St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-09
FARMERS HOMES.
In Southern Minnesota They Show
Prosperity and Refinement.

Prosperity and Refinement.
Special Letter to the Globe.
FOUNTAIN, Mimi, April 3.-Judging
farmers as they appear coming into
town they are, as a rule, very well to
do; at least they are comfortably clothed,
neat as one could ask them to be,
and their families are finely dressed.
No one could fail to notice that, with it
all, they are also very intelligent-lOOk-
ing, many with the air of pride all over
their appearance; the pride that all
persons can and may possess without
being liable to cef1SOriouS criticism, and
the inward consciousness of being free
and independent citizens of these
United States.
For two years / have resided in
Southern Minnesota, and in that time
| have noted these farmers as [ met
them, or saw them pass my house, and
l have seen the homes of some of them,
and, perhaps, nearly all of them, and l
wonder they are not very proud of their
farms and make them more like "a
thing of beauty and a JOY forever"
True, it requires Work-hard work, too
maybe an expenditure of money; but
it will pay; pay in its beauty and salts
faction: and these farmers, with their
families, could not help but en-
Joy the change, and the money value
of the farm would be much enhanced.
If there is no taste for floral decoration
of these natural half circles that incl0Se
the houses, there could be grown
small fruits that always sell at good
prices, and all expense would be re-
turned to the farmers pockets in good
time. All small fruits would flourish
In, ,rio ,,fI
they are sheltered as most of these are
On the north and west with mostly
southerly exposure, and it seems to me
that the harder apple trees might be
planted on the fiat, OF nearly flat
grounds that do not look very inviting
in their present condition.
In and around small villages in Wis
conSin eastern part particularly the
farmers are the aristOcracy, and why
not the same conditions in Minnesota?
All came West for farm and perma-
nent home. This was their object,
and when obtained it was their
pride to have beautiful home.
Where nature had done something
toward having it, the farmers were not
slow toward improving what offered
such advantages. Every hour Of time to
be had from other labor was used in
Dcdutlly Ing IHt SIOuuuS dIOuIlu uIlC
house and outbuildings. Intelligence
with some people, study with others,
have made class of farmers that live
in ease and have splendid surroundings;
and they are an unpretending class OF
people, too.
The same results can be accomplished
by any farmer having a disposition to
work for it. True, it is not the work of
one day, but every hour expended in
such work is permanent investment
when well done. It's not the same thing
over and over every day, but is lasting
and growing better all the time. Every
tree set out should be set for it's natural
lifetime; every flower and shrub and
vine should be set out in place that is
to be its home while it lives, and, when
once done well, you will never be sorry
or regret the work or money expended,
but, although you may notsee it at first,
time will tell you so in the end.
Mrs. MARTHA CRANDALL.