CHAPTER II 



THE GRADUATION OF THE TENDER- 

 FOOT 



It is a truism to remark that what a man learns 

 before he makes his home in a given section and 

 what he learns afterward are wide as the poles asun- 

 der and none could realize this more profoundly 

 than one who journeyed from New York to make a 

 home in a far country. For the first few years 

 every year finds the alert person still learning, views 

 and opinions constantly widening and becoming 

 more worth while. Therefore when settled inhabi- 

 tants read or hear of some author tarrying with us 

 for a few weeks for the purpose of "writing up the 

 country," quiet smiles have been known to give 

 place to yells of derision. 



If the farmer works his own land with the aid 

 possibly of a growing son or two, thus dispensing 

 with hired labor, his sky should be as unclouded as 

 that of any farming person here below — only more 

 so. Even that question of hired labor (until these 

 war days) need not be overwhelming; but the Mex- 

 ican laborer will be attended to later. At least the 

 farm hand in New Mexico brings his dinner pail 

 with him, and the farmer's wife is not overburd- 

 ened with cooking for outsiders. Not only so but 

 provided she be in good health and accustomed to 

 work, and has no young babies, she may carry on a 

 profitable egg and butter business, attend to her 



