Mr. Joseph Keeler Turns Farmer 79 



conditions brought about by the happy summer at the Farm, 

 and especially did he himself feel that he would but poorly repay 

 his father's generous kindness in all that had been done for him- 

 self and for his sister, Fanny, who seemed almost another being, 

 did he not at least offer a solution of the problem. So he said: 



"You know, father, I have grown to like the quiet life here, 

 which has been so good for me, and if Fanny will only stay I shall 

 be only too glad to remain with her. You know there is that 

 timber, which you were looking over today and which you pro- 

 pose to have thinned by cutting the larger trees for lumber, must 

 be supervised during its removal. Besides if you intend to erect 

 a sugar-house for the maple-sugar making from those 500 trees 

 on the west farm in the spring, someone must be here to see it 

 constructed." 



Mr. Keeler looked toward Fanny, whose face, flushed with the 

 warm radiance from the burning logs, seemed to fairly glow 

 with a strange sweet beauty and calm. The girl, catching 

 his fond, anxious look, came quietly over to him and seating 

 herself on the arm of his chair placed her arm about his neck 

 and kissing him said; 



"Father, you don't know what Jack has said means for me. 

 For weeks I have been so longing to stay here till I dream of it. 

 All is fair and sweet and peaceful, where the lake and woods, 

 the growing golden corn, and the apple-crowned orchards have 

 all been so good, bringing joy, happiness and health back to me. 

 But I was afraid to speak for I thought Jack would be worry- 

 ing to get back to Toronto. O Jack, you dear splendid fel- 

 low; how did you know I wanted to stay?" 



Mr. Keeler was quite overcome with joy and after a moment's 

 silence, said: 



" You cannot know how happy you all make me. You, John, 

 have at last come to know yourself and have learned that the 

 first step toward happiness is in giving rather than receiving, 

 and you need not my thanks and blessing for what you are 

 willing to do for your sister, since it will be equally a benefit to 

 yourself. I am sure that your mother is getting to understand 

 and becoming reconciled to having you both remain at the 

 Farm, if you will promise to come up and both spend Christmas 

 with her. I know that when she sees you both she will be con- 



