The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-01-12
Select StOrg.
A woMAN's ADVICE.

for the day: the children-with the exeep-
ton of the oldest son, who had gone to the
villace-were in bed, and in the biz, con-
Portable kitchen Farmer Hardwood, hls
wife aud his wife's sister, Mrs Lucas, were
sitting around eeEtre-table. The Farmer
was reading an agricultural paper, his wife
was putting patch on the knee of little
Harry's diminutive kniekerbockers, and
Mrs. Lucas was erOcheting 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 eigh,-day clock in the
corner, aud the rustic Of the farmer news
paper. and when Mrs. Hardwood sighed
deeply. both her sister and husband looked
up IN surprise
Whats the matter SARAH asked the
the latter. That sigh was the loudest |
ever heard you give Has anything gone
wrong? You look as if you bad big load
on your mind.
II have answered his wife. And II
Is lead which you must share, Eli, | have
borne il alone as long as | can bear It
There is great trouble in store for us, hus-
band--George Is going to leave the farm.
The newspaper fell to the floor, aud for
A momeut the farmer looked At his wife,
too much surprised 10 utter a Wcri.
Going to leave the farm be repeated
at last. Sarah. yoa must be dreaming
Mrs. Harewood shook her head sadly
Il wish | were. she said. No, Eli, II
IS true. George has made up his mind TO
leave Us. | have noticed for months past
that he seemed dissatisfied aud restless, and
since you sold Vixen he has gTumbled
a great deal about the work. and the dull.
ness Of his life. Aud to-day heard him
say TO Jasper Flint that he would not b here
= month FROM now, that be had had enough
Of fsrm life, and intended 10 leave, and II
We refused cur consent 10 1t he would run
away, and take his ehancs.
"we'll see about that, said the farmer,
angrilv. Consent TO is, rather think
not / wont consider il for moment
What would be be worth year from now
If | let him. .gog He'd fAIl in with ali sorts
Of raseals 10 the city and get u all into
trouble. Besides, | need him here hh
be ten years, a: least, before Harry eau
take bis placs, aud he's gci TO LAY, if
have TO tie him down
why doat you make him want 10 stay
EligH asked the gentle voice Of his sister
in-lsw
III he's got the city fever on him all
the talking in the world wouldn't do any
good, reiOined the farmer. He wouldo
listen 10 a word
Don't talk. Dent lc, him ever sus-
pect that you are aware Of his desire te
leave you. Try = new plan, Iii, plan
have been thinking Of all day.
The best plan know Of Is 70 tell him
my mind freely, without any beating about
/ the bush; and the sooner a's done the
I better
+ aNow, Eli, don't be above taking wo
mans advice. Let me tell you how TO dea
with George. | have been here threc
months now, and have taken deep inter
est in the boy have seen his dlssaiis
faction. and recognized the cause. have
overheard him talking to Jasper Flint nor'
ti9An once. and only yesterday | heard hin
say that If he went 20 the city what he
earned would be his own. bat that here h'
worked from dawn TO dark, aud was N
better of at the end 9f the year than at tn
beginning. he said that Tom Blythe, wh'
Is in a grocery store in the city gets twelv'
dollars a week, and Tom Is only seventeen
Now, If YOU want George to stay on tn
farm, give him an interest in it, Eh. III
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 tw,
suits Of clothes year, 10 be sure, but al
he actually owns is that cOlly dog whicl
Is always at his heels You even sold tn
only horse you had that was fit for'the sad
die. And George was extraordinary font
of Vixen.
1T seemed Pity to keep horse tina
no one but George ever rode, said th
farmer. s'and she was too light for work
I'm poor man, Hester, and can't affor
playthings for my children.
IYou can better afford to keep an extr
horse than have your son to leave you, I'll
Whom could you get who would take tn
interest 10 the work that George does
You have thought it only right that Georg
should do his share toward running tn
farm. and have considered your duty done
. giving him home You are disposed I
think him ungrateful because be wants t
leave you now that every year makes h
service more valuable. But the boy
ambitious, and is not satisfied to travel in
circle. He wants to make SOME headway
And it is only natural.
The farmer leaned his head on his hanC
a look of deep thought on his grave weatf
er-beaten face. His gentle sister-in-law
plain speaking had given rise to thought
! which had never before entered his mine
II believe you're NOR n half right, He
! ter" he said at last 'Tll think it all owe
tonight, and make up my mind what to d
I'd be lost here without George, and b
shan't leave the farm if | can help it.
Force won't keep him, Eli, remembC
that" and Mrs. Lucas feeling that she ma
said enough, folded up her work, and takin
up lamp from a shelf by the stove, wen
up stairs to her own room.
Just at day-break she was reused fror
a sound sleep by thesound of horse boo
in the yard, and looking out of the windo
she saw Eli trotting away on old Roam.
"Where can he be going at this hour
, she thought.
: When she went down stairs at SIX o clocI
George was standing near the kitchen tabl
having Just come in with two full pals