Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-25
MR.. LAMSON'S EXPERIENCE.

There comes time in some men, s
lives when they must make a decision
with regard to the arrangements of their
property, even while they live, because
age has come upon them, almost like a
thief in the night; and their limbs have
become stiffened, and refuse to do the
work which in their youth was pleas
ant. Even to think of bodily toll
wearies them. Perhaps their fingers
are not so stiff but that they can milk
two or three COWS, but their knees are
not supple enough to bend easily to the
level of the milking stool. They can
sit in the barn and husk corn, on a
pleasant autumn morning, and can feed
the stock, and even work the hay cutter !;
they must do some few 'schores'' or
they canEnot feel contented, as they
were not born or educated to be drones
in the great beehive of the world. At
four years of age, wee toddling babes
as they were, they delighted to follow
in their fathers footsteps, and pick up
potatoes, or throw the seed into the
burrows, and to feel that they worked
and "helped father.'' But all is
changed now, and morning and evening
they loiter by the fireside, dreading
to raise from the old arm chair, and go
out to see what John or Patrick is doing
in the barn or wood house, and give
orders for the days work.
Yet when once astir, very likely de-
sire to drive to the post-office or the
village store arises, and orders are given
to harness the old mare into the wagon,
to bring her to the door. Then muflled
up with overcoat, tippet, cap and nit
tens, if it is wintry weather, away they
drive over hill and dale, until the vii.
lagos center is reached, and they hear
the news of the day. If they have
wives and buxom maiden daughters to
receive them, let them rejoice that low
ing hands administer to their needs. But
if these blessings have been taken from
them, if they have been obliged to share
the old farm with their sons and their
families, the picture often shows another
side not quite as bright.
For the sons must have their portion,
of course, as they have families growing
up on their hands; and must look for
ward to educating them; and if their
hard work keeps the farm in prosperity
they should receive sufficient to remu-
nerate them for their toll. The fathers
usually recognize the rights their sons
possess and make them an allowance.
But if they are wise, they will still keep
the reins, partly, in their own hands,
and will be the owners of the farms,
and have the power to do as they please
to drive to the store, when the fancy
seizes them to do so, and 60 where they
choose without asking any ones per-
mission-in short, will remain masters
of the situation. Often, however, the
sons will object to taking a second
place, and will urge their fathers to
make over the farms to them, prom
Using faithfully, and doubtless meaning
to keep their promises, that they shall
have every comfort that they have had
heretofore; shall be paid quarterly
allowance, and shall retain the old bed
room, and the old armchair in the
suggest corner. Yet it needs lawyer
who understands human nature thor
oughly to draw up such contract,
and one whose heart is in favor of the
aged rather than the young, in order
sthat the old mans privileges may be
fully described and the penalty of losing
the farm attached if they are curtailed.
Perhaps my old friend Mr.. Lamson's
experience will point the moral desire