Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-03
Selling the Old Farm.


ness and the home, for the two are al
most invariably located at differen
points, and neither business matters no
home environment mingle with the other
For this reason the selling of the bust
ness or change of location is simply
business transaction, with only so mucl
sentiment attending the change as ma.
have been developed in business affairs
A grocery business may be transferred
from one building to another, lawyer
may write his briefs in a new Office, ant
banker may file his securities in vaults
in abuilding on any street or in any cit!
without the change being noticed in hi'
home life.
In the business of farming it is not SC
easy to make change without greater
disturbance, for the reason that the bust
ness and home are intimately connected
Especially is this true in the case OF
farms that have been occupied by the
owners from boyhood, and perhaps by
ancestors before them. The home has
become part of the farm and the farm
part of the home. The successful
farmer who clears his fields of stone,
builds substantial fences, improves his
land and his stock, keeps his buildings
in repair, sets shade trees around his
home and along the highway, grows
small fruit for the family table, and has
a team for driving when not needed for
work upon the farm, will find it impos-
sible to separate in his own mind the
farm and the home, and when he sells
his farm he sells home that represents
more than money value.
There are conditions which make the
selling of farm which has long borne a
family name a necessity. When the aged
people die without leaving children,
or with children who went away from
the farm while the mother and father
were vigorous and able to carry on the
farm, and have become established in
business or professional affairs and
have no use and but little sentiment for
the old farm, there is reason for its sale.
Sometimes a farmer through extrava-
gance or poor management became in
volved financially, making the selling of
the farm a necessity. In none of these
cases do we raise an objection to the sale,
for there is nothing else to be done. The
StlliUS W WulCu VIC lCiCl anu obJSSe 10
when the farmer seems to be offered a
great price by some person of means who
has taken fancy for the farm, to the
sale made because of a desire to retire
from business and move to the city or
village for ease and rest, or to the sale
of the farm to locate on some other farm,
OF TO engage in some other business. A
sale for either of these reasons will prove
unfortunate in nine cases out of ten when
the seller is past middle life and has al
ways lived upon the farm.
We believe a consideration of these
matters to be important, for the demand
for farms is to increase, and farmer
who feels disheartened, as people do at
times in all kinds of business, may be
induced to sell his farm and regret it
during the remainder of his life. The
quiet contentment that may be had in
an old farm home by those who have
spent all their lives there, where every
tree and bush and rock is associated in
mind with past experiences, and made
almost sacred by the memory of loved
members of the family who have passed
away, cannot be substituted by the ex-
periences to be had in city life, however
favored one may be located there. The
change is so great and all the experiences
are so new as to fail to satisfy one long
to view broad acres of his
own. Street cars, public libraries, emil
rent preachers, lecturers and society
events are pleasant and elevating, but
they do not quite satisfy person long
to entirely different condi-
tons, and who has learned to love the
hills and mountains, lakes and streams
with an unconscious admiration.
Another objection to selling the old
faim not always duly considered is the
expense involved in living in the village
or city. Many of the things that have
been enjoyed on the farm at compare
lively small cost, and seemingly at no
cost, require a considerable outlay of
cash when living in the city. The con-
tributions required when one has the ad-
vantage of religious, social and literary
opportunities, which seemed so attract
i've when viewed from the farm, and for
the enjoyment of which change to the
city was made, amount to no small sum,
while the car fares, increased taxes and
other expenditures swell the cost expend-
itures beyond the expectation of per-
son who has not given careful study to
these things. By the establishment of
electric roads, rural telephones, and ru-
raj mail delivery the old farms are made
more attractive year by year.
On the whole there is little cause now
for leaving the old farm for enjoyment.
The person accustomed to hard work will
be uneasy in life of leisure. 1t will be
more satisfactory to keep the old farm,
working less and less each year as
strength fails, but continuing to live amid
the scenes that have afforded so much
pleasure in the past, and which would be
longed for wherever one locates and how
ever pleasing the surroundings.-Mirror
and Farmer.