12 TOM’S EXPERIENCE 
comfortable home. Now, I ask if it isn’t better to 
hold on to that bird than to go away out West, five 
hundred miles or more, in the hope of catching a big- 
ger and fatter one? A rolling stone gathers no 
moss.” xed 
CONCERNING MOSS. . 
‘That old saying is good enough in some eases, 
but [ve never been a rolling stone. [I’ve lived all my 
life in this county, most of it in this township, and 
if ‘‘ moss’? means money, you know [ haven't gath- 
ered very much of it. I think I might probably have 
had more if I had done a little more “ rolling.” And 
the bird which [ have in hand is a very small one 
and quite lean. I think I won’t have much trouble 
in catching a bigger and fatter one on the Dakota 
prairies. At any rate, [ propose trying. I don’t be- 
lieve in people changing locations very often, nor 
ever without good reason. But there are times in 
the lives of many people when they might change 
with great advantage. 1 think that time has come in 
my life.” 
SOME OF THE HARDSHIPS. 
“But have you thought of the hardships you and 
your family must endure out there? You have the 
reputation of being a very kind man to your family, 
and I will say I think you deserve it. But it does 
seem to me that in this matter you do not take them 
into the account. You will have no schools for your 
children, nor churches within many miles of you, and 
your wife and children will die of homesickness.” 
