The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-12-27
KEEPING THEM ON
THE Farm

81 am just casting up my accounts
for the past year and making estimates
for the coming one" said Farmer
Tuffkids to the friend from the city
who had come to spend New Year 5
day. Gun. Let me see. Debtor to 80
dogs at IS cents--some of my own rails
ing and others bought at Wholesale
$66.75. ID
do you contemplate utilizing 50
dogs duringthe coming year: Interrupt
ted the friend, with much Interest.
''That is the number we have made
use of during the past year, replied
the host. During the coming year
We shall probably use great many
more You see"
"My goodness ejlcula'ed the visit
or, as great clamor broke forth, APP
pirently originating behind tie barn.
''What is that
sob have given four of the younger
boys hand organ apiece, no. two OF
which play the same tunes, and when
they ali strike up together they make
considerable racket" explained the
farmer. But the boys enjoy it, and
that is the main point. | guess they
will stop playing pretty on and go
to fighting over the discord, and then
there will be little less noise. Suppose
we go up to the garnet? The billiard
table is up there, along with the poker
lay out. The boys hold their dog fights
out back of that high fence you see
yonder, where nobody will bother them.
If you're thirsty there is always key
of beer in the cellar and hot ia rales
to 60 with it. The boys have display
of fireworks every few nigh and |
have hired couple of Italians to come
around twice week with their dane
ing bears. And once a month | hold
an auction of h ousehcld goods for the
amusement OF the boys, thy are very
fond Of auctions. If you care for sport
you may enjoy running up againss my
oldest sons faro bank. He is away
from home just now, but my second
son is fully competent to interest you.
The boys are talking Of organizing a
fire company and l have promised to
allow them to burn stack of hay twice
month. Tney are going to have"
''Great Scott. broke in the visitor,
as another terrible uproar arose. Nv hat
on earth is that?
cit is my little -year-old son
amusing himself. The child is so pas
sionately fond Of trying tin kettles to
dogs tai S that l keep IL able bodied
dogs on hand ali the time for his espe-
cial benefr. He has invented pan
for tin-ket'ling ten of them at once
and letting them off together; great
head on that boy-he'll make his mark
some day. 1t makes good deal Of
sport for the other boys, too, for they
are fond of betting on which dog will
run the farthest. We always make
believe that Wednesday is Saturday to
please the smallest boy, and have the
Fourth Of July and Christmas each
come three times year on our private
calendar, just to Please the rest of the
boys. And, then-Why, here comes
my oldest son now. He elop"d with the
hired girl night before last. | want
you to meet him; you will find him a
bright young fellow
''But why do you grant your sons
all these extraordinary privileges:
questioned the visitor, comp!et,l y
mystifed.
Sin order TO make the home place
attractive to them,' Was the answer.
''You know how prone farmers sons
are to desert the old farm for the ex-
element and pleasures of city life.
So | have endeavored as We'll as my
means would permit, to make them
contented here. You see, | debit the
the Buys with the money expended in
their behalf and credit them with the
time they put in at home. During
the past they have complained but
little, and | feel sure that, with the
plans l have in mind, they will be
contented during the coming year.
1t is not such difficult thing, after
alto keep them from leaving the farm
if you take hold of the matter in the
right way"