78 The Illumination of Joseph Keeler, Esq. 



and packer had been employed by the association, a man per- 

 sonally interested in the success of the work, who had marked on 

 each package the brand of the association, the grade and the 

 grower's name, thus beginning a system which was soon to bring 

 credit to a district long criticised as unprogressive. Joseph 

 Keeler had too long known and helped to evolve the refine- 

 ments of city trade not to realise that what the association had 

 already done was but the beginning of what an up-to-date and 

 critical trade demanded. Satisfied as he was with the first sea- 

 son's business, he saw that with more varied and more refined 

 products, of course more labour would be demanded, if the 

 highest success was to be secured. 



The crisp evening breezes of late October had now succeeded 

 the September stillness and the whole country-side was alive 

 with the noise of the apple-picking gangs in the orchards, where 

 the leaves were now shrivelled and falling from branches bend- 

 ing with the ruddy or golden loads of perfect winter fruit. Mr. 

 Keeler 's heart bounded with delight, as one Saturday he strayed 

 through the orchards fragrant with the flavours of ripened fruit, 

 crushing the falling leaves which marked the completion of the 

 growing season. Nature seemed to say to him, "How perfect 

 is my work! Earth and sky, sun and lake breezes have poured 

 their benisons on man, happy in the measure that he learns to 

 take advantage of my gifts!" 



But the time had come when Ernest, straight and broad- 

 shouldered with bronzed face and glancing eyes, which told of 

 the very joy and delight in living, must depart for the Agricul- 

 tural College, where he now could go, fully prepared to seize 

 with avidity the information supplied at lectures and demon- 

 strations, the value of which his summer in the field had taught 

 him to appreciate. 



The time and other matters related to his going were being 

 discussed on the Saturday evening when Mr. Keeler was present 

 in front of the blazing log-fire in the old-fashioned chimney- 

 place, after he had been wandering with John and Fanny 

 through the orchards and the woods scented with the smoky 

 fragrance of fallen leaves and ripened flowers, as they crackled 

 beneath their tread. It was very evident to John that his father 

 longed for the maintenance and continuance of the fortunate 



