84 FARMING IT 



ested. I was a little proud of my success as an 

 amateur farmer, although I did not care much 

 about estimating the cost of my garden and my 

 other farm property. It was also suggested by 

 this friend that the Grange exercised a most 

 powerful political influence, and that any one 

 desiring political preferment could do no better 

 than to apply for admission. I replied that I had 

 no political ambition whatever ; that I preferred 

 to be a plain and unobtrusive farmer, and live a 

 life as near to the soil as is compatible with the life 

 of a country attorney. 



I was, however, prepared to follow any method 

 to compass my ambition to become a member of 

 the Grange, and when I asked what the requisites 

 were for admission, I was informed that good 

 character, and ability to pay dues and to perform 

 manual labor in farm-work were the chief re- 

 quisites. As I had never been detected in any 

 offense that would subject me to the criminal 

 laws of the state, and as my moral character was 

 not sufficiently stained to endanger my prospects, 

 I was informed by my friend that these two re- 

 quisites would pass muster ; but that I must show 

 by actual demonstration that I was able to do at 

 least one day's farm-work, and my friend ad- 

 mitted that he had some doubts on that subject. 



On professing my willingness to try to follow 

 him in a day's work, he suggested that if I would 



