Red Letter Bays 73 



COPPEB-TOED TOP BOOTS AND LONG PANTS 



Among my private treasures is a daguerreotype 

 in a leather and gilt case. I'm in the picture and 

 although under five years of age, I was wearing 

 long pants, also my boots were red-topped and 

 high, and had copper toes on them. The copper 

 toes are visible in the picture and I've been told, 

 by my mother, that I raised a "scene" in the 

 photo gallery because I was made to pull my trou- 

 sers out of my bootlegs, and so cover up those red 

 tops. I cannot recall from memory's storehouse 

 any incident or circumstance of boyhood's days 

 down on the farm, when I had as great a glow of 

 pleasure as when I donned those boots and long 

 trousers. 



A FIEST DAY AT THE PLOUGH 



Ploughing on our farm was one of the exact 

 arts. It had to be done well or somebody would 

 lose his job, and I knew this as one sunny morn- 

 ing I was turned loose into and instructed to turn 

 over the summer fallow of several acres. I had 

 never set out alone to plough before but had been 

 allowed to hold the plough a few rounds on occa- 

 sion. 



I felt I was one of the lords of creation that 

 morning as I hitched my team to that most an- 

 cient of all the implements of earth and set forth 

 to acquire knowledge in the art of turning fur- 



