South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-12-16
THEINTELLIGENCER
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 1s. 1892.


and buttercups, under an old elm
and when he uncovered his face
nature met him with burst O
light IF I'm the June sky, and will
soft, cool touches Of the summer
wind.
1t is useless for me to whine Il
myself said the boy slowly, 'Th,
farm is already so heavily mortga
ged that it is utterly impossible FOL
father to saddle another one on il
and send me to college, as Howard
Fnlton's father has done; and
shall have to stay at home. now tha
/ have finished the High Schoo
course, and help on the farm, as il
is our only hold. And it's pool
hold, too. I'll take q look at it,
and see if it has any capabilities be
yond miserable existence for the
Allen family.
He sprang to his feet and took
his look. Billows of white and
gold met his eye-a pleasant sight
foP an artist, but not fol farmer
bounded by fences that needed
repairing.
Some distanc away he could dis
Germ the orci ard full of gnsr ed
messy trees, the fruit of which ne
yer met with customer. just be.
yopd was the old barn and the
weather beaten farmhouse.
Franks lips closed firmly togeth,
err. 1t was a discouraging sight.
Lie hurried aoross the field, now
and then catching his foot in wiry
vine that waT doing its best to ex-
terminate whatever feeble grasse:
the daisies and buttercups might
spare, and at length he reached the
pasture fence.
WELL he said, 'thero is one
thing certain, aud that is. there is
a good chance for little extra work
all over tho lot. Now, what is the
best way to go about it Father
thinks ne is doing the best that can
be done. and the first thing | shall
know 1 shall be working in the
same old rut.'
Frank rested his elbows on the
top rail of the shaky old fence, and
dropped his face into the palms OF
his hands. Finally he looked up.
81 think know what to do. Ii
father will give me piece Of the
farm-I dom care how poor it is
III just try my best to make thai
piece of land pay. I'll be carofu
to ask him for some of his very
poorest land. Now among so much
that is poor what is the poorest p
Frank studied the question for
several minutes. Suddenly his face
lighted mp.
Il know-that s..ndy strip across
the brook
Swinging himself lightly over the
fence, he took one of tho well-trod-
den COW paths home.
The Allen homestead faced the
west. On the no tn and south the
land gently sloped away into the
level meadows on the east the
slope was very abrupt, forming q
declivity, at the foot of which ran
a winding brook. Over across thia
brook lay Franks choice. 1t was
a sandy piece of land on which
nothing had succeeded in growing
Bleak and bare, it lay under the
June sunshine with nothing to
hide it's utter forlornness. On the
further side of this was a broken
down boundary wall of stone, But
Notwithstanding the utterly un-
prepossessing look of it all, Franks
eyes dwelt fondly on that narrow
strip Of sand.
After supper, when the chores
were all done, Frank made known
to his father his desire for a small
portion Of the farm.
Not great deal, father he
said, earnestly, but Just a small
piece that ! can call my very own.
4 can't call any OF it my very
own said Mr.. Allen, fretfully,
and / don't see how could spare
any Of it on account Of a boys
whIm.
I don't believe you would miss
the strip OF land over the brook,
said Frank, briefly.
over the brook = cried his faith
or in amazement. AS worthless q
piece Of land as ever the sun shone
on You'll make a good farmer,
sir. I'm proud Of your Judgment.
Yes, take it. You're perfectly
welcome to it. But you Just make
up your mind, my lad, that You'll
never make a farmer
Thank you, father, for the land ,
said Frank as heartily as though
there had been no scoffing words to
The granting Of the request. Are
you going TO use old Silky to-mor-
row.
No what do you want now ?
said Mr.. Allen, Rrufliy.
III use him aud the pillow, then
The pillow Frank, what is the
matter with you? / don't know
what to think. You can't raise
anything on that land
Perhaps not, father but I an
going to try an experiment. It
won't cost you q cent, but 7 am to
10 as like with my land
alright, Frank. just 60 ahead