The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-04
FARMER LAMsoNs EXPERIENCE.

FARMER LAMSoN's EXPERIENCE.
Farmer Lamson outlived his wife and
daughters, and his son brought his wife
and family to ill their places and make
the old man comfortable. He had reach
ed the age when the grasshopper became
burden, and his heart was no longer
engrossed with buying and selling and
making the farm productive. So, ar
rangements were made whereby the son
should feel well paid for his labors, but
the father should hold the reins, even
il he did not drive, and do what work
he pleased.
For two years this plan worked well,
and they seemed united and happy
family; ''grandpa" was well cared for
and respected by all, and could go where
he pleased. Almost daily he took a
tour to the village and visited the store,
whose owner was his friend and adviser.
But one day he came down earlier than
was usual and asked to see Mr.. Munroe
in private, and told him that he was on
his way to lawyers office to convey
his farm to his son.
Mr.. Munroe shook his head slowly at
this information and said: "Don't do
it Hold the reins and let Jim drive
Human nature is too weak to trust
Don't tempt Jim."
"Tempt him |" echoed Mr.. Lamson.
'Why, Munroe, what do you mean ? l
give Jim the farm and he boards me and
gives me twenty-five dollars every three
months, and l give him the stock and
farming tools and thousand dollars in
bank stock. See, here's the agreement
all written down can't be no mistake,
and l needn't worry about the crops,
the stock or anything, but just sit by the
fire and doze and read the newspapers
and see how the politicians fight, and
drive down the hill and see you every
day."
Mr.. Munroe read the agreement in
his slow, quiet way. "Mum, nothing
about horse to drive here. When the
old mare isn't yours, how'll you come
down the hill ? You can't foot it very
spry."
"Foot itl" cried Mr.. Lamson. Gland
o. Goshen Who's a going to foot it !!
Haven't got the old mare and that
fine team besides and three as likely
colts as this country ever saw What are
yos thinking about ?"
"None on 'em yours after you've
signed that Decd" said his friend. "My
advice is, hold to your farm till you are
dead. I've been in this town over thirty
years have seen such cases afore."
But Mr.. Lamson had a strong leaven
Of obstinacy in his composition, and the
more his friend urged him not to convey
the farm, the more he was bound to do
il.
So the lawyers Office was visited and
the deed made out, but as the son was
not there he concluded to carry it home
to have it signed, and asked two neigh
bors to witness it. When he returned
home the deed was shown to Jim and his
wife and the eldest boy, and they all re-
joiced at the last that "grandpa" had
been made to do what was for the good
Of the whole family. That night Jim
laid his plans for the next springs work,
intending to make radical changes in
everything, while his wife planned a
famous dairy and laid schemes which
equalled those Of the milk maid Of story
book fame.
Next day the winds blew loud and
shrill and the snow fell ceaselessly, so
that the neighbors could not be sum-
shoned and the deed signed. But Jim
and his wife cared not for the wind or
storm and discussed their new plans be-
fore the old man until his few white hairs
almost stood on end at the changes that
were to be made. The pine grove near
the house, which sheltered il from the
north wind, must come down. Jim
said !: "It ought to have been cut down
long ago, father, and plowed up for po-
tatoes. And the back lot must be drain
ed and sowed to corn. shall make the
farm produce twice as much as you did,
but to do this / must keep twice rs much
stock, and Eliza thinks she would like
large dairy. Perhaps you wouldn't
mind going up stairs to sleep, father,
and let us have n milk-room made out Of
your bedroom. In summer time you
wouldn't mind il and in winter we'll fix
you some way"
The father made no reply, but he
thought Of Mr.. Munroe's advice, and
while he seemed TO doze he was thinking
Of his wife and little children, and OF
the pine grove he had seen grow up to
tall stately trees from tiny seedlings,
and of the associations that made the
old bedroom, with its quaint chest Of
drawers, its curtained bedstead, old Ia
BILE, chairs and desk, so dear to him.
Another day passed and still the storm
ragged, the plans for changes were con-
tinued, and the old man was made to
feel that not foot of the land belonged
to him and hardly the chair that he sat
in. Not that Jim and Eliza were unkind
to him or the children less respectful,
but the very atmosphere Of the place