The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-21
THE OLD FARM.

"4S4 eAO k4OoE IlO0 NILlHs
Uers,- SAID Anna Brown to her brother.
Why not go into the garden9 Plenty
there" replied Harry, who was BUSY
with his fishing tackle.
They're not half so nice, and I want
you" said Anna, coaxinglv.
Harry was a kind brother and a gen
teman, though a farmers son. He
and his sister had both graduated at
the village high school two miles away,
driving In in the morning and home at
night, which Anna deeply priced, for
she loved her quiet old home.
SO did Harry, but he had reached an
age sometimes attained by boys, when
he felt that farm life could not satisfy
his soaring ambition. The city had
a powerful attraction, and his mind
was full of plans for getting away from
the old farm and making a fortune in
the city. Anna had seen this. but
wisely kept silent.
so you wanted 'hayseed, ehY" said
Harry, as brother and sister walked on
together toward the strawberry field.
"Yes," replied Anna, laughing gaily.
mot chat, certainly. But look,
Harry, isn't this a lovely pictureG"
They had reached the brow of the
hill, from which the stone farmhouse,
with its wide veranda, the green pas
ture lands dotted with grazing cattle.
and the wide waving meadows, made
a beautiful rural landscape. eff 1
were only an artist now!"
I'm about sick of the old farm, sis"
said Harry, gloomily. 1.-THE 'billowy
meadows don't look so romantic when
you ride through them on the moving
machine under the ~sweltering sun. Oh,
it all sounds very romantic when you
talk about farming; but the hard grub
bing work is a different thing"
They were now in the midst of the
wild Strawberries, and Anna seemed
very busy filling the basket with the
ripe, red clusters.
Il do not suppose anything is gained
in this world but by hard work." she
said, slowly. How the Towards seem
to enjoy the haymaking. And, Harry,
they're coming again next week"
"Are theyR Much city boarders
know about hard work, though! /" said
Harry.
"Mr. Howard says he looks forward
to his four weeks outing on the farm
all the year" said Anna. "And Harry,
he said if he could but have the quiet
and leisure for reading and mental i'm
provement that farmers have, he
should be happy. He says that the
city couldn't live without the country,
for the smartest business men are all
from the country"
"Ha, ha, what apleader you'd make,
Anna! Say, why don'tyou study law7"
Because I like something else bet
ter"
"And I like something else better
than farming" said Harry, earnestly.
"What9"
ST don't know. Anything is better,
I think"
Annals basket was now filled with
berries. LET me help you fill yours,
Harry" she said, quietly, land then
we will go home"
"And I'll have time for fishing yet -
said Harry, with animation, turning
to his work with fresh energy.
"And you came with me when you
wanted to go ishing9"
"Boys usually like fishing better than
strawberrying," Harry said, with a
laugh; "but a nice sister is better than
either"
Anna fastened homeWard, to make
a strawberry shortcake for supper.
She wished, too, to confide in her father
and mother, for Harry's evident dis
content troubled her. Mr.. Brown sat
by the kitchen table reading the paper,
and the mother was busy with her
basket of mending.
What worries you, sisY" said Mr..
Brown, who had been watching the
young face bent over the dish of straw
berries.
cit is Harry, father. He is getting
tired of the dear old farm"
eyes, Anna. I've seer it, and I've
tried to make it a happy home for the
boy" said the old man, rubbing his
hand through his hair, which was
thickly sprinkled with gray. "But
don't worry, child, and don't talk much
with him about it. It'll ali come out
right"
An hour later Harry came in with a
fine string of speckled trout, his face
zo-o-oo a tho uooruin0 Seated at the