The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-02-19
AN EXCELLENT PLAN.
A Case of City Fever, and How II
Was Cured.

The work of the farmhouse was
over for the day; the children-with
the exception of the oldest son. who
had gone to the village-were in bed,
and in the big. comfortable kitchen
Farmer Hardwood. his wife. and his
wife's sister. Mrs. Lucas, were sitting
around a center-table. The farmer
was reading an agricultural paper, his
wife was putting a patch on the knee
of little Harry's diminutive knicker-
bockers. and Mrs. Lucas was crochet
ing 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 the corner, and the rustic OF
the farmers newspaper, and when
Mrs. Hardwood sighed deeply. both
her sister and husband looked up in
surprise.
whats the matter, Sarah?" asked
the latter. That sigh was the loud
est l ever heard you give. Has any
thing gone wrong? You look as if
you had big load on your mind"
81 have" answered his wife. And
it is load which you must share, Eli.
/ have borne it alone as. long as | can
bear it. There is 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
word.
''Going to leave the farmf" he re-
peated. at last. Sarah, you must be
dreaming"
Mrs. Hardwood shook her head
sadly.
81 wish | were," she said. No,
Eli, it is true. George has made up
his mind to leave US. / have noticed
for months past that he seemed dis
satisfied and restless. and since YOU
sold Vixen he has grumbled great
deal about the work and the dullness
of his life. And to-day | overheard
him say to Jasper Flint that he would
not be here a month from now; that
he bad 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"
We'll see about that" said the
farmer. angrily. Consent 10 it! |
rather think not! | won't consider il
for a moment. What would he De
worth a year from now if let him go?
He'd fall in with all sorts OF rascals in
the city, and get lis all into trouble.
Besides, ! need him here. It'll be ten
years, at least. before Harry can take
his place. and he's got to stay, if /
have to tie him down"
"Why don't you make him rant &c
stay. Eli?" asked the gentle voice OF
his sister-in-law.
IF he's got the city fever on him
all the talking in the world wouldn't
do any good" rejoined the farmer.
He wouldn't listen to a word"
''Donf talk. Don't let him ever
Suspect that yoa are aware of his de-
sire to leave you. Try a new plan.
Eli, plan have been thinking of all
day."
The best plan | know of is to tell
hin my mind freely. without any beat
ing about the bush; and the sooner its
done the better"
Now, Eli. don't be above taking
woman's advice. Let me tell you how
to deal with George. | have been
here three months now, and have
taken deep interest in the boy.
have seen his dissatisfaction, and rec
ognized the cause. | 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. and that
here he worked from dawn to dark. |
and was no better off at the end of
the year than at the beginning He
said that Tom Blythe, who is in a gro
Gerry store in the city, gets twelve dol
lars a week. and Tom Is only seven
teen. Now. IL you want George to
stay on the farm, give him an inter-
est in it Eli. Pie is eighteen years