oat—straw grown on the first breaking of the spring of that year; otherwise more sods must be laid on top of the roof poles to complete the roof. No ventilation need be provided for. These sod stables, if not built too big, form a snug and warm shelter for the team, and are a great stand- by for the man who has more time to work for himself than money to spend on more convenient building material. A good size for a small sod stable is about 12 ft. wide inside, which is the least width convenient for work in feeding the animals and keeping the place clean, and about 16 ft. long inside, which allows ample room for a team of two horses or oxen, and at a pinch will accommodate those of a visiting neighbour as well. A rough calculation will give one a fair idea of the amount of land to be ploughed in providing the sod for such a building. "Honeymoon oottage" Kris and Martha Olson’s first home. Consider the ploughshare to cut a furrow 14 in. wide and 3 in. deep. That means the turf measures 28 in. by 14 in. by 3 in. The building is to be 12 ft. by 16 ft. inside. That means 20 it. 3 in. long by 16 ft. 8 in. wide outside, and the height may well be 7 it. at back, rising to 10 it. at the front, which gives sufficient slope for a sod roof, as otherwise the rains, instead of compacting the root, cause the turfs to slip down. Two longer walls, calculating the outside length. and having a thickness of 28 in. and a mean height of 31/2 ft. is 41 ft. 4 in. by 2 it. 4 in. by 3 ft. 6 in, equalling 818% cubic feet. Two and walls, calculating inside length, is 24 ft. by 2 ft. 4 in. by 8 ft. 6 in., equalling 476 cubic feet. A total of 1,2949“: cubic feet of sod ploughed 3 in. thick means a ploughed area of 5,178 square feet. After this a certain allowance must be made for useless sod broken in the ploughing. This would vary according to the nature of the land, docility of the team, and skill of the pioughman, but 25 per cent, would not be too much. That brings it up to about 8,508 square feet, or rather more than the eighth part of an acre. This must be ploughed from unbroken land immediately before set- ting out to build, as it is not worthwhile building. with old or weathered sod. {1| _$lil.ll8 Plus The papers said, “Go West young man, go west, Your fortune you will make A land of opportunity awaits you Who knows what will be your fate.” Yes I read that newspaper clipping I heeded that call without sleeping I arrived in Winnipeg in 1908 To find — that the west was a great Wide wonderful place and I Was just one of the large human race. A race that was seeking their fortune A race that was seeking their own a race that had great ambition As they ventured in the great unknown. I applied for a homestead on season And that was when my one for living began. Ten Dollars! Would it lead to adventure and fortune? Why had I signed on that dotted line? For ten dollars 3 would spend three years on 160 acres Live in bush and serve my maker What did I have to offer but my axe, my arm and my brain. That $10 was a token payment that changed my whole existence Now sixty years later I can say it was Ten Dollars w Plus. Plus a romance with a neighbor’s daughter who has shared my life and my woes Plus a family of three sons and three daughters who have multiplied and enlarged my joys Plus a home, a farm, a haven of refuge that has sheltered through every storm Plus worldly goods and improvements that has steadily come my way with my axe and my arm to depend on And God's care all the way. The way was not always easy And the times were sometimes tough; I was not a great success story Nor a millionaire covered with glory But i learned contentment Through the trust of our little ones. I learned that, love and kindness Forgiveness and friendship are not always easy to give. I have not always measured up For I love living, . But these 60 odd years have yielded a vast return; My selfish little outlook Has been dented, and battered, and banged. I have found too that neighbors Are part of God’s infinite plan. When each of us reach 3 score and ten And we find that we have not done all we hoped We can reckon our debts and our credits We can balance our ledger of life Some tens that we spent yield a minus My ten dollar claim netted m PLUS.