A farmer became tired of his farm; and no wonder, you'll say, for he was born on
the place. He had spent all his days on that quarter section. When a boy, he
drove the cows to and from the pasture, picked apples in the orchard, swam in
the creek just around the bend, trudged across the meadow and through the woods
to the little frame schoolhouse down at the crossroads.
When he grew to young manhood, he had plowed every acre of the tillable land in
the spring, helped to put up the hay in the summer, threshed in the fall, and
hauled fodder for the stock in winter. To this same old home he brought his
bride. His three children had been born under the same roof where he was born.
They had now grown up and gone to homes of their own.
He was sick and tired of the surroundings. He wanted a change; and often in his
dreams he pictured a quiet spot where conditions were ideal, where he could
spend his old age in comfort and be happy. He told the real estate dealer in
town how he felt, so the agent drove out and looked the farm over carefully. He
felt sure he would have no difficulty in finding a buyer.
When the weekly paper came on Thursday, the old farmer looked over the ads, and
found his farm listed. It stated that the Hammond place of one hundred sixty
acres was for sale. The land was fertile and productive - a crop failure had
never been known. Forty acres were covered with the best of timber; an artesian
well furnished water the year round. There was an abundance of pasture land,
through which flowed a small creek; and there was an ideal dwelling house of
eight rooms. The barn was large and modern; there were machine sheds, and a
granary with spacious bins.
The place was well stocked with horses, cows, sheep, and chickens. It was close
to the city, on the rural free delivery, and had a telephone. There were all
kinds of fruit trees, both large and small, with abundance of shade around the
house.
The old man read the advertisement the second time, then hitched up the team and
drove to town to see the real estate agent. "I have read that advertisement," he
said, "and as nearly as I can figure out, that's exactly the kind of place I
have been wanting. I think I will keep it myself." - By Charles L. Paddock
Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) April 24, 1928, Pacific Press. With
permission from Dale Galusha
dalgal@pacificpress.com
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