WE CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR '96
The morning after Christmas broke clear, with a wind from the south that
promised to make quick work of the snow. The young people were engaged
for the evening, as indeed for most evenings, in the hospitable village,
and they spent the day on the farm as pleased them best.
There were many things to interest city-bred folk on a place like Four
Oaks. Everything was new to them, and they wanted to see the workings of
the factory farm in all its detail. They made friends with the men who
had charge of the stock, and spent much time in the stables. Polly and I
saw them occasionally, but they did not need much attention from us. We
have never found it necessary to entertain our friends on the farm. They
seem to do that for themselves. We simply live our lives with them, and
they live theirs with us. This works well both for the guests and for
the hosts.
The great event of the holiday week was a New Year Eve dance at the
Country Club. Every member was expected to appear in person or by proxy,
as this was the greatest of many functions of the year.
Sunday was warm and sloppy, and little could be done out of doors. Part
of the household were for church, and the rest lounged until luncheon;
then Polly read "Sonny" until twilight, and Laura played strange music
in the half-dark.
The next day the men went into town to look about, and to lunch with
some college chums. As they would not return until five, the ladies had
the day to themselves. They read a little, slept a little, and talked
much, and were glad when five o'clock and the men came. Tea was so hot
and fragrant, the house so cosey, and the girls so pretty, that Jack
said:--
"What chumps we men were to waste the whole day in town!"
"And what do you expect of men, Mr. Jack?" said Jessie.
"Yes, I know, the old story of pearls and swine, but there are pearls
and pearls."
"Do you mean that there are more pearls than swine, Mr. Jack? For, if
you do, I will take issue with you."
"If I am a swine, I will be an æsthetic one and wear the pearl that
comes my way," said Jack, looking steadily into the eyes of the
high-headed girl.
"Will you have one lump or two?"
"One," said Jack, as he took his cup.
The last day of the year came all too quickly for both young and old at
Four Oaks. Polly and I went into hiding in the office in the afternoon
to make up the accounts for the year. As Polly had spent the larger
lump sum, I could face her with greater boldness than on the previous
occasion. Here is an excerpt from the farm ledger:--
Expended in 1896 $43,309
Interest on previous account 2,200
_______
Total $45,509
Receipts 5,105
_______
Net expense $40,404
Previous account 44,000
_______
$84,404
The farm owes me a little more than $84,000. "Not so good as I hoped,
and not so bad as I feared," said Polly. "We will win out all right, Mr.
Headman, though it does seem a lot of money."
"Like the Irishman's pig," quoth I. "Pat said, 'It didn't weigh nearly
as much as I expected, but I never thought it would.'"
There was little to depress us in the past, and nothing in the present,
so we joined the young people for the dance at the Club.