Evening star., 1948-10-12
By jones BirchfieId

Country life is not easy. But after
experiencing more than q year OF
farm life, we wouldn't swap our 4G
acres in Loudoun County, va.-our
ragged fields and our turkeys
guineas, geese, chickens and COWS
for all that the city has to offer.
And that's saying a lot, for II
keeps us busy trying to forestall the
emergencies that seem to crowd on
each other from day to day. It's q
challenge to our ingenuity. For we
can't telephone to the local handy
man when things 60 wrong-we
must Ak them. And this usually
means that everything we do Il
done against the odds Of breaking
machinery and the mistakes Of In
experience.
There are i've in our family, and
; country living has had It's special
reward to each Of yv. We are better
balanced, we think. than q year ago
We are stronger, healthier, happier
and have a better idea Of what
makes for good living.
Jane is our "fount Of energy"
She is an amateur horticulturist and
our gardener. She also Is getting
reputation as the Goose Girl Of
Loudoun County. She is willing, but
unfortunately there Is only one OF
her and the projects she plans would
take the strength OF 10.
Days Are Too Short.
Jane thought that 1000 straw
berries, an acre garden, small
orchard, a flock Of geese along with
turkeys, chickens and guineas, would
be nothing. 1t turned out, though,
that there are only "A hours in q
day, no matter how you figure, and
that weeds will grow when mere
mortaB have to sleep.
But, even so, Jane ended the year
not too badly. 1t is true that weeds
took over the strawberry bed. the
orchard didn't get planted and the
turkeys gave her q special demon
stration of their aptitude for death.
And that wet weather made garden
ing difficult-but her geese have done
well, her pullets are beginning to lay
ali oter the place and, despite the
urgency of water carrying and hay
pitching, cans of vegetables are
crowding themselves out OF every
available corner in the house.
How does she do it? You viii
have to ask her.
Tam, our 12-year-old. u the
dramatic member Of our family.
She Is the reader and the dreamer,
and to her the country has meant
birds and flowers. She has been
keenly aware Of the beauty around
her: and the country has brought
her an understanding Of her rela-
tionship with nature.
To Mace, who is 10, the country
has meant animals. She likes them
all and all like her. And II she
had her way our 40 acres would
contain every known variety OF
every species.
AS it Is Mace must concentrate
her affection on a Jersey calf. Al
ready 1t has brought her two cham
pionships and two blue ribbons, and
there is q chance that others may
be added to her trophy display.
Learned Lesson Of Work.
This has been good for her, be-
cause she now knows Of the de-
pendency Of animals and Of the
work and responsibility needed to
bring q calf from birth to . healthy,
mature animal. It has taught her
that work and care and planning
are behind all accomplishments,
and that blue ribbons at dairy
shows do not Just fall from the air.
To John, our 2-year-old, country
life means only one thing-to ride
on our tractor. He would like to
help-that is with any Job that in
volved the tractor-but his size is
against him. It won't be long,
though, for country life is making
him hard and healthy, and the
things that goes on in the country
keep him interested.
After more than q year Of living
In fha cnfIpfrx, T aava MT Yaarn~ a