102 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



and mind you he had Sunday as well as week- 

 day work — ' I want to speak to you about 

 something, sir.' I replied, *Well, fire away, 

 Bill. Anything I can do to help you ? ' 

 * W ill you try and get me a five-acre holding, 

 sir ? ' he said. I hesitated for a moment before 

 I replied in these words, ' Yes, Bill, I will try 

 and get you your holding from the County 

 Council. I know you to be a hard worker 

 and that you have put by a little money. 

 But, mind you, I am not going to have you 

 working yourself out on your own land early 

 in the morning, at midday, and in the evenings, 

 and resting for the rest of the working-day 

 on my land. You must choose whether you 

 work for me or for yourself.' He decided to 

 work for himself. He bought some beasts 

 in Norwich, dropped £17 on them the first 

 year, and then emigrated to Canada." 



*' The fault," I answered, ** with that man, 

 and with your men here, is that they are skid- 

 ding along in the old ruts they are accustomed 

 to. They imitate what you do, without your 

 facilities for buying manures or for marketing 

 the produce. Fancy trying to fatten bullocks 

 on a five-acre holding I Why don't they leave 

 these things to you and other large farmers, 



