The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-29

attributed the change TO im,n.,,,,i ag
ricultural implements, to improved
methods of farming. to greater knovI
edge of prairie conditions. TO reduc
IONS in the cost of transportation and
enlarged facilities for marketing. or tC
| increasing world demand and higher
world prices for the product of the
farn. But whatever tM causes-and
no doubt all of the aIDve contributed
the fact gradually dawned upon the
settlers that land-their land-was
worth money.
IL was the farmers from the United
States. scouting for cheaper lands than
were available In their own comnnuni-
Ties, who first drove the conviction
nome. They came with money In their
wallets; they were actually prepared
10 exchange real money FOR land
Such a thing had never before been
heard of in Plainville district.
But few transactions took place:
lands were sold at five dollars. six dol
lars. eight dollars an acre. The farm
efS began To realize that land renre-
scented wealth-that ii was an asset
not liability-and there was rush
Tor the cheap railway lands that had
so long gone a-begging. Harris was
among the first to sense the change In
the times, and a beautiful section Of
railway land that lay next TO his
homestead he bought at four dollars
an acre. The first crop more than
paid for the land, and Harris sudden
~ found himself on the way to riches.
The joy that came with the realiza-
non that fortune had knocked at his
door and he had heard was the con-
trolling emotion of his heart for
year or more. But gradually. like n
leg blown across a moonlit night. came
sense of chill and disappointment.
III only he had bought two sections, IF
at least he had proved up on his pre-
emption, which he might have had for
nothing! He saw neighbOrs about him
adding quarter to quarter. None of
them had done better than himself
some way the old sense of oneness.
the old community interest which had
held the little band of pioneers To-
sether amid their privations and their
poverty, began to weaken and dis |
solve. and in its place came an indi- |
Tidualism and materalism that |
measured progress only in dollars and |
'ents. Harris did not know that his |
rods had fallen. that his ideals had |
'een swept away; even as he sat at |
supper this summer evening, with his
daughters arm about his neck. he felt
hat he was still bravely, persistently.
PRESSING on toward the goal, all I'M
ware that years ago he had left that
'oal like a lighthouse on rocky
hore, and was now sweeping along
With the turbulent tide of Mammon-
SIN. He still saw the light ahead, but
was now phantom of the imaSipa-
ion. He said, when / am worth ten
thousand / will have reached it :"
hen he was worth ten thousand he
)und the faithless light had moved |
n to twenty-five thousand. He said.
When | am worth twenty-five thou
and j will have reached it," when he
as worth twenty-five thousand he ,
wv the glow still ahead, reckoning |.
I'm on to fifty thousand. To stop
DIV might mean losing sight of his
,al. and John Harris held nothing In
eaven or earth so great as its attain
ent.
So. gently enough, he disengaged his
lighters arm and finished his sup
r in silence. AS soon as II was
ded the men started for the barn,
I'd In few minutes two wagons rat
ID noisily down the trail.
Beulah helped with the supper dish
;. and then came out with the milk
ills to the corral where the cows,
fling and chewing, complacently
'aited her arrival. But she had not
lched the gate when the hired ran
is at her side and had slipped one
the pals from her arm.
Now, Jim, don't think that's fair
ALL" she said; and there was a
NOR in her voice that vexed her.
ere you're Shaving all day with coal
i water, and / think that's enough,
thout milking cows at night"
But Jim only smiled and stirred a
v into position.
There was a .tuneful song of the tin
Is as the white streams ratified on
ir bottoms.