Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-04
A Model Farmer.

Near the city of Rutland, VT, is the
celebrated farm of Gen. Bachus, who has
expended fortune in order to give a
| sample of the perfection to which the art
of farming can be carried. A man once
asked him, Gen. Bachus does it payp"
| The General cast contemptuous glance
at him and replied haughtily, "Do | owe
you anythingP It's my own money that
spend"
But within sixteen miles of the city of
Rutland, there is another farmer of very
different style, but quite as much model,
who can answer more satisfactorily the
question. docs it pav?" His history is one
OF interest.
He started life where a good many New
England farmers boys do. without a dol
lar, his only fortune being good constitu-
ton. strong body and a cheerful, deter
mined spirit. He commenced work for
himself at eighteen. His father bad never
| given him the advantages of even COM
mon school education, and the first dav
that he began to support himself he deter
mined to repair this deficiency. He hired
out at a place for the winter, where, by
working early and late, he could pay for
his board, while he had the day time to
attend school: and once in school he
worked as remembering that he was work
! ing for a lifetime.
At u he married. And, since a man 5
fortunes often depend more upon his wife
than upon his own qualifications tor sue
cess it must not be omitted that his wife was
helpmeet in every sense of the word
She was, Ike himself, strong and well,
of cheerful temperament, ambitious and
willing to pay with hard work for her de-
termination to advance. By constant et-
fort and close economy they succeeded,
after a few years. in laying aside 81, 900.
and with only this much of capital. thev
purchased the farm which was to be their
home tor life. 1t was just at the close of
the war, and all real estate stood at such
high figures that a farm which would sat
isfy the young mans ideas and possibility
OF payment was hard to find. But at last
he purchased one of $50 acres and assum-
ed debt for the same of nearly So. 900.
which was to be wrested from dlapida-
ted soil, besides the support of himself
and family. The house. sheds and barn
were Old and crazy as drunkard's habi-
tation, and the only agents in the uphill
struggle were the strong hands, heart and
will of the young couple.
There were things to recommend the
farm to his eve, and he saw possibilities in it
which were unseen to his neighbors, who
were most liberal in cpthets which were
characteristic of their ideas of his folly.
1t was much to him that the mellow Law
all on one side of the road, and buildings.
uplands, woods AMI pastures upon the
other. for calculated at once that he would
be saved all the expense and labor OF
building and repairing fences.
AT the further edge of the
meadow ran broad stream, and though
its swampy and bush overgrown borders
ran far up into the grass land, his pro-
phetic eye could discern how the bushes
could be exterminated; the muck-hole
drained and its contents being spread
over the waste, gravelly. unproductive
land would turn all into green and fertile
meadow. He saw all this, but wisely
held his peace and listened in silence to
the derision OF his neighbors.
This was 80 years ago. Since then
three children have been born to them.
who have all received fair education and
are now well settled in life The farm
was paid tor MANY years ago. When that
was done the old farm house disappeared
and in its place now stands fine dwelling
OF Is rooms with bathroom, hot and cold
water and the modern Improvements. A
new barn has been built an adjoining farm
OF W acres has been bought and $4,000