The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-11
NBNKITTRICK ON FARMING.

ing but what had heard from people who
delighted in ridiculinR it's Independence, as
well as looking at it from serious stand
point, in order to prove it q comic occupa-
tion. knew very we'll that Horace and
Washington had titled the soil, and that it
would be nobler to farm with them th an to
ridicule farming with number of we'll
meaning bookkeepers. / had frequently
stood before prin1t.hshops and noticed 9ea the
possible raiment gathering apples, which,
while on the Dough, were all outside the
leaves to make rich display. If such
golden prosperity can shine on steel en-
craving, often thought, what must it be in
reality -
subject OF farm life, always made it point
to depict the farmers independence by Civ
ing an unhallowed description OF the
amount of labor he had TO perform daily
or rather daily and nightly, for they claimed
ooul a detect any undergraduates in that, they
would like to see it.. A man going out in q
thunder shower to find stray COW by light
ming at midnight, and getting lost himself,
was familiar picture with the farmer.
Allusions to his boots, 60 rigid that the in
steps were infexible, were also freely in
du1ged in.
argued that the farmer had some indie
pendence in that he was always at home
under his own vine and apple tree, that he
didn't have to rise with the lark to catch
train, and that when age came along he
wouldn't be thrust aside as unavailable tim
Der by an employer who would make room
for son-in-law. Suppose he does feed
the pigs by starlight? Is that any worse
than your remaining at the office all night
to find the seven cents necessary to balance
the books?''
never wanted to be what may be termed
3 merchant farmer. By merchant farmer
mean the man who sells all the delicacies
he raises and lives on pork. My idea was
to sell the pork and live on the spring
chickens.
had lived in small country place be-
fore. Here every man was what might be
called polite farmer. He had his farming
done for him, while he attended to a more
lucrative business. in the city. The man
who owned a valuable herd Of cattle, and
sold milk-iust to pay him for the fun he
banker milkman, while his neighbor was
equally we'll known as the dry-goods rose
grower. It was never my dream to farm
for money. only wanted living, as that
vas all could get out of anything else.
In such position panic would affect me
could smoke my corn-cob pipe of peace,
and playfully count the spots on the pig,
and never think of this momentous question,
"Whithsr are We drifting2'
LIE Uulu&B AuOWu d6 1UO8C
raise would leave alone. would go in
largely for apples, for they are raised more
by the tree than the farmer. In fact the
tree could not stop bearing if it tried. If
had more apples than could use, could
exchange them for something else: and if
should fail in this, / could dry them; and il
the trees should die, they would still be eligi-
BILE for the iron dogs of peace.
The worst thing to be contended with
would be the failure Of the crops. But even
if the crops should fail, I could still fall
they should not b stofgh, during the night.
could guard against such calamity by
having the hens roost III q high tree, and
locating q mastif under it. had already
learned that therd are hens and hens; that
not always the most prolific layer, and that
certain specimens that are famous for their
laying qualities are as dry as bone on the
table. concluded that the better plan
would be to keep the hens of the dry meat.
Then would have all the eggs I could eat;
and when it came to the prandial part OF
the business, could fricassee the chickens,
with duck interpolated for moisture.
All, what peaceful, happy life! What
an ideal existence! What a smooth, mean
live without dressing to look like fashion
plate. To be free to retire at p. M, and
not have to sit up until II for fear of some
one calling.
Phillada was as much carried away with
the idea as was myself. To be sure it
galleries, but we could have a picture gal
lery around us all the year, and enjoy our
pictures in the various phases they would
undergo through the changes of the seasons.
If a Corot cost ten Thousand dollars, what
boon to have an acre of Corots for two
hundred dollars and no extra expense for
frames.
The men working in the potato patch,
against the gathering shadows of the after
glow, would be Millet etching of endless
joy; and when that indignitary known as
ike hired man should be called upon to
capture the horse in the clover patch, the
lively actions of the pair would be Bon
heur with pleasant variations.
But there is one thing must do first of
.What is that?" asked PhilIada.
ST must have a doctor order me to try it. |
If We go from preference we shall be |
laughed at, especially if We should return, |
But It it be simply question of health it |
will be self-preservation, and the sympathy
Of our friends will be lavished upon us.
And then, should We return, we can say We
were stricken with malaria, and came back
for the same reason that we went. namely,
health. This sound argument can be gar
nished with jokes, such as an account of
the girls sweeping the snow-drifts out of
the farm bedroom after every storm, and
holes in the floor. and agitating the carpet
into gentle ripples, after the manner Of a
theatrical ocean,"
That morning went down town dream
ing Of COWS wading through silver brooks
in the silhouette of the spreading elm. of
breezes swaying festoons Of golden honey
suckle on the front porch, of bees droning
IN the drowsy garden, of butterflies fitting
on hollyhocks of every color. of the corn
rustling in sunny fields, and of the bobo-