The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-03-01
(Catawba Democrat }

NO. | didn't get to so to Lemon
College. 1t fell to my lot to stay on
the farm and take care OF the old
folks. There We're ten of us boys
and girls, and they have nearly all
gone out into the world and are do
ing we'll. Sister and 1 only are left
on the old home place. Somebody
had to stay and look after father and
mother. | know I'll always miss the
education / was SO anxious to get. 1T
will be handicap all through my
life
1t was a sturdy young Catawba
county farmer, Lawrence Eugene
Isenhour, who was thus speaking to
the Democrat. whose editor in the
genial company of Mr.. Frank A. Clln-
ard had driven all the way from Hick-
ory to Tayiorsyille that day and
thence back homeWards as far as
Oxford Ford. Night had fallen and
Il place must be found to spend the
evening. The hOSpitable nome or
Mr. Isenhours father was open to the
tired Wayfarers.
And such Il home. great fire
place was agloW with huge pine and
oak logs three feet long. The genial
warmth kept one constantly pushing
his chair d little farther back. In
one snug corner Of the chimney
place sat Mr. IsenhOur, the father, the
snow OF lfe's winter or his head
Next to him sat Mrs. Isenhour, the
mother. happy over the thought that
Of life work we'll done-ten strong
boys and girls all grown. most Of them
married, and all out in the world do
ing the worlds work.
The family circle was completed
when young Mr. Isenhour. his pretty
young wife and his sweet young sister
seated themselves in the glow Of the
fire. AS they all sat there talking
to
members Of the circle who were off
in cities and towns were keeping off
the cold, not before glowing wood
fires. but with furnaces under the
house, with registers, with stoves. or
with smutty coal heaped CRATES.
When bedtime came and the traV-
ellers climbed the stairs to the COM
pany room, what beds! What splen-
did old time furniture, What downy
mattresses. What amplitude and su-
perabundance of covers. layer after
layer cropping oet on the top in the
snowy counterDane. Why there was
enough cover there to keep Z man
warm in Greenland or Iceland or the
North Pole.
s5,ch u table as the good womenfolll
ia the Isanhour family set before the
rave no.sly hungry traveller Cream
and Butter from a fine herd OF Here
lords. Light bread and fluffy bis
cults from the finest of wheat all
grown on the rolling farm lands Nisi-
hle from the dining room windows.
Aromatic kraut; sweet potato Gus
tard, rich in flavor as a plum pudding,
ana jcllieS and Jams galore, the sac
charmed product OF the orchard over
tire hill.
Food shelter and raiment aplenty.
with the orchard and vineyard s
trophies an extra. 70 this little
agricultural Canaan OF 100 acres al
ready being brought to high state
Of cultivation by the raising Of fine
stock. Gene Isenhour has already
fallen heir by staying home to take
care Of the old folks.
And yet when he spoke to the
Democrat man, there was a tone To
his voice which indicated that he felt
other boys had had Every now and
then, YOU know, q letter drops into
the e. i. D. box up by the side of the
road, from this boy over in Durham.
and this other son and brother some
where out West, and it tells OF
achievements, Of promotion, of sue
cess, (such as CataWba boys always
have) and then it is but natural that
tiny touch Of disappointment creeps
into u fellows heart, and he thinks
Il would have done that way too if
l had had such a chance" The
country boy has been allowed to be-
lieve TOO strongly that the town boy
is the fellow who is doing the world S
best work 1t isn't so.
They showed us photograph of
the Isenhour family group ten manly
and womaniy men and women. And
the favor to the old folks in every
face. What treasure photograph
of OF these d-time, big families
is Open, true, honest countenances