August 



In view of my experience on more than one 

 occasion, there can be no unkind insinuation in 

 the suggestion that if " one of those fellows 

 from the city," wandering through some farm- 

 ing district, notes a novel effect of nature in 

 earth or air, or espies a strange plant or a rare 

 bird, he will soon discover that he is full as 

 likely to have his inquiries pleasantly and in- 

 telligently solved by applying to someone else 

 than the occupant of the grounds. Each one 

 knows best the inevitable drudgery of his own 

 vocation, but of all pursuits there seems to be 

 none that holds its follower in the thraldom of 

 a more jaded and spiritless service than that in- 

 trinsically noblest of all callings, soil-culture. 



When Nature made the blue jay she must 

 have done it as an object-lesson, to show how 

 greatly good looks will always be discounted by 

 ill-manners. " What a handsome creature ! " 

 one will say, before he knows him. " What a 

 rascal!" after he knows him. A more pol- 

 ished knave than its congener the crow, one 

 will be likely to have even less respect for it by 

 as much as its first impression is more favor- 

 able, and its claims more pretentious. Who- 

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