8 MY YIXEYAED 



prise, so far avail ourselves of the experience of others as 

 to materially affect the success which we may attain. In 

 making this record of my experience, I disclaim all efforts 

 at fine writing. My only aim will be to give the facts in 

 the case, in the simplest and plainest language I can com- 

 mand. 



When I first took up rural pursuits as my vocation, I 

 "was not altogether unacquainted with the theories and 

 principles w^hich pertain to them. From my boyhood, I 

 have always had a great fondness for gardening, and all 

 labor incident to country life. When learning my trade 

 in the village printing office, I took great delight in read- 

 ing all the agricultural and horticultural exchanges. My 

 companion apprentice. Bob, as we called him then, always 

 thought it stupid to read j^apers of that kind, preferring, 

 for himself, to follow uj? wdtli great care all political con- 

 troversies, and taking great delight at the complete sum- 

 mersaults which expert politicians (in those days) some- 

 times found it convenient to make. Many of these 

 horticultural publications I took j^ossession of, by permis- 

 sion of the editor, and carefully preserved. I now consider 

 them one of the important features of my little library. 



All this time I had in mind the picture of a pleasant 

 country home, where I could employ myself in tilling the 

 soil, and could spend the quiet evenings with my books 

 and papers — but not alone. Some one was there who 

 was the light of home. After all, I did not think when 



