The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-14
LEAVING The farm.


village-were in bed, and in the big. com
Portable kitchen. Farmer Hardwood, his
wife. and his wife's sister, Mrs. Lucas,
were sitting around a center table. The
farmer was reading the paper his vile
was putting q patch on the knee OF little
Mary's diminutiYe knicker0ockeTs' ana
Mrs Lucas was crochetiHg hood Of 0lue-
and-White zephyr for small niece
There was silence in the kitchen save lot
the snapping Of the FIRE in the stove, the
ticking OF tie big eight-day clock in the
corner and the rustic of the farmers news
naner. aud when Mrs. Hardwood sighed
deeply. both her sister and husband looked
WHATS the matter, Sarah?" asked tie
latter That sigh was the loudest l ever
heard you give. Has anything gone wrong?
You look as though you had Big i0ad on
Il have" answered bis wife. "And it is
load which you must share, Eli; l have
borne it alone as long as L can bear 1t.
There is great trouble IN store Tor US, nus
band George is going to leave the farm
The newspaper fell to the hO3r, and Tor
moment the farmer looked at his wife,
too much surprised 10 utter word.
"Going to leave the faVmI' he repeated at
last. Sarah, you must be dreaming"
Mrs HarWO0d shook her head sadly.
II wish I were" she said. mo, Eli. il is
true George has made up his mind to
leave us. l have noticed for months passed
that he seemed dissatisfied and restless, aud
since YOU sold Vixen he has Rrumbled
great deal about the work, and the dulInesS
az his life. And to-day heard him say TO
Jasper Flint that he would not be here
month from now; that lie had enough Of
farm life, and intended TO leave; and If we
refused cur consent to ii he would run
away and take his chances"
ftNn'U ahOut that u said the farmer.
angrily. Consent TO it! | rather Think
not l won't consider Il for a moment.
What would he be worth year from now II
l let him 60? He'd fail IN with all sorts Of
rascals in the city aud geI Us all into trouble.
Besides l need him here. Itll be ~ years
at least before Harry can take his place,
and he's got to stay II 1 have TO tie MIN
down"
"Why don'tyou make him want to stay.
EH?" asked the gentle voice OF his sisEeT-in-
IF he's got the city fever on him. all the
talking in the world wouldn't do any
good" Tej0ined the farmer. He wouldn't
listen to a word.
Don't talk. Don't let him even suspect
that you are aware Of his desire 10 leave you.
Try a new plan that l have been thinking
"The best plan know Of is to tell him
my mind freely, without any beating about
the bush; and the sooner it's done the
Now. Ell. don't be above taking a wo-
mans advice Let me tell you how 10 deal
with George. | have been here three
months now and have taken a deep inter-
estin the boy. | have seen his dissatis-
faction and recognized the cause. have
overhead him talking 10 Jasper Flint
more than once, and only yesterday l heard
him say that if he went TO the city what
be earned would be his own, but that here
he worked from dawn 10 dark aad was no
hiatt off, , la q rff f1Q hn ur nl
beginning, He said that Tom Blythe,
who is in R grocery-stOre in the city, gets
$40 a week, aud Tom is only II.
Now, If you want George TO stay en- The
farm, give him an interest in il, Eli. He
is is years Old, and has worked faithfully
ever since he could talk plain. He has had
his food and lodging and two suits OF clothes
year, 70 be sure, but all he actually owns
is that collie dog which IS always at his
heels IOu even sold the only horse You
had that was ut for the saddle, and you
know George was very fond Of Vixen.
ut seemed pity to keep horse that no
one but George ever rode" said the
farmer, land she was too light for work.
Pm a poor man, Hester and can't afford
playthiDgs for my children"
You had better afford to keep an extra
horse than 70 have your son leave you, Eli.
Whom could you get that would take the
interest in tie work that George has? You
have thought il only right that George
farm, and have considered your duty done
10 giving him q home. 10U are disposed 70
think him ungrstefGl because he wants to
leave you now that every year makes his
services more valuable. But the boy Is am
bilious and is not satisfied to travel in a
circle. He wants TO make some Roadway,
and it seems only natural"
The farmer leaned his head on his hands,
& look Of deep thought on his grave, weather
beaten face His gentle sister-in-law's plain
in q al o ri n o &c " ieh
had never before entered his mind.
l believe you're more than half right
Hester" be said, at last "I'Il think it over
tonight, and make up my mind what to do.
I'd be lost here without George. and he
shan't leave II l can help It"
Force wont keep him, Eli. remember
that" said Mrs Lucas, who feeling that she
had said enough, folded up her work, and
taking lamp from the shelf by the stove,
went upstairs 10 her own room.
Just at day break she was aroused from a
sound sleep By the sound of a horses hoOfs
in the yard. and looking out of the window
she saw Farmer Hardwood tTOtting away on
old Roam.
"Where can he be going at this hourP"
she thought
When She went downstairs at o'clock
George was standing by the kitchen table,
having just come in with two fun pals of
milk. His face wore Disconnected, IN
happy look, and lie merely nodded in return
4
A few minutes later his father entered ::
but George, who had gone to one Of the
windows and was looking out dejectedly,
did not even glance up.
"YOu were out early, Eli" said Mrs
Lucas. 81 heard you ride away at day
break"
yes; I went to Pine Ridge on matter
of business"
That's where you sold Vixen, papa.
isn't it?" asked little Harry, and Mrs Luz
cas- saw culver run over Georges face as
the child spoke.
"Yes, my boy, / sold Vixen to Lawyer
Stanley. George" turning to his son.
1--WE made up my mind to part with that
50-acre lot by the river. What do you think
of that7"
'Of course, you got good price for it.
sir" said the young man, very indifferently
IFS the best piece Of land you have"
But l haven't sold it. l am going to
give il away"
Give it awaY2" repeated George, reused
out Of his Indifference and staring at his
father as il be thought be had not heard
Alright.
Yes. deed It over, every inch of it, to
some one think great deal Of, and who
deserves it," laying his hand on his sons
shoulder, and his voice breaking a little.
Il am going to give it to my son, George
Hardwood. to have and to hold as be sees
fit without question or advice"
To NE! You intend to give that 30
acres TO me- father?"
Yes, my boy. and with my whole heart
You've been good son, George, and only
wish were able to do more for you. But
am not rich man, as you know. and l
have your mother and the three little ones
TO provide for, too. Still l want Won to
have start, and this 50-acre lot will WELD
handsome profit. You can have three
days week to call your own, and chat will
give you a chance to work it, and il you
choose 70 break IN that young pair Of oxen
have them for your trouble"
"This-thiS seems too much. sir" STAN
mered George. II don't know how TO
thank YOU"
TToo muchI Then 7 don,t ,,,o,