The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-05-20
Ezekiel's
Daughter"
Scientific Versus Common
Sense Farming
By CLARIssA MAcKIE

Z T
RI ! ! !: !
Perched on the rail fence and look
ing like an amiable scarecrow, Ezekiel
Finder nibbled blade of grass and
freely commented on the methods of
his young neighbor.
"You amt never going to make
farmer of yourself, Mr.. Hartwell.
Your head is too full Of newfangled
notions. P'taters is p'taters even if you
call 'em 'tubers or any other fancy
name, and beans is beans and not le-
goombs even if the hysterical culture
club does claim they belong to that
family
Ernest Hartwell grinned patiently as
he listened to Ezekiel's evening lee
ture. Born and bred in the city, an
inward craving for country life had
at last drawn him to the pretty village
of Little River
you can't deny that Mrs. Flinders
baked beans are more delicious since
she learned how to cook them at the
domestic science club. You said your
self that
Maybe SO, maybe So" waived Eze-
kiel airily. "Still, when it's all said
and done with, whether she learns
these notions at the minister's hysteri-
cal culture club or Miss Patty Dunn's
domestic science thingumbob, the
beans she cooks is just plain beans
after all. l don't take no stock in
theories or science or nothing but plain
common sense"
1T must be a great satisfaction to
feel that one can clip coupons from
his stock of common sense" remarked
Hartwell meekly as he hoed between
his rows of corn.
Ezekiel scowled at him beneath his
bushy brows. You're laughing at me.
Mr.. Hartwell. / can tell it by that
kink in your eye. Anybody ever tell
you that you had funny kink in your
eyer"
Hartwell rested on his hoe and sur
veyed the farmer solemnly. mo, Mr..
Finder; no one ever broke the news to
me. I've been told that had the form
Of bed sIat, the face Of pirate and
hcssy hair like a doll, but l have al
wass prided myself on my china blue
eyes and to be told that there is kink
in one of them is heartbreaking." He
dug despondently at a bunch of wire
grass.
Ezekiel spat refectively and let him
self down to the ground. you're
mighty fresh young man, Mr. Hart
WELL" he chuckled, "but it's a good
thing for you I amt got daughter"
"Why?" demanded Hartwell, sur
prised.
ooh. because you'd be dead sot to
marry her, and | wouldn't listen to it
minute. II couldn't be thought Of no
ways Ezekiel was chewing grass
vigorously.
"Once more l repeat, why? What
objection have you to me as son-in-
law?"
"First I'd say to her: Young lady.
you shan't marry no sculptor Teller.
Pick out good, plain farmer boy. and
you shall have my consent and the
blue glass lemonade set l drawed at
the rattle for a wedding present.
'T'm plain farmer boy" urged Mr.
Hartwell.
"First OF, you're sculptor That's
your trade and all you got to fall back
on. There can't be no money in sculp-
ing or else you wouldn't have come
and tried chicken farming out Of
book" -
II like farming. 1t is my recrea-
tion," objected the amateur agricul-
turist
It'll be your ruination," predicted
Mr.. Finder, raising horny finger.
"Lcok at that there corn!"
'Well, look at itr' agreed the plant
er proudly whats the matter with
1t, Ell? See any taller corn hereabouts?
See any thicker stalks? See any larger
ears?
mo, don't see none of those things
All can see is that there amt one
row planted straight They're as zig
gag as though tipsy man had set 'em
out" chuckled Ezekiel
"That's done purposely. There's a
scientific reason for planting 'em that
way" hazarded Hartwell.
"HumphT' snorted Ezekiel testify
and for a little while he was silent,
following Hartwell slowly down the
row Of corn. Then he said tentative
ly. 81 amt never seen none Of your
sculping yet?'
"Nop queried Hartwell politely.
mot 50 much as wink at it. I've
often told Maria when see you going
into that workshop of yours that !
guess I'll run in and see what you're
up to. but somehow it's sort of damp
and chilly looking in there; leastways
it must be if it's full of craven i'm
ages
"H'mr' observed the sculptor.
Ezekiel looked disappointed. He was
piqued at Hartwell for not offering
TO initiate him into the mysteries of
his workshop.
II reckon you feel kinder timid about
showing 'em off. but ! guess we can
make allowances for your being a be-
ginner You needn't feel bashful
about it. You might some day make
e fgger lit for the soldiers monument
we're going to have on the green. and
it would be an advantage for Little
River folks to know what you can do
We always encourage home talent"
remarked Ezekiel magnanimously.