Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-12-11
nGa!ng to Leave The Fam. |"


ception OF the eldest son, who had gone
TO the village-were In bed, and In the
big comfortable kitchen Farmer Hare
wood, his wife, and his wife's sister,
Mrs. Lucas, were sitting around GEN.
ter-table. The farmer was reading the
paper, his wife was putting patch on
the knee Of little Harry's diminutlve
knickerbockers, and Mrs. Lucas was
crocheting a hood of blue and white
zephyr for a small neiee.
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.
Harewood sighed deeply, both her Sis
ter and husband looked up In surprise.
"What's the matter, Sarah?" asked
the latter. "That sigh was the lOudest
/ ever heard you give. Has anything
gone wrong? You look as though you
had a big load on your mind"
81 have" answered his wife. "And
II is load which you must share, Eli;
/ have borne it alone as long as can
bear 1t. THERE'S great trouble in store
for US, husband-George is going to
leave the farm" t{t&f ffG ]
The newspaper fell to the floor, and
for moment the farmer looked at his
wife, too much surprised to utter a
word.
"Going to leave the farm!" he re-
peated at last. "Sarah you must be
dreaming"
Mrs. Hardwood shook her head sad
"I wish were" she said. ''No, Eli,
1t 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 dullness of his life. And
to-day 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. and take his chances"
"We'll see about that, said the farm
er. 'Consent to It! rather think not!
I won't consider it for a moment. What
would he be worth year from now If
1 let him go? He'd fall in with all sorts
of rascals in the city, and get US 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 I
have to tie him down."
"Why don't you make him want to
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"
"Don't talk. Don't ever let him
suspect that you are aware of his desire
to leave you. Try a new plan. Eli, a
plan I have been thinking of all day."
"The best plan l know of is to tell
him my mind freely, without any beat
ing about 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. l have been here
three months now, and have taken a
deep interest in the boy. I have seen
his dissatisfaction and recognized the
cause. I 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 year than at the
beginning. He said that Tom Blythe,
who Is in grocery store in the city,
gets $12 a week, and Tom Is only II.
Now, if you want George to stay on the
farm, give him an interest in 1t, Eli.
He is eighteen years old and has work
ed faithfully for you ever since he could
talk plain. He had his food and lodg-
Ing and two suits of clothes a year, to
be sure, but all that he actually owns
ls that collie dog which is always at his
heels. You even sold the only horse
you had for the saddle. And George
was extraordinary fond of Vixen.n
sit seemed pity to keep horse
that no one but George ever rode" said
the farmer, land she was too light for
work. am poor man, Hester, and
can't afford playthings for my child
ren.m y Fs' tSf34aIyg ltf ~
"You can better afford to keep an ex-
ira horse than to have your son leave
you, Eli. Whom could you get that
would take the interest in the work that
OCOlkO udb' 1Ou A0SC Shuu6As ~ Ou-
y right that George should do his share
toward running the farm, and have
your duty done in giving
him a home. You are disposed to
think him ungrateful because he wants
10 leave you now that every year makes
mis- services more valuable. But the
boy is ambitious and is not satisfied to
travel in circle. He wants to make
'ome headway. And 1t is only natural. I"
The farmer leaned his head on his
hand, a look of deep thought on his
grave weather-beate face. His gentle
plain speaking had given
rise to thoughts which had never be-
fore entered his mind.
II believe you are more than half
right, Hester" he said at last. "Tll
Shink it all over tonight, and make up
my mind what to do. I'd be lost here
George and he shan't leave the
farm if can help it,"
"Force won't keep him Eli, remem-
Der that said Mrs. Lucas, feeling that