The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-07-05
Mr.. Perkins Farming.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

III lFE in the country is a dream of
l. perpetual happiness" So read
the newspaper extract that Harry
Perkins was pondering over, and he
was so much impressed by il that he
read it aloud 10 his wife along with
the half column of similar sentiments
which followed il.
Evidently. the writer had becoma
enamored TO farm life, in theory if
not in practice.
NOW. Anna" said Mr.. Perkins.
crossing his legs and throwing him
self back in his chair, as he invari.
ably did when he was commencing
an argument. that sounds promis-
ing! That fellow knows what he is
talking about. And you know how
we have always thought we should
enjoy the country. Fresh milk, that
has not passed through the milkman's
manipulations: butter. golden as but
tcrcups; Strawberries every morning
for breakfast; chickens of ones own
raising; honey fresh from the comb:
pure air and water; natural society,
no gossip. Anna, the experiment is
worth trying"
"liut. Henry, You have a good situ-
alton, and the children are al school.
and YOU don't know anything about
farming!"
''Do You take me for fool, Anna
Perkins, cried her husband, indig-
nantly. Don't you suppose I have
got brains enough Ia learn. II indeed
there is anything 10 learn2 Don't
you think I am as bright man, nat
urally, as old Ducy. who brings us
our cabbages, or the red-haircd milk
man who brings butter and eggs aud
charges five per cent. more for them
because he knows they are fresh
lIumph. fresh, II he knows they are.
il Is more than We know when we
come TO use them"
"Oh, Of course. Henry YOU know
enough In your way" said his wife.
"But II don't seem 20 me that YOU
can know much about farming. has.
ing never had any experience"
II can learn. Anybody can learn
In two weeks time AZ much a. any
Of those old rural clodhoppers know.
and have a mind 90 Try it II woutl
he good for the children. The change
OF air would beneiit nay lungs. ansl
you would get fat, Mama. on the new
milk aud the good thing. generally "
Mrs. Perkins shook hcr head doubf
fully, bat Perkins was saaguine. and
that very day be- SAW q real estate
agent who had for sale e farm sa
nearly approaching the condition ol
the Garden ~ Eden. before u De,
came infested with snakes. that Per.
/ kins went out 20 look az it. aud cun.
cludrd to invest $4,000 In a.
Real estate" said the agent ia b
all means the safest Of Investments
! Railroad bonds are tigkiish. sasingl
banks are risky lieeause canada g. 81
near, and it takes a small fortune ts
buy a 500 government lulnd: aud II.
for mining stocks-Why. a msn mus'
| be mad as "a Marrh harc 20 think al
them! llut real estate. my dear SIR
real estate is right there every tiuts'
II can't be stolen. and you haze Nol
il where You can see n. Aud farm
ing l. the noblcst aud most indetend
ent life ia the world"
MIR. Perkins became the urotFletal
of Walnut Dell farm, and took a.
family thither, Why h wac ealis.
"Walnut Dell" IL would have paxsiss
"A philosopher to determine. since an.
nearest approach 10 a walnut trce %
the premises was a horse-chestnuf
which looked as IL the ''sere and yel
low leaf" had oNertaken IL in it
prime. 1t had n discouraged appsar
ance, and so had everything cla
about Walnut Dell farm. Rut ihi
was owing. MIR. Perkins informed hi
wife, 10 the fact that, since the own
died two years ago, the place IA,