Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-08-16
How Jonas Lifted the Mortgage.

uhlt ltedSsOy 9dciiFeTou tile COihAlcuCC-
ment address on the day that Jonas.
Food received his diploma. from the
X ansas State Agricultural college
Ordinarily, Jonas would have
been delighted with the brilliant,
academic utterances of this polished
gentleman. But now he was anxious
to get home.
When Jonas starteds to work his
way through the great agricultural
college his aims had been high; per-
haps he. would make agreat career,
and have his name borne upon the
tongues, of shouting multitudes.
However, as time passed, his idea of
things in general gradually changed.
He had come under the influence of
Some,- broad. minded men at the col
lege, and was now champion of the
basic soundnesS and wisdom of a
career upon the farm. He unused on
these changes in attitud as the train
sped him on his way to the old home
in Jefferson county, Kansas.
His father met him at the station
In the old dis-m antled top-buggy that
had seen many years service. Hiram
Good was farmer of the old school,
weather. beaten and despondent-look-
ing.
sWell, boy" said the old man
weariiy, ''you find 4ls all in n nourning.
The old COW got mired in the pond
some sin1e last night and when i
found her she was gone-up. . -
'sDid you skin her2' asked Jonas: :.
Didn't want to bother skinnin
her." replied his father.
Father" said Jonas suddenly,
''just how much of mortgage is
there on the farm2''
The old man studied d moment.
The mortgage and what interest is
due on it comes to 2,635. Then
there is store bill of somethin' like
a hund red"
Jonas unused moment, then said,
Father, we can pay that mortgage,
and do it quick, if we go about it
right And we must do it. Mothers
getting too old to have a mortgage
hanging over the home
The old man sighed and looked
away.
The Good farm consisted of 160
acres of land, consisting of plow land
meadow and pasture. "A creek run
ming across corner supplied living
water for the farm. About 80 acres
we're in cultivation. The pillow land
had deteriorated much in fertility
for lack of rotation and applied
fertilizer. In places it was washed
badly. However, it compared favor
ably with all but a few of the neigh
boring farms.
Hiram Good did not believe in
this scientific foolishneSs. He
farmed on straight grain basis,
taking toll of his soil year after year
without returning anything TO it.
The yield Of. grain grew smaller
year. by year. but he laid it to the
drouthy summers. He was selling
his soil at so much a ton.
Jonas Good received his diploma in
June, and by the first of July he was
at his reclamation project" His
father reluctantly let him have full
swing. .nfutUering meanwhile prophe-
cies of disastrous failure.
"Our problem is simple, said Jonas
to his father. sbut there will be lots
of hard work connected with solving
| it; we must feed the soil in order
that the soil may feed us. We must
keep live stock enough to consume
and converti into fertilizer all the grain
and forage raised on the farm, and by
keeping-a good grade of stock we will
obtain the greatest returns in flesh
and quality for the forage consumed
And last but not least, we must do a
lot of hard work Nothing in this
world that is worth while can be OBJ
| tained without hard work"
Jonas had some difficulty to obtain
all he needed without capital: but
his reputation for sincerity and
honesty tided him over this crisis.
He sold some of the nondescript
horses on the place, and bought three
Percheron mares, the colts from these
were no more trouble nor expense to
raise than. scrub colts; they were
worth twice as much