The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-07-14
A self.Made Farmer at Fifteen.

In the Interesting People" depart
ment of the July American Magazine
appears an article about Melvin Spot
ford Hatch, fiftfeen-year-old North
Carolina boy who at thirteen bought a
farm with money that he himself earned.
What moral American boy who is en-
Outraged in thrift and enterprise can
accomplish is described in this article,
an extract from which follows:
"A young boy in the mountains OF
western North Carolina, Master Melvin
Spofford Hatch, bought small truck
farm on the outskirts of the town OF
Hendersonville when he was thirteen.
finishing payment for IL by the time his
fifteenth birthday had arrived, last
September.
Thousands of boys are as favorably
situated as he is for doing the same
thing; Il is only that they could do IL
and he did il that makes the difference.
His methods have not been spectacular
he bears not the slightest resemblance
to the heroes of various popular boys
books, nor has he been spurred by any
dire necessity; he has not been goaded
into action in any way or required TO
drudge away his boyhood; he has mere
ly given sympathetic encouragement,
and been allowed TO do his own thinking
and planning and 70 reap his own re-
ward. The fact that at fifteen he has
achieved a success that might be en-
We'd BY a full-grown man land that
without the loss Of single day at
school or the loss Of too great a part
Of his boyish pleasuresl il to be attrib-
uted 10 three virtues that should BE-
commonplace thrift, industry, and good
Judgment.
"The purchase Of the farm was han.
died In an entirely businesslike manner,
No favors were given or asked on either
eide. Eighty dollars was the first pay
ment, and = mortgage at the legal rate
% the purchase price. The house was
promptly rented for Eve dollars a month,
which took care Of the interest and
taxes and left a small sum over toward
the payments on the principal At this
rate. the farm would BE- nearly paid
for by the time he was twenty-one with
cut . single extra exertion on his part,
and ell the money be- earned might BE-
spent for baseball bats, tickets TO the
moving picture showE, and other things
dear % the hoyish heart; some Of Il did
90 In these directions. for. b. il under
stood. h il real live boy. some Of II,
TOO went in q donation 20 the town hos
ritai and n an orphanage, Tor he u =
ruhiie spirited citizen as wei as q good
business nans however. our hero 81 TIE
commonplace did not rest On his lsu-
rsls hut booked around for more oFf-of-
tmnties
"As before said fhs town wss . sum
rnsf resort overlooking with BOARDING.
hausas. 4 vas also minus system -
Fnfhars enIlsrti0n. - fhs ianalady q ths
nrsrrst BOARDING honss vas more Thar
wiling 81 fan in afft proposition =
bar tso pizs fof Mslvin - kssp On -
fatbsr's farm
In saEnion ~ h@irr lsnasd prufFi
etur Wkstrf Hstth hss also . steseF
ineous. SECURED solely ~ his 0un -
+ srtirns. fef ~ hes snan sem 81 u.qr
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ths rtssHv rrrt ~ tss hnu@ss and. Ezasi
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sre aarsifarEf e IA FeifsHt thst -
sirsr srH9 81 tha efF VI SAD o. g.
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tiin1 81 uars - ur-tnsrt NJ lasst
aff ts0 nu~e 81 3 ran - smr-uatuE {
HnE ~ Femfv Al waese nr asrr =. Z
s aer ! an tuartg suuf- 3 naFtt e. -
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aa Fssfs