The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-18
a Story of tho Farm.

Flfteen years ago there was O certain
family of plain farmer folks working on
rented land in ono of the central counties
north of San Francisco bay, and having
Deen fortunate in obtaining one or two very
good crops in seasons when the most of the
State was failure, they had perhaps ten
or twelve thousand dollars in cash, teams
and implements.
at this juncturc tho head of the family.
being of the restless western type, con
cludcd that it was advisable to make money
faster. SO happening to travel across the
lower San joaquin in early spring of wet
season, he was charmed, and forthwith
rented, for term Of years, large tract of
lahd IN that valley paying cash rent. There
was gond crop the. first yeat, but three
crop came, and more failures. Hoping
against hope, they stayed, unable to leave.
unwilling to acknowledge mistake, until
every dollar was gone ..
This was in 1871, the process of losing
all they had having taken scven years.
There were five children, tho oldest a girl
capable OF teaching school, three boys old
enough to earn mems wages, and little
girl. The oldest daughter obtained q school
III an adjoining county, and made regular
remittances home. The boys sought work,
but everything in the ncighborhood was at
stand. still. Tho father, upon whom sue
cessivc misfortuncs had told heavily, went
to the nearest town and sold his rifle saddle
and some long-treasurcd valuablcs. Then,
harncssing up their only team, they left tho
barren place, called by courtesy farm.
Night after night, as they sat shout the
roaring campfire, they asked each other,
''What shall we dol" At last the mother
spoke, with woman's keen homc-lovc and
longing, as one night they campcd in the
dry Dcd or stream, near shaggy peak,
above valley Of fertile farms; ''We are
wandering without motive" she said.
hes us work end H sId %p hQm9 and hern
The next morning they went into large
valley town where they had acquaintanccs
Within week the father and the three
boys were at work in tho harvest field the
mother became househoeper in o wealthy
family, where she kept the youngest child
with her; the oldest daughter was still
teaching at increased salary. A family
farm company was organized, 1t being un-
dcrstood that every possible dollar went
toward the one purpose Of buying q home
which all should own. This was the
mothers plan, and its effect was marvel
lous. 1t made mon of tho boys; it made
the father forget his former losses; it
frightened tho whole outlook. Every cent
saved was deposited where it drew interest
Before long, some leading gentlemen OF the
town became interested In the home buying
plan, of whlnh they had heard, and did
what they could to procure steady work
for tho family. This, however, was scl-
dom needed, for their stcadiness and
anxiety to earn their wages were 1cmarka-
BILE, and they wero soon in constant de-
mand. rv
AT the end of tho first year tho home
purchasing company made crcditablc
showing. The daughter, teaching at 500
month, had sent $780, The three sons
and their father had averaged $50 month
apiece besides their board, and they had
spent nothing they could help, so that
81 200 represented tncir pile; while the
mother added $3.50. These three items
aggregate together with the interest, 81, ,S0S.
The beginning was made.
-Four years Of steady, uncomplaining toll
followed. In 1875 their accommodations,
compounded semi-annually at seven per
contum, amounted to 80, 330.72. It would
have been more but for somc sickness in tho
family. They then chose a quarter section
of good fertile land lying north of San
Francisco Bay, in one of the Coast Range
valleys. The price was $50 an acre, Or
$4,000 In all. They paid $4,000 down,
bought teams, moved on tho place, paid
the balance in one year from crops and out
side work, and are making it ono Of the
prettiest farms in that whole region.
This is O truthful account of how farm
was lost and another gained in its place by
plucky American family, whose idea of
a . home-buying company" ought 20 bc
renlembcred