The father had run away from a farm home 

 in England, to enlist in the army ; been bought 

 out; then married, and went out to New 

 Mexico to manage a silver mine; threw up 

 the position on falling heir to a little money, 

 came to this country, stocked a dairy farm, 

 failed, and gradually fell into troubled waters, 

 through no actual fault, but just inability to 

 manage. After some hesitation I offered 

 them the cottage to live in, with a salary of 

 $30 a month, fire, wood, milk, and several other 

 perquisites. 



Mr. Fred had certainly made the most aw- 

 ful muddle of his own affairs, but his military 

 training, and knowledge of stock raising, made 

 him an invaluable subordinate on our farm. 

 As for Mrs. Fred well, she loved young 

 animals, understood dairying, and possessed 

 more diligent industry than any one person 

 it has ever been my good fortune to meet. 

 They had three younger children two girls 

 and a boy; so, as the cottage had only four 

 rooms and an extension kitchen, Wally shared 



5 



