Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09
HIS SONS CONTENT.

Il am just casting up my accounts
for the past year and making estimates
for the coming one" said Farmer Turf
kids to the friend from the city who
had come to spend new years day
''U'm! Let me see! Debtor to 80 dogs
at Is cents-sOme of my own raising
and others bought at WHOLESALERS $685.
IS. To"
DO you contemplate utilizing 80
dogs during the coming year?" inter
rupted 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 a great many more.
You see
MY goodnessr' calculated the visit
or, as a great clamOr broke forth, ap-
parently originating behind the barn.
/ what is that?"
"Oh, [ have given four of the younger
boys hand organ apiece, not two Of
which play the same tunes, and when
they all 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 soon and go
to fighting over the discord, and then
| there will be a little less noise. Sup
pose we go up to the garnet? The bill
| lard 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 a key Of beer in the cellar and
hot tamales to go with it. The boys
have display of fireworks every few
nights, and ] have hired a couple of
Italians tG come around twice a week
with their dancing bears. And once a
month | hold an auction of household
A.. goods for the amusement 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 competent to
interest you. The boys are talking of
organizing a fire company and I have
promised to allow them to burn stack
Of hay twice a month. They are going
to have"
Great Scottr' broke in the visitor,
as another terrible uproar arose. what
on earth is that?"
1T is my little four-year-oId son
amusing himself. The child is so pas
sionately fond of tying tin kettles to
dogs tails that [ keep 16 able-bodied
dogs on hand all the time for his es-
pecial benefit He has invented plan
for tin-kettling ten of them at once
and letting them off together; great
head on that boy-he'II make his mark
some day! It makes a 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 be-
lieve that Wednesday is Saturday tc
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 eloped with thu
hired girl night before last. I wan
you to meet him; you will find him {
bright young fellow"
But why do you grant your son:
all these extraordinary privileges? p
l questioned the visitor, completely mys
titled.
In order to make the home place at
tractive to them" was the answer
You know how prone farmers SON
: are to desert the old farm for the ex
element and pleasures of city life. S,
l have endeavored, as we'll as m.
; means would permit, to make then
contented here. You see, I debit tn
boys with the money expended in thei
i behalf and credit them with the tim
! they put in at home. During the pas
: year they have complained but little
{ and l feel sure that, with the plans
;. have in mind, they will be contente
Il during the coming year. 1t is not sue
a difficult thing, after all, to keep tn
u boys from leaving the farm if you TAX
hold of the matter in the right way"
: MANSFIELD RETIRES.