336 An American Fruit-Farm 



amidst orchards and vine3^ards, they become 

 Hke the mask of Napoleon to the veteran of 

 Waterloo. That great event was his event, his 

 victory. So these trees, these vines, this eqmp- 

 ment for living in the Fruit Valley becomes the 

 old man's great event, — ^his victory. Scant enough 

 is the consideration given to old age to-day. 

 Even in the Fruit Valley, where life moves with 

 even and prosperous current, the aged seem to the 

 young somewhat an encumbrance. Commercial 

 greed has penetrated the Valley and the yoimg 

 are impatient to possess the land. Nor is age 

 unconscious of this. It feels the chill, not of years 

 alone, but of greed and discourtesy. Children and 

 youth are now the supreme rulers, and for them 

 and them alone the world exists. The restlessness 

 of mere bodily motion, the intoxication of mere 

 diversion, are the cravings of the hour. ''More 

 money and more fun!" is the cry. Life is a 

 cheap, boisterous merry-go-rotmd; a perpetual 

 sojourn in Vanity Fair. Old age is not senility 

 if only it can hold a hand at bridge. But youth 

 insists on being in at the making of the will. 

 ''Give me my portion of goods!" it cries. The 

 orchard, the vineyard, the cherry tree mother 

 planted, the apple orchard father set out, are only 

 money-makers, not beautiful plants which living 

 hands set out and loving hearts tended many, 

 many years and made precious by thought and toil. 

 There is only one book in the world — ^the cash- 

 book; only one account — ^the bank-accotmt. Old 



