The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-07

Mr.. BowSer had no figures on pa
per. but he carried a few in his hea'
and, after a nom ent's thought, h
said:
81 shall keep about 80 cows to be
| gin with. The sales of milk and but
ter from 80 COWS ought to be $50 pc
| COW per year
Mrs. Bowser dared not smile, and
| that was one of the regular evening
when the family cat attended a clul
| on the next block
That's $500 income alone" sale
Mr.. Bowser, as he rubbed the top OF
his head and gazed at the ceiling
Then I figure on having 100 hogs tc
sell every year. 1 don't exactly know
what price pork brings, but 1 think
I can safely figure on at least 81, SOC
more for pork. There ought to be al
least 20 calves to sell every spring
My general figure as to the dairy and
livestock give me an income of about
$1,000 a year"
81 see,'' nodded Mrs. Bowser.
Then I figure that ought to raise
about $4,000 worth of wheat and ST.
200 worth of corn and $1,000 worth
of potatoes and other vegetables The
sale of oats and hay should bring the
grand total of income up to $4,000
a year. It may fall a thousand short
or run over by that amount Say that
the expenses take half of the income
and we have a nice plum left Yes
my dear; 1 have no sort Of hesitation
in saying that we get the pure country
air the year round, with sliding down
hill on a handsled in winter and lis
tening to the lowing Of the kline III
summer, and come out $4,000 a yeaI
ahead of the game. A Cripple Creek
gold mine may pay little better, Du1
l shall be satisfied with the farm"
Yes, it looks like a good thing,
unused Mrs. Bowser.
"Of course it does, and can yor
doubt that it will prove so? may
have picked up a few fads in my time
but can you call this fad? You were
a country gi--, and you know a good
knowledge that this is a straight bus
mess deal. Have got the income too
high ?"
perhaps not"
DO I figure the profits too high ?
IT can't say that you do"
Then there are the Is years added
to my life One doesn't like to figure
dollars and cents against his life. but
shouldn't we set it down that my life
is worth at least $4,000 a year to the
family"
You might figure it at far more
than that, if at all
well, then, let US sum up. as the
lawyers say. Here I am, past the
prime of life and afflicted with rheu-
matism and bronchitis and asthma.
Life on a farm renews my youth and
cures my complaints. Isn't that a
pleasant beginning?"
1T surely is
''Then we have the free and indie
pendent life of a farmer-the glorious
sunrises-1he gorgeous sunsets
boot of the owls at night-the gentle
rains. the balmy breezes-
that one can ask for in life Mrs
Bowser. it gives me thrills when I
think of il. I can hardly wait for the
morning to come that I may be off
and buy me farm Would you ike
TO go along with me?"
I'VE will see when morning comes, :"
she answered
'I think you will get up with the
same enthusiastic feeling l have, and
that by night we shall have things all
settled. Now. then, have you got any
criticism to make?"
None at all.
but I expected you'd have hun
dred. You generally get at it and
tear all my plans to pieces and Try
TO make out that I'm a fool. So you've
nothing TO say?'
Just a word. Our butcher, you
know, came in off a farm last year,
after tiIling the soil for at least Is
years. He must know all about farm
and can give you lots of pointers The
evening is early yet, and why don't
few minutes?
..By John, but that would be a good
idea.''
TT would be a good idea, Mr.. Bow
SER Just give him your figures as
you gave them to me. and let him go
over them. They say he's smart,
shrewd man"
s'Of course he is. I'd rather have his
opinion than any other man know of.
Yes, I'll go over and have a little
talk with him. and If he backs me up,
which I'm sure he will, I hope you'll
try to get up a little more enthusiasm
over the matter. Where's the cat to-
night?"
He seems to be out
eff he was home I'd hug him and
beg his pardon for the many times
I've threatened to knock his head OF.
He goes with US to the country, and
who can say how many years his life
will be prolonged? I'll be back in an
hour, and perhaps you'll want to be-
gin packing tonight"
Mr.. Bowser set out with the springy |
step of a man of 80. and his rheuma- |
ism and bronchitis were forgotten for |
he hour. The butcher was about tc I
close his shop for the evening, but
ne took Mr.. Bowser into his private
1ffice and listened TO his story. He
neither sighed nor smiled He simply
sat and stared at a sample sausage
stuffing machine left him that day for
rial and did not open his lips unit
the story of life in the country, illus
rated with cuts Of buIlfrogs. blue
birds. hayStacks and cornfields was