98 THE JONATHAN PAPERS 



&quot;Why, no,&quot; he said; &quot;that is, Hiram 

 thought we needed more ground to plough 

 up next year, and that s as good a piece as 

 there is no big rocks or trees, you know. 

 And we must have crops, you know.&quot; 



&quot;Bless the rocks!&quot; I burst out. &quot;I wish 

 there were more of them ! If it were n t for 

 the rocks the farm would be all crops!&quot; 



Jonathan laughed, then we both laughed. 



&quot;You talk as though that would be a mis 

 fortune,&quot; he said. 



&quot;It would be simply unendurable,&quot; I re 

 plied. 



&quot;Jonathan,&quot; I added, &quot;I am afraid you 

 have not a proper subordination of values. 

 I have heard of one farmer just one 

 who had.&quot; 



&quot;What is it? and who was he?&quot; said 

 Jonathan, submissively. 



I think he was relieved that the huckleberry 

 question was not being followed up. 



&quot;I believe he was your great-uncle by mar 

 riage. They say that there was a certain field 

 that was full of butterfly-weed you know, 

 gorgeous orange stuff &quot; 



&quot;I know,&quot; said he. &quot;What about it?&quot; 



