HAPPY HOLLOW FARM 299 



We couldn't be satisfied with that, though. 

 We should feel a very positive distress at this 

 point in achievement if we thought we must 

 go no further not because we need or want 

 more than the farm is now giving us, but be- 

 cause we have just now discovered that real 

 achievement is all ahead of us. 



We have set no records in anything we have 

 done. There's the rub. But why shouldn't 

 we? We're carrying no handicap; there's no 

 obstacle in our way ; and there's no reason why 

 we must think of stopping where we are, even 

 though we have done better in many ways than 

 we hoped in the beginning. Frankly, this was 

 an adventure. We meant to succeed in it. 

 Never at any time have Laura and I seriously 

 discussed the possibility of failure. I shouldn't 

 wonder if that's the main reason why we 

 haven't failed. Tenacity of temper, with the 

 mind set upon success, and with no alternative 

 of defeat to be considered that's a good half 

 of accomplishment itself. 



We didn't go at our work with any fixed 

 goal, saying to ourselves that when we got to 

 such and such a point we'd be willing to halt 

 and thereafter let well enough alone. Always 

 our talk has been of something ahead, some- 



