186 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



" I'm going to town to-morrow, and I'll pick 

 up Jane and Jack in time to take the four o'clock 

 train out. Papa will meet us at the station, and 

 Momee will greet us at the doorstep. Make an 

 illumination, Momee, and we will carry them by 

 storm. Tom will have to take a later train, but 

 he will be here in time for dinner." 



The afternoon of the 23d, the children came, 

 and there was no failure in Kate's plan. The 

 youngsters were delighted with everything. 

 Jane said : 



" I always wanted to live on a farm. I can 

 have a saddle horse now, and keep as many dogs 

 as I like, can't I, Dad ? " 



" You shall have the horse, and the dogs, too, 

 when you come to stay." 



" Daddy," said Jack, " this will be great for 

 you. Let me finish at an agricultural college, so 

 that I can be of some practical help." 



" Not on your life, my son ! What your daddy 

 doesn't know about farming wouldn't spoil a cup 

 of tea ! While you are at home I will give you 

 daily instruction in this most wholesome and in- 

 dependent business, which will be of incalculable 

 benefit to you, and which, I am frank to say, 

 you cannot get in any agricultural college. Col- 

 lege, indeed ! I have spent thousands of hours 

 in dreaming and planning w T hat a farm should 

 be like ! Do you suppose I am going to let these 

 visions become contaminated by practical knowl- 

 edge? Not by a long way! I have, in the 



