60 WOODLAND IDYLS. 



A slave to me each day you are, and in return 

 I give you two or three paltry dollars that you 

 may keep the life blood coursing and renew the 

 expended energy that it may be again set free 

 for me. You must rest at night only that you 

 may the better toil for me the coming day." 

 Why any youth or man prefers this slavery of 

 the city to the freedom and pure air of the 

 country that habit of gregariousness in the 

 human, that desire to flock where there are 

 others of his kind, in part explains. Eight 

 months or less of toil in the country or small 

 town, where each man could own his own farm 

 of a few acres, or if not that, his own lot and 

 garden, would furnish sufficient food, fuel and 

 clothing that at least the other four months 

 could be his very own to do with as he wished. 

 Another great cause of this city slavery is 

 covetousness, or the desire of one family to own 

 things as good or better than their neighbor, 

 whether they can afford them or not. Why do 

 we thus covet ? Why do we wish so much trash ? 

 Man once had only his body naught else, not 

 even a jews '-harp or a fig leaf. In this he was 

 like every other animal that has nothing, yet 

 Jives content. No property to carry from place 

 to place have they; just a den or a nest, where 

 the newborn young can be reared; a home for 

 a little while without one stick of furniture, one 



