118 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



up my theories at the suggestion of a person who 

 had only experience to guide him. The best 

 plan, as I have long since learned, is to mix the 

 two and use the solid substance that results from 

 their combination. 



We located the site of the building, and talked 

 plans until the low sun of January 8th disap- 

 peared in the west. Then we adjourned to the 

 sitting room of the farm-house to finish the 

 matter so far as was possible. An hour and a 

 half passed, and we were in fair accord, when 

 Mrs. Thompson came into the room to say that 

 supper was ready, and to ask us to join the men 

 at table before starting homeward. I was glad 

 of the opportunity, for I was curious to know if 

 Mrs. Thompson set a good table. We went into 

 the dining room just as the farm family was 

 ready to sit down. There were ten of us, two 

 women, six men, Nelson, and myself ; and as we 

 sat down, I noticed with pleasure that each had 

 evidently taken some thought of the obligations 

 which a table ought to impose. The table was 

 clothed in clean white, and there was a napkin 

 at each plate. Nelson and I had the only per- 

 fectly fresh ones, and this I took as evidence that 

 napkins were usual. The food was all on the 

 table, and was very satisfactory to look at. 

 Thompson sat at one end, and before him, on a 

 great platter, lay two dozen or more pieces of fried 

 salt pork, crisp in their shells of browned flour, 

 and fit for a king. On one side of the platter 



