The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-09-11


ssssss o. II the farm is isr sale. would bny
il IL the price is net toe high. asd pay for il
~ iasi ~ ha csuld. Il an The yousg mas
above referred 10 and ny Aaaseis.
''CHAnLRs ErnRAn wfSprA'
A fortnight later received the fsllsv.
ing characteristics letter from Mr.. smith
well, Charles EpArain. l have re-
eeived your rather odd letter. That farm
which you ssen 10 have taken possession
oi-has cos. ne ever s7oO in several WAYS
But any man who viii pay me $3.50 for il.
to HIM ! will give iull possession.
I dc no. suppose yos have csnt 10 pay
me; but IL is not much ass for ne 10 srder
ysu of. for ysu will stay II you have .
mind 10. unless I take the trouble to
cons mp, or ssnd up. and drive you, Of,
aud ! shsa I do that 80. 70 ahssd. Charles
Ephrsim; plant and sew Aad reap 10 your
hearts ssntsnt this year and Whenever
yen can raise the $50. the OLD farm il
yours. And II you are 10 earnest lsAich
! dost bslievs) wish you success.
Dawn c. SIXTH"
Whessver l felt blus. I used 10 sst sut
thst letter ssd havss lsush. The farmers
about we're pev doing their springs work
planting and sowing and borrowed
a neighbour OK team to plov three acres OF
the old stubble ground, paying for the
use Of the team by my own labor.
1t was ell hard work. Every fair day
Was day Of toll. fused TO sleep like
log there in my straw. But. somehew.
began to enjoy il; the world looked bright
er. After my crops were in the ground
msndsd ths fences about the fields and
the heuse; aad worked out and got new
glass panss for the windows. These set
myself on rainy days.
By June tho people began 10 treat me as
afriend and neighbor. Indeed. they com.
nenosd, laughinsly, to call me their new
neighbor" At first, coming among them
as / did, they distrusted me. But when
they saw that l was not afraid to take hold
and work, and that I really meant bust.
ness, they turned about and treated me
like fellow citizen. was shown 3 great
many kindly fsvors.
1t was no great task to do my swn work
in hosing; and was able to work out
enough to purchase set Of haying tools,
consisting of scythe, snath, fork and rake.
For there was a telerable coed crop Of
grass in the fields and down in the mead
ow, which resolved to secure TO the last
straw. began my hayiug on the first
day Of July. For three weeks worked
early and late. / had no team for drawing
the hay into the barn. Every pound Of it
l hauled in myself, on a little track"
which / rugged upon pair Of old carriage
wheels that found abandoned beside the
read. In these three weeks I got in about
nine tons. Seven tons Of this hay l sold
the following wiatsr. in the village pins
miles bslow. for $78. Ibid every stroke Of
the work alone and unailed and after that
/ worked out at huying eight days at 81. 25
per day.
My oats were now ready to harvest.
This occupied me about week; and when
the thrsshing machine came into the neigh.
bothood about fortnight latter had my
crop threshed out After deducting toll
/ had 60 bushels
l then made trade with Mr.. Cummings
and traded G0.bushsls OF oats for one OF his
cows; and Mrs. c. threw into the bar.
gain milk pail and four tin pans. This
was my first Investment in live stock.
After that had plenty Of new milk. and
also butter which churned myself in
20 cent earthsu pot. But l did not lot
anyone else see or know Of my dairying
process.
On the Oath day OF September began
digging my potatoes; and from my we'll
dressed field dug Ill bushels Of as hand.
some Early Rose potatoes as one wsuld
wish to see.
Ipicksd out barrel Of the very bsst
and sent them to "Old Man Smith in
In January / chopped ten cords OF wood
for Mr.. Cummings and in payment had
his OK team to draw my hay down 10 the
village where | marketed it. After re.
ceiving the money, wrote again to Mr..
Smith telling him that was now ready to
make payment Of s75 on the farm. The
business Of "doing the writings. as they
call it in the country. was entrusted, on
his part, to = lawyer in the village, named
Robertson. To him paid the money and
received deed Of the farm, but gave my
note secured, by mortgage, for the sec.
ond payment Of s75 in one year.
l have a motive in writing this plain
little narrative, In New England, in New
York state and in tho West, there are
scores, yes, hundreds and Thousands Of
abandoned farms like the one came to
my first night in. To the hundreds Of
homeless persons young aad old. in the
,itiss, these deserted farms offer homes,
md they may be improved
During the second year paid my note
'or s75 with interest and took up the mort.
gage.