The Shrewd Scotchman 35 



dred acres of which were adapted to wheat, corn 

 and clover. Thirty acres were marshy pasture 

 land ; the balance, timber. Wheat was selected 

 as the great income crop, which was supple- 

 mented by the sale of one to three horses 

 yearly. The butter from a dozen cows, the 

 chickens, ducks, and their eggs, were taken to 

 the city once each week. The result w^as that 

 at the end of the year there were no debts of 

 subsistence to be paid. This left all the money 

 received for the wheat and horses to be applied 

 towards liquidating the mortgage. In a few 

 years a large, comfortable house was built. This 

 was followed by the purchase of another farm, 

 and still another, until each child was provided 

 with a home and facilities for securing a mod- 

 est income. This shrewd Scotchman succeeded 

 because he neglected neither little nor great 

 things. 



With what pride the writer, in 1863, deposited 

 $1,700 in bank, the product of a single wool 

 crop ! — and the little farm of one hundred and 

 twenty acres was not all devoted to wool -raising. 

 If a young man can secure a loving, helpful 

 wife, four good cows and enough land to pro- 

 duce feed for them, with room left for an ample 

 garden, a berry patch and a small orchard, he 

 may consider himself rich, and if he be able 

 and intelligent he will soon have a competence. 



