Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-25
He outliYed his wife and

S~sO
the age when the grasshopper became a
burden, and his heart was no longer en-
crossed 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 if he did not drive, and do what
work he pleased. For two years this
plan worked well, and they secured a
united, happy family; " grandpa" was
well cared for and respected by all, and
could 60 wherever he pleased. Almost
daily he took drive to the village and
visited the store, whose owner was his
friend and adviser. But one day he
came down earlier than usual and asked
to see Mr.. Munroe in private, and told
him he was on his way to the 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 natur is too weak to trust.
Don't tempt JIM
"Tempt him!" echoed Mr.. Lamson.
"Why, Munroe, what do you mean ?
give him the farm and be boards me,
and gives me twenty-five dollars every
three months, and 1 give him the stock
and farming tools and a thousand dol
lars in bank stock. See, here's the
agreement all written down; can't be
no mistake, and needn't worry about
the crops or the stock or any thing, but
just sit by the fire and doze, and read
the newspapers and see how the poll
ticians fight, and drive down the hill
and see you every day.
Mr.. Munroe read the agreement, and
said in his slow, quiet way: "Hum!
Nothing about a 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 it," cried Mr.. Lamson. "Land
o. Goshen! Whose a-going to foot it?
Haven't got the old mare and that
fine team beside, and three as likely
colts as this county ever saw? What
are you thinking about?"
"None on 'em yours arter you've
signed that deed,'' said his friend. ssMy
advice is, hold on to your farm till
you're dead. I've been in this town
over thirty year; I've seen such cases
afore."
But Mr.. Lamson had strong leaven
of obstinacy in his composition, and the
more his friend urged him not to con-
vey the farm, the more he was bound to
do it,
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 ask two neigh
bors to witness it. When he returned
home, the deed was shown to him and
his wife, and the eldest boy, and they
all rejoiced that at last ''grandpa" had
been made to do what was good for the
whole family. At night Jim laid his
plans for the next springs work, in
tending to make radical changes in
every thing, while his wife planned
famous dairy, and laid schemes which
equaled 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-
moned and the deed signed. But Jim
and his wife cared not for wind or storm,
and discussed their new plans before the
Did 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 it from the north
wind, must come down. Jim said, eft
ought to have been cut long ago, father,
and plowed up for potatoes. 1 shall
have the trees felled at once. And the
back lot must be drained and and sowed
20 corn. I shall make the farm produce
,wice as much as you did, but to do this
[ must keep twice as much stock, and
Eliza thinks she would like large dairy;
and perhaps you wouldn't mind going
up stairs to sleep, and let us have
milk room made out of your bed room.
In summer time you wouldn't mind it,
md in winter we'll fix you some way"
The father made no reply, but he
thought of Mr.. Monroe's advice; and
while he seemed to doze he was think
ng of his wife and little children, and
If the pine grove he had seen grow up
@ tall, stately trees from tiny seedlings
and of the associations that made the
Did bed room, with its quaint chest of
drawers, its curtained bedstead and its
Did table and chairs and desk so dear
% him. Another day passed, and still
he storm ragged; the plans for changes
we're continued, and the old man was
made to feel that not foot of the land
belonged to him, and hardly the chair
1e sat in.
Not that Jim and Eliza were unkind
% him, or the children less respectful,
out the very atmosphere of the place
seemed changed to him, and he went