Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-03-08
HOW IBECAME A FARMER.

HOW BECAME A FARMER.
1t was getting dark. But through the
bushes, along the muddy road could
see a house ahead, and 1 limped toward
it, thought had little hope that the peo-
pie there would receive me.
All! how discouraged, hungry and
foOtSore l was that night! Every step
was torture. If 1 had had my choice to
live or die, honestly think would have
preferred the latter.
1t was low, small, one-story house,
weather-beaten and dilapidated. Two
of the front windows were boarded up,
and the other two had half the glass
panes broken out. Off to the left was q
still more dilapidated barn, the great
doors of which were propped up. Not
only the yard fence, but all the fences in
sight, were shattered and falling down.
The place, saw at a second glance,
was uninhabited, and from the forest of
tall dry thistles before the house door, l
judged that it had not been occupied for
a long time, At least. thought, [ shall
not be denied a nights lodging here.
There was a fireplace in the rear of
the room, and after shouting to make
sure that no one was about to object, l
built prodigious fire, and going to the
barn, fetched in armfuls of old straw
there and made bed for myself,
was hungry, yet still more tired, and
after time fell, asleep.
WHERE CAME FROM.
In the spring of 1874, was as home
less and houseless as anybody in Boston.
was nineteen. My mother was dead,
and my father, crippled sailor, was
an inmate of charitable institution.
The previous summer had driven an
ice-cart, and had saved enough to carry
me partly through the winter. But 1
could not get another job. If there is
anything in this whole world which will
try ones soul, it is to hunt a job week
after week and month after month, and
be met always by that one cold reply,
mot wanted"
BY February my money was all spent.
Up to that time had not the least idea
of leaving the city and trying the coun-
try, for / knew nothing of it. But
knew a brakeman named Leavett, on
the Boston & Maine Railroad, who. had
an uncle living in the town of B, up
in New Hampshire. This uncle, Leav-
EFT said, wanted hand on his farm, and
he thought 1 could get the place. He
gave me a line to him, and got me free
ride on the night freight with him to
Exeter From Exeter 1 walked to b,
but when l arrived the place was filled.
Hardly knowing what to do, went
on inuuiring for work, and had been
wandering two days when | came to the
old deserted house. Here Istayed dur
ing the night.
NV waking was not very CHEEKY the
1 xxyos xxyrafohadlv oO1I
and if I had been faint and hungry the
night before, was hungrier now. The
weather. too, had turned foggy and wet
Drearily and not without some. pain,
pot up and looked about the inside o.
the old house. The bare, smoked and
upholstered rooms were the picture o.
desolation. No wonder, thought, tina
the previous inhabitants had abandoned
the place. Though there was little in
ducementto tarry longer, there was still
less to 90 on, seeking work where NJ
one wanted to hire; and for the first time
the idea of staying here entered ny
mind. This was what thought: Here
is a house and here is farm. They arr
deserted. If nobody else wants them
why cannot have them and make
home of them?
MY FIRST JOB IN THE COUNTRY.
But whether 1 lived here, or not,
wanted something to eat, and set OF
aloner the road to a farmhouse, painted
red. Ash drew near, CHATTER of fork
and SPOONS assured me that the folk
were at breakfast. The outer door wa.
aiar. stepped up and tapped at it.
s'Come in" some one called out.
I entered and said, GOOD morningr
but no one responded.
"Do YOU wish to hire any help?'
asked, addressing myself to the man o
"Be YOU the chap that had fire il
the old house down below here las
nightP' the man inquired.
yes" said. ''Do you know who
owns itP''
THAT'S hard. telling.'' he answered
sRnfe Bartlett lived there last. But. ole
man Smith to Boston had mortgage o
it; and guess the mortgage has got il
by this time"
would care if were to stop there
awhilePh
Cant say replied the man.
/ sat awhile and then asked then
whether they would not sell me peek
of potatoes, or four quarts Of corn meal
and let me work in payment. 81 will
work all day for either one" I offered
..and will try TO do good days work. 81
But neither the man nor woman
answered, I sat ten minutes, perhaps
feeling anything but comfortable, and
then babe them good-morning and went
out. While l stood hesitating in the
road, boy came out into the yard.
''The old man SEE you can 60 to saving
this ere pile Of woodr' he called to me
The next night was the owner Of &