Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-12-11
STANDARD MEANWHILE TENNESSEE SATURDAY, DEC H. 1886


her at this point. But this undertake
ing was almost a life and death mat
ter with her, for the children's inter-
est were so deeply involved. So with
the help of her two little boys she
performed her entire Spring work,
except the blowing and narrowing
which she hired.
The writer of this saw her many
times that Spring with crowbar and
ak in hand building fences, and doing
the hard and varied work necessary
on the farm. Although this labor
saved money it brought in none, and
as Spring advanced and their little
supply grew smaller each week, Mrs.
Brown grew much troubled.
One morning, in early June, she
sat at the window sewing, while two
men stopped at her pump to get a
drink. Although near them she was
screened from view by boughs and
vines; so she overheard their re-
marks: "What a beautiful location
this isl" said one; 'just a capital
place for summer boarders."
"Fine," said the other. "Look
what grand old trees. Only think of
swinging under them during the heat
of July and August"
They drove on, but they had plant
ed seed for thought in Mrs. Browns
mind. Her reasoning was thus!
"Why can't l take two or three
boarders this summer, to bridge me
over the tight place Pm in? 1t will
help to support my family, hire my
hard farm work, while can devote
my time to the house, Her house
was large enough, everything clean
and healthy, but plain and unpre-
tentious. She knew those summer
ing for fashion would not want such
a place; so after considering the mat
ter carefully, this advertisement went
to daily paper in the nearest large
city: ga plain widow, in plain
country home, would like two plain
common sense boarders for the sea-
SON."
An hour after the paper containing
that advertisement left the press, it
was eagerly scanned by two women,
cousins. One was an invalid, with a
small legacy to draw from, the other
a seamstress. They were anxious to
leave the city, and as this advertise
ment seemed suited to their condi-
tons, a letter was addressed to Mrs.
Brown.
In few days they were installed
in her home, where they remained
until October.
This was a great aid to the family
during the summer. Enough was
saved to purchase another COW, and
butter-making was their chief means
of support during the winter. The
next Spring some calves, which were
sold for veal, added to their income.
A good breed of fowls wereintrduced
at this time, and poultry raising re-
ceived prominent attention.
The same Spring Mrs. Brown sub
scribed for two agricultural papers.
She profted by the experience and
intelligence ofothers. Shealso learned
much by her own experience. The
first year was the hardest. Each sue
ceeding year, under intelligentman-
agement, the little farm has paid bet
ter. The boys are now old enough to
perform the work. Everywhere on
the place improvements are visible,
A more contented, industrious and
pleasant family one could not find.
1t is almost needless to moralize on
this sketch. Compare the results
with what it would have been had
the needle been her only defense
against the wolf at the door, or had
her children been scattered, with NJ
purifying influence, and no mothers
care, while her time was spent il
servitude for others; or worse thar
all, had she taken up life of drudg
cry in the hardest and most thankles;
of all positions, that of a village
clearinghouse keeper!