154 F ARM SPIES , 



This, sonny, weakens them, and during heavy winds, 

 or even rains, in July, the stalks break down and 

 the farmers call them windfalls." 



Frank looked at the old man with admiration. 

 "Though short, it is one of the best speeches I ever 

 listened to in my life," he said to himself. Just a 

 moment ago Frank had regarded him as the most 

 ignorant man he had ever met, and yet he could in 

 a few well-framed sentences tell what his father and 

 uncle did not know. Mr. Whitney had now become 

 talkative, and he told Frank many things about 

 farming that he had never known and which he 

 felt few people knew. This mountaineer, so igno- 

 rant about the country in which he lived, surely 

 understood better than anyone else in that section 

 how to make crops. 



Before leaving, Frank said, "Mr. Whitney, if I 

 knew as much about farming as you, I would farm 

 all my life." 



"Sonny," said the old man, patting him on the 

 head, "and if I knew as much as you know now I 

 would be twice as good a farmer." Frank stared 

 at him surprised, but the old man continued: "I 

 am an ignorant old man, while you are young 

 and have life and opportunities before you. When 

 I was a boy of your age I had no chances to get 

 an education. I am making a living and pay my 

 honest debts, but I am too ignorant to enjoy life. 



