150 FIVE ACRES TOO MUCH. 



dismissed by his employer. My seeds cost $3 75, 

 and, as they never came up, I fear they must go to 

 annual expenditure. The bean-poles cost $2, and, if 

 the neighboring boys do not steal them, that is an 

 item of investment. The nest-eggs for the hens cost 

 75 cents, which, I have been informed, is more than 

 they are worth; but that constitutes permanent capi 

 tal. My furniture was badly damaged in being 

 transported from the city to the country, and then 

 from the country to the city ; the legs of the chairs 

 became somewhat displaced, and the upper drawer 

 fell out of one bureau, that was laid face downward ; 

 but, as I am now suing the express-men for damages 

 by reason of their negligence, it is hard to say whether 

 this should be included ; I have put my damages at 

 $250, but, perhaps, for the purposes of this work, 

 we might reduce them to $25. Dandy Jim cost 

 $450, and ate about half as much in hay and oats, 

 and smashed my wagon to such an extent that the 

 repairs came to $50, and the wagon was nearly ruin 

 ed. I paid $100 for the cow, and would not part 

 with her for twice the money. The chickens cost 

 $105, which item must go to annual expenditure, less 

 the value of one mink skin. The pig cost $12, and 

 grew finely, eating not only all the kitchen refuse, 

 but a good feed of corn-meal and water three times 



