124 FARMING IT 



crawling, climbing, and flying things. This was 

 not a bad thing for me, for it took up so much of 

 her waking hours as to leave me practically free 

 from interference or even criticism in my employ- 

 ment of my time. 



About the middle of August I was called away 

 from home to attend a hearing in a farming town 

 about twenty-five miles distant, which could not 

 be reached by rail. Consequently, I had to drive 

 Polly, and as the hearing lasted three days, I 

 was unable to return home at night. 



There were several lawyers connected with 

 the case, and a large number of witnesses, several 

 of whom stayed at the hotel where I was staying. 

 In the evenings we would sit out on the hotel 

 piazza and chat with one another and such of the 

 farmers as might drop in. 



In this way I got much valuable information 

 in relation to farm matters, which would have 

 saved me much trouble and considerable loss if 

 I had known it before. Everybody was interested 

 in my brood-mare and the expected colt, and I 

 talked horse for hours. 



While I was sitting thus the second evening, 

 I was called to the telephone, and responded with 

 alacrity, for I felt that news of the colt's arrival 

 had come. Sure enough, I recognized my daugh- 

 ter's voice. 



"Hullo, papa." 



