278 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



occasional workmen with a theme for intelligent discus- 

 sion. We have been surprised — as they themselve& have 

 been — to see how much they have been stimulated to 

 observe the natural objects and phenomena which con- 

 tinually fall in their way. Before this fall these had 

 been nearly disregarded, or passed with a careless eye, 

 and usually with a wrong idea of their nature and re- 

 lations. Now, everything about the farm, especially of 

 an insect kind, is sharply scrutinized. These obser- 

 vations are compared and canvassed among them- 

 selves, and often referred to me for decision and further 

 information. 



We congratulate ourselves on this result, because 

 whatever quickens the intellectual life of working 

 people, or induces them to close and careful observa- 

 tion of matters around them, and deepens their interest 

 in the world through which they move, goes very f\ir to 

 raise the quality of the laborers and enhavice tlie value 

 of tiieir service. Certainly, this is an incidental result ; 

 one, indeed, that we had not counted much upon ; but 

 the fact that the happiness and intelligence of my 

 hum])le friends have thus been promoted has been a 

 strong stimulus to me to persist in my course. 



One of these discussions was in full progress between 

 Hugh and Dan on the evening to which I alUide. 

 Sarah was busy at the kitchen table that stood by I lie 

 open window just above the bench on which the men 

 sat, and so could join in llie conversation without inter- 

 rupting her work. A lull in tlie talk gave her an oppor- 

 tunity to change the subject to one on wiiich she 



