The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1916-04-06

wen. Dy' gum He cOulu mink OF
nothing else to say and remarked
We'll, by gum" again.
There's two hundred more to slap
on this place" said Joe as his wits
came back to him. We'll only owe a
thousand then"
We'll, by gum" wonderingy replied
his father. Then he grabbed Joe by
the arm.
Come on and les go tell the gals
about it,"
"Son, when you get to Washington
and shake hands with the president"
said Mrs. Weston, pausing a moment
| to look Mt him as she packed his suit
case for the trip, you just remember
there's an old countrywoman way
down here in a split log house that,
! thinks you're sight bigger man than
he is. Don't you ever forget that!
Joe and his father were riding home
ward from the railroad station. Joe's
trip to Washington as the champion
corn raiser Of his state was over.
AS they rounded the shoulder of the
! hill and saw the little farm home in
the bright morning sunshine JOes face
wreathed in a smile.
You know he said earnestly, II can
understand that song Home, Sweet
Home a heap better now. There is
no place like home 1t was mighty
| fine and all that in Washington, but
| I'm sure glad to be back"
I'm proud to hear We say that, boy!
| IL. co.
fearful you'd come back here dissatis-
fed an maybe after awhile go away
an leave US
mot a bit of itr' said Joe stoutly.
i've come back with the idea Of stick
ing right here and making this the best
farm in the state"
"Well, hOOray for that!'
II mean 1t too. I've got to have a
lot more schooling, but I'm going to
mix it in with my work"
$50 you think you'll stick to farming,
son"
Eyes, SIR"
after seem all the government at
Washington I'd "a thought you'd want
| to be a lawyer or somethin'Y
ulu lulllh VI lDdL pC1OIS NVhO
there, but the president took me to the
window and pointed out the capitol
and the treasury and postoffice build
ings and some others.
"'YOu think all this is great don't
| you, JOeY says the president.
"'Of course l do says |.
"'Which is the greatest, these things
! ~ ~ w hiph me los tbnDn nnCCihlnT no
asked, looking hard at me.
1.-The cause Of 'em, Of course-that
which makes 'em possible told him.
do you know what that isY he
asked me- | told him | reckoned it
was the people.
Eyes, the people, but particularly
the farmer. The whole structure of
| government is founded on him. for peo-
| pie must eat before they are governed.
| think a good farmer is just as valu-
| able as good senatorv he said"
"Well, | declared" exclaimed Mr..
Weston. Il had no idee we farmers
were that important"
ME either" said Joe, but right then
| made up my mind to be a farmer,
uuu u BOOu one. We SOI ii uGdp LuOEO
| respect for farmers now"
Annie spied them down the road and
came racing to meet them. Mrs. Wes-
ton waved an affectiOnate greeting
from the front gate. Joe rushed in and
gave his mother a hug.
at sure is fine to be home again and
see you all. How's everything getting
alongY
'Just fine! Chickens started to lay
ing and we've six little new pigs"
"An' new calf named Spotw insist
ed Annie.
Come on in and tell us about your
trip. Did you really see the PRESIDENT"
inquired Mrs. Weston.
"Yes'm, and a mighty fine man he is,
too. We had big argument
What? You didn't argufy with the
president, did you, son?' she inquired
in Mortified tones.
"Yes'm, sure did. He started it."
sturdily answered Joe.
Good gracious, | hope you didn't
talk sassy to him, did you, son| anx-
iously asked his father, who had en-
tered the room In time to hear part of
the conversation.
"Why, of course not, but we argued
just the same. And he asked me to
stay to lunch with him, and | stayed"
Great SCott!' whistled Mr.. Weston
How did he come to do that, JoeY'
inquired his mother.
"Well," laughed Joe, 'the rest of the
boys-champions of eleven other states,
you knOw-wOn the trip as did. They
went on with one of the heads of the
department Of agriculture to take
boat ride on the Potomac river. We
had just been looking over the capitol.
Our senator was mighty nice to me
too"
81 know him." said Mr. Weston
proudly.
Eyes, sir he told me to give you his
regards, and he's going to send ma
some flowers and bulbs from the de-
partment. Well. as I was saying, the
crowd was leaving the capitol, and
said I'd rather stay and watch 'em
make laws. The senator said he'd look
after me and see l got back to the ho-
tel all right. That was about half past
10 in the morning The senate and