Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-11-28
JIrI SrIITH
Observation-Disclosures Success

I've made a fool of myself again. If
! had taken your advice | would have
come over here to look at the place be-
fore | bought it, and if | had seen it,
YOU and Margic would never have seen
it | assure you. I've got the place on
my hands, our home is broken up,
most of our money is invested, and |
don't see anything else to do but try
to make the best of it. You can call me
all kinds of fool, or anything else you
wish, if you'll help me by just being
as cheerful as YOU can I'll cut cut the
drinks and smokes, and live on the
cruSts you and Margie leave, until we
can have 4 home where we can live,
and | can care for you better.
JIM" said his wife, "wc've lived
together for twenty years. You have
given me an easy time, and always
been good. Marguerite has never
known what it was 10 work, but pre-
sumo that my grandmother was right
when she used to say: we all have
to go through the small end of the
horn of plenty some time, and it's
better to begin early but if we can't
begin early, and we've enjoyed the
large end first, you need never think
that we will desert you if we have to
go through the small end now"
Putting her arms around his neck
she said, 81 love you dear, and will
help you all can"
The tears rolled down the big fell
lows face as he drew the two women
to his heart, and gave each one a
hearty kiss. at is going to be hard
on you and Margie," he finally said,
"but you can have the tent, and III
sleep in the wagon until we can get
a house built, so here goes up the
tent, and here's for a new home, God
bless it.
The tent was soon unrolled, and the
poles set, while the women helped him
tighten the guy ropes, and drive the
stakes. The two beds were set up,
the trunk and other articles put under
cover.
"Now the first thing to do" said
Mrs. Smith sis to get some place to
cook dinner"
jim had been out camping once, and
soon built a fireplace by driving two
fOrked sticks into the ground and
placing a pole across them, so he
could hang a pail to boil the water.
A little creek a quarter of a mile
away furnished the water, and with
some exultatiOn he said: "Now,
Mother, your kitchen is ready for the
cook"
Marguerite began to gather sticks
for the fire, which burned merrily, but
the smoke blew in their eyes, the
briars tore her hands and dress and
the woman, who did not know how to
cook on a gas stove, realized that she
would have a great deal of difficulty
in cooking over that kind of a fire.
They had brought some potatoes,
which were boiled in the creek water.
jim got blanket, and spread it on
the ground, and while all were seated
on it they ate their first meal on the
new farm. Boiled potatoes, canned
corned beef, bread and butter (but-
ter very soft), with olives for dessert,
and boiled creek water for coffee.
jim left with the horse and wagon
as soon as the dinner was over.
The horse had been turned out to
get his own dinner, but did not look
as though he had enjoyed the oppor-
tunity
Pm off to town." said jim, as he
mcrrily waved his hand, "for some
lumber and an oil stove, so | can be-
gin building our house tomorrow
morning"
He had never done any building but
he was naturally handy and necessity
forced him to try.
The man at the lumber yard gave
him the kind and size Of lumber he
would need to build a little summer
cottage, with emphasis on the 'little, -
and also suggested that he might be
able to get Bill Jones, who lived at
the city limits, to help him put up his
house, and Jim was thankful for the
suggestion.
He stopped at Bills and engaged
him for the next morning.
The lumber made a heavy load for
the old horse, who had not been liv-