OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR. 283 



he did not follow it as a profession. I wish he had. He 

 might have lived to this day instead of grinding his years 

 away over his desk." 



" Thank you, Mrs. Jones. Doubtless you can help us. 

 For our own parts, we know little or nothing beyond what 

 we have acquired from books." 



" Books ! what do you want more ? Books, with brains, 

 and I fancy you can both furnish them, will accomplish any- 

 thing. I have quite a library of agricultural books. I shall 

 be happy to loan them to you at any time." 



" Thank you, we shall be delighted to avail ourselves of 

 your kindness." 



" That is right. I sometimes fancy that books love to be 

 read by people who appreciate them. Come and see me to- 

 morrow evening, and I will jxlace my whole library at your 

 disposal. It will be a pleasure to see my books once more 

 in use." 



The next day opened fair, but soon clouded over and re- 

 mained so the rest of the day. Robert at once took advan- 

 tage of the shade afforded by the clouds to plant out the 

 lettuce-plants. I did not assist him about it, but went out 

 once during the morning to see how they prospered. As we 

 were determined to use every foot of our land, it was 

 a matter of importance not to waste any by planting too 

 far apart. To make sure of having the young lettuce-plants 



