FOREWORD 



THE farm's reason of being you will find 

 further on. The book's reason of being, 

 that is another, quite another guitar. Because, 

 in matter meant for the public eye, it is impos- 

 sible to tell the whole truth. Don't be fright- 

 ened ladies this deponent is no reformer. 

 Instead, one of the unregenerate, but that 

 is neither here in the foreword, nor there, at 

 the farm. The farm is a very wonderful place, 

 full of flowers and fruit, and all delights; but 

 you can't say in cold print to a callous public 

 that its finest flower is kindliness, its finest 

 fruit, rare good deeds. 



But you, the elect who are to receive this 

 vagrant record, must hear, mark and inwardly 

 digest that such is the fact. Witness this: I, 

 who had no other claim than lonely grief I 

 was no more than a friend to the farm-people's 

 kinsfolk was carried there, made royally wel- 

 come, and comforted with the good green 

 things that are my dearest delight. Not once, 

 9] 



