Year: 1875

He was a boy with mission I saw that
the moment he crept into the room. He
had come upstairs to get Il notice into the
paper to the effect that the Blue Bird Base
Club had defeated the Duke of Yorks by a
score of ten to three. | thought so as /
glanced up, but [ was mistaken. He slid
softly up to the table, waited until had
finished writing IA long paragraph and then
wanted to know if he could have an agri-
cultural paper.


BLESS you, my son of course you can
have one. Agriculture is noble pursuit,
and I'm glad to see you taking such an in
tercst in it. The boy who makes up his
mind to become hard-fsted son of toll
should receive encouragement from every
man who has the interest OF the rising gen
Grafton at heart. There-there is big
agricultural paper, chock full of advice re-
medies, preventives. and recipes, and I'll
save you one every day.


He thanked me and slipped away. He
was not a boy to give his confidence to a
stranger at first sight, but L knew | could
draw him out after awhile, and l was con-
tent to wait.


He returned next day, and, as handed
him another paper, | asked him how he
he got along with his agricultural work He
refused for time to take me into his con-
fidencc, but when [ told him that | was
once a boy myself that George Washing
ton was a successful farmer that Andrew
jackson fed his own hogs that Abraham
Lincoln loved agricultural pursuits and
| stood ready to give him my twenty years
Of experience in life, the lads dignity
melted away by degrees, and he replied that
he had almost completed model hcn-coop
since the morning before. drew out his
ideas on hen-coops, and put new ones in
to his head and by and by he grew en-
thusiastic. | made plans for a hen-coop
which should contain parlor, dining-room,
kitchen, bedroom, and summer kitchen,
gave him dollar to buy lumber and nails,
and he went to work.


1t was three days before the boy came
again. His face wore smile of triumph,
and he grew enthusiastic as he told me
what he had done. The coop was finished
according to plans, and he had come to con-
suit me about hen. 1t was his idea that





pertinent with her. Owing to combina-
ton of unfortunate circumstances his father
was bankrupt, his mother was too proud
to take in washing, and the panic had told
heavily on the boys income. We would
commence with one hen, lie remarked, and
as our financial prospects frightened We
could increase the number.


| started with him for the market, but
while en- route he suddenly remembered
that we had not provided for ventilation in
our plans. 1t was no use to put a hen In
the coop to be murdered by foul air, and
we returned to the office and drafted new
plans. The boy worked faithfully for two
DAYS He arranged for cold currents OF
air to come in at the bottom, absorb tho
poisonous gases, and then pass out at the
top. leaving the hen clear-headed and IN
the best of health. 1t was his solemn be
lief that we could in time educate our poul


try to pull the cord which opened and eloset


the main ventilator, but while | did no


really encourage the idea took care not t.


dampen his ardor


When he came to purchase the hen


difference of opinion arose, and we cam


very near retiring from agricultural pur
suits. He contcndcd that a small, active
+ entcrprising brown hen was the best, Will
| stuck for IA mammoth shanghai. WheI
informed him that, in case of failure, W
should be obliged to sell the hen by weight
and that we would naturally want to saw
all we could from the general wreck, he ad
mitted that | was right


, | advanced the money for the hen. Tn
boy offered me his note of hand, payable i
1 one year, but | agreed that his care of tn
I biddy should offset my invested wealth
e He placed her under his arm, listened care
+ fully to my instructions, and was lost in th
crowd 1t was the understanding that h
should call at the Office at least once in thre
0 days to report, but he was willing to do VI
t better He came around to my house at min
1 o'clock that evening, and his face was on
\ grand pasture of smiles as he reported tn;