Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-16

''I TOOK 1T THAT YOU BELONGED 10 THE
PURFEsH
Shutdown farm. thirty miles from the
city. All our own vegetables, butter
and milk, Porches, swings and ha l.
mocks Soft beds. No mosquitoes.
Groves, meadows and brooks. Bring
your bike. References required. Terms,
So per week Children taken. Short
and beautiful walk from the railroad
station"
"And you think of going out thereT
asked Mrs. Bowser.
Wanted a Weeks Rest.
81 not only think but | know I'm
going. l was going to propose it to
you, but you can go and see your
mother and I'll go up to Shutdown
| farm alone I'd like TO put in at
least a week in the country in some
quiet place."
But you know how you are about
things"
what do you mean by that?' he de-
manded.
"Why, you will probably be disap-
pointed and
"And / will raise a row? That
shows how little you know me-
may not find things all l anticipate,
but shall say nothing am no hand
complain of anything. If l don't like
this place / can find another One
would think l was a roaring lion to
hear you talk. You just get ready and
go your way and I'll go mine, and I'm
sure I'll have the best time"
1t was settled that way, though Mrs
Bowser had a hundred misgivings to
one hope. Mr.. Bowser figured out
what he wanted to take, secured ref
erences from six different men. and
before he finally got away he made
more fuss than If the entire house
hold goods were being removed to an
other house. There were times when
he almost changed his mind and de
cided to go hunting elephants in AT
RIGA or mountain climbing in Montana,
but he had only to read that advertise
ment over again to bring him back to
Shutdown farm and its meadows and
brooks. When his corns ached he
even thought of padding his feet in
those brooks.
| Mrs Bowser reached her mothers
house without adventure. Mr.. Bowser
reached Shutdown station to find that
It consisted of small building for the
use of the agent shed for freight
house and water tank The agent
was a young man with n lonesome
look and scarcity of talk. When
asked If he knew the farm he pointed
to a road leading across swamp.
When asked If Mr.. Bowser's trunk
could remain there until sent for he
said nothing. When asked If he knew
the farm and IL the groves and eggs
and butter were all right, he smiled
sadly and crossed the tracks to unload
a barrel of salt
Mr.. Bowser set out. He had some,
how got 1t in his mind that a short
walk meant quarter of mile al
most. He had never looked the term
up In Webster or he would have found
1t to mean, "A short walk In the coun
try means anything from two to TWEEN
ty miles" In this case It meant al
most two miles. The road was mostly
through the woods, and there were
mosquitoes by the millions. There
were frog ponds and swamps. He me
one stray dog and one tramp VIII
wasn't stray. but knew where he want
ed TO go. The dog took one look at MI
Bowser's face and went past him o.
the run. expecting to be hit with
club. The tramp stopped him ant
said:
Say, old cock, have you got a chew
Of tobacco about your
"Nov' shouted Mr.. Bowser.
Took Him For q Tramp.
"well, you needn't knock any tree
over With that voice OF yours. I tool
1t that you belonged to the purfesl
and would shore with q comrade. bu
! was mistaken. II I was you II
chaw that face on myselfr'
Mr.. Bowser kept his dignity an,
passed on, though the temptation wa
great. Shutdown farm finally cam
into view. That's one good thing abou
the country. II you walk long snougl
and far enough anything from Z, bul
| calf 70 . thousand acre farm viii heav
Into view. There was . brook run
ming across the road, but It ran silent
/ ". Il wasn't paid to babble. Their
was 4 spotted cow standing In tn
shade OF three trees-the groves men
toned IL the ad. She was covere,
with dies, but she wasn't switching
her tail. She had switched 1t for TWEEN
| II years and had come to recognize tn
futnity. There was a green meadow
but It belonged to the next farm
UxhAw~ - - -