22 The Farmstead 



far-reaching for their narrow understandings. 

 All are not so fortunate. Some remind us of 

 the Quaker's dog which he sold to his friend 

 and recommended as a good coon dog. The 

 dog proved to be a failure and was returned to 

 the seller, who said, " I am much surprised. 

 Thee believes that nothing was created in vain, 

 does thee not, Ephraim ! " '' Most certainly I 

 believe that the Creator made all things for 

 some beneficent purpose." " I, too, believe this, 

 and I had tried that dog for everything else 

 under the heavens but coons, so I was certain 

 he must be a good coon dog." 



A competency is always in sight in this 

 country for those who do well those things 

 which are suited to their tastes and training. A 

 competence may be secured by following those 

 branches of farming which require the minimum 

 of labor and the maximum of skill and train- 

 ing. My friend of Westfield, Mr. G. Schoenfeld, 

 from Germany, has six acres of land, a part of 

 which is covered with glass. He did that ter- 

 rible thing, — ran in debt for the full purchase 

 price of the land. It and the valuable improve- 

 ments upon 'it are now paid for. His modest 

 home is valued at $6,000. While paying for it 

 a large family has been raised and educated, the 

 eldest boy entering Annapolis Naval Academy 

 with a high standing. It is possible that this 



