The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-07-17
A SeIf-Nade
Fa1nneT.at Fifteen


ment of the July American Maya
zine appears an article about Melvin
Spofford Hatch, a fifteen year old
North Carolina boy who at thirteen
! bought a farm with money that he
| himself earned. What a normal Am.
erican boy who is encouraged 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 Mel.
win Spofford Hatch, bought a small
truck farm on the outskirts of the
town of Hendersonville when he was
thirteen, finishing payment for it by
the time his fifteenth birthday had
arrived, last September.
Thousands Of boys are as favor.
ably situated as he is for doing the
same thing; it is only that they coulo
do 1t and he did It that makes the
ference. 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 ne
cessity; he has not been goaded into
action in any way or required to
drudge away his boyhood; he has
merely been given sympathetic en-.
enlargement, and been allowed to do
his own thinking and planning and
to reap his own reward. The fact
that at fifteen he has achieved sue.
cess that might be envied by full
grown man land that without the
loss of a single day at school or the
loss of too great a part of his boyish
pleasures) is to be attributed to three
virtues that should be commonplace;
thrift, industry, and good judgment,
"The purchase of the farm was
handled in an entirely business like
manner. No favors were given or
asked on either side. Eighty dollars
was the first payment, and q mort
gage at the legal rate of interest was
given for the remainder of the pur.
chase price. The house was prompt
ly rented for five dollars a month,
which took care of the interest and
taxes and left small sum over to-
ward the payments on the principal.
At this rate, the farm would be near
ly paid for by the time he was twenty
his part and all the money he earned
might be spent for baseball bats,
tickets TO the moving picture shows,
and other things dear to the boyish
heart; some of 1t did go in these di.
rections, for, be 1t understood, he is
a real live boy; some of it, too, went
m donation to the town hospital
and to an orphanage for he is a pub
lie spirited citizen as well as a good
business man; however, our hero OF
the commonplace did not rest on his
laurels, but looked around for more
opportunities.
"As before said, the town was a
summer resort overlooking with board
ing houses; II was also minus a sys
| TEN Of garbage collection, so the land
lady of the nearest boarding house
was more than willing to fall in will
a proposition to buy two pigs fol-
Melvin to keep on his fathers farm
in addition to being a landed pro
prietor, Master Hatch has also 9
steady income. acquired solely by his
own exertions, for he has a small
sum of money loaned at good inter
est, as well as the steady rent of the
house, and most hopeful sign, wher
the country's needs are considered
It is evident that the sren song oil
the city will fall on deaf ears In com
ing years, for the other day he said
to his business adviser, his mother
I think II would be a good thing II
were to mortgage my land and buy
more, so | can be improving II ant
be ready to make my living on II
when | am twenty.one. ! ought L
be able to get 1t in good shape IL
the next six years"