The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-03-12

E. R. M.
Farming Versus City Life.
farming isjust abominable," I said
TO myself one fine June morning Here
I go from 430 8. m., until 8p. ~, just
as fast as I can fly, and what does it
amount to? Plain clothes, plain food,
no social advantages, no excursions, no
parties and very little cash in the bank.
I am just tired Of worrying with contrary
hens and ailing chickens, with the mes
sing of milk and butter, with trying to
be cook, house-maid, sesmstress, nurse,
dairy maid, poultry-keeper and multi
tude of other things. There is no time
for social reading or mental advance.
meut. When evening comes every one
is too tired to do aught but drop into a
chair, lazily run over the weekly news,
then off to bed. It's stagnation itself. I
wished We lived in town.
/ thereupon began to dream how love-
ly things would be there. My husband
would find work at a good aalary, or
meet with congenial partner in some
business. I'd take boarders, and make
ten times as much money as could
fussing with chickens. would grow
intellectually and 80 would the children,
and life would be worth living.
Well, we left the farm and went in
town to live, and this is how it all turned
out.
The city was one of the big ones, so
big we had to rent house three miles
from the center to avoid being squeezed
into no space at all, and to have the rent
reasonable.
I soon found that my shopping trips
must be we'll considered, for car fare soon
amounted to neat little sum. Our
mother church was located near the
business portion of the town. After walk
ing the distance one Sunday with the
children and paying thirty cents in car
fare the next, We concluded to give up the
long-wished for privilege and attend a
church nearer home.
I began to be told how unhealthy it
was. Ihad not thought of sickness; at
once was sure one of our family would
be laid away in the cemetery on the hill.
I begged to move back to the farm, but
just then the children came down with
whooping cough, and so the poor dears
had to be isolated. There was only a
small yard with no resources; their only
amusement was to sit on the porches and
watch what was passing. How they
longed for freedom of the farm, where
they could shout, chase the pigs and
chickens, ride horseback, build forts, dig
wells, do so much that suited their active
natures. The plaintive cry was, IT
don't know anything to do" The little
boys around would swear and play 80
roughly I found could not encourage
their company, and when heard how
little ones were treated at school by the
older scholars, I groaned and declared
they should notgo.
My neighbors were very pleasant, and,
not being on farm, supposed they
were all happy-oue especially, who was
the owner of a pretty house, we'll furnish.
ed, nice turnout, snd her children near
by; surley said, she must be happy /;
yet, when remarked the same to her,
she replied, with sad smile, "I'm far
from being happy. I lie awake many
nights planning how to make money.
want to be rich, and I can't be; am
Just miserable
The husband of my next door neigh
Dor was book.keeper, 80 having Ger.
tain sum to depend upon, I concluded he
was satisfied, but when I learned he left
at 6 q. m., and did not return until 10 p.
m., eating cold dinner, I did not won.
der be preferred farm life, and later they
rented farm.
Another was distracted because be had
mortgaged his farm to buy city lots
Dull times and no business had used up
everything, and he, too, went back to
the farm. Many others were similarly
situated. I found even those in well.
established business worried by failure
of health and the perplexities of hard
times.
The partner my husband sought could
not be found nor the salary. I didn't
think, when it came to the point, thai
taking boarders would be any more
agreeable or as profitable as raising poul.
try. I was surprised at the rigid econo.
my my neighbors practiced. They dress.
ed we'll, but had to deny themselves
things I considered essential. Butter
eggs aud milk, though so poor, cost sc
much when used as freely as was accus
toned to.
We returned 10 the farm wiser and
more contented family, and have endeav'
ored to remedy the evils instead of run
ming away from them.
= Attention Voters.-By resolution
passed by our Legislature, all good citi
zens are requested to use DR.. Bull's
Cough Syrup and recommend same as the
peoples remedy for coughs, colds, etc
% cents.
SE- An editor who started little paper
five years ago is now millionaire
Nothing is impossible where economy il
combined with good looks. BE married
rich wife.