Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-11-27
FARMERAN PLANTER.
THE FARMERS HARD LOT.
How the biggest Field On the Farm
May be Made to Give the
Farmer Ample

About the biggest field on the farm,
judging by the prominence given It,
is the farmers hard lot" In fact, so
vast and universal is it that fences
can not restrain it. 1t knows no
county, state or national lines. 1t is
roextensive with the worlds domain.
1t is most in evidence during a close
political campaign. The heart of men
and women have been wrung. and the
fountain of tears overfiowed its high
est banks, at the picture of the toll
worn farmer and his hapless wife and
child. Even farmers themselves have
turned from their well-filled bays and
bins, their glossy, s~leek-coated cattle.
their pantries and cellars overfowlng
with good things to eat, n added
their groans to that of the populace.
For who viii not conjure up injuries
and abuses galore if he finds a will
ing ear? And what ear is so SYM
pathetic as that of the politician seek
ing votes? Even among farmers who
have secured a modest competence
there is a feeling that farming is not
a lucrative pursuit; that the returns
are not at all commensurate with the
time, thought and energy expended.
| have discussed the matter with
many classes OF minds,an have asked
for the basis of their opinions. In
nearly all cases the substance of the
re plies is this: "The townsman a a
better house, beautiful within with
artistic furnishings, and without
with shrubs and vines. Poor indeed is
the street that is not lined with
shade-trees. Good walks surround
his home. His house is heated by a
furnace or with gas, and hot and
cold water are always on tap" To
which the reply is, and must be: 'The
advantages are only apparent. 1t
would be we'll for you to spend fifteen
minutes each day in getting acquaint-
ed with yourself. You say you care
nothing for looks or show, but only
solid, substantial comfort. The lat
ter you profess not to have; the for
mer you emphasize by placing first
in your enumeration of the advan-
tages of town life. With patience,
skill and careful planning the cottage
of the early years may be added to. as
the need impels. No matter how
shrewd a buyer the wife is, the wom-
an who occasionally goes up to the
city has the advantage in tasty and
artistic buying of II who does not.
The travelled woman, other things be-
ing equal, a make n hundred dol
lars go further in comfort, luxury
and artistic effects than can the I'M
travelled woman with 5000. Spend a
few dollars each year in getting away
from home. As to trees and shrubs
and vines, the farmer can have for the
digging his choice from hundreds of
plants, while the townsman foregoes
some pleasure to buy the nursery
mems choice of stock, which is in
ferior to that on the average farm.
The shade trees of the street may be
the farmers, also. with this difference
they are far more luXuriant,
healthy and well proportional in the
country than in the city. Furnace
heat in the country may be obtained
for less han in the city, and poor in
deed is the farm that can not get an
abundance of water for the house.
The occasional beautiful farm home
you see was not built in a day. Twas
the slow accretions of years and the
mellowing, maturing influence of time.
The truly beautiful farm home comes
to the family imbued with a tender
love for Nature. Here is a tree, shrub,
vine or flower too beautiful to be seen
but once. It's environments are, noted,
and the conditions at the house made
as nearly similar as possible, then it
is carefully removed to its new home.
In its gratitude it sends out a plenti-
tude of new beauty to gladden. the
eye. AS time glides on, other plants
are brought to bear it company, and
soon the bare, unsightly house is
made a bower of beauty and elegance.
Men admire its beauty. and in time
desire to buy it. Nothing can be made
so genuinely lovely as the place
planned and executed for the love of
the work alone. All, my friend, spend
the time you now give to f%retful.
childish repining in planning how to
make your little place attractive. and
in seeking better methods of doing
your work, and you will find heaven
right at your door.'-Farm and Fire
side.