St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-04-05
w. G. KENTZEL, Editor,

only wish you were strong cnough-and
then there is school; no, Jack. it cal
not be thought Of ~ e-
''It must be thought Of, mother; som,
one must keep things together ti:i =!
father gets about again." answered tc,
lad, las for school. even il lose year
1 can make It up again: you know Mr.
Oliver said I was two years ahead of tn,
other boys Of my age.r W-E .~..
| We'll, We must think itover: it really
Is important to Us to keep the COWS
or COW, for l can not attend to butter
making now. But you won't like it,
jack"
Il am going to like It. little mother
said Jack. giving her parting hug.
She carried the breakfast upstairs
and was telling Mr.. Thornton Of Jack.
resolve, when the doctor entered. HI
was . very old friend. and Mr.. Thornton
laid the plan before him. "A Ft- GA. Il
! What do you think of that for . boy,
Hale? Shall We let him do it?'' r. y
''Oh, Henry said his wife, ''hc is moi
strong enough
''Let him do it, by all means; it's the
best thing that could happen to him
The hoy studies too much; In few
years he would break down altogether.
You can't make him play, let him stay
out of school and work-f0r two years,
II need be-and he will lay up fund Of
health that will last him for all time,
and your son will be fine man as well
IS scholar, ma'am; Tor scholar he
will be, in any casa" $50
There was no gainsaying such authoe-
ity as this, and SO Jack, IN . new suit Of
overalls, began his round of duties the
following day. Pat took great delight
In teaching him all he knew, and was
loud in his praises of his pupil a.
''Sure, he do wOrruk like q man-an'
the soize of him. re-" 'ta
When Pat left ct the end Of the week.
Jack could milk the cows IS we'll as that
youth himself; and together they hal
put tho place in thorough order, as well
as enlarged the henhOuse and mado .
couple Of new runs, for Jack in.
tended TO increase that part of the es-
tablishment considerably, with . view
to future profits.
lie had decided to keep the two cows,
and sell what milk the family could not
use; which proved tho source Of quite .
little income.
Jack was putting his whole heart into
his work, and almost the only books he
looked into were those on poultry and
agricultural matters.
It was now April, and he began to
think and plan for the spring work.
The pond caught his eye. "why
shouldn't have some ducks and geese
here? he said, II can't ever keep all
that lawn trim; and if l fenced It OF for
ducks and geese they would cell we'll in
the fall" His father agreed to all his
plans, and some wire fence and q neatly
painted house were put up for the new.
corners.
As the spring grow, and the time came
for planting the garden. Jack found the
neighbors anxious to help him: one came
and plowed tho ground for him; another
brought his harrow and applied it till
the ground vas ~ smooth IS . carpet;
and they showed him how and when to
SOW the different kinds Of seeds.
Jack himself worked hard. and found
it agreed with him, he grew great deal
faster than the vegetables, and felt his
spirits rise and his young life stir in his
veins as it never had before. ny the
end Of summer. no one would have
known him for the pale, rather listless
lad We first saw in March.
His father was now regaining his
health, though still very frail and fee
BILE; he loved to sit in his wheel-chair on
the sunny paths, and watch his boy at
work. and was able to give him many
hints
what are you eoing 10 plant IN the
Tower beds?" he asked Jack, one day.
"Why, father. old Mr.. Benson was
here the other day. and he said: What
= fine place that would be for bees, on
that suIfhy siopec and he offered to sivo
me hive, and told me OF some others l
could buy cheap Of a man who is going
West; 20 I Thought I'd plant the beds
with some of the sweetest sorts Of
lluwers, and the back meadow is full Of
clover"
What . capital plan! but, my dear
bov. it's more than you ought 10 under
take"
70 no. father; why, feel as strong a
, young OK. and there is really little
work about bees. 4...-
OF course it was not play. Jack had
many . weary hours wedding and hoe
ing. and often went to he'd feeling a. II
he never wanted to get up again; but he
never lost his courage in well-dOing, and
his parents' appreciation. end the
knowledge that he Was really Of use in
he world. afforded him more pleasure
han ever his school prizes he'd done.
In the fall he killed OF . good deal Of
he poultry which had been hatched on
he place in the summer, and Is it was
N fine condition 1t hrovEht Z good price:
md, with the sale Of the honey and the
milk, made up nice sum of money. He
,ad supplied their own table with veg.
stables, poultry, eggs, fruit and honey.
md the cellar was well stocked with
winter provisions. -..-y
The next summer, Mr.. Thornton was
bile to do more than look on, and they
lad even better success. They had
ought an Incubator in the spring, and
aised chickens by the hundred, sls l
Next summer. Jack went back to
chool. and his father took his place at
'ome; henceforth. the family lived ON
he proceeds Of the little estate! a.-
Il don't know what should have
one. my boy, II you had not held up
our end Is you did," his father said TO
ack. Il shall never be able to work in |
n ONCE again, and your energy, applied
the right tine. has sapplied me With I
he means a ready liviDg."s 'y'-is
Jack weAt 70 college aftsr he left