The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-22
Taking a Second Thought.


THERE comes time in some mems
i lives, when they must make decl-
sion with regard to the arrangements of
their property, even while they live,
because age has come upon them, almost
like thief in the night and their
limbs have become stiflened, and refuse
to do the work which in their youth
was pleasant. 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
pleasant autumn morning, and can feed
the stock, and even work the hay cutter;
they must do some few "chores," or
they cannot 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 babies as
they were, they delighted to follow in
their fathers footsteps, and pick up
potatoes, and throw the seed into the
furrows, and to feel that they worked
and helped father" But all this is
changed now, and morning and evening
they loiter by the fireside, dreading to
rise 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.
Perhaps my old friend Mr.. Lamson's
experience will point the moral L desire
to enforce. He outlived his wife and
daughters, and his son brought his wife
and family to fill their places and make
the old man comfortable. He reached
the age when the grasshopper became a
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 If he did not drive, and do what
work he pleased. For two years this
plan worked well, and they seemed
united, happy family; grandpa" was
well cared for and respected by all, and
could go 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.. Monroe in private, and told
him he was on his way to the lawyers
Office to convey his farm to his son.
Mr.. Monroe shook his head slowly at
this information and said: "Don't do
it'll Hold the reins and let Jim drive.
Human nature is too weak to trust
Don't tempt Jim."
"Tempt him what do you meanp
give him the farm and he boards me,
and gives me S25 every three months,
and / 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
1 needn't worry about the crops, the
stock or anything, but 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.. Monroe read the agreement in
his slow quiet way. "Hum. Nothing
about horse to drive here. When the
old mare isn't yours, how'll you come
down the hill 7 You can't foot 1t very
spry."
{" Foot It'll" cried Mr.. Lamsom, "Land
o. Goshens Who's going to foot it 7
Haven't got the old mare and that fine
team besides, and three as likely colts
as this country ever saw? What are
you thinking about?"
None on 'em yours after you have
signed that deed, (" said his friend. "My
advice is, hold on to your farm till