Hidden Treasure: The Story of a Chore Boy Who Made the Old Farm PaySimpson, John Thomas
Science
Hidden Treasure: The Story of a Chore Boy Who Made the Old Farm Pay
Simpson, John Thomas
Farm life
"Now, before making a visit around the farm, I wish to call your
attention to a couple of things I'd like you to be sure and see.
First, take a look at the running water, especially the shower bath.
You men have no idea how it freshens one up at the end of the day to
take a shower. Why let the golfer alone enjoy all the good things when
you need them more? You should all have running water and a shower. I
also want to call to your attention that when the ditch was dug to put
in this water system, the ground was so hard that it was blasted out
with dynamite. If you will walk out to the orchard back of the
smokehouse, and take a look at the field of oats, you will see a strip
o>f oats more than a foot higher than the surrounding oats and eight
feet wide running across the field--that will show you what dynamite
does to the land. I would like you to go to the edge of the field and
take a look at those oats. Most of us think that dynamite is used for
tearing things apart, but here is a case where it is building up the
land and making it produce greater crops. You farmers who are going to
exhibit oats at the State Fair this year better look out for your
laurels, because I think Joe Williams has the prize winner right there
on that piece of dynamited land."
The afternoon was spent in examining the buildings and new machinery,
and looking over the plans for the new house and barn. Bob had almost
lost his voice by the time the last of the farmers had gone explaining
to them the details of the work.
There was not a prouder or happier boy in the state of Pennsylvania
that night than Bob Williams, for he felt that Brookside Farm was
destined to be a great success and he had been a part of the
redemption of the old homestead.
They sat out on the porch in the twilight. While Tony played on his
flute they sang many songs. They were surprised how much talent they
had in their own family circle. Aunt Bettie and Edith both had good
soprano voices and Ruth a fair contralto. Bob sang tenor and his uncle
bass. It was Maria, though, that surprised them with a remarkable good
mezzo-soprano.
They were all too happy to sleep, so they sang song after song until
the clock struck eleven. Then they sang "The Happy Farmer" song again
and went to bed. It had been a great day for Brookside Farm.
XXI
FILLING THE SILO
While Bob and Tony (helped out by the neighbors' boys who came to
Brookside Farm to learn the handling of cement) carried on the
building work, Mr. Brady, the contractor, made rapid strides with the
construction of the house and barn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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