The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-17


small children think farm one OF the
best places for them during the summer,
though unwilling perhaps to subject
them to the usual farm methods Of
housekeeping If they could put them
on d farm and keep house themselves
they would be glad to do it. Such an
opportunity seldom occurs. But it has
occurred to me, and have gladly en-
braced it with what promises to be very
desirable results.
A Rustic Experiment.
Some New York friends who bought
farm four Or five years ago among the
White mountains, and who, after occu-
plying it five or six months each season
since, are delighted with it, told US last
spring of another farm very near them
that might be leased, with the services
Of the farmer, the present summer.
They made all the necessary arrange
ments. We accepted the farmers terms
and took possession July 1, trying to
imagine ourselves born and bred to rus
ITCHY and rustic pursuits This is not
difficult, as all the farm work is done
by the farmer, including the milking of
the COW, the stabling and Harvesting Of
the horse and many of the chores about
the house. We brought our cook from
town, and various offices of the house
hold are done by members of the fam
lily, the intention being to live as eco
nomically as practicable. We merely
keep house and have the full benefit Of
tho farmers assistance, which is valua-
bic and efficient IN numberless ways.
From the adjacent villages-Chocorua
Madison Silver 1,at-n--7l1OSfC
fruits, fish, vegetables are supplied at
slight advance on city prices, and the
supply and variety are remarkable, con-
sidering our distance from the centers
Of things.
Tho children who have been in the
! country every SIMMER since birth were
wholly ignorant of farms and farm life
until they came here. Thy are delight
| ed with their surroundings, like all
| healthy children reared in town, and
are literally 81 happy as the day is long;
they run Wild; they are as free as air;
! they make az much noise as they wish
without the least disturbance TO any
/ body; they Ned no supervision of any
kind; they are, as they should be, and
never can be in town, children of ma
ture; they rejoice i'll all natural things
in the green grass, on which they can
run as they list, i'll the big trees, the
graceful hills. the distant mountains,
the wild flowers, the chickens, Ghe cats
and kittens, TIE pigs, the COWS, the
| horses they like to frequent the barn,
to tumble in the hay, to hunt for eggs,
to pick berries, to ride on the farmer s
wagon, to climb up and jump off the
stone walls, to rambie and race over
| the fields and grassy roads, to laugh,
prattle and shout from morning to
night, to tear their clothes, get very
dirty and very tired, to go to sleep with
the birds and the fowls before dusk and
awake early with keen appetites, to be-
gin afresh the new happiness of the
new day. Seeing other children bare
foot, they whip Off their shoes ard
stockings and reve1 in the novel luxury,
wondering why they had never had the
privilege before. They announce their
intent to remain here always and their
unwillingnes3 TO return to hateful New
York, full of houses and horses and po-
licemen that are always telling you to
keep off the grass. ''Our farm" they
say, sis great deal nicer than Central
park, where you can't do anything but
sit on benches or walk up and down
with q nursemaid. I wouldn't give our
farm for thousand hateful old New
Yorks. -
Its Success.
The children will not soon forget
their life on the farm. They enjoy it
even more than I had supposed they
would. 1t is something they are entitled
to and something they ought to have
for three or four months out of the 2.
The country IS good, with its fresh air,
larger liberty, change Of scene, but 8
farm, with its perfect freedom, its com
parative solitude. its complete simple
ity, is very much better. Children by
going On a farm can, for awhile at least
go back to nature and so help them
selves, physically and mentally, for the
oncoming battle Of life. We, their cid
ers, have become hardened, cannot be
restored perhaps, but it is our plain du
ty to do all we can for them. Most o.
: US live mainly for our children.
Il find that some other farmers in thi!
. region arc willing to lease their farm!
and their services for about 5000 the
season. from three to five months, theil
services ranging from $15 to SIC {
month, so that the expense amounts t.
but from $3.50 to $275, exclusive O
housekeeping. This includes milk anC
eggs, such chickens, vegetables, fruit
} (not many necessarily as the farm pro
t duces and the use, once Or twice week
of the horse and wagon, the transmits
sion of letters TO and from the pOstoffic
and of luggage and passengers to ant
, from the station. As mahy of the farm
5 ers have been in the habit of taking
boarders (their usual price is about 81
. week per person), their houses are plain
5 " though decently furnished, the bed
: are comfortable, and they have man.
= conveniences in the kitchen and dinin:
room. City folk are able to get on b.
S bringing their silver, table linen, tow
] els and few bedcIOthes and such serv
ants as they think indispensable. The.