380 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



the crop of corn and other grain is this year a very light 

 crop. For my own part, I intend to try to make wool my 

 principal crop, until I prove it to be as bad a business as 

 Mr. Jewett of Vermont would like to make us believe 

 that it will be. 1 



When I find leisure to write again, I think I will pub- 

 lish "my experience" in sheep buying, with notes and 

 references, admonitions and advice, for the benefit of 

 those that would go and do likewise. 



I hope the Prairie Farmer will not set me down as a 

 wilful deserter, because I have not furnished copy for 

 the printer more frequently of late. I have my reasons, 

 and they are weighty ones. Firstly, I prefer to read the 

 writings of others rather than my own ; and secondly, I 

 have been for several months past, as busy as was a 

 neighbor of mine once, who sent a child to call the hired 

 man from his work to make a fire, "because father was 

 so busy." The man as in duty bound made haste to obey 

 orders, but was greatly amused when he found that the 

 great and important matter which kept his employer "so 

 busy," was, that he was sitting in the corner smoking. 

 But, — and remember that — he raised his own tobacco. 



And now, Messrs. Editors, if there is any good in this 

 article, you may give tobacco credit for one good, for 

 had it not been that I had taken my pipe after supper to 

 finish a hard day's work with the quieting luxury of a 

 smoke, my anti-smoking friend would not have made use 

 of the words that commence this article, and from which 

 the whole matter has grown — somewhat like the little 

 cloud of smoke around my pipe — enjoyed by few, dis- 

 gusting to many, and fated soon to fade away, as we 

 shall do some coming day. 



I remain as ever, your friend — in smoke. 



Lake C. H., la., Dec. 20, 1843. 



1 Robinson refers to an article "Sheep on the Prairies," by S. W. 

 Jewett. Cultivator, 10:149 (September, 1843). 



