Jones's Boy's Budget.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 April 1915, Page 2

Jones's Boy's Budget.

ABOUT COWS ANI> THE SIMPLE LIFE.

ALSO iHAKAiIA

(To the Editor)

Dear Sir,—Now that 'Cillor I>empsey has returned to wax-ends and 'Gillor Kobbell to the growing of wool, and you, Sir, to the incubation of further articles on wheat-growing, your correspondence columns are empty. If you will allow nit , . Sir, I shall find pleasure in sending vow from time to time. <i few verses and so forth from Ihakara setting out the conditions of this verdant piece of loddcr-land. whither 1 came live .veals ago last calf-weaning,

after a disagreement with Farmer Jones about a .son's duty to his patent and himself, and the amount of hoeing necessary to make potatoes grow in placet* where the weeds are wealthiest in ?igor and lankiest a.s to inches. "'Twns ever thus in childhood's days." Mother used to say that to dad, often, but dad usually just said "Oh, yes." and stalked out to Hover's kennel to sool him on to the pigs for nosing up spuds. Then mother would tell me about tlie man who wrote those lines. He u.sed to write lots of verses, but 1 forget hi.s name. Those clays 1 used to forget more important things than that: and the weeds grew right along and Fanner Jones would come in from .sool ing the dog on the pigs and say "Well, will, 'Stasia, if the boy's not Inzv enough now, that tstuff'l soon finish the job!" Then mother would get to the milk pan and I'd get out to Ih" spud-patch and keep the hoe moving for ten minutes until the bits of veis , : would come back to my head and tlen I'd say them to myself till they began to sing in my ears and at last Farmer Jones would bo— singing too (singing out. 1 mean!) and I'd start the hoe going once more! So the spuds came to ? bad end, and so did I, by Farmer Jones's reckoning, for I left the old home and moved around amongst the fanners in another district until 1 got tired or they did and I'd Ko until here I've pulled up thix five years, on the old Arapaepae, and earning guod money ("what there is of it," ;>« Charlie Cogbill used to say). So success to the simple life, Mr Editor; it'.s simple food you'll earn at it, for sure; it won't run much more, what with the present price oi poliard and motor cars! But let us be merry:--

I fell out with Farmer Jones, in our parental plot.

UevaiiM. , 1 dug but little wl'en 1 should have dug a let :

leather isaid tl'o fat-hen such a start on spuds had got

That I'd have to make n">re roojn!

''That's" why 1 had to leave my poolold father's farm (Not that the leaving did me any lasting harm). 1 saved my pennies till with some I bought a farm f owe the balance still! I ain located on the stones of old "lhak." Earning every shilling at a cost of twice a zak. Getting up by candlelight to tread the daily track, And carry pigs their whey. "This' , is the calling that will tciicli a man to strive —Sakes, Mr Editor, it's fun to be alive! — Vou havenT. ftalf the money in yo;ir journal now that l've "A-eoniing" from my farm.

Fresh every Sunday start the choites that fill the week ; Now uvVy Monday 1 go round again to seek Further employment dragging i'oley from tlie creek, Where Roaney bogged nerself. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, it is still the same routine:

Cart, cans and pig-wh~ey, going, coming—same old scene— Friday and the Sabbath, we're too busy to be clean, It's work from now till next.

Come and lead the simple life on Arap.tepao road I And Lhen you'll have no need to quit your permanent abode! With money in the milk-can and a

mortgage for a load

You'll have no time to strav!

But we do enjoy ourselves; I'll admit that! If you could attend one of our oniinittee meetings you'd think

so! There's to be one next week; .something about a "hop" to be talked over. Perhaps I'll send you a line about it. —Your all the whev,

FARMER JONES'S HO\ r , Ihakara 23rd April. 1915.