The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-08-29
SIGMA ON THE WING.


Friend Home, AgAlu "--How tho
CoInmcrcini MAN Mold an AtIns--The
Iuomc OF - wealthy TexRs Farmer
A Hull Against mogs.
10 the Editor OF tho Herald
We camped for dinner and to rest
during the hot hours OF the day, at
Chambers creek, about ten miles
south OF Waxahatchle. This creek,
though small, IL celebrated for the fer
Utility OF the lands wAtered by IT, its
course being southeast through the
lower portion of the county. After
dinner, a cigar, aud refreshing siesta
In the shade OF tree, we harneased
up anu turned our faces TO the SOUTH
west. Our route still lay among team
ing farms, with the occasional inter-
section of an untenced, grass covered
prairie. IA We progressed we were
struck with the variety OF fencing
used. Each farmer seemed to have
his own original idea on the eubjeot,
and TO build accordingly. In most
cases the barbed wire was used, somo-
times on top with plank below, some
times Oh bottom and top with plank
in center, sometimes all wire, some
times interviewer with closely PLACED
upright stakes, and 40 on, almost AL
intinitum. Moral TO be drawn: the
farmer OF this section IL mainly self.
reliant and mainly ignorant. There
Is better way To build wire fences, and
that way he should have learned and
followed. but because he didn't learn,
he hesitated not for a moment, but
built after his own devised plan, with
the sublimest self-c0nfidence that this
was the best plan in the world,
As night approached we neared the
house of u Mr.. Couch, where he pro-
posed to couoh--not, however, upon
his downy beds, but upon the grass In
the yard-for JEFF had business with
Mr. Couch, and while for this reason
we were forced to draw nigh unto his
house, We did not mean to give up our
prairie bed, with its star-stlldded cover
and breezy chamber
As ! believe MIR. Couch with his
house and surroundings TO be fur
average example of the wealthy farmer
of this section, i shall devote few
lines to the description OF his home.
He owns about seven hundred acres OF
as rich land as there IL under the sun,
|
the present prospect Is that he Will
make two hundred bales. His corn IL
good and he has plenty of stock around
him to eat II. His house IL single
room built OF plank, box fashion, with
loft above, and rear room attaehedto
serve for dining room and kitchen.
Imagine besides, d gallery In front,
with a rough stone from the prairie
for step, two or three straggling null
berries around the house, tangled
mass of weeds and grass in the yard
fenced In by All ordinary rail fence,
with the horse lot, stable and COW lot
facing the whole, and you have conf
plete picture of his home. MIR. Couch
Ia a sharp, active man, has just bought
a steam engine and uses the most inn
proved machinery on his farms, but
about his home there is nothing to
suggest luxury or even the comfort
that ought to accompany wealth equal
to his. still, his hospitality Is UNI
bounded, his house is open to every
one, and strangers are not turned
away empty. Such, We believe, is
fair sample at present of the wealthy
Texas farmers at home.
|
CINE. lie found that Mr.. Couch had
that morning ordered an Ames. He
set himself to work to take up that
order, and he did 1t. He talked Atlas
to Couch few hours that evening,
and the last word the poor man heard
as he fell asleep was 4 Atlas forever.o
Next morning about sunrise, he began
again. AS the day grew hotter, he
grew more fervent In the horse lot,
in the COW lot, to the table, In the
yard, out in the field, across the
prairie, to his brothers. house, he fol-
lowed him. There for three mortal
hours he talked, while waited in the
sun, holding the horses. Al last
he came out, wearing upon his brow
glow of triumph, and upon his blush
ing couitenance smile of eelf-con-
ceit. The poor man had at last sue
cumbed, and JEFF carried in his peck.
ct the order for an Atlas, and q cash
payment ia advance to clinch the bar
gain.
1t was then nine o'clock, and we
started for Milford, village in the
southwest corner of Ellis, about four
miles distant by the shortest route.
After brisk travel Of some three
hours among new farms, flanking
fences and following new section lines,
we concluded we were lost. Upon
casual inquiry we found this conclu-
sion TO be very correct; that we were
well on our way to Corsloana, and
about three times rs far from Milford
as we were when we started. This was
refreshing information OH the broiling
prairie, and we turned right around,
without thanky to the man who gave
it, and started backwards. Then we
travelled with savage briskness until,
| In the course of time, we arrived at n
splendid spring and grove, one mile
east OF Milford. There we begged for
| ty ears of corn from an old negro, aud
gave him ten cents. We then fed and
began to cook dinner, and then came
! to US for the first time on our trip that
amin al justly cursed by God, in. bis
| first revelation to man, that trichine.
brute called n hogl May that prestine
curse forever follow, and continue
with it for the mischief it did us as we
journeyed; for the sleepless hours 1t
caused the corn 1t stole, the bread
and birds 1t ate, and the fryingpan 1t
tried to swallow! SIGMA.
Iamss lambs rs Reporter.