Back to Nature

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After extracting the best that was in him in the course of twenty years' service, with them, the Peoples' Insurance Company discharges Joe Jackson, a faithful bookkeeper. So at middle life, Joe finds the sum-total of a "city career" a nervous wife, a drooping infant and a grown-up son and daughter, whom the city has converted into shallow, idle, selfish creatures. His own gains are a bank account that wouldn't stand the strain of city rent-paying and city living, while he was hunting for a job, so Joe concluded to get "back to nature." He bought a farm with his savings and transported himself there with his family, much against the wishes of two members thereof, the indolent son and daughter, of course. But farm life proved the best blessing that could have been wished on the pair. They finally jumped into it with a vim, and it rejuvenated them, making them self-respecting and self-supporting and winning the daughter a prosperous neighbor for a husband. And the country air gave the youngest child the good health that the city could not extend to it. In his new world, the farmer found that he had many friends, and he gradually became a person of influence among his neighbors, who had a chance to observe his sterling qualities. Oddly enough, it happened that many of them were policyholders in the insurance company that had once employed Joe, and there was a fight for control. And the farmers, who believed that the corporation needed to be reformed, decided to pool their influence, and gave Joe their proxies. They had confidence in his knowledge and integrity, they knew he was not falling behind. The contest between the two big "Interests" was so close, that Joe, to his surprise and to that of others, found that he held the balance of power. And the president, who had thrown him out, was sure that the one-time clerk would now avenge himself. But Joe proved he was mistaken. Of the two forces he preferred the old directors, and from his knowledge of the business, gained during his obscure work, he was able to impress the board with the necessity for reforms he advocated. They expressed a willingness to carry out his idea, and he left the control of the company where it was. The directors were impressed with the ability of Joe. The president admitted, shamefacedly, that the man had formerly been an employee, but had been "let out." The president went to Joe's farm to offer him another job, at much higher pay. The farmer left the decision to his family, and the vote was unanimously, "no." Each member of the household realized that he or she had gained morally and physically by going "back to nature." and the president returned to the city, wondering. but still envious of the happiness he saw in that obscure little upstate farm.