Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-12-05
Going To Leave The Farm.


of the eldest son. who had gone to the vii
lage-were in bed. and in the big comfort
able kitchen Farmer Hardwood. his wife,
and his wife's sister, Mrs. Lucas, were sit
ting around a center table. The farmer
was reading the paper, his wife was put
ting 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 the
corner, and the rustic of the farmers news
paper. and when Mrs Harewood sighed
deeply, both her sister and husband looked
up in surprise.
Whats the matter, Sarahf" asked the
latter. THAT sigh was the loudest ever
heard you give Has anything gone wrongf
You look as though you had big load on
your mind"
II have" answered his wife. and it
is load which you must share, Eli; have
borne it alone as long as l 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, and for
moment the farmer looked at his wife, too
much surprised to utter word.
''Going to leave the farm!" he repeated
at last. Sarah, you must be dreaming"
Mrs. Harewood shook her head sadly
Il wish l 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 dissatisfied and restless,
and since you sold Vixen he has grumbled
great deal about the work, and the dull
ness of his life. And to-day l heard him
say to Jasper Flint that he would not be
here a month 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, md take his chances"
''Well see about that" said the farmer,
angrily. Consent to it! l rather think
not! l won't consider it for moment.
What would he be worth year from now
if let him go' He'd fall in with all sorts
of rascals in the city, and get us all into
trou bic. Besides need him here It'll
be 10 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 want to stay,
Elf" 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"
Don't talk Don't let him ever suspect
that you are aware of his desire to leave
you. Try new plan, Eli, plan I've been
thinking of all day"
"The best plan l know of is to tell him
my mind freely, without any beating
around the bush; and the sooner it's done
the better"
"Now, Eli, don't be above taking a
advice. Let me tell you how to
deal with George. / have been here three
months now, and have taken d deep in
terest in the boy. l have seen his dissatis
faction and recognized the cause. 1 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 that
here he worked from dawn to dark, and
was no better off at the end of the yea
than at the beginning. He said that Tom
Blythe, who is in grocery store in the
city, gets $l2 week, and Tom is only II.
Now, if you want George to stay on the
farm, give him an interest in it, Eli. He
is Is years old, and has worked faithfully
for you ever since he could talk plain. He
has had his food and lodging, and two
suits of clothes year, to be sure, but all
that he actually owns is that collie dog
at his heels. You even sold the only horse
you had that was fit for the saddle. And
George was extraordinary fond of Vixen"
at seemed a pity to keep horse that
no one but George ever rode" said the
farmer, ''and she was too light for work.
IN 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 you, Eli.
W hom could you get who would take the
interest in the work George hast You have
thought it only right that George should
do his share toward running the farm, and
have considered your duty done in giving
him home. You are disposed to think
him ungrateful because he wants to leave
you now that every year his services more
But the boy is 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 hand,
a look of deep thought on his grave
weather-beat face. His gentle sister-in-
laws plain speaking had given rise to
thoughts which had never before entered
his mind.
81 believe you're more than half right,
Hester" he said at last "Tll think it all
over tonight, and make up my mind what
to do. I'd be lost here without George,
and he sha'n't leave the farm if can help
it,"
Force won't keep him, Eli, remember
that" said Mrs. Lucas, feeling that she had
said enough, folded up ber work, and tax
ng up lamp from a shelf by the stove,
went upstairs to her own room.
Just at daybreak she was reused from
sound sleep by the sound of horses hoofs
n the yard, and looking out of the window
she saw Eli trotting away on old Roam.
'Where can he be going at this hourf"
she thought.
When she went down stairs at 6 o'clock
George was standing by the kitchen table,
having just come in with two full pals of
milks. His face wore a discontented, un-
happy look, and he merely nodded in
return for his aunt's CHEEKY good morn
ng."
A few minutes later his father entered,
but George, who had gone to one of the
and was looking out dejectedly,
did not even glance up.
"You were out early, Eli" said Mrs. |
Lucas. Il heard you ride away at day
break"
eyes, | went to Pine Ridge on matter |
If business"
That's where you sold Vixen, papa,
sn't iti' asked little Harry, and Mrs. |