OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR. 253 



be seen. Depositing the bag of potatoes on the ground, 

 he then took several garden tools, rakes, shovels, etc., 

 from the cart, and carefully placed them on the doorstep. 



" Nice tools, those. Looks as if you meant to garden 

 some." 



"Just what we propose to do," said Robert. "We 

 intend to run this small farm this summer." 



"Do you though? Well, you are plucky. It's more'n 

 I'd do, and I have farmed it for nigh on to forty years. 

 You couldn't raise wheat enough on that to keep a man 

 busy." . 



"We don't propose to raise wheat at all." 



"Don't you though? Corn, per'aps?" 



" No, we shall not attempt any heavy crops." 



"What will you raise, pigs ?" 



"We hardly know as yet, not pigs, certainly. We 

 may try lettuce." 



" Lettuce ! Eaise lettuce ! Well, I wish you joy in your 

 undertaking." 



So saying, he began to climb into his hay-cart. As 

 he started off, he said he was glad to have us for neigh- 

 bors, but guessed we had a tough road before us. 



"Encouraging, is it not?" said I, rather soberly. 



"Yes very "said Robert, slowly; "but then if we 



