Homesteading 



was discussing whether it could not do something 

 to enable its members to get better value for 

 their ready money. 



" It's no use blinking facts," said Bob, and 

 went on : " We may call ourselves farmers, but 

 many of our farms are mortgaged heavily, and 

 after a season like this there are our debts at 

 big interest eating us out, and then the principal 

 to be paid off. I'm no knocker — the country 

 is right enough ; but it is not good enough for 

 us fellows to put in the best years of our lives 

 digging out stones and breaking up the prairie, 

 and then, when we are worn out, see a lot of other 

 fellows come in and scoop the lot. It's my 

 opinion, if we are going to stop this, we'll have 

 to get a move on and help ourselves somehow. 

 Of course, we want money to do any good, and 

 I know we have not got much, but if we can only 

 raise a few dollars we can make a start, and it 

 may grow." 



Some one asked, " Suppose we had the dollars, 

 who will take on the store ? " 



Several more spoke in favour of the scheme, 

 and at length Mr. Balham, who hailed from Lin- 

 colnshire, in the Old Country, and lived with his 

 wife and family near the schoolhouse, said: "I've 

 seen a bit of co-operation in the Old Country, 

 and I know it's a good thing for the poor man. 



i88 



