152 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



never got started on a fairly straight track but that 

 I was sure to be shunted onto another, and one 

 which was apt to be poorly ballasted. In the latter 

 part of May, 1869, as I was giving the last touch 

 to my fine new barn by building a cupola on it just 

 for looks, I heard a voice at the top of the ladder, 

 and turning, I saw the red head of O. H. P. 

 Buchanan just above the eaves. Said he : " Come 

 down from there, young man, I have better work 

 for you to do." 



It seemed that Mr. Buchanan had shortly before 

 been appointed a Trustee of the Iowa State Col- 

 lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, usually 

 known as the " I. A. C.," which was situated at 

 Ames, Story County, Iowa. The Superintendent 

 of the College Farm and the Secretary of the 

 Board of Trustees was a high-tempered Scotch- 

 man who had a habit of resigning on the slightest 

 pretext. The patience of the Trustees had at last 

 given out and they were looking for someone to 

 take Superintendent Thompson's place. Mr. 

 Buchanan wished to recommend me for the posi- 

 tion; but at first I declined to be switched off onto 

 this new, unknown track for I still had the live- 

 stock tick in my bonnet. Though I finally con- 

 sented to allow him to present my name, I declined 

 to furnish him with any commendatory letters. 



