moth
ing 80 affects US n 20 think that the
wolf of poverty and want may come
howiipg around our door.
Our house, well, ten years ago John
had come money accumulated from the
farm. as profits 90 produce sold
through the war. We concluded 10
have us a house, as tho logs to the old
one were getting rotten and our family
large, but we could not plan IL, every
trial proved failure. We went 20 the
city, and ia our rambles on the, popu-
lar streets We espied what At once struck
our fancy. It's parlors. halls, drawing
rooms and verandahs. with its balco-
MES, French roof aud dormer windows,
would so outshine aud overlook any
thing in our town, that We resolved al
once TO pattern after II. Architects
aud builders were employed, and in
I two years our house was completed
and We settled in il. In the meantime
notht VI Sut chitutrti hhu itit uoiuu,
others were going, and We soon Sound
more house than We could nse, and u
tell you the truth, it's wasting my life
TO take care OF il. Besides this, IL is
not pleasant or convenient inside. Tie
front is always closed with pnrlor. The
kitchen where have To spend most 81
my time is so far in the rear that see
nothing except about the barn. / aul
too old now 20 fit up my rooms "a many
do nowadays, and had the strength
would not know how. But few Of these
things were done when was young,
and Jolin has always had 90 much us,
for money that we could not spend il
for furniture we did not need. At one
time i thought to have n front yard
but 10 is of little Importance 10 MS now
The last II our children will be away
from us in a .few days. aud u is too lat
now to think 81 this. ID requires al
OF ouri energies to. keep things from
RAINING 10 waste on the farm aud abou
the barn. Oar span Of life is almos
run. hut we. wish 10 preserve for on
children what We eau, ms in the past W
have not been able TO help them.
! Thanking eur lady for the iniorna
tion. We hid her good morning az,
proceed. Ft .al % s.
Our eve is soon cenferetl on a lsmal
cottage. emboNvefesl in cluster Of ma
pie and everureens, a short disisnc'
irom the road. sthe%surreunding o
ehich 50 impress us ut first sight tim
! We resnlte 10 take notes Before max
inc ofreelves known. We take A hast