The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-02-16
Torment Farms.

Vermont Farms.
Prof. George N. Boardman. LID, at
the banquet Of the Sons of Vermont, at
Chicago, closed his remarks on the sub
ject Of vermont Farms" as follows:
EVERY part of Vermont farm has
its appointed Office, and brings in its
quota Of produce, from the sugar stolen.
from the spring sap of the maple TO the
butternuts gathered in October. And
the Vermont farmer, as he reads his
Bible, supposes he was the man in
David mind when he spoke of the good
man as being in league with the stones
of the field
There is q great deal of sentiment
connected with Vermont farm; it is a
faithful servant, it comes to be cherished
as a member of the family; it is thought
of as taking interest in all that interests
the household. Talk with man, per-
haps sixty years old, as you stroll with
him across his fields, and see how much
he feels himself indebted to the acres
where he has labored. When his father
and mother died the farm kept on its
way responding to the children's plans
and efforts as it had to those of the first
settlers. 1t paid the bills when the 'old
folks were sick. it buried them decently
and set up humble head-stones Overtheir
graves-not so stately as some of those
in Graceland, but they tell as much truth
perhaps, and well become the place where
the forefathers of the hamlet sleep The
farm has worked out many other debts,
that will come, sometimes unlocked for.
in the experiences of life. The farmer
has buried one of his daughters, who
faded away under the blight of that
disease known too well under the
shadow of the Green Mountains-con-
sumption. The old homestead missed
her tread, and mourned with the others;
it did what it could, it took the bills and
paid them one by one Qor there men do
not pay their debts by simply drawing
checks, and was proud to do to the full
whatever was required. The good old
father, now in years himself, can tell
you many a tale that he remembers
with stirring of the heart. He re.
members how the girls were portioned
off when they were married, and how
one of the boys, perhaps now Chicago
lawyer. was sent to college, and drained
off little more than his surplus in
come. He thinks the little scamp might
have been somewhat less liberal with
money that he did not earn, but it is all
well enough if he can take care of HIM
self now
These Vermont farms sometimes 90
into winter quarters rather early. but
they lose less time after all than we are
apt to suppose. Farms, west and south.
do but little after September closes. and
those among our eastern hills are bright
and CHEEKY, if sere and leatless, through
October, and till past the Indian sum-
mer. Let them lie quiet under the snow;
they are not dead. When another
year comes. the days will lengthen, the
sun will call them to their work, and
you may be sure they will come to
time. Already. before the snow-drifts
have left the hills, you will find the
liverworts and anemones in bloom, and
the sunny exposures are awaking from
sleep before any one has thought of it.
1t is true. the spring comes slowly. the
hills hold their snow long and the winds
occasionally breathe out frosty air quite
down to the middle of June. but with
the help of blanket now and then-in
truth not really needed-the. early gar
den plants hold vigorously to life. and
in little time we reach the short hot
nights, and then all is safe. The cult
vator of the soil, of course, must enjoy
the pleasure of little grumblng. He
says, No crops this year. the seasons
are changing hay will be light and
the pastures are dried up But the
harvest comes; one thing after another
is brought in and the barn is about as
full this year as it was last; the cellar
has its good things and the garnet, too,
and the hearts that had their fears have
now their eyultation.
November comes, and its last Thurs
day comes, the minister has read from
the pulpit the proclamation of the Gov
ernor; in obedience to its call the people
gather in their accustomed places of
worship to hear how God led His people
of old, and still takes care of his chosen.
They do not spare their lung nor old
Caledonia in the closing hymn. with
songs and honors sounding loud and
from the Westinghouse they 90 to their
homes to sit down to feast to the honor
of God and the land He has given them
"a feast at which one must eat judici-
ously if he expects to hold out to the
end. God bless the farms and farmers
of Vermont"