The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-02-15
A ADVICE.

able kitchen Farmer Hardwood, his wife
and his wife's sister, Mrs. Lucas, were sit
ting around a centre-table. The farmer
was reading an agricultural paper, his wife
was putting a patch on the knee of little
Harry's diminutive knickerbockers, and
Mrs. Lucas was ~crocheting a hood of blue
and white zephyr for a small niece.
There was silence in the kitchen, save
for the swapping of the fire in the stove,
the ticking of the big eight-day clock in
newspaper. and when Mrs. Hardwood sigh
ed deeply, both her sister and husband
looked up in surprise.
whats the matter, .Sarah?" asked the
latter. THAT sigh was the loudest I ever
heard you give. Has any thing gone
wrong? You look as if You had a big load
on your mind"
Il have" answered his wife. 'And it
is a load which You must share, Eli. /
have borne it alone as long as 1 can bear
1t. There is a great trouble in store for
US, husband. George is going to leave the
farm"
The newspaper fell to the floor, and for
a moment the farmer looked at his wife,
too much surprised to utter a word.
"Going to leave the farml'' he repeated
at last. Sarah, you must be dreaming
Mrs. Hardwood shook her head sadly.
Il wish | We're, +" she said. "No, Eli. 1t
is true. George has made up his mind to
leave US. l have noticed for months past
that he seemed dissatisfied and restless,
and since you sold Vixen he has grumbled
a great deal about the work and the dull
ness of his life. And to-day I overheard
him say to Jasper Flint that he would not
be here a mouth from now; that he had had
enough of farm-life, and intended to leave:
and if we refused our consent to it, he
would run away. and take his chances.''
well see about that, said the farmer,
angrily. Consent to it. l rather think
not! | won't consider it for a moment.
What would he be worth a year from now
if | let him go? He'd fall in with all sorts
of rascals from the city, and get US into all
sorts of trouble. Besides, need him here.
It'll. be ten years, at least, before Henry
can take his place, and he's got to stay,
if | have to tie him DOWN.
'sWhy don't you make him want to stay,
Eli?" asked the gentle voice of his sister
in-law.
eff he's got the city fever on him, all the
talking in the world wouldn't do any good,m
~rejoiped the farmer. Gle wouldn't listen
to a word"
Don't talk. Don't let him ever suspect
that you are raj Of his desire to leave
you. Try a new plan, Eli, a plan I have
been thinking OF all day"
"The best plan | know of is to tell him
my mind freely, without any beating about
the bush; and the sooner its done the bet
teri
Now, Ell, don't be above taking a wo-
mans advice. Let mi tell you how to deal
with George. have been here three months
now, and have taken a deep interest in the
boy. | have seen his dissatisfaction and
recognized She cause. l have overheard
him talking to Jasper Flint more than once
and only yesterday | heard him say that if
he went to the city what he earned would
be his own, but here he worked from
dawn to dark, and was no better off at the
He said that Tom Blythe, who is in a
grocery store in the city, gets twelve dol
lars a week, and Tom is only seventeen.
Now, if yon wan George to stay on the
farm, give him an interest in it, Eli. He
is eighteen years old, and has worked faith
fully for you ever since he could talk plain
~. He has had his food and lodging and
two suits of clothes a year, to be sure, but
all that he actually owns is that colIy dog
which is always at his heels. You even
sold the only horse you had that was fit
the saddle. And George was extra
ordinarily fond of Vixen"
at seemed a pity to keep a horse that
no one but George ever rode" said the far
mer, 'and she was too light for work. I'm
a poor man, Hester, and can't afford play
for my children"
you can better afford to keep an extra
horse than to have your son leave, Eli.
Whom could you get who would take the
interest in the work which George doess
rave thought it only right that George
should do his share toward running the
farm, and have considered your duty done
in giving him a home. You are disposed to
think him ungrateful because he wants to
you, now that every year makes his
more valuable. But the boy is
ambitious. and is not satisfied to travel in
a circle. He wants to max some head
way. And it is only NATURAL
The farmer leaned his head on his hand,
a look Of deep thought ON his grave,
weather-beaten face. His gentle sister-in-
plain speaking had given rise to
thoughts which had never before entered
his mind.
II believe you're more'n half right, Hes
he said at last. ON think it all
over tonight, and make up my mind what
to do. I'd be lost here without George,
and he shan't leave the farm, if can help
it"
Force won't keep him, Eli, remember
- and Mrs. Lucas. feeling that she