The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-01
BETTER THAN A WARRANTY
DRED.

hCIO6 u 4600 IA 4OAAO6SOO ~
he understood that it vas wild land,
and he didn't learn to the contrary IN
til he visited the property. Then he
found six families of equatters, each IN
possession Of about 90 acres. Some one
told him that old Bill Thompson was
the boss of the community and that
whatever he said the others would stick
to. The Michigander therefore visited
the old mans shanty and opened bust
ness by saying:
"Mr. Thompson, I own all this land
about here and want to arrange mat
tiers with you"
s'Own all the land, chi" queried the
old man as he looked his visitor over.
Eyes. There are six families OF you
on my land. Do you want to pay me
ground rent9"
II skassly think we do, stranger
skassly think So"
''Then would you like to buys"
81 can't say as we would-Ican't say
so. Can't be no mistake about it beln
yo'r land, ehF
"Oh, mol l have the deeds here in
my pocket. If you don't want to rent
or buy, then I suppose you will
vacate9"
docs that mean git Of-mOve
awayG"
YES"
s'Then I wouldn't skassly say that
we will vacate-I skassly would't. Yo'
kin show them deeds, kin yo'2"
Certainly. Will you kindly tell me
what you will do in this caseG"
"Yaas. I think I will. Thar's my
deed to this yere claim on the hooks up
thar, and yo1l find all the others hev
the same. Yo' kin see it, 1 recknna"
II see a rife hanging up there" re
piled the MIchigander.
"Waal, that's my deed. That's the
deedIHe had fur the last 20 Vars, and
nobody hain't said it wasn't a good
one"
'"Then you purpose to hang onH"
That's my idea, stranger, and when
1 once git an idea into my head I'm
apt to be sot."
Then, to come into possession of my
own, l must resort to the laws" asked
The rightful owner.
"Skassly that, stranger. In the fust
place, the Lawd made Tennessee fur
Tennesseans and rot fur Michiganders.
In the next place, thar hain't no law
around yere to appeal to. In the third
place, the other five men are ambushed
along the trail, and if yo' continner to
think yo' own this land I don't think
yo1l git outer the woods alive"
You'd R~ssassinate me for claiming
my own, would you9" demanded the
frightened but irate Wolverine.
''Skassly fur claimin yo'r own, stran-
ger, but fur claimin ours. Did they tell
yo' in town how many owners of this
land had showed up in the last 30
y'ars9"
"No."
"Waal, I've got 'em notched on the
stock of that are rife. Ten notches, I
reckon, and that amt countin two sher-
ifs and a constable. Stranger. d'yo
want to leave yo' address up in Michi-
gan, SOS I kin answer any inquiries
from yo' WifeG"
'I-I-don't think So"
"Just as yo' feel about it. Hev yo'
changed yo' mind about the landG"
Il think I have. l own it, but l
won't take possession"
That's k'rect. Might sell it to some
one eIse9"
Yes" I'll do that"
"And let him cum down to run us
off and make number Level on that
riffs stock. That's yo'r best way, and
now I'll send a boy on ahead of yo' to
say to our tellers that yo' are in love
with Michigan and don't keer a durn
fur Tennessee, and 1 reckon yoTl git
back home all right. Day to yo', sab,
and if yo' feel like smokin, them yere
deeds will be a good thing to light yo'r
pipe with"
It is not easy to underdrain the barn
yard. In most cases so rich is the soil
in fertiliziug matter that much of the
fertility will soak into the underdraip,