1909. 
203 
Hope Farm Notes 
A Holiday.—I am writing this on the 
evening of Lincoln's Birthday. 'Hie lamp 
is on my desk and three of the children 
sit in the light reading books or maga¬ 
zines about Lincoln. One of the girls is 
sick upstairs. Mother sits with her and 
the two little boys are getting ready for 
bed. We have all been upstairs visiting 
the patient. A cloudless, starry night has 
settled upon the farm. I can see as I sit 
here from one window the light from the 
neighbors’ house—across the valley. To 
the west the young trees at the top of 
the hill are dimly outlined. 
I cannot say that we have hurt our¬ 
selves working to-day. for it has been a 
time for odds and ends. I have been all 
over the farm studying plans for the season. 
The snow has all gone save for a little 
patch here and there along the walls. The 
rye is growing and looks well. That’s one 
great thing about rye. It is tough and 
hardy, and no matter how hard the Win¬ 
ter may be you can feel sure that your 
old friend rye will come up smiling in the 
Spring. Last Pall was a hard one on the 
Cow-horn turnips. They made a poor 
growth, and are now just about all dead. 
The rape which I seeded with the turnips 
made a larger growth, and is mostly alive. 
At this date the Crimson clover looks well—• 
better than I expected—but this open season 
is bad for it, and I shall not be surprised 
if it is all thrown out during March. That 
is the way it often goes, yet I am satis¬ 
fied that I have my money back and more. 
There is to-day every indication that we 
shall have a heavy fruit crop. That will 
determine tlie balance of our work. In case 
of a good crop I want to be prepared to 
handle it right. When you block out a lot 
of other work you are sure to have it all 
come together, and your fruit will be 
neglected. I want, if possible, to have my 
crops mostly laid by and seeded to clover 
and turnips when fruit picking begins in 
earnest. Of course this is not possible with 
strawberries, but I am speaking of side 
crops. In case my fruit prospects hold 
good I expect to cut out sweet corn, onions, 
pi ppcrs, and to some extent, cabbage. Corn, 
field beaus and Soy beans will keep us 
going through the Summer and leave us 
free to pick and sell through August and 
the Fall. We can work these crops among 
our young trees, seed clover and turnips 
in late July and then let them alone. 
On tiie lower farm near the house we 
intend to work the soil for all it is worth— 
piling the manure upon it, crowding as 
close as a careful small horse can get 
through, and working it hard. I have 
learned not to plant peach trees out of 
sight of the house—the .thieves get too 
many. I can still find room for about 100 
more trees near the house. I planted a 
vineyard in the wrong place. We shall 
now build a long trellis back of the house 
and transplant our vines and try bagging 
the grapes. Oh, there will be plenty to 
do, and a holiday is well spent in making 
plans. As tilings look now I can go to 
plowing early in March. As I write I pre¬ 
sume that in thousands of places orators 
are telling about Lincoln and the great 
lessons of his life. There are two things 
about il that I would like to have mv 
boys consider. When Lincoln fought and 
dug his way up from hardship and poverty 
he not only helped himself, but he helped 
every other boy who must work for what 
he gets, in a way we are all slaves—to 
habit or prejudice or heredity, and the 
great s(niggle of every life is to be set free. 
It would be a dull boy who cannot see in 
the. story of Lincoln something of the pos¬ 
sibilities of right living and patient work. 
We may think the boys do not see this— 
but they do. Then I meet very many peo¬ 
ple who say things are wrong—society is 
unjust—tlie rich are crowding us too hard, 
11k* power!ul have too great an advantage 
and so on. You can hardly dispute what 
they say, yet they offer no adequate rem¬ 
edy. These things will be likely to con¬ 
tinue and grow worse until the average 
good citizen tackles tiie job of good gov¬ 
ernment that is within his size. When every 
man controls himself and his own home we 
shall see the world growing better. You 
see there are too many of us who want 
to reform the great abuses before we re¬ 
form ourselves. Your home and mine must 
be what it should be before we can hope 
to have better State or national govern- 
meiil. Many of us have been breaking our 
clubs over very large things which are 
made up of many small ones. Some of 
these small ones are within bur reach and 
just our size. I know there is more fun 
in shouting at some big corporation than 
there is in curbing some little personal 
meanness, but the big curse grew from tiie 
tittle one, and if we can kill the small 
ones we shall learn how to kill the big 
ones. 
1’hb Fight.—I n turning over my papers 
I came to the following letter: 
“Well now, I would like to have the 
Hope Farm man tell how he got off from 
that bridge when he met the drunken 
driver. After my wife read the Hope 
farm Notes last night I laid awake half 
1 , II1K trying to study out how he got 
ofr, but could not come to any conclusion, so 
I renew my subscription, for I want to 
how he got out of that scrape.” 
Niagara Co., N. Y. c. e. p. 
I think so highly of sleep that I can’t 
tel any good man lie awake when my 
knowledge will break the spell. You re¬ 
member that I spoke of this story as one 
I tell my children before our big open 
nre. I had no idea others would be in-. 
THE RURAL 
forested in it. I feel that the boys think 
it is incomplete because it was a bloodless 
fight—to that extent perhaps a model. 
I was working my way through college. 
Teaching school seemed out of my line, so 
as a Winter job, in order to earn the price. 
I went to Northern Michigan and got work 
driving the supply team for a lumber camp. 
We were cutting cedar for shingles that 
Winter—in a swamp some 20 miles from 
a town on Lake Michigan. I drove to 
town twice a week and hauled supplies to 
camp. I usually got to camp long after 
dark. Several times I found big trees 
blown across the road, and it was neces¬ 
sary to chop them off by lantern light, un¬ 
hitch the horses and haul the logs off so as 
to get by. There was one particularly bad 
place on the road—a deep valley with steep 
hills, a creek in the middle and a narrow 
bridge crossing it. One dark, stormy night 
I was driving to camp with a good load 
and came to tiie top of the hill leading 
down into this valley. It was black as 
pitch—my lantern threw out but a feeble 
light. I could hear nothing and see less. 
I was younger in those days, and more 
inclined to take risks, so I pulled the lines 
over John and Bird) and drove down, 
thinking of the wonderful things I expected 
to do when I got through college. It doesn't 
do to look too far ahead. I drove on the 
bridge and got one glance at the white 
water on the rocks below when old Bird 
gave a scream that was almost human and 
sprang back until the hind wheel hit the 
railing. But for old John we would all 
have gone down. In the light of the lan¬ 
tern appeared two horse heads, and out of 
the blackness came a storm of the most 
awful language one could imagine. I have 
heard “language” of various kinds, but I 
think the words that Black Jack hurled at 
me that night - would take the prize in 
any fair contest. Black Jack was the 
teamster for the opposition camp. It seems 
he had been howling at me all the way to 
keep back, but I did not hoar a sound. 
There we certainly were “man to man.” 
and Jack had about three good drinks 
aboard, too. He had no lantern and mine 
was) smoky. He was really about 40 
pounds heavier than I. but in the shadow 
he looked like Goliath. while I felt like a 
very small David. He came at me like a 
whirlwind with his arms up. I could have 
caught him by the waist and thrown him 
over the rail, that is an easy trick for a 
ball player, but here was a case for diplo¬ 
macy. What was the good of a college 
course if it did not teach men to match 
brains against brawu ? 
Black Jack struck at me with the butt 
end of his whip, but I dodged, and he hit 
his hand on Hie wheel. The pain made 
him more cautious. I explained that I did 
not hear him. and why, but lie insisted on 
fighting, and pulled off his coat in prepara¬ 
tion. Now I knew there was one chance 
in 10 of our getting past. Back of where 
Jack’s wagon stood the road widened a 
little. If I could get him to back up 
we might get by. I also knew this was 
no time for a sermon or essay on peace. 
“Now,” I said, “if we are to fight w'e 
want room on tills bridge, for I need a lot. 
I cover much ground. You back up, let 
me past and then I'll drive on and leave 
the bridge clear.’’ You could almost see 
his language in the dark. While he roared 
and stamped I unhitched old John, got him 
past Jock’s wagon and hitched to the hind 
end. I didn’t dare to use old Bird at this 
work. All this time I must confess that 
1 was doing my share of bragging what 
great things I would do when that bridge 
was cleared. I am ashamed of if, but I 
knew no other way of preventing Black I 
Jack from striking me down with his 
whip. When I had old John fast I said : 
“I don’t believe they can back it 1” 
That was an insult to his team which 
no man could stand and Jack sprang to 
their heads and urged them back. I,eft to 
themselves they would have backed that 
wagon off a bank 30 feet high, but old 
John guided the hind end and when they 
stopped there were just two inches between 
the hind wheel and destruction! Black 
Jack had lost his whip. While he was 
hunting for it I got old John back at my 
wagon. I’ll guarantee no man ever har¬ 
nessed a horse as rapidly before or since. 
I was afraid Bird would balk, but John 
started her and she kept going. Talk about 
having your heart in your throat—mine 
was on top of my head as we plunged into 
the darkness and I realized there was a 
margin of less than two inches at the side 
of the road. I felt the hubs of the two 
wagons click and I knew that my hind 
wheels had started to go down. Then came 
the swish of Black Jack’s whip and both 
teams started ahead just in the nick of 
time. By the time I could pull up old 
John my wagon was in the middle of the 
road a rod from the bridge and the other 
team had passed the other way in safety. 
As I went back with my lantern I saw 
where my wheel had sent a great piece at 
the side of the road down to the rocks 
below. 
And there on the bridge was my friend 
Black Jack pulling off his coat and vest 
and rolling his sleeves for combat. I think 
the danger had cooled him a little, and the 
absence of his “gang” was disconcerting. 
When he paused to say : 
“I can lick ye with one hand!” 
I knew he had doubts about his ability 
to do it with both hands. 
“Now,” I said. “I’m no fighter, but I 
don’t want to send you home looking like 
the hypothenuse of a pollyhydrate. Be¬ 
sides I’m hungry and want to get to camp.” 
“But I can lick ye!” 
r “I know it, and I’ll cheerfully admit it. 
You can go back and tell the boys vou 
whipped me so I couldn't travel.' Your 
hand will show how hard you hit me. and 
I’ll admit you are the best one I met on 
the road.” 
I think I could have argued him out of 
it even if his team had not started. As it 
was the horses at least had less desire 
even than I to see the fight and tliev began 
io walk home. Whether Black .Tack was 
sorry or not I shall never know. With 
many parting curses, which sounded to- me 
like blessings, he put on his coat and fol¬ 
lowed his team, I went on through the 
blackness to camp. Old John got the rub 
down and supper that night that he had 
fairly earned. As for Black Jack, I was 
told that he informed his friends that 1 
was the best man for my heft he ever 
tackled ! A high compliment surely. That 
was years ago. If Black Jack came along 
the road now I would gladly call him in. 
but I should hope lie would leave most of 
his language outside. li w c 
NEW-YORKER 
Why Drive to Market Yourself 
when you can’t afford to leave your work on the farm? With a rural 
telephone you can talk to town at any time, making it possible for 
a boy to go and attend to the details, leaving your time free for 
other work. 
The telephone also enables you to take advantage of fluctuations in 
the market and sell your products at best prices. But good telephone 
service depends first upon tiie quality of the apparatus installed and 
without good transmission qualities a telephone system is worthless. 
ELECTRIC RURAL TELEPHONES 
have highest efficiency and reliability with lowest maintenance cost. Our apparatus has high transmission 
qualities over long as well as short lines and is used by the leading telephone companies of this country 
We have brought the rural telephone within the roach of every farmer, and with our Free 
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Cut out this advertisement, write your name and address on the margin and mail it to-day so that the 
rree Bulletins, which describe the entire plan in detail, may be sent you immediately. 
Eastern 
New York 
Philadelphia 
Boston 
Pittsburg 
Atlanta 
COMWANV 
Central Western 
Chicago Saint Louis 
Indianapolis Kansas Oity 
_. Denver 
Cincinnati Dallas 
Minneapolis Omaha __ 
Northern Electric and Mfg. Oo.. Ltd., Montreal and Winnipeg 
Address Our Nearest House 
Pacific 
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Salt Lake Oity 
Don’t Waste Money 
On Cheap Implements 
Cheap materials and flimsy con¬ 
struction can’t make a satisfactory 
implement. They cost a lot of time 
and temper and the saving in price 
is but trifling. 
WALTER A. WOOD IMPLEMENTS 
are made of the hjghest grade materials and are carefully put together 
by competent workmen. A fifty-seven year experience is behind them. 
Ihese are the implements it pays to buy, you get satisfaction in every 
respect. Take for example our Spring and Spike Tooth Harrows. 
They do good work under all conditions and endure severest strain. The I-beam steel 
composing their frames has no equal for strength in proportion to its bulk, while nothing 
makes as good a tooth bar as the U-bar steel we use, as it is the only material that yields 
properly to the strain of the teeth. The relief springs on the adjusting bars (exclusive 
Wood teat a re) allow the levers to yield to unusual strain on teeth, saving the entire harrow 
from injury and greatly prolonging its life. The triangular tooth on the spike harrow 
cuts the soil easier and stirs more of it than any other; has three sharp edges to be used 
in succession and is held more firmly against the tooth bar than any other kind. 
I lie steel runners on the spring tooth harrow have renewable shoes, allow adjust¬ 
ment of height of harrow frame saving 
it wear, preventing gathering of trash. 
Have our dealer show you these harrows. 
If you don’t know his address, ask us. 
Get illustrated forty-page catalogue. 
Walter A. Wood Mowing and 
Reaping Machine Co. 
Box 208 Hoosick Falls, N. Y. 
Leading Independent Harvesting Machine Concern 
WALTER A. WOOD SPRINQ TOOTH HARROW 
One Gallon of Water Per Horse Power 
Is all that is required to properly cool m 
The Abenaque 
Gas or Gasoline Engine 
Note those Cooling Tanks. Write for catalog O. 
ABENAQUE MACHINE WORKS, Westminster Station, Vermont 
R OWN FE 
Nce 
We make an extra heavy fence in which every wire—both strand and stay—are No. 9 gauge. These fences are 
made of the best fence material in the world—Hard, High Carbon "Double Strength 7, Coiled Sprint Steel 
Wire, thickly galvanized. A more substantial and durable fence was never stapled to posts. 15 to 35°c per 
Rod delivered—We pay freight. Send for our free sample and catalog .showing 150 stylos offences. Sond today 
THE BROWN FENCE &. WIRE CO., Dept. 59, CLEVELAND, OHIO. 
15 Cents a Rod 
For a 22-inch Hog Fence; 16c for 
26-inch; 19c for 81-inch; 22 l-2c 
for 34-Inch; 27e for a 47-lnch 
Farm Fence. 50-Inch Poultry 
Fence 37c. Lowest prices ever 
made. Sold on 30 days trial. 
Catalog free. W rite for 11 today. 
KITSELMAN BROS., 
Box 230. M UNCI E, IND. 
WARD FENCE E a 0 ™. t ” d . 
Old fashioned galvanized. Elas¬ 
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farmers at manufacturers 
prices. Write for particu lars. 
Ward Fence Co., Box 542 Decatur, Ini 
FENCE MacfeJ 
Made of H igh Carbon Double Strength 
Colled Wire. Heavily Galvanized to 
prevent rust. Have no agonts. Sell at 
factory prices on 30 days’ tree trial. 
Wo pay all freight. 37 heights of farm 
and poultry fence. Catalog Free. 
COILED SPRING FENCE CO. 
Box 263 Winchester, Indiana. 
ENCEI3cUpPerRd. 
Get our 1909 prices on any style fence. We 
sell direct,you getall dealers’and jobbers’ 
profit when you buy direct from our 
factory. Write at once. Anchor Fence 
& Mfg. Co., Dept. O, Cleveland, O. 
The Quarter-Centennial or “Jubilee Year” of Page Fence 
Just 25 years-a quarter of a century ago-the first Page Fence was sold. It was woven by 
‘s 0ld T dS ^ shop , n< i ar Rollin ’ Mich - Today Page Fence, from raw raat£ 
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lagre .Fence, though costing a trifle more than ordinary 
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Page Woven Wire Fence Co v Adrian, Mich.jf 
