6 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



can stook, and I didn't feel too well when I got up 

 this morning. Twice round that field tired me 

 more than you think, and Dr. Hall particularly 

 cautioned me to be most careful to avoid anything 

 approaching over-exertion for a month at 

 least." 



I agreed rather rebelliously to follow his advice, 

 but promptly closed with the offer of the " son of 

 Anak " to give him twenty dollars for twelve days' 

 work, since he looked so altogether promising and 

 splendid. He informed me that he had worked on 

 Lord Brassey's farm at Indian Head boy and man, 

 intimating that his services had not only been 

 valuable but highly valued. 



" Brassey was a downright fine feller," he said 

 with a tinge of patronage. "" 'Twas he that gave 

 Indian Head the start, and he gave every man on 

 the place a new suit of clothes once a year." 



I said that he must have been extraordinarily 

 clever to induce Canadians to accept them ; at 

 which remark the " son of Anak " winked deliberately 

 at his fellows. Every one acquiesced in the sugges- 

 tion that we should dine promptly, and get a long 

 half-day in the harvest-field ; but I noticed that 

 neither of the stookers lent a hand to the unharness- 

 ing of the team. 



Before we bade each other good-day Dick 

 McGusty had dropped a word of wisdom in my 

 ear which served me well. " If you want to keep 

 your men, feed 'em. Feed them good, plenty of 

 meat and potatoes three times a day. Cakes and 

 jellies ain't no stand-by to a man who has to put 

 in his ten hours a day on the land. Porridge for 

 breakfast they'll look for, but, porridge or no 



