172 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



We were both keenly interested in the experi 

 ment. Nothing that happened on the farm went 

 unchallenged. The milk product for the day was 

 a thing of interest ; the egg count could not go 

 unnoted ; a hatch of chickens must be seen before 

 they left the incubator ; a litter of new-born pigs 

 must be admired ; horses and cows were forever 

 doing things which they should or should not 

 do ; men and maids had griefs and joys to share 

 with mistress or Headman ; flowers were bloom- 

 ing, trees were leafing, a robin had built in the 

 black oak, a gopher was tunnelling the rose bed, 

 a thousand things, full of interest, were hap- 

 pening every day. As a place where things the 

 most unexpected do happen, recommend me to a 

 quiet farm. 



But we were not to depend entirely upon out- 

 side things for diversion. Books we had galore, 

 and we both loved them. Many a charming even- 

 ing have I spent, sometimes alone, more often 

 with two or three congenial friends, listening to 

 Polly's reading. This is one of her most delight- 

 ful accomplishments. Her friends never tire of 

 her voice, and her voice never tires of her friends. 

 We all grow lazy when she is about ; but there 

 are worse things than indolence. No, we did 

 not mean to drop out of anything worth while ; 

 but we were pretty well provisioned against a 

 siege, if inclement weather or some other acci- 

 dent should lock us up at the farm. 



To keep still better hold of the city, I sug- 



