Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-03
THE FARMERS EXPERIENCE.

Farmer Lamson ouiliyod bis wife and
daughters, and his son brought his wife
and family to fill their places and make
the old man comfortable. lie 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, arrange
menis were made, whereby his son should
feel paid for his labors, but the father
should hold the Teins even if he did not
drive, and DO what work he pleased.
For two years this plan worked very
well, and they seemed a united, happy
family; grandpa was well cared for
and respected by all, and could 20 where
he pleased. Almost daily he took a tour
70 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 lie was on his way to the
lawyers office to convey his farm to his
son.
MIR. Munroc shook lis head slowly at
this information, and said
Don't do it Hold the reins and let
jim drive. Human nature is too weak
70 trust. Don't tempt Jim
Tempt him :" echoed Mr. Lamson-
- Why. Munroe, what do YOU mean: /
give Jim the farm and he boards me and
gives me twenty-five dollars every three
months, and / give him the stock and
farming tools and thousand dollars in
bank stock. See. here is the agreement
all written down; can't be no mistake,
and needn't worry about the crops, the
stock. or anything else, but just sit by
the IRE and doze and read the newspa-
pers and see how the politicians fight,
and drive down the hill and see you ev-
cry day
Mr.. Munroe read the agreement in his
slow, quiet way. Hum, nothing about
a horse to drive, here. When the old
mare isn't yours, how will you come
down the hill: You can't foot i, very
spry."
:. Foot it" cried Mr. Lamson, " Land
o Goshen Who's going TO foot 1t
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, anyhow
None of 'em yours arter YOU We sign
ed that deed said his friend Ny
advice is TO hold on TO your farm until
YOU are dead. have been in this town
over thirty years have seen such cases
before"
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 tc
/ 10 it.
SO the lawyers office was visited and
the deed made out, but as the son wa:
no, there he concluded to carry 1t home
to have it signed, and asked two neigh,
bors 10 witness it. When he returned
home the deed was shown to jim and
his wife and the eldest boy, and they al
rrioiced that at last Grandpa had been
made to do what was good for 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 famous dairy and lald
schemes which equaled those Of the milk
maid of story-book fame.
Next day the wind blew loud and
shrll, and the snow fell ceaselessly, SC
,ha, the neighbors could not be sum
moned and the deed signed But jim
and his wife cared not for the wind ol
storm. and discussed their new plans be-
fore the old man until his few white
hairs stood on end at the changes tina
were TO be made. The pine grove nea
the house, which sheltered it from the
north wind, must come down, jim SAID
4" 1t ought to have been cut down Ions
ago, father, and plowed up for potatoes
| snail have the trees felled at once. Ant
the back lo, must be drained and planted
with corn. shall make the farm pru
duoe twice as much as you did. but Z
do this | must keep twice as much as stocI
and Eliza thinks she would like a larg
dairy. Perhaps you wouldn't mind go
iny upstairs TO sleep, father, and let u
have a milk-room made out of your bed
room. In summer you wouldn't MIN
it, and in the winter we will hx you
some way"