Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-08-20
SAD EXPERIENCES
OF A FARMER BOY
rs the Old, Old Story, Lure Of
the Big City.
LOOKING FOR EASY MONEY
"a, Away From His Good Farm
Home, but Was Mighty Glad to
Get Back to Mother
and jamie.

he " he said rather sorrowfully, sit
ting M in his invalid's chair in Kan
sos city hospital. II thought it'd be
fun and freedom and money and lots
of things. But 1t ain't--and I'm goin'
home as soon as the doctor'll let me.
u been up here year now and !
amt sorry. I'm just hankerin' to get
home. That's all. l had dozen jobs,
guess, maybe more, but shucks, they
was harder'n what | done at home.
And | didn't get morn a dollar fifty
day. That'd be a lot down home in
$. but up here where they've for
got the bees are buzzin' and the flow
ers bloomn' 1t amt much.
You see, didn't know it'd be this
way in the city. Down on the farm
US young fellows all thought we were
havin' a hard time of it, We didn't
ike the farm and we thought every
body in town made good money and
didn't have to work hard to make
IT, So | decided to quit the hard
work down home and come to the big
city
ne lOlhS at uluu WIFI Ilt
to leave home. but got up and run
away. Well when | got here and
found out what mistake I'd made
was ashamed to let EN- know about
it and | was afraid to write home
for money, or to ask 'em about my
going back, because didn't know
how they'd take it.
When He Got Sick.
But when got sick and was OWN
the landlady, and had to be carted out
here to the hospital, | asked the nurse
to write to ma and tell her all about
me- Say, let me read you the letter
that | got today from ma, and then
you know how / am feelin'."
He read the scrawled lines slowly:
Dear jim: We're looking for you
home real soon. Pa says to tell you
hell meet you at the station with the
buggy and for you not to worry about
things. Let us know just when 1t will
be. We're all so anxious to see you
JAMIE Brown was over yesterday and,
honey she's as curious to see you as we
are She's a pretty girl. Jim. and
wanted to send you a cake. But
told her to make 1t when you get
home, AMID she said she would. The
wheat \obks fine. Pa says the 40 be-
hind the barn ought to make 80 bush
els or more. o, Jim. get well quick
and hurry home. With lots of love.
Mother"
Jim smiled. 1.-THE doctor says
car leave in three or four days." he
said
He paused a moment. Then, did
you ever work on the street? Have
you ever been hungry and broke and
afraid to go to your room because the
landlady wanted her money and you
didn't have none to give her? That's
why I'm goin' home. l had enough
OF that"
The boy told his story slowly, finger
ing the blanket a nurse had flung
around him. 1t was neither new nor
unusual. Its like has been enacted by
hundreds of country boys since the
present day civilization began the
building of huge cities. The psychol-
ogy Of his case was the psychology
OF dreams and longing-beyond the
horizon Of his farm life he felt the
allurement of distant things, the en-
chanting spell of the PARKWAY city.
but he did not know that city life
Is composed of the same amount of
labor and longing and restraint that
Is the farmers. That was for Jim to
learn-and suffer.
Nobody Smiled.
ran away" he went on. my, il
was lonesome! remember wonderin'
II somebody up here wasn't my friend.
Inc sun was shinin', but | couldn't
see II In the street The buildings
were too high on either side and every
Oody kept rushin' around and crowdin'
and none of EN- was smilin'. reckon
'hey felt lonesome. too.
Ihen ] got breakfast-two eggs
ana glass of milk that ma wouldn't
nave led the pigs. 1t cost me a quar-
'er and mister, amt had a good
meal such as the folks down home
nave since | came up here. | found
room after I'd been lookin' nigh all
Say 1t wasn't very clean and the
mouse smelled like burnt cabbage. But
couldn't afford no better.
! had $40 and / figured 1t ought
" last me two weeks. or till / got a
!oO' But there wasn't much could
w found that out mighty quick.
L,erywhere went there was a dozen
wy fellows ahead of me. One place
|ey wanted me to give EN- references
WI ~, ! didn't have none.
me money didn't last like | ex.
S See.ed 1t would and pretty soon ! was
h ho luxe, But got Job workin' for
srs street car company. layin' rails
s au handlin' a pick. It paid $3.50 a
Sa Mister, It was hard work,
,S1r plowin' or milkin or any
c-I Is ever done at home and IT
lasted three days.
h.. ulod out an employment agency
W.. Goliy, 1t was dirty place, but
no. 's hungry and 80 / couldn't mind
lney gave mo raTI.ooa Iok