FARMS. 117 



He had a fine litter of pigs in the spring, four of which he sold 

 for three dollars apiece. This year he raised two calves, antici- 

 pating that he should soon be able to keep a larger stock of 

 cows. His wife procured from her mother three hens, and 

 raised three fine broods of chickens. At the end of the year 

 he was able to pay his interest and a hundred dollars more of 

 the principal, and purchase a horse, wagon and harness, and 

 buffalo robe, and several tools which he needed. 



But we will not follow neighbor Wiseman year by year, in 

 his progress. At the end of five years, he had paid tlie seven 

 hundred dollars which he owed for his farm. The mortgage 

 was cancelled and the farm was his own. He had a fine yoke of 

 oxen and a good horse, five cows tliat were considerably better 

 than the average of his neighbors', four pigs, a couple of cosset 

 sheep, quite a flock of hens and geese, and last, though by no 

 means least in his estimation, a fine boy and girl. His farm, in 

 the mean time, liad been steadily growing more productive. 

 It produced nearly double the hay it did when he moved on to 

 it. His apple trees were beginning to yield fair and beautiful 

 apples. He had a large garden stocked with plenty of currants, 

 peach trees, plums and cherries, and the year before he had set 

 out a St. Michael, and a pound pear, both which were thriving, 

 and promised in due time to furnish them with a supply of 

 their luscious fruits. 



Who was happier and more independent than James ? He 

 had his troubles like other men, it is true. He had to work 

 hard, and early and late, and eat the bread of carefulness. 

 The borers and caterpillars would prey upon his apple trees. 

 The mice would find their way into his corn-bin. The early 

 cucumbers and corn would sometimes be nipped by the fi'ost 

 and have to be planted over again ; and every few years, the 

 corn and potatoes woidd be injured by the early frost. Showers 

 would come in hay time, and sometimes a long rain just when 

 his rye was ready to reap, and a cow would occasionally have 

 the garget in her bag ; but, notwithstanding all these troubles 

 and trials, he was happy and cheerful, and enjoyed the fruits of 

 his labor. 



Neighbor Wiseman's farm had now so much increased in 

 productiveness, that he found it necessary to have more barn 

 room. The old barn was not very good, hardly worth repairing, 



