THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



by the common standard. But, my friend, did you 

 ever read that * man cannot live by bread alone ' ? 

 Now, hark you, I have thirteen acres. I will so 

 raise the price of these thirteen acres that in fifteen 

 years they will be worth more in money than your 

 ninety-five acres, and while I will have one-third of 

 them to ornament, I will get more income from the 

 rest than you will get from your whole farm." He 

 called on me last fall, and walked about through 

 my hedges, shrubbery, gardens, orchards. " Wal !" 

 he said, *' I didn't conceit you could do it, but you 

 did. You've the handsomest place in Central 

 New York — made out of an old pasture and or- 

 chard — and it was pretty shallow soil at that — 

 some of it was. You've got it drained; the soil is 

 strong and rich. You are making more cash off it 

 than we fellows can with big farms. You've got all 

 the handsomest flowers, and all the new fruits. 

 Your railroad track is just the completest lot of 

 roadway I ever see. It goes to every part of your 

 place with solid bottom. The hedges are splen- 

 did. You've cultivated the beautiful, and, by 

 gosh! you've made money at it. How much is yer 

 place worth — not less than $25,000, hey ? You 

 sold off four acres for $5,000 besides. You've got 



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