120 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



forty feet wide. This time he put in a few extra windows, and 

 set his barn doors on rollers, and built a tight board fence 

 around his cow yard, to break of the wind from his cattle when 

 they were in the yard. He took great care of all his stock, 

 young and old. As he had raised them all himself, he knew 

 their several characters and habits, and they were well ac- 

 quainted with him, and knew his voice and step. They had all 

 been accustomed from their earliest days, to look to him as their 

 best friend and protector, and to conform to his will, so that he 

 never had any difficulty in managing them. He thought the 

 best time to handle steers and break them in, was wlien they 

 were calves, and this he had always done, and no oxen in the 

 neighborhood were so well broken, and so sure on a hard pull, 

 as neighbor Wiseman's. He never required more of them than 

 he knew they could do, and they soon learned that they could 

 do whatever he required. They trusted his judgment, and 

 never refused to obey his orders. He believed that when more 

 is required of the patient ox than he is able to do, he will soon 

 learn to refuse to do what he can, and thus he is spoiled for 

 service. His cattle were never breachy, for ho kept good fences. 

 His cultivated fields were now inclosed with substantial 

 stone walls. His land contained a good supply of stones, and 

 he had dug them out of his fields, where they were worse than 

 useless, and laid them into walls, where they did good service. 

 This he had done, a little at a time, as he found opportunity, 

 and thus not only made his fields more secure, but much easier 

 of tillage. He added new improvements and conveniences as 

 he found himself able. He had now two boys and two girls, 

 all bright and healthy. He kept those who were old enough at 

 school, while the district school kept. His oldest boy was now 

 big enough to be useful in many ways, and he kept him era- 

 ployed with him, when he was not at school, and taught him to 

 manage the team, and ride and drive the horse, and tend the 

 cows, and do all kinds of work, for which his strength was 

 competent. Neighbor Wiseman was now considered one of the 

 most thrifty, well-doing men in town. His neighbors finding 

 him successful in all his plans, often consulted him with regard 

 to their crops, and farming arrangements, and seldom had 

 cause to regret that they had followed his advice. He was pub- 

 lic spirited, as well as economical, and was always in favor of 



