TAKING REINS IN HAND 



be able to produce whatever the market might 

 demand. 



Happily, too, a country liver is not bound 

 to a single farm adventure. If the cows stand 

 sweltering in the reeking stables, it shall not 

 forbid a combing down of the ancient pear 

 trees, and the tufting of all their tops with an 

 abounding growth of new wood, that shall 

 presently be aglow with the Bonne de Jersey, 

 or with luscious Bartletts. 



If there is a rattle of tins in the dairy, the 

 bluebirds are singing in the maples. If an 

 uneasy milker kicks over the pail, there is a 

 patch of "J^^^^y Linds" that makes a fragrant 

 recompense. If the thunder sours the milk, 

 the nodding flowers and the rejoicing grass 

 give the shower a welcome. 



LABORERS 



Having decided upon a plan, the next thing 

 to be considered is the personal agency for its 

 administration. 



There was once a time, if we may believe a 

 great many tender pastorals and madrigals 

 such as Kit Marlowe sang, when there were 

 milkmaids: and the sweetest of Overbury's 

 "Characters" is his little sketch of the "faire 



8i 



