News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-04-14
THE BOY
FARMER
Or a Member of the
Corn Club
&@
By ASA PATRICK
Copyright. 1915. by American Press
Association
By ASA PATRICK
Copyright. 1915. by American Press
Association

49, bND'
COW and the trip to Washington that
he didn't pay much attention to any
thing else There was hardly mem
Der of the club, however. who did not
win some prize besides the certificate
of honor which was given to every boy
who raised over fifty bushels of corn
to the acre.
After all the prizes had been award
ed and the agent and two or three
visitors had made short speeches. en-
couraging the boys and urging them to
begin that very day to prepare for the
contest next year. Mr.. Burns rose and
smiling. asked if any member of the
club would like to say anything
No one responded. but suddenly some
one called out sam Powell"' Then
from different parts of the house came
the call:
Sam Powell"'
Sam powellr'
sam POwell"'
Sam flushed with the excitement and
make IA speech he knew, but he had
won first prize. and they wanted him
to say something. He had thought of
one or two things that he really did
want to say to the boys, so when some
one called his name again he rose from
his seat
Members of the club and visitors"
he said, you flatter me by calling on
me for speech. Speechmaking isn't
much in the line OF the Boys Corn
club, but l do really wish that | could
make a speech today. I'd like to talk
long time on farming and what we
can do for ourselves by following it as
a business. That's what / think we
ought to consider-ourselves. We want
to improve our farms, but we want to
improve ourselves more than the farms
By going to school we learn some
things. and the most important thing
we learn is how to study. When we
learn how to study we can keep on 60
ing to school without a teacher And
there's so much to learn in books and
outdoors that we ought to keep on
learning and studying as long as we
live
We've all done pretty well this year.
but we can do better next and still bet. |
ter the next. We are just beginning to
see how much land will produce. Bet |
ter seed and better stock must be oui
watchword. Double the crop to the
acre and halve the cost must be onl
class yell. I'm going to grow more
and better corn to the acre next yea1
and try to do it at less cost. We have
raised some fine corn already, though,
and we must send some of it to the
county and state fairs You men farm.
ers had better LOOK out: we boys are
after you. Next year I'm going to try
for the automobile in the national
corn show That's an have to say,
and I'd like To hear from some of the
other boys"
Sam sat down while every one in the
house cheered loudly. Mr.. Burns re-
marked that the speech was good
one. 1t wasn't long, he said, but 1t was
to the point and said a great deal in
a very few words He then called for
others to say something, and two or
three responded. After they had fin.
ished the meeting adjourned. and Sam
rushed from the room to find out about
his prizes.
1t happened that the banker who had
offered the trip to Washington prize
lived in the town. and Sam was in
formed that the money was waiting
for him whenever be was ready to
start on the trip.
The Jersey COW had been shipped
from a distance and was also waiting
In a nearby stable for him to take
possession of her Sam was delighted ,
when he saw the COW. She was a per-
feet beauty-Soft eyed and fawn col ,
ored. She wore halter. and the young
farmer bought short rope with which ,
to lead her home.
They We're much surprised and .
pleased mother and sister who came
out when he drew up at the front gate
with the COW following contentedly be-
hind. Sam sat on the front seat. hold
ing the lines, and answered rapid fire
of questions.
Eyes. won this Jersey COW and the .
trip to Washington"
MY. but you can't 20 clear to Wash. !,
fngton by Yourself" said Mrs. Powell
"Pshaw. OF course I can! Lots OF ,
boys travel farther than that. ANY. :
way. | don't expect I'll have to take
the trip myself. I'll find out in day !
or two"
what are those papers you haveT'
asked Florence.
"0h. that's my Jerseys pedigree and
some other papers. This cows reg
Istered. and she's worth over 500"
What are the other papers?" insist !,
ed Florence.
We'll, one is a certificate of honor
from the state. It's signed by the gov :
srnor and stamped with the state seal"
"A certificate of honorr exclaimed u
Mrs Powell. "A1y goodness! Did you
get that for the acre of corn too?'
"Yes'm." replied Sam. 1.-THE whole :,
ot. You see. mother, | was ahead Of !,
every boy I'm the state"
When at last bis sister and mothe y