THE YOUNG FARMER 



he paid his interest and $300 each year upon 

 the principal. People said that Reuben, 

 the harnessmaker, was bound to come to the 

 front. 



In ten years more, Reuben was still fore- 

 man of the shop at $50 a month. He lived 

 in the same house, and smoked Havana 

 cigars. Lucien built a new house and a 

 barn. He smoked a pipe. The neighbors 

 saw that every year he made some improve- 

 ment on the farm. He wore a white shirt 

 when he went to town, and he had a pair 

 of button shoes. People said that Lucien 

 was becoming a prominent man. His word 

 was good at the bank. 



Reuben began to complain that harness- 

 making was too confining. His health was 

 breaking down. The proprietor was selfish. 

 He would not die and leave the business to 

 him. Harnessmaking was not what it used 

 to be. Lucien bought more land. He went 

 fishing when he wanted to. Reuben came 

 out now and then to spend Sunday. The 

 birds seemed to sing more sweetly than ever 



