Morris tribune., 1915-07-16
Amelia CIdrk'S
Secret
How TO Make Farm Life
Enjoyable

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
err 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. .IOSh'S bed
was seldom made and papers were
scattered about The chickens Oyerran
the flowers planted in beds on either
side of the front porch. and weeds fill
ed the walks. Josh had always left
these things to his mother. devuting
his whole time to the cattle. raising
food for them and delivering the milk.
This took up all his time and attention.
and when hts mother left him the 9th
er matters were bound to he neglect
ed. all except the cooking. which was
absolutely essential. This Josh did as
best be could.
Several dairy farmers living near
Hatfeld'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 a
week. One morning Farmer Clark
whose turn it was to deliver the milk
Amelia:
Nicely, go over to Hatfield's 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
III take his turn next week"
Amelia started out on the GRAND.
She was a 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 Der way through milk cans
that blocked the way. found the k1tch-
en- door open and Josh trying to blow
out fire Of burning fat. Without a
word. she went in, took the skillet out
of bis 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 q minute.
Taking up a 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 tC
do. and turned her attention to the cot
fee which was boiling over
You sit down, Mr.. Hatfield" she
said. and 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
oCI- +ol- his FIR
delivering the milk this week, he tC
take your turn next week.
Sure. | wouldn't mind that q bit
Amelia set the breakfast On the ia
BILE and Josh sat down for the meal
She took 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 sun shone in at the dining room
window, and there was marked cheer
fulness there. But it could not have
been for the sun alone, for it lighted
the breakfast table most mornings. l
seemed that an especial comfort hat
come in with Amelia. Somehow th
coffeepot looked brighter. the toast wa
certainly better-not dried as usual. bu
sof33-- and Jack wondered bow Ameli
had contrived to keep it hot. Then
too, the coffee tasted great deal bet
ter than usual. In short. although b
couldn't remember that Amelia ha
done anything except saving the break
fast from burning it tasted very nue.
better than ever before.
1T must be kind Of hard for you t
do your own cooking" she remarked
ri don't like it at all. Nothing / d
seems to come out right. I'm Away
breaking the dishes and don't know
how to mend them. If a tooth break
in my plow l know how to put in al
other. but if my coffeepot leaks II
lost
"'Why don't you hire somebody t
come in and do your Homework fo