Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-16
HOW A HOME WAS LOST AND
RECLAIMED.

cisco Bulletin, there was a certain family
of plain farmer folk working on rented
land in one Of the central counties north
of San Francisco bay, and having been
fortunate in obtaining one or two very
good crops in seasons when the most OF
the state was failure, they had perhaps
twelve or fifteen thousand dollars in cash,
teams and implements.
At this juncture the head Of the fami-
ly, being of the restless western type,
concluded 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 land in that val
ley, paving cash rent. There was a good
crop the first year, but three successive
failures followed. Then a half crop came.
and more failures, Hoping against hope,
they stayed, unable to leave, unwilling TO
acknowledge a mistake, until every dol
lar was gone.
This was in 1871, the process of los
ing all they had having taken seven
years. There were FIVE children, the old
rs, a girl capable Of teaching school,
three boys old enough to earn men way
es, and a little girl The Oldest daugh-
ter obtained a school in an adjoining
county, and made regular rcmittanccs
home. The boy. sought work, but every
thing in the neiShborhood was at "a stand
still The father. upon whom success
siyc misiortuncs had told heavily, went
To the nearest town and sold his rife, sad
dc and some long treasured yaluublos.
Then, Harvesting up their only team,
they left the barren place, called by
courtesy a farm.
Night after night, as they sat about;
! the roaring camp-frcs they asked each
other. What shall we do At last the
mother spoke, with a woman, keen
homc-loyc and longing, as one night
they camped in the dry bed of stream.
near shaggy peak, above a valley OF
fertile farms: 1--WE are wandering with
out a motive" she said Let Us all
work and win home and begin tomor-
row. She unfoldcd her plan.
The next morning they wcnt into u
large valley town where they had acquaint-
auccs. Within week the father and
the three BOYS were at work in the hAr-
ye.t field the mother became houseketp-
er in a wealthy family, where she kept
the Youngest child with her the oldest
daughter was still teaching at Increased
salary 4 family farm company was or
gained, il being understood that every
possible dollar went toward the one pur-
pose Of buying home which all should
own. This Was the mothers plan, and
It's effect was marvellous ], made men
Of the boys; i; made the father forget hi.
former losses; i, frightened the whole
outlook Every cent saved was dcpos {
ei wherc It drew interest Bctou loug.
some leading gentlemen Of the town be-
came interested in the home buying plan
of which they had heard, and did WHIT
they could TO procure steady work Tor III,
fo,n,iv This however was seldom need
"a Inv ,n,i, .,.od;,es. and ,,xi,,y :.
.~,, ,hc;r waco. wore r.r,,-l..,hI. ~,
,hsy wore in cnos,ar, demand
Tho cnd of ~. 6,s, yc,r IL. homo
r,,-.i,.;ro c,mr,rv mad. rr.d,.,b,.
.o,,,r, The d,ugb,or ,cacbi,g $50
,,.rrb had scrt s4oo r.. ,L-..
~,r. and their f,,br7 had oycr.,ei 80 q
month opie,. beside their board and
H., had .r~nt ,otb;r, ,bey could t.l.