58 FARMING IT 



'Enry, Hi always wanted a 'en farm. Hi cood 

 raise cheekins hout o' dure-knobs, 'n' fatten 'em 

 an sawdoost." 



Now I had always experienced a consuming 

 desire to own a farm, and raise chickens and 

 Jersey cattle, and lambs with bells and blue 

 ribbons on their necks, and merry milkmaids 

 with short dresses, and wands crisscrossed with 

 bright ribbon in their hands, and large blue 

 rosettes on their fairy slippers. It might be that 

 Nick was the messenger of fate to lead me to the 

 much desired Utopia. 



"How would you like to go into partnership 

 with me, Nick ? " I asked him. 



"Weel, 'Enry, an' 'ow wouldst tha divide?" 

 queried Nick shrewdly, while a hideous smile 

 overspread his nut-cracker face. 



" Well, Nick," I said, " I will furnish the money, 

 you raise the chickens, and at the end of the sea- 

 son, we will go snacks." 



"Aw reet, 'Enry," he said, "th s art fairer than 

 Hi thot ower lawyer would be"; and with that 

 I reached down and Nick reached up, and we 

 shook hands on the partnership. 



The next day Nick informed me that Johnny 

 had allowed him the use of a quarter acre of 

 land for a chicken-yard, and secured from me 

 enough money to purchase posts and wire for 

 a fence thereunto to appertain and belong. 



