The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-03-04

had not the adjoining farmers kindly
cultivated his crops in fine shape. he
would quite likely have been beaten by
the weeds although working manfully.
His mother and little Anna supple
mented his efforts by working in the
garden, and lar,fo'v caring for the poul-
try. Through TIC season this was the
busiest and perhaps .happiest family in
the township: and their yard was
lifely scene, with it's clucking mothers
and swarms Of young, for whose wei
fare little Anna was ever anxious, and
in almost constant attendance during
the day time.
Bert was well paid for his energetic
industry. The corn crop was large, and
trading part of it to the farmers for
wheat, oats or buckwheat, he had more
than feed enough for the coming year.
Some of it was sold, while the balance
was sent to mill to be ground into meal
for the next seasons young, and also to
repay the neighbor of whom he had
borrowed for the present years feeding
During the season family expenses had
been fairly maintained from the sale OF
garden stuff and butter; winter supplies
were bought by the potato and corn
crops, and the proceeds from q turkey
shoot, and with the income from his
surplus poultry, he built poultry fences,
added somewhat to buildings, made
other necessary improvements, and sub
scribed for a poultry journal.
The beginning of the new year he was
able to take an accurate account OF his
stock, and found he then had on hand
nine bronze turkeys, twenty-one black
Hamburgs, fifteen white Leghorns,
| eleven Plymouth Rocks and twelve COM
mon hens; six Toulouse and twenty
common geese, nine Rouen and twenty
three common ducks, and four Guinea
fowls. Likewise he was able to figure
up some losses incident to the business
mainly owing to wet weather, lice or
| accidental deaths Anna knew exactly
the whole history of the untimely
deaths, for she was the self-appointed
sexton of a carefully-guarded little
cemetery under the lilacs, where she
had shed not few sympathizing tears.
The succeeding season was so success
full that the young poultryman laid up a
snug sum over and above all expenses,
and began to speak of needing more
ground; and when a third season was
crowned with success, he felt justified
in buying ten-acre tract, through
which the creek ran-his mother, of
course, being willing-and the close of
the fourth year they moved house, barn
and stock upon it. The next year was
one of unusual activity: trees and shrub
berry to move; yards to inclose; new
grounds to improve; crops to care for in
the old-home lots. However, Bert was
equal to the occasion, and in addition
to these duties, he built an inexpensive,
| but strong, dam across the creek at the
lower end of his field, thereby making
a fine field of action for his swarm of
water fowls. 4
In another season he had added a
horse and cart to his possessions, as a
much-necded help in marketing, haul
ing feed and offal from the butcher
shop and in cultivating his crops, thus
curtailing expenses. as he had in the
past paid for such work. He was now
thoroughly established in a growing
and paying business, with every thing
convenient for its successful continu-
ance. Besides he had the comforting
satisfaction of knowing every thing
was paid for, and he had the full re-
spect of every person in the entire com
munity, the entire confidence of every
business man in the neighboring towns
and fair-sized bank account in his ia
vor. Lastly, he had a good, comforta-
BILE home, presided over by the kindest,
happiest and proudest of mothers, and
a sunny-tempered and helpful sister,
Assuredly, he felt many times blest.
"Tall oaks from little acorns grow
is trite saying, and the reader may
well think little Bert verified it.-West
Shore.