The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-03-21
The Maple River Farmers Club.

The Maple River Farmers Club met with
Mr.and Mrs. +. Sheldon Feb.27. After a boun-
tiful repast, the meeting was called to order
by the President, and opened by singing fol-
lowed by reading of Scripture and prayer
by the President. After the transaction of
business, the Club listened to Mr.. Il. C..
Gladden's paper, ''Can we lessen expenses
ON the farm, if so, how" He thinks ex-
penses must be lessened by doing more work
with less manual labor, thinks great many
dollars are lost by not doing work when it
should be done. He also thinks there is
the least money in cattle of anything on
the farm, unless the right man owns them,
but thinks sheep and hogs pay, even at
present prices of wool and pork, as they are
something that do not require your whole at
tentiOn the year round. The question was
raised, ''shalI we buy more improved ma
chinery." Mr. E. j. Cook thinks we should
know what we are going to do, and If we see
that we can do it better and cheaper with
improved machinery, buy it. Mr.. =. B.
Reynolds thinks il better to buy machinery
than pay for high priced labor.
Topic No. 2. "Frauds upon Farmers" 4"
was presented by Geo. Martin in very in
teresting paper. Mr.. Martin gave Webster's
definition OF frauds, and said according to
Martin farmer defines itself as the man who
tills the soil and sells produce below actual
cost for the sake of advertising his business,
man to buy lightning rods, Bohemian OATS
patent fence. and numerous other articles.
He says when an agent goes through the
country selling different articles, slaps you
on the shoulders and says, ''what splendid
farm you have" just put that slap down as
fraud, he came for the purpose of deceiv-
ing you. Mr.. Martin thinks when farmer
gets bit, instead of having too much pride to
acknowledge 1t to his neighbor, should ad-
vertise the agent at once. He also thinks
the amount of produce given in to the SUI
pervisOr fraud, thinks it is not taken for
the benefit of the farmer, but for the board
Of trade to gamble on, and arrange our
prices. After quite discussion the Glee
Club sang 1--WE all have very bad cold"
The club then listened to Mrs. Johns0n's
paper, ''Does it pay to make rag carpets"
She thought it did pay as she always sewed
her rags at odd spells when she did not have
other work, so they were all ready when
she needed carpet. Mrs. E. j. Cook thinks
''by experience" an ingram carpet will out
wear about three rag ones.
Mrs. Ellis essay. "Let your light shine" "
was full of good thoughts and instruction.
She thinks our influence is felt in some way,
and we should endeavor to have our light of
the right kind, and then keep il trimmed and
burning. The loom Of time is gathering the
shreds and ravelings of our lives and weav-
ing them into whole. The texture whether
firm or shoddy depends on our characters,
do we think of others before ourselves. As
the miller circles round the light, fearing
not SINCE or scorch so our influence ever
draws nearer, those comprising our world,
deserve friends and you will get them.
Miss Lucy Kirkland favored us with Sc
lect reading. After another song the Club
adjourned to meet with Mr.. and Mrs. F.
G. GLADDEN., March 27th. c.