FAEM ECHOES. 13 



absence, and would invariably be provoked by finding that 

 the work marked out by him had not been completed, if 

 commenced, while he was away. Upon one occasion he 

 was exceedingly annoyed to find that his orders had been 

 totally disregarded, and he so expressed himself to his 

 men. Among them was one whom the others supposed 

 to be half-witted, but it may be safely questioned whether 

 such was the fact, for he followed the General a short 

 distance, after his out-burst of displeasure, and said to 

 him, " Grineral ! Don't you know if a man wants a thing 

 did, he must did it hisself ?" To work a farm by proxy 

 is, as a rule, one of the greatest of follies, and it is not 

 to be wondered at that so many who try it come to grief. 

 If you cannot give your personal attention to a farm, 

 you had better not have one. Nine-tenths of the pleasure 

 of owning a farm is found in the superintendence of the 

 work to be done, whether it be grading, draining, tilling, 

 or "subduing" your land. 



