The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-28
OBJECT LESSON FOR YOUNG MEN
Don't Leave the Farm Mr.. Grigsby
Model Citizen and Successful Farmer.

To The Free Lance.
often see in public print glowing
accounts of scientific farming and
its wonderful results, but along
this special line do not now pro-
pose TO write With your permits
sion will tell OF some Of my OBJ
seryations in the last twenty-five
years. or one man and OF his
farm | wish to speak specially. that
man is George w. Grigsby, OF Rol-
Inns Fork. King George county. Va.
When | first knew Mr.. Grigsby he
could boast of one horse, a first
class wife and five or six children,
all girls. At that time he had just
left a farm where he had been ten
ant for one or two years and bought
the property on which he now lives.
The property was then without
buildings Of any kind. the old fields
run down. so that Il would not pro-
duce third grade hengrass without
fairly good season. Possibly
there were pine bushes enough to
cover his first turnlp patch. lie
settled down. however and went
to work. built a dwelling and corn
crib and a shed to protect his horse
and COW.
In few years the farm was well
and substantially fenced in and
the fields were dressed in living
green" young orchards were bud
ding and blooming and very soon
large grainary and barns had to be
built with bins for small grain,
mows for hay and stable room for
his team OF fine horses and pro-
lection OF his farming implements.
rolling stock and pleasure vehicles.
Next his dwelling had to be great
" enlarged, remodeled and modern
lied. Now he enjoys a comfortable
convenient and up-to-date home'"lth
quite a large family OF handsome
daughters. the most OF whom are
married. settled and doing well.
His BOYS. three in number. two OF
whom are fine looking young men,
the third will soon don his patent
feathers. paccadilly collar and mar
row brim derby.
The average yield Of his farm Tor
a number OF years has been from
six 10 ten barrels OF corn and from
ten TO twenty-five bushels OF wheat
per acre. and the beautiful crops
of red and crimson clover In their
season have often made Bob Page
the postrider's "hat-rack specimen
of equine anatomy's" mouth water
as he logged along the highway Dor
dering these beautiful fields.
Now this | call practical farming
and an object lesson. that II care
fully Observed by the young men
and carried into practical erect
there will be no need OF their 60
ing to town to enter into the
Press Brick and DO Little TO
and learn to smoke cigarettes ana
wear Eyeglasses.
IN my long years OF observations
OF Mr.. c. | have reached the con-
clusion that the world is brighter
and better because he lives in 1t.
In my further observations Of Mr..
G.'s ways and doings ! have noticed
some things he would do and some
things he wouldn't do. He would
knock off from his farm and go gun
ming and go fishing. but the usual
result was that his table groaned un
der fine. fat wild fowl and first
class selections of the finny tribe.
And. like his brothers, brothers-in
law and all Of his nephews, nieces
and neighbors i'm lower king George
he would not let a wayfarer 20 hun
cry or sleep out OF doors. He could
not. that is. never saw him go
foxhunting or take a drink.
The Nervous Black Horse.
Feb. %. 1911.