Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-07
SOLOMON ON THE RENTER

(FrOm the Greater Iowa.
My son. take note of the Unwise
Renter, for the day of his annual
peregrinati0n is at hand. His name is
legion and he putnumbereth the wise
renter even as nubbins prevail in the
fields of the man born tired.
He hath peck of trouble. With
the dawning OF the First Day of
March, trouble and tribulation filleth
hi soul. For it is Moving Day. He
ariseth very early. even before the
Growing of the Plymouth Rock. While
the town dweller snoozeth between
the blankets of comfort he crawleth
into frosty garments and maketh
ready for the Annual Hike.
He packeth his goods and chattels ;
he roundeth up the beasts of the pen,
paddock and pasture; he gathered his
offspring, his men servants and the
hired girl; he cranketh the Ford and
beateth it for the next county. where
he renteth quarter-section for one
year.
The Unwise Renter knoweth not the
meaning Of the word Peace. For he
mOveth often, and In his discomfort
oyerlooketh many a good bet under his
nose. He gazeth beyond the fences
or imagination and his soul sigheth
for richer fields and greener pastures
He sweateth under the collar and
cteweth the cud Of restlessness; he
ariseth early in the morning; he work
eth long hours and paileth the COW by
the light of.the ten o'clock moon. He
toileth like q mule, yea he toileth like
ten mules; he worketh his head off,
for we'll he knoweth the Keeper OF
the House of the Poor hath an eye on
his goings and comings.
He tilleth the soil to the limit and
reapeth mostly disappointment, even
as the man before him. He admitteth
the Importance Of soil conservation
but he cannot afford to practice il
I'LL der the Short Term Tenure; he
soweth no clovers;. he spreadeth no
fertilizers; he sweeteneth no sour
places, and he hath not time for crop
rotation. He getteth all he can
which is not -much-and leaveth the
landlord to pay the taxes and interest
ION the mortage; he shunneth fine
raiment and frivolities; he keepeth
his nose to the grindstone three hun
dred and sixty-five days in the year in
his endeavor to get ahead. But alas!
With all his striving he remaineth
POOR, even as Jobs Turkey. For it
Ia Pernicious System.
Be thou mindful ,ot the Wise Renter.
for his ways bring Peace, Plenty and
Fat Bank Accounts. When he findeth
a quarter-section owned by a White
Man he campeth down upon it until
the cows come home. He moveth not
away on a bet, but sticketh to that
- y quarter like a burr to- q ah.gp =
pacR, for he knns..>tl, A,-.~s niOSs grow
eth not upon the rolling stone. He,
too, farmeth the land to the limit, but
he dOeth it with good judgement and
a e. sys h t. .bsgs4slR ssltse1 pow1 III
limatbe We rsour spots; he renewth
the soil and buildeth it up till the
crops are the talk Of the town and his
landlord braggeth extravagantly.
Prosperity filleth his pocketbo0k
and contentment overfOweth his soul.
He becometh Man of Importance in
his community. The banker. the
butcher and the baker smile at his
coming. The preacher eateth fried
chicken at his table, for he is good
company and Liberal Contributor to
the Church. His wife rideth in her
own Ford and his children are patrons
OF The Movies. His cheque is good
and everybody striveth to get one. All
these thighs and more come to him be-
cause he believeth in, and followeth,
the Long Tenure System.