The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
THE JAYBiRD FARM.
The story of Foolish and Unfortunate
Farmer.

IN iAhp Il AAANMs
The Story OF Foolish and Unfortunate
Farmer
From the Griffin GA News
A Nce reporter stepped into the ordi-
nary's Office and asked Judge Hammond
II he had anything to remark. The judge
turned his bcnignant countcnancc and
said:
Eyes, young man, | have. II Is this;
"Sincc the world began man has suffer
cd from disposition TO be dissatisfied, and
then striking ont in the dark trusting to
luck and chances, rather than to arrive at
a proper conclusion, which he might we'll
do by reasoning iiom cause TO effect, for
getting that II is better 20 bear those lis
We have than TO fly TO others We know not
Of How many times in your own expo.
ricncc have you known men who would
not be satisfied with wha,lthcy had, and
made matters worse by attempting unad-
viscdly 20 mend their Affairs, and find
that they had made a mistake and
were IN worse condition than ut
! irt? II seems that we are all prone Ia
| fall into the common error Of not letting
| well enough alone The old woman
is constantly met with who had the hci
that laid the golden egg every day an,
killed the hen 10 get all the eggs nj one
and discovered that she had committed !
sad mistake In destroying the fountain and
| source Of her wealth. Men who arc con.
trollcd byan unhealthy ambition frequently
rush on 90 goal high above that Ia which
their fellows have attained, aud when
they have reached the highest peak IN
| sight must nj least pause, painting on IL
summit, wrciched 20 find that there is
nothing but n barren waste beyond and
dizzy when they look back 10 the fertile
plains which they have left iar below un.
able TO 90 forward and ashamed 10 90
back. Then they kccnly regret that they
did not leave well enough alone
These remarks have been suggested 10y
my acquaintance with gentleman not
many miles away. He resided ON beau.
tiiul farm, which was fertile and produc-
tive, elegantly located, well timbercd AMI
well watcred, with proper proportions Of
bottom and upland, meadow aud wood.
land, orchards and vineyards, ~ that his
| crib, barns, cellar and smokc-houscs were
always well filed. Providence had indeed
smiled upon him aud surrounded him
with peace and plenty. Ills sons were in
tcligcnt and manly, his daughters lovely
and fair. A few ycars ago lac had been
watching the habits OF the inybirds,
which seemed 20 take a peculiar fancy h.
a grove of original forest oaks In front OF
his handsome residence. They congrr-
gated there in large numbers, they prcycd
upon his cherries and berries, his beans
and peas. They would break up the nests
Of other birls unfortunately by ealing
their egg-, and would even attack and
dcyour. the young oi other birds. Ono
DAY when he was much irclicd NJ the
wicked doprcdniions Of these pcs,iicfOus
jay birds an old supcrtitious negro fortune
teller told him 10 beware Of thcn iayhirls,
that they were cmissafics oi the devil,
and every Friday they carried lightWo0d
knots 10 hell. ", The farmer was doing we'll
ut this time, but without counting Tie cost
or calculating the consequences, be ~.
/ solved that lac would cxtcrminniu this mis-
chicyous jaybirl family, and made Il lis
daily business and pleasure 10 shoot these
pests; aud II seemed that the more ho
! killed the more they increased. FROM the
frt lac had mn eye 10 business and con-
cludcd that ho would have some wmuncr.
alton, and perhaps profit, i1r his anmuni.
/ ton aud trouble, and for the damage the
! inybirds had done. ~ lac decided that he
| would icrlilizo his garden with the dead
! birds. lie had four trenches dug, each
/ 100 yards long Each day the fmnci
would plant his dead jaybirds and cover
them, leaving their tails sticking ont like
~ many hcadsioncs 10 their gm,cs, and
when he had filled his four trenches b was
q unique spectacle 10 look nj those long,
straight lines Of blue feathers slashcd with
black aud white sticking out Of the ground.
The farmers idea was lot the birds ~ de-
cay and thus ipnilizc the ground 10 he
could plant seed in the same rows next
spring So be- kept the rows clear ol weeds
aud grass. Eary next spring be- was sur
! priscd 10 scc strange growth grow mp
| from these rows aud concluded 10 allow
| the growth 10 remain and develop into
what IL would. The plants grew rapidly
/ and assumed the colos Oi the iaybird
plumage. At last the bloom came IN the
flashing coloB Of the jayhird, making a
! beautiful flower The farmer M he
thought, now saw the road 10 fortune and
fame thrown wide open, aud lao advertised
extensively that lac hal originated now
and beautiful acquisition 10 the floral
world, and named " "lIluc Jay Plant. Z"
The il0ricullursis andnuperymcn and Low.
ors Of the marvellous aud beautiful flockcd
from all parts Of the country 70 examine
and admire this new wonder and invested
thousands oi dollars In cuttings from the
Glue Jas Plant" The farmer believed
lac had found the end Of the rainbow,
where he might illl bag with gold. lie
VAC offered ENORMOUS sums Tor his iarm,