Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-06-15
THE MAN WITH THE COW
By Cyrus Fl. Walker.

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subscribers, we reprint it for the
benefit of our readers:
Upon the handles Of his we'll worn plow
The weary farmer leans, and with his
gaze
Intently fixed upon the ground, he
thinks.
The latest beams of light from setting
sun,
Touching the far-off, floating, feecy
clouds,
Transfigures them to silver, red and
gold,
Giving promise of bright tomorrow.
The tiresome tolls of day are nearly DER
And soon the man will seek his farm
house home
To find needed rest, and needed cheer.
For years he's titled these acres broad
and grand
And once they yielded largest crops
of grain
That surely brought large and glad
reward;
But now, they give each year lessen
ing yield
And lessened price far less than profit
makes,
And, worst of all, there rests upon his
A mortgage strong and heavy to be
borne.
Although 'tis early spring and birds
of song
Begin to carol sweet and thrilling lays,
There is no ray of joyous, heaven-born
hope
Seen in his down-cast eyes, for we'll
he knows
That when two scores of months have
fully passed
The mortgage must be met, or all be
lost
How can he part with this paternal
home,
Where died loved ones, doubly dear
old home
Around which cluster fondest memo
ries?.
But bark a sound borne by the
evening breeze
Comes to his ear. It is the low tinkling
OF bell, worn by Old Jersey, faithful
COW,
AS home she wends her way, to add
her wealth
OF creamy store to family larder.
A sudden inspiration siezes him,
Unwonted light shines in his earnest
eyes,
And words express, at last, his pent-
up thoughts,
"I have it nowI I'll sell my surplus
stock
And all ofelse that can spare, and buy
More COWS, whose milk creamery
shall find
And stand in quality the highest test
These lands, so long in use for raising
grain,
Soon shall bring, the finest of red
clover.
With light elastic step and happy |
mind,
He drives his tired, but willing horses
home;
And fastening to his wife his plan
unfolds
Who heartily approves with joyful
tears.
Sleep quite a stranger is to both of them
Thro' all the waiting hours of restless
night.
When morning comes, it see the boys
and girls,
But truly lads and lasses, strong for
work,
Tho still gladly attending district
school,
Wild with desire to try the forlorn hope
Whose onward sweep may grandly
save the farm.
Soon sales are made and best of COWS
are bought,
And extra strong tin cans to hold the
milk
That in the early morn in summer
months
To a nearby creamery plant is hauled.
The farming work goes on with rapid
pace.
The lower lands to different grass
seeds sown
Will give a varied pasture for the
stock
Ere spring times copious showers are
passed.
Red clover seed is cast among the
wheat,
Oats, rye or cheat, put in the previous
fall,
While buckwheat, vetches, fiaxseed,
rape and peas,
Find place with timothy already
grown.
In garden plot fine vegetables are
raised,
While in one field is planted best of
corn,
And also one to Ireland's staff of life.
Good breeds of chickens, hogs and
goats or sheep
Are bought, and some Italian honey
bees.
Choice bushes, vines and trees, for
nuts or fruit
Are set on rolling land, to give return
Certain and large in future years,
and thus
In most helpful ways and intensive
OneMEnutsCouahCure