The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-12-17
Amelia CIdrk'S
Secret
How to Make Farm Life
Enjoyable
By F. A. mitchell

Josh was fourteen. and his mother died
ten years later. He had from the time
of his fathers death been learning
how to run the farm. though his moth
er did most of the planning till Josh
came of age. There is no better way
of learning how to do things than do
ing them. and by the time Josh came
OF age he was a very good farmer.
His product was milk. and he had
twenty good HOlStein cows. He had
one assistant whom he employed reg
ularly, and at haying time or when he
put the ensilage in the silO he would
temporarily hire mOre-that is. when
he could get any one, which was not
very often.
JOsh's mother kept the house and
the grounds about it looking tidy so
long as she lived. After her death
there very soon came a change in the
appearance of both house and grounds
The floors were unswept. JOsh's bed
was seldom made and papers were
scattered about. The chickens Overran
side of the front porch and weeds fill
ed the walks. Josh had always left
these things to his mother. devoting
his whole time to the cattle. raising
food for them and delivering the milk.
This took up all his time and attention.
err matters were bound to be neglect
ed. all except the cooking. which was
absolutely essential. This Josh did as
best he could.
Several dairy farmers living near
Hatield's farm. including Hatfield
himself. had an agreement by which
one Of the number delivered the milk
of all at the railway station several
miles distant. This they did success
sively, each man doing the work for
week. One morning Farmer Clark.
whose turn it was to deliver the milk
for that week. said to his daughter
Amelia:
"Meely. go over to Hatfelds and say
that Pete has gone lame and Bess is
three-quarters sick. If he'll take my
turn at delivering the milk this week
I'll take his turn next week"
Amelia started out on the errand.
She was strong girl about nineteen
years old. as straight as an arrow and
tolerably good looking. When she ar
rived Josh was getting his breakfast
having attended to his morning chores
at the barn. Her summons at the
front door not receiving any attention,
she went around to the side porch. and
making her way through milk cans
that blocked the way. found the kitch-
en- door open and Josh trying to blow
out a fire of burning fat. Without a
word. she went in. took the skillet out
of his hand and landed it upside down
in the snow outside.
THANK ye." said Josh. 81 wonder
why | didn't think of that
Reckon men don't know much about
kitchen work. Your potatoes will burn
in a minute
Taking up knife. she ran it through
the potatoes. which siZzled merrily
and began to turn beautiful brown,
Then she saved some toast from black
ening as the potatoes had threatened to
do. and turned her attention to- the cot
fee which was boiling over
you sit down, Mr.. Hatfield" she
said. land I'll put the breakfast on the
table for you. You might as we'll have
a little comfort in my being here Fa
Their sent me to say that there's some
thing the matter with the horses and
to ask you IL you won't take his turn
delivering the milk this week. he to
take your turn next week"
Sure! l wouldn't mind that bit"
Amelia set the breakfast On tine ia
BILE and Josh sat down for the meal.
She took a chair opposite him and be-
gan to pour his coffee.
"DO you take sugar and milk. Mr..
Hatfield"
Both"
Two lumps?"
That's about right"
The sur shOne in at the dining room
window, and there was marked cheer
fitness there. But it could not have
been for the sun alone. for it lighted
the breakfast table most mornings. 1t
seemed that an especial comfort had
come In with Amelia. Somehow the
coffeepot looked brighter. the toast was
certainly better-nOt dried as usual. but
soft and Jack wondered bow Amelia
had cOntrived TO keep Il hot. Then.
too. the coffee tasted great deal bet
ter than usual. In short, although he
couldn't remember that Amelia had
done anything except saving the break
fast from burning 1t tasted very much
better than ever before.
1T must be kind of hard for you to
do your own cooking" she remarked.
Il don't like 1t at all. Nothing l do
seems to come out right. I'm always
breaking the dishes and don't know
how to mend them. If tooth breaks
in my pillow l know how to put in an
other, but IL my coffeepot leaks I'm
lost"
"Why don't you hire somebody to
come in and do your homework for
your
II don't know any one that would
like the job. All the women about
here seem to have enough TO do in their