Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-12-31

not make up my mind just where to
wanted would be home for many
years, and that l must therefore be
most careful in my selection.
| was living in New York city az
the time, as manager for a manufac-
turing concern. at a good salary, when
my health caused me considerable
alarm. and felt that sooner or later
must relinQuish city work or at least
find myself in a position where 1
would not have chance to make the
move. Rather than get into such
shape, l decided to give up my posi-
ton, and carry out my plans as to the
farm.
l had saved up, and could imme-
diately secure $4,000 which / consid-
cred sufficient sum TO enable me to
carry on the work until got the farm
on a paying basis (later l found this
sum entirely inadequate). so l got
busy on the farm question, and an
swered an advertisement in a certain
farm journal describing the farm
am at present owning.
The farm contained 72 acres, an
eight room house. barn. etc, and could
be bought for $500 with $500 cash
down. 1t was situated one and one
half hours from Boston, and about five
from New York city.
/ spent the best part of two days
looking over the ground, and was
charmed with the country, the farm
surroundings, and the aspect of the
proposition generally. The farm had
been in one family for 100 years, and
the owner, who was then living on the
place, was over 70 years old and going
blind. His children had gone to the
city and he was anxious to sell and
spend his days in greater ease.
| pondered the matter for a week,
and again made trip to the place,
| this time with draft in my pocket
for 800 to be paid down as binding
the bargain if l felt satisfied that I
wanted the farm. Both trips were
made in August, when the country
looks beautiful.
On the last trip walked from the
town to the farm on a beautiful warm
day. lingering on the way to pick
blackberries as large as Strawberries,
and delicious blue-olack huckleberries,
besides knocking from the trees chest
mats and walnuts in plenty. l had
quite made up my mind to purchase.
The transaction completed, l moved
my family to the town until such
times as | could make certain repairs
and alterations to the house which
were necessary.
| tore the old house down and re-
modelled one of the unused storerooms
as kitchen, putting in plenty of win
dows and making it comfortable with
sheathing and matched flooring. The
house being over 100 years old has
an immense chimney from the cellar
to the roof, containing in it's length
enough brick to build small bunga-
low. The liying-rooms have the old
original beam ceilings. These we en-
cased, covering up many unsightly
places and papered the walls and cell
ings that it might smell sweet and
clean. All defects in the house
showed up strong inside and out as
soon as we got to repairing and fix
ing up.
l am pointing out the defects, so
that anyone buying New England
rundown farm, may look more closely
than | did, and not be carried away by
a desire to buy farm. overlooking
many Of the essential points which
afterward call for an outlay in repairs,
and corresponding chagrin at being
blind to very palpabie defects.
1t is easier to buy than to sell, and
the man who buys should get all he
can for his money, and he can only do
this by care and proper oversight.