DEDICATION 331 



multitude of friends who are scattered all along 

 the way from Canada to Florida, from Maine to 

 California? 



To that host of Sunday School children of long 

 ago; to those mischievous boys and girls who re- 

 ceived from me guidance and instruction in the 

 three R's and sometimes discipline as well ; to 

 that inspiring and almost endless procession of 

 college students who, class by class, looked up at 

 me from their seats with eager minds for thirty 

 years; and to that larger host whom I met at insti- 

 tutes and agricultural gatherings, and last and 

 most cordially remembered of all, to my college 

 associates and generous co-workers. 



To this great multitude the friendly harvest 

 of a long life I dedicate this my last book, be- 

 gun in the autumn of my days and finished at the 

 age of eighty-two. May it give as much pleasure 

 and inspiration to the reader as I have found in 

 recalling the friendships and activities of half a 

 century. May my life history be in some measure 

 an encouragement to aspiring farm boys wherever 

 they may be in their lonely fields ! 



ISAAC PHILLIPS ROBERTS, 



Ax DWIGHT WAY END, BERKE- 

 LEY ; OR FRESNO ; OR PALO ALTO ; 

 CALIFORNIA. 



