The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-08-24
BACK ON THE OLD FARM
Tires of City Life aud is Happy To
Return.

iowa sFdTIn6rs An iowa IaTiueT grew
tired Of his job and moved to town.
He moved into modern home and
all the conveniences and comforts
Imaginable were at his disposal He
had never been accustomed to such
things and the whole situation was so
different that he hardly knew how to
conduct himself. His family was as
much out of place as was he for none
: of them had ever before experienced
the conVeniences of a modern home.
The farm house was a large roomy
! structure, well built and occupied a
commanding position in the grove on
the hill, but it was heated with
stoves; there was neither hot nor
cold water in it; there was no bath
room nor lavatory, neither was there
basement. 1t was a good house and
substantially built, only it lacked
modern conveniences.
| After the family had settled down
to the new order of things in the
home the next thing to do was to get
accustomed to town ways. The re-
tired farmer got up in the morning at
5 o'clock as was the custom of life
time and he routed the family out just
as If a big days work in the corn
field YVES just ahead of him. While
breakfast was being prepared he went
out to the barn to do the morning
choring, but how different. He had
brought in from the farm team Of
horses, one COW, a few chickens and
couple of pigs. 1t only took a few
minutes TO do the chores. Breakfast
was announced in due time and by
the glare Of electric lights the morn
ing meal was disposed of in regula-
ton time. Daylight had not yet ar
rived, but this did not prevent the re-
tired farmer from going over town
to greet his newly formed acquaint-
ances. The only man he saw was a
nightwatch who was just getting
ready to turn in as a glow Of light
was beginning. to manifest itself be-
| hind the eastern hills. Inquiry was
made as to the whereabouts of all
the business men and the lawyers and
doctors. The reply was that business
did not start in that town until around
s o'clock and it was only little after
g.. The retired farmer returned home
somewhat disguised. The rest of fam
| lily were busy doing up the housework,
except the two boys who had struck
out for the brush patch on the back
part of the old farm where numerous
rabbits were known to make their
winter abode. The old man wanted
to Join them, but they had taken the
team and there was no way for him
to 60. ..,, 49, .,..r. n,F g..
For several months the old farm
habits, of early riisng were given 2
! tryout in town. Other country habits
,Ewere not easily broken and then there
we're the easy going ways in town
4 that did not appeal to him. He liked
to see, things move and he held to a
somewhat antiquated notion that he
ought to, be busy at. something, but
there was, nothing, for him to do. 3, He
had retired. The wife, and children
now grown up, were also dissatisfied
but they kept this to themselves. II
was plain case that town life was q
disappointment to all of them.
One day as the close, of the first
year was near at hand and the renter
had come to town to see if he could
have the place for another season the
retired farmer gathered his family
about him. With trembling voice he
announced that he was to let the rent
er know by Saturday whether he could
have the place another season. The
mother was wiping the tears from
her eyes and the two young men and
the two young women were just upon
the verge of a condition similar tC
that which had taken possession Of
their parents. 1t was plain to sec
that a severe case of inconsistencies
had seized the entire family. The
mother was the first to suggest thai
she was ready to go back to the ole
farm. Her decision broke the ice anC
each member of the family voiced
the same sentiment. Through his
tears smiles began to chase each 9th
er over the c9untenance of the father
\ and son The renter was informed thai
he must vacate at the expiration o.
his lease. That was the first rea
happy day the family had experienced
since living in town.
But the year in town had not beer
without its lessons. The house they
had occupied with all of it's modern
conveniences had made deep impress
sion upon every member of the fam
lilly. The one unpleasant consideration
was returning again to a dwelling
without modern devices. This mat
ter was discussed that night at the
that he had been thinking over the sit
uation and that he had consulted tht
hardware man in regard to modern
equipment. A plumber was taken GU
: to the farm home that an estimate
might be made of the probable cos
and upon his return a contract was
: let for undermining the old farm
home. 1t was nothing like as expens
i've a job as the farmer thought i
would be and within a few weeks the
! work was all done and back the family
went to the old farm. A houSe-warm
ing was announced and the entire
neighborhood Joined in welcoming
} the prodigals back. An AUTOMOBILE,
| was added to the farm equipment ant
the happiest people in all that section
, of country are the occupants of Elm
wood Farm.
The first Sunday found the famil,
at the old country church. The ia
Their and mother were in their oil
seats and the young people were il
| the choir, and Bessie was again at tn
organ, much to the delight of the en-
tire community. In the opening pray
er the aged preacher asked specia
| hlacuip0 ,,nor tho fap,ilt, fhot bad re