from 15 to 20. He uses the De Laval separator, being the first in the county to adopt it, and markets his butter at Franklin. He is an enthusiastic Hereford breeder, and his fine herd took first money at the last Tilton and Rochester fairs, though coming in competition at the latter with cattle from different parts of New England. He also produces a considerable amount of maple syrup, being among the first to adopt improved methods in its manufacture, as he is prompt to utilize advanced ideas in all lines of agricultural work. Mr. Taylor was a charter member of Harmony grange, Sanbornton, and its first secretary, serving five years. He has since been two years master, and also for two years master of Belknap County Pomona grange. He was active in the organization of the State Grange Fair association, and has served as superintendent of the forage and cattle departments, and also as general superintendent for several years, until January, 1896, when he was elected treasurer of the association. He is also a director of the Sanbornton Town Fair association, and has been treasurer of the

same, and a director of the town Fire Insurance company.

Politically, he is a Democrat; has served his town as collector of taxes and town treasurer several years, and has been the candidate of his party for county commissioner. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Tilton, and an attendant at the Baptist church in Sanbornton.

JOHN BAILEY, CLAREMONT. Among the steady-going, thoughtful, and successful farmers of the first-class agricultural town of Claremont is John Bailey, a native of the neighboring town of Unity, son of Eaton and Elizabeth Wright (Sparling) Bailey, born June 30, 1833. Both his parents were of English descent; hence the persevering spirit and sturdy character which he has ever manifested. He attended the ungraded school until sixteen years of age, after which he pursued the study of the higher branches in the academies at Washington and Claremont, preparatory to a course at Dartmouth, but was forced to abandon the latter on account of poor health, and entered the dry-goods

house of a brother at Claremont, where he continued three years, but was finally compelled to abandon this business from the same reason that compelled the relinquishment of the college course.

About this time he was united in marriage with the only daughter of Laban Ainsworth of Claremont, and, purchasing a large farm on the Connecticut river, commenced farming in earnest. He studied methods carefully, and determined not to turn a furrow without thorough fertilization of the soil, so as to secure the largest crops that the land was capable of producing, realizing, as he did, that the cost of producing 150 bushels of corn per acre is but little more than that of 75 bushels, while the land would thus be left capable of producing two and one-half tons of hay per acre instead of a ton, or a ton and a half.

Mr. Bailey's present farm is situated on the Connecticut, about one mile south of Claremont Junction, and contains 205 acres, of which 75 acres is tillage, the balance pasture and woodland. He cuts about 100 tons of English hay, and harvests

from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels of ears of corn, and from 500 to 700 bushels of oats annually, most of which is consumed on the farm. Since the experiment station at Hanover and Durham has been in operation, Mr. Bailey has followed closely the experiments in dairying, feeding stock, and raising crops. He believes that much has been reduced to science, and that the thinking farmer can add materially to his store of knowledge from the bulletins issued from the station from time to time.

The New England farmer has had much to contend with in the last twenty years, and Mr. Bailey early began to fortify himself against cheap wool, mutton, beef, grain, etc., raised in the West, by giving up these industries and going into dairying, supplemented by the raising of swine. He has kept from 20 to 40 cows, and raised and fattened as many hogs each year. His butter is sold at wholesale at 25 cents per pound the entire year.

Mr. Bailey had always turned a deaf ear to all suggestions of officeholding until the new school law went into effect, when, being a firm

ONDAY, December 5.

I have told Mother just how matters stand between Joe and me, and I am glad it is over. Although I could see that she was greatly disappointed, she did not reproach me. She seemed to think I had been hasty in my decision, until I told her more fully than I ever before had, how I felt about Joe and his proposal.

"Well, child," she said, "you must do as you think best, but I hope Joseph was wrong about Mr. Ladd having anything to do with your sending the poor boy away. You have grown up together, and you know him to be an honest, reliable young man, a good son, and kind to his neighbors. He is smart and capable, too, and that should not be overlooked. As for Mr. Ladd, we have little in common,-only an acquaintance, which he will be very likely to forget as soon as he leaves Riverside. And, Polly, I think the less you see of him, the better for your peace of mind, for he is an unusually pleasing young man, and you have met few such. His place is in the fashionable world; yours, in a quiet country home. Think of these Think of these things, my daughter,

and let your own good sense guide you in your treatment of him when he calls."

I sat through all this, assenting to the truth of it, but angry and rebellious at heart. Why should I be debarred from what is called good society, just for lack of money, or why should it be out of the question for one in Mr. Ladd's position to think of marriage with a girl in mine?

I

I wish I could have a chance with those girls who consider themselves so superior to me; I know I could. improve if I had the opportunities for going to school and into refined society, which they were born to. can't have them, and it's of no use to fret about it. There is just one right thing for me to do, that is, to devote myself to my home, and let all thoughts of anything else go. will not marry as I can, and I cannot marry as I would. Not that I think or care so much about marrying anybody, only as thoughts of her future position in life come to every girl. But Mother has opened my eyes to certain facts, to which my pleasure at having agreeable company had blinded me.

Now, Mr. Ladd may come or go as he pleases; it is nothing to me. I wonder what Father will say when he knows about Joe! But there, I can't help what he says; I am the one to be suited, after all, and I am glad to be free.