FARM ECHOES. 17 



It was touching, the promptness and eagerness with 

 which they sought me, when I first came here, and offered 

 me "second-hand" wagons, "second-hand" harnesses, 

 and "second-hand" articles too numerous to specify; all 

 "nearly as good as new," and all "very cheap." 



There were lots of not second-hand but broken down 

 horses offered me, also whole farms, and many of them ; 

 but I cannot say through how many "hands" they had 

 passed. I do not ask the reader to suppose that they who 

 so generously proffered these things were actuated by any 

 other than disinterested motives. He must draw his 

 own conclusions. The eagerness with which the arti- 

 cles were offered, certainly proved the hearty desire of 

 the owners that I should have them, and hence my hearty 

 thanks. Happily this sort of thing did not last long. I 

 had often received similar attentions in my city life, and 

 was fully prepared for them. I tried to give a civil 

 refusal to all such proposals, and hope I succeeded in so 

 doing, though I am inclined to believe that some of my 

 rejections were decidedly emphatic, and that they aided 

 not a little in stopping the annoyance. 



It was so evident that some who came to me on such 

 errands paid me the compliment of taking me for a fool, 

 if I may be permitted to use such a word, that I hope I 

 was justified in seeking comfort, I will not say revenge, 

 in feeling that they admirably personated that character 

 themselves. These cases were, on the whole, exceptional. 



Not a few of the farmers around me have proved them- 

 selves as noble specimens of refined and honorable men 

 as can be found anywhere. Beneath a rough and un- 

 polished exterior, which might, perhaps, provoke a smile 



