BUILDING THE COLONY 73 



you as a man, and as the superintendent of the school. 

 The interest that you have taken in the promotion of 

 agriculture among our co-religionists, both by the 

 establishment of colonies and this institution, is deserv- 

 ing of praise more than we can express as young men 

 blindly seeking an occupation wherewith they may pro- 

 vide themselves the ability to encounter this stern 

 world. We have been accidentally or otherwise brought 

 in contact with this noble and your dearly-cherished 

 institution. Our ideals of the future were vague, our 

 prospects wore the appearance of shadows, but as time 

 wore on, as days, weeks and months were passing, the 

 bright star of our future slowly but surely began to 

 peer out from behind its cloudy shroud. From day to 

 day your earnestness and good-will, honesty of purpose 

 and goodness of heart became more convincing; our 

 attachment to you grew stronger and stronger, un- 

 til now, although we have had but a taste of the delica- 

 cies that you have in store for us, the bonds thus created 

 are inseparable. Like a tender father have you led us 

 by the hand, taught us to love the beauties of which 

 we had had no conception. Agriculture is the noblest 

 pursuit of man, where everyone earns his bread by 

 the sweat of his brow ; an occupation that has triumphed 

 the world over, and its existence we find now the 

 only one that will save our race from the plague and 

 misery that it is bound to endure in the overcrowded 

 cities. It was with tears of sorrow that we have for- 

 saken the unwholesome temptations of our ghettos, 

 but it is with tears of joy and pride that we come 

 before you to announce that you have triumphed and 

 we are converted. Lead us and we will follow you; 

 be our counsellor, we pray, and we will be your dis- 

 ciples! In us, Sir, be sure you have reached the sum- 



