JESSE, THE ROADMENDER 173 



only by the year, but also by the month, and 

 sometimes even the day of the week. For instance, 

 in speaking of a familiar tree that was felled by a 

 storm he is apt to say, " Why, bless your dear 

 soul, I remember it was on a Friday, and on the 

 15th of January, because my mother died two 

 days after, and that was in the year 1896." Then, 

 too, his observations of clouds, wind and weather 

 are unfailingly accurate, and if he and his mate 

 prophesy a wet morrow I believe them. It is, 

 however, upon subjects that concern the welfare 

 of their neighbours that I like to hear their views, 

 for the working man is too reserved and proud 

 to talk of his own troubles, and, if he does chance 

 to touch upon them, will hurriedly add, " It might 

 be so much worse than it is, and there is much to 

 be grateful for." One point that all agree upon 

 is that the young women, those who now are 

 between eighteen and thirty years of age, are not 

 content or satisfied with village life and crave 

 for the excitement and varied existence to be 

 met with in towns. More independent than their 

 mothers were when they were young, they have 

 not had an education or training that has developed 

 either good housekeeping qualities or usefulness 

 in farm work. School life has fitted them more 

 to search for town interests and they are not 

 content to keep house for their playmates Bill or 

 Tom, unless they, too, alter and no longer follow 

 the plough but migrate nearer to the cinema 

 palaces. Then if they do settle down in their 

 old homes, their knowledge of cooking and house- 

 keeping is so superficial that they are not thrifty. 



