Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-03-27

cherry trees loaded with just such
fruit as had furnished the table.
"What would our children say to
such a sightW exclaimed my wife.
81 will tell you just what you must
do" said Mrs. Evarns, "your hus-
band must leave you and Annie here
tonight, and come up again tomorrow
with the rest Of the children"
"Oh, do! Do mother" exclaimed
Annie, jumping up and clapping her
hands merrily.
"Wife you are extremely happy in
your suggestions" said Mr.. Evans.
"The thing is done and settled like
the laws of the Modes and Persians.
Pve got to stopping place in my
haying and shall do no more at it till
next week. l am so proud OF my lit
tie kingdom, and have so many things
to say and to show Mr.. Blanchard,
l can't do it in one day. Now, just
leave yourself in my hands, and see
if it don't all work right"
"Your humble servant" said l.
"You must not demur, madam"
said Mr.. Evans to my wife, as she
showed some signs of Directing to the
plan which was finally adopted.
In that garden were peas, beans,
tomatoes, lettuce, melons of many
varieties growing. Cucumbers, beets,
onions, and every other fruit or vege-
table to be found in any New Eng
land garden, and scarcely a weed to
be seen. The strawberry, raspberry
and blackberry patches were models
of their kind, as were the currant and
gooseberry bushes.
"One ofmy neighbors, Farmer Jenk-
ms" said Mr.. Evans, is one of the
richest men in the town, and of the
old-fashioned, old-time farmersof the
fogieSt kind, has for several years
sneered at my giving so much time
to the care of my garden and fruit.
He is queer looking man, withered
and shriveled in body, if not in soul,
in the scramble for money. Every
thing must give way to this one idea.
There is not thing in or about his
premises designed to make his home
attractive. His garden is a curiosity
as you will see when we ride past it.
Every year he has q large doctors
bill to pay for himself or some of the
family. He has but just recovered
from the effects of a fearful sore on
his right leg. The doctors thought
he would lose it, and his left one, too,
for while, but he pulled through
and saved both. His bills to the doc
tors amounted to eighty dollars, lost
in this way. The doctor told him his
troubles arose from his manner of liv-
ing. There is yourneighbor, Evans,
said he, who never has to call a doc
tor. His fruit keeps his family in
perfect health. If all farmers were
like him, we doctors would fare hard.
Fortunately for us, there are great
many very good farmers like you
who never have time to cultivate
fruit
"Old Jenkins took the hint from
this and came to me to get some OF
my cast-otf strawberry plants when
renew my beds. | told him he could
have all he wanted, but said 1,
they won't grow with you why
not" he asked. well, try and see,
said |. The weeds will grow thicker
than ever with him. He can't afford
the time to take care of them, but he
can pay doctors bills"
On our way to see that farm we
passed Jenkins establishment, and
found it even worse than Mr.. Evans
description.
When we came to the Squire An
drews farm, as it was called, was at
first somewhat disappointed. The
house was dingy and quite out of re.
pair, and yet it had wide, brCody
and kind of musty air about it. There
was the sound of sunny brook at nc
great distance, but the rank weeds
and bushes so choked and lined its
banks that it could not be seen. The
scenery around it was pleasant at first
view, and grew in attractiveness as
one marked it more particularly and
the location of the house was finely
chosen. Barn there was none, only
a long rambling shed, and building
that may have been in olden times 6
cider mill, but had of late been used
for different purposes. The barn, Mr.
Evans said, had been sold and moved
off, as it was nearly useless there in