A visit to a farm house; or, An introduction to various subjects connected with rural economy. / Seventh edition, revised and corrected.

by active 1801-1820? S. W.

Mr. Mansfield. She has no father neither, my dear: but we will talk more of her by and by, if I have not tired you with my long story.

Charles. Oh, you need not be afraid of tiring us, grandpapa. We like to hear you very much, and I want to know how Maddox went on with his farm.

Mr. Mansfield. Why, he left his farm to take care of itself; and when the men went to him for directions, he used to tell them to begone about their business, and do as they would, for he should not trouble himself about the matter. So perhaps one wanted to sow beans, when another wanted to sow corn; and then they would get into a quarrel, and not work at all. By this means, the seed was never put into his fields till after it had begun to grow up in all the country round: and as he took no care to keep his land clean, it was always choked with weeds; and, in all the time he was a farmer, he had not a single good crop. His fences too were left in the most ruinous state, and his neighbour’s cattle used to get into his fields through the gaps in the hedges, and do much mischief among his corn and hay. Then sometimes his own beasts trespassed in the same manner upon the grounds of other people, and he was obliged to pay for the damage they did; and if they were sent to the pound, it was some expense to him to redeem them.

Arthur. What do you mean, sir, by saying they were sent to the pound?

Mr. Mansfield. A pound is a small spot inclosed with high rails, in which cattle that go astray may be confined; and the person whose office it is to keep the pound claims a certain fee when they are sent for by the owner.

Maddox’s farm belonged to Mr. Ashley; and when the lease was out, his landlord refused to grant him another. From the time of the old man’s death, the rents had been very irregularly paid; and besides, Mr. Ashley did not choose to let any part of his estate to a man who suffered it to go to ruin.

Charles. Indeed, I think he was in the right. I should not like to have my fields, that might be kept in nice order, like yours, grandpapa, spoilt from want of proper care. But what became of Maddox, then?

Mr. Mansfield. He hired a wretched cottage, and lived for some time upon the little money he had by him. When that was gone, he was actually reduced to beggary. He had scarcely a rag to cover him, and could barely get food to keep him alive. I happened to hear of his miserable situation, and I called on Mr. Ashley, to consult about what could be done for him.

Arthur. And what did Mr. Ashley say?