Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-20
MONAHON'S WHEAT.

Fellowshlp, had, after Drother
Williams recovery, determined to
remove to the country, and try his
luck at farming. With the con-
fidence and self-reliance which is
such a prominent trait in American
character, be felt that he could
swap pursuits in middle age with
out detriment to himself. People
in this country are always chang
ing pursuits. The farmer who has
spent half his life between the !
plow-handles considers himself
capable of running a successful dry
goods store. The hundred failures
all over the country attest the folly
of such q change. On the farm he
might have had plenty, aud con-
tinued the life of independence,
but the farm must be sold, and
the proceeds invested in merchan-
disc. In forty-nine cases out of
fifty he becomes a bankrupt in a
few years, with penniless old age
staring him is the face. The mer-
chant and mechanic think they could
farm, but they could not do it sue
cessfully. Their extravagant habits
could never be controlled, and
their expense account would grow
faster than their corn. Any bust
ness, to be successful, must be the
study of a lifetime. Machines
that go up and down in one groove
need only power and oil to go
smoothly; but farmer, lawyer,
doctors, merchants and mechanics
need brains as we'll as muscle.
Mcmahon left his bench and re-
moved to a farm. He had this
much, however, in his favor, that
his younger years had been spent
in agricultural pursuits. He had
for many years been in the shade ;
but he hoped by going into fields
early in the spring he could become
accustomed to the sun. He was q
manly fellow, and removing his
wife to his country home he went
to work in hard earnest. Fence:
were repaired and the fields were
plowed and planted. He had
bought out his predecessors wheat
fields which had been sown the
autumn previous. There were
twenty broad acres Of it, and thu
prospect of abundant yield wa
favorable. Each night, as Mona
hon would come home, he would
congratulate his wife on their -four
ishing prospects. "How much bet
ter" he would say, sis this livinl
in the country than spending one'
whole life in the dust of shop.
have to work harder, but whe
night comes my days work is done
Thesun and l are togetherin the feel
all day, but we quit at the sam
time. The sun has been trying a
spring to drive me to shade, but /
can't do it, l mean to see biz
through. Then wife the best of
all is, that / am my own maste
There is no one to say 'Monaho
90 do this or go do that or cor
pell me to live-like country ed
tor on promises to pay"
Thus would Mcmahon argue,
though he expected his wife
take the opposite side of the que
ton, and put forth something
rebut his assertion, but she on
gave consent.
One evening the good man car
home overlooking with joy. 500
wife," he said, with chuckle
delight, "did you look at the whe'
field to-day p
eyes; but / saw nothing unit
ual. The cattle have not brok
in, have theyp
"No, indeed; but you won
never see anything. Did you I
tice that the wheat is ripeningl
you had looked you could ha
seen the grain turning to that go
en- color which indicates that il
ready for the sickle. Next we
it must be harvested. In thI
weeks at the most we shall hs
bread from new -four"
Mrs. Mcmahon only smiled
her husbands earnestness.
At day break Mcmahon spra
out OF bed !; but as he did 30
uttered a groan, and set down
the bed-rail.