290 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



on. I want you to tell me, before Kyrle here, 

 why you gave me that bull two years ago." 



" What's the matter with the bull, Jackson ? 

 Isn't he all right ? " 



" Sure he's all right, and as fine as silk ; but 

 why did you give him to me ? Why didn't you 

 keep him for yourself ? " 



" Well, Bill, I thought you would like him, and 

 we were neighbors, and " 



"You thought I would save you the trouble 

 of keeping him, didn't you ? " 



" Well, perhaps that did have some influence 

 You see, this is a factory farm from fence t* 

 fence, except this forty which Polly bosses, 

 and the utilitarian idea is on top. Keeping the 

 bull didn't exactly run with my notion of econ- 

 omy, especially when I could conveniently have 

 him kept so near, and at the same time be gen- 

 erous to a neighbor." 



" That's it, and it's taken me two years to find 

 it out. You're trying to follow that idea all 

 along the line. You're dead right, and I'm going 

 to tag on, if you don't mind. I was glad enough 

 for your present at the time, and I'm glad yet ; 

 but I've learned my lesson, and you may bet your 

 dear life that no man will ever again give me a bull." 



" That's right, Jackson. Now you have struck 

 the key-note ; stick to it, and you will make 

 money twice as fast as you have done. Have a 

 mark, and keep your eye on it, and your plough 

 will turn a straight furrow." 



