Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-12-26
Keeping Them on the Farm.
BY TOM p. MORGAN.

&C am just casting up my account.
for the past year and making esti
mates for the coming one," said
Farmer Tuffkids to the friend from
the city who had come TO spend
New YEARS. day. "U'm! Let me
see! Debtor to SO dogs at Is cents
some of my own raising and Others
bought at wholesale-S66.75 To-
Do you contemplate utilizing 50
dogs during the coming year," in
terrupted the friend, with much i'm.
terest.
"That is the number we have
made use Of during the past year"
replied the host. During the COM
ing year we shall probably use a
great many more. You see"
My soodness !" calculated the
visitor, as a great clamor broke
forth, apparently originating behind
the barn. What is that"
"Oh, l have given four of the
younger boys hand organ apiece,
none of which play the same tunes,
and when they all strike up together
they make considerable racket" ex-
planned the farmer. But the boys
enjoy it and that is the main point.
L guess they will stop playing pretty
soon and go to fighting over the dis
cord, and then there will be a little
less noise. Suppose we go up to the
garret? 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 yon-
der, where nobody will bother them.
II you're thirsty there is always a
keg of beer in the cellar and hot
tamales to go with it. The bows
have a. display of fireworks every
few nights, and have hired a cou-
pie of Italians to come around twice
week with their dancing bears
And once month / hold an auction
Of household goods for the amuse-
lnent of the boys; they are very
fond of auctions. If you care for
sport you may enjoy running up
against my Oldest sons faro bank.
He is away from home just now,
but my second son is fully compe-
tent to interest you. The bows are
talking of organizing fire company
ana L have promised to allow them
10 burn a stack of hay twice month.
They are going to have"
Great Scott !" broke in the Wis
ltor, as another terrible uproar arose.
" What on earth is that 2"
1T is my little four-year-old son
amusing himself. The child is so
passionately fond Of tying tin ket-
ties to dogs tails that keep 16 able
bodied dogs on hand all the time for
mis- especial benefit. He has in
vented a plan for tin-kettling ten of
them at once and letting them off to-
gether; great head on that boy-he |
VIII make his mark some day! It'll
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 we have the
Fourth of July and Christmas each
come the times year on our private
calendar, just to please the rest of
the boys. And, then-Why here
comes my Oldest son now! He
eloped with the hired girl night be-
fore last. ! want you to meet him;
yon will find him a bright young
fellow"
But why do you grant your sons
all these extraordinary privileges ?"
questioned the visitor, completely
mystified.
In order to make the home place
attractive to them," was the answer.
"4ou don't know how prone farmers
sons are to desert the old farm for
the excitement and pleasures of city
life. So / have endeavored, as well
as my means would permit, to make
them contented here. You see, I
debit the boys with the money ex-
pended in their behalf and credit
them with the time they put in at
home. During the past year they
have complained but little, and I
feel sure that, with the plans have
in mind, they will be contented dur
ing the coming year. 1t is not such
difficult thing, after all, to keep
the boys from leaving the farm i'll
you take hold of the matter in the
right way"