THE TIM BUNKER PAPERS. 73 



down in Shadtown ; for the parsonage has ten acres of 

 land with it, and Josiah is going to keep three cows and 

 a horse, and grow stuff enough on the land to feed them 

 and his family. His people say that he is not afraid of the 

 plow tail, or the hoe handle ; that he gets more stuff off 

 of his ten acres, than many of them are able to get from 

 their farms ; that he is great on sermons, and just as great 

 on cabbage, and it is difficult to tell whether he is a better 

 farmer or minister ; and his wife and the young folks are 

 pleased with each other, and as long as the parties most 

 consarned are suited, I don t see why other folks need to 

 trouble themselves about it.&quot; 



Mrs. Bunker resumed her spectacles and sewing, after 

 freeing her mind, and Uncle Jotham found it convenient 

 to leave on important business. Seth apologized hand 

 somely, didn t mean any harm, and after finishing his pipe 

 retired. 



You see, a great many people have got very narrow 

 views about their neighbors in general, and ministers in 

 particular. They think no man can be more than one 

 thing at a time, because they themselves have never done 

 but one thing, and have not done that very well. If a 

 man is good with a lapstone and an awl, they think he 

 must be a poor hand with a hoe and a scythe. But I have 

 traveled enough in Massachusetts to know that some of 

 the best farmers and gardeners in that State are shoe 

 makers, for a good part of the year. They have extra 

 brains enough to plan farm work while they are driving 

 the pegs, and keep two or three hands busy out doors 

 while they have a shop full of hands. I have pretty much 

 made up my mind, that that old saw about &quot; sticking to 

 the last &quot; wants a new interpretation. If a man only 

 sticks to the last, he may as well stick to two or three 

 other things at the same time. The sticking to a thing 

 is a matter of a good deal more importance than having 

 only one thing to stick to. I take it, that brains are given 



