The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-24

land and plenty of timber, and a man
can make a living there If he wants
TO work, he says.
The paper companies and portable
sawmills have also contributed to the
general calm and idleDess of Mr..
Johnson's neighborhood The vast
holdings of the paper people tie up
the timber and make small opera
tons impossible. The sawmills,
while they give profitable employ
ment temporarily to the neighboring
farmers. soon skin the hillsides and
move on. The farmer loses his lum-
Der job, which perhaps he has been
depending upon to add 10 his in
come. and also goes elsewhere.
Mr., Johnson and his wife, who
wrote that piece for the paper and
stirred up the anti-abandoned farm
editors, were found with an OK team
ploughing on the smooth hillside near
their home. Mrs. Johnson wearing
rough, heavy boots and otherwise
properly attired for field toll. drove
the oxen, and in her talk with the
seekers after information showed
much cheerfulness and contentment
with her lot which has been that of
a pioneer all her life, and ability as
well to do mans share OF farm
work.
How did she happen to write that
piece? I'VE want neighbors," said
Mrs. Johnson; there is good farm
land, timber. water fishing and hunt.
ing. but no people. Our nearest
'neighbor lives over the hill It's
lonely, though I've been happy here.
My parents lived down below here,
where we cleared the land for our
home, then we got married and came
and cleared this land. going in debt
when we started and we have done
well and made living We want
company; we'd be the best neighbor-
hood in tn world II people would only
come"
The lack of school privileges was
Mrs. Johnsons prompt answer to the
question as to the reason for the va.
cant farms, and as she showed IL ac-
counted for the departure for more
than one family downward
The Johnsons were turning over
rich, black soil with their pillow: IL
was good corn land, every bit of II,
all through the region. said Mr. John
som; there is plenty of timber not
yet reached by the steam mills.
4 good neighborhood-yes as the
newspaper piece says. but to the
traveller not entirely responsive to
the back to the land" slogan IL look.
ed bit stern and hopeless-until
one reaches the Johnson homestead.
Here is good hay and tillage land,
good house and larger barn; a com.
Portable looking woodpile. hens and
few cattle.
Deserted houses are a discomfort.
ing feature OF the six mile drive be.
yond Briggs There's village lust
beyond here" said the driver to his
passengers. but nobody lives there
now They call 1t Shaddaghee. And
Chateauguay was tenantless--a few
houses. school building. boarding
house. a gold mine building. half as
big as the Woodstock Inn. running
up the side OF the hill, and black.
smith shop. Up through Chateau.
guays few miles not family is left
the last one leaving only this week
Tuesday.
But the traveler-pleasure seeker
or the man looking for home
need not be discouraged-keep on to
b j. Johnson's, ana see what he has
done with the va'.able aid OF his
wife. Her appeal has awakened New
York and New England perhaps be-
yond her anticipations. though her
husband told her she was getting In
to trouble when she penned H. She
has had more than forty answers to
Il. she says, from New York City and
elsewhere. from people who want a
country place and a trout pond. or
a place to spend vacation. or fish.
Ing and hunting.
Perhaps Mrs. Johnson's inspiring
example and authorship has turned
the tide; In few years there may
be fewer idle farms in that corner OF
Windsor county .-Woodstock Spirit
! Of the Age.