28 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
came, I engaged him, with the understanding 
that his time should begin at once. 
The wage agreed upon was $20 a month for 
the first half-year. If he proved satisfactory, he 
was to receive $21 a month for the next six 
months, and there was to be a raise of $1 a 
month for each half-year that he remained with 
me until his monthly wage should amount to 
$40, each to give or take a month’s notice to 
quit. This seemed fair to both. I would not 
pay more than $20 a month to an untried man, 
but a good man is worth more. As I wanted 
permanent, steady help, I proposed to offer a fair 
bonus to secure it. Other things being equal, the 
man who has “gotten the hang” of a farm can 
do better work and get better results than a 
stranger. 
The transient farm-hand is a delusion and a 
snare. He has no interest except his wages, and 
he is a breeder of discontent. If the hundreds 
of thousands of able-bodied men who are work- 
ing for scant wages in cities, or inanely tramping 
the country, could see the dignity of the labor 
which is directly productive, what a change 
would come over the face of the country! There 
are nearly six million farms in this nation, and 
four millions of them would be greatly benefited 
by the addition of another man to the working 
force. There is a comfortable living and a mini- 
mum of $180 a year for each of four million men, 
if they will only seek it and honestly earn it. 
