Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-04-02
Old Times.


doing good work; the furrow slices We're
look at him-such little chap driving his
own team! The old maxim
SHE that by the pillow would thrive
Must either hold ar drive,'-
came to my mind. That was good enough
fifty ears ago, with such plows as were in
use at that time. The best plows were made
mostly of wood; the share was of iron or
steel: but the moldbOard was wood with
strips of thin iron nailed on lengthwise, to
make the dirt slip off. 1t used TO be quite
an industry for the farmers in the Eastern
States to split out plow-beams and mold
boards, during the winter, for the piow-
makers. The mold-boar6S were split from
twisted tress with crooked froe to cores
pond with their shape. The first cast-lron
pillow ever saw was just before coming west;
father bought one on trial. After using 1t
few days, he was so well pleased with 1t that
he bough two, which we brought TO Mis-
souri,. The first plows l ever saw in the
West were the old bar-share, bul-tOngue,
and shovel pillow. If l had the one l first
held i'm the west, / could make small for
tune at ten cents sight. No man could
hold one of those plows and drive: there's
where the maxim applied, for it needed a
man to hold and a boy to drive, and it kept
the holder busy at that. The pillow, like all
other things, has been SO improved that you
would hardly believe they were related, but
all the improvements come by little. Next
We had the peacock pillow, with an iron mold
board; then the Jewit, and so on down with
- I.
til the chilled pillow seems the thing now.
In old times we had to depend on home
manufacture for the pillow. You could not
stop at the first store you came to and find
half dozen kinds, painted in the most gaudy
colors, with extra pieces, so that broken
parts could be replaced. Fifty years ago
there were but two places west of the Mis-
sissippi where iron wa, made, one between
Caledonia and Potosi, and one at Cedar
Greek. If you wanted a new pillow, you went
to the forge and ordered one made, which
was piece of iron hammered out in the
shape of heart, with piece of bar iron,
like a handle two feet long. to be cut off, out
of which the coulter was made, and short
piece at the point, to be made into bolts.
This was taken to the blacksmith and made
into pillow. Those plows were nice to work
in new ground, among the stumps and roots.
Now the young men and boys would think
farming was not very easy calling, but
remember everything must have Il beginning;
we can't have everything just as we want it,
until we make it so. Let me tell you young
men who are just starting in life, after you
have chosen you profession, don't give up
hoa 10 H. ard al pa N
man can get an honest living in idleness. l
have seen boys start out in life, with nothing
but good robust constitution anda will to
do, come out way ahead of Those who had
plenty to start with. There was a family,
long ago, who lived in one of the little core>
of this valley. They were very poor; there
were three or four boys in the family whoip
we used to hire by the day, for they worked
well. One Of the boys, about sixteen years
old, had earned little money-enough TO
buy colt and some pigs. He then squatted
on a piece of land and built cabin. Next,
he found a girl who was not afraid to work,
and married her; this was in the fall. The
next spring we wanted him to work few
DAYS. l found him breaking up corn ground
with that two-year- old colt and light bull
tongue pillow of his own make. The harness,
too, was his own handiwork. The result
was, that in the fall he had good crop of
corn, vegetables of all kinds, with pork and
corn to sell. So much for industry and per-
severance.
don't wish you young men to think L
have turned preacher; no, but see so many
young men, or boys, rather, looking out for
some easy place to make money fast; so
ready to abandon the farm. Is not farming
one of the oldest callings: suppose the
farmers clothes are coarse boots and over
alls; are not his home and surroundings his
own? Does not the farmer hold as respect
able position as any of the professions!
Whose table can be better supplied with
breads, meats, fresh vegetables, fruits, ETC.,
than the farmers? If he does not have them,
it is his own fault. If he pays his taxes, the
manufactures may shut down, railroads cut
down wages--they can not cut his wages, or
turn him out of his home. He ought to sing
'Home, home, sweet home,
There's no place like home,"
with more enthusiasm than many do.
And then the farmer, with his broad acres,
good buildings, kind, loving wife, sons and
daughters, brought up to lives of usefulness,
with accomplishments and retinements,
should he not feel that peace of mind that
comes from right living, and be thankful for
the blessings sent him each day?
Maybe some of the young men ask, "Do
you think it is good to marry early!" That
depends upon circumstances. If you have
arrived at legal age, farmer, and can find
girl willing to take the management of your
household affairs, / say, yes. The good book
SAYS cit is not good for man to be alone;"
it also says He first made man, and then
woman to be help meet.
Now, know a man cannot successfully
carry on farm alone; he, if anyone, needs
a help meet while he provides for the wants,
it is the wife who looks after them-that
saves while he earns. The wise man said,
"Who can find virtuous woman; for her
price is far above rubies. The heart of her
husband doth safely trust in her, so that he
hath no need of spoil" So you see ii is not
a light thing for one TO take upon oneself
the marriage rite. Marriage is 4 sacred as
we'll as civil rite. But to the young man who
Is not able to care for himself, or lacks ener-
CIV to make living, or wishes to marry to
be supported by his wife, say, no.
There is another thing look at with anX-
iety: who are to- be the owners of this fair
land. If all the sons of the parents who Tough:
for the liberty of this country, abandon the
land to fill little places where few dollars
are the reward? Are you going to let this