60 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
_and I felt sure it was well bestowed. Manuring, 
turning the sod, pruning, and spraying, ought to 
give a good crop of fruit next year. 
We had several days of rain during this time, 
which interfered somewhat with the work, but 
the rains were gratefully received. I spent much 
of my time at Four Oaks, often going every day, 
and never let more than two days pass without 
spending some hours on the farm. To many of 
my friends this seemed a waste of time. They 
said, “ Williams is carrying this fad too far, — 
spending too much time on it.” 
Polly did not agree with them, neither did I. 
Time is precious only as we make it so. To do 
the wholesome, satisfying thing, without direct 
or indirect injury to others, is the privilege of 
every man. To the charge of neglecting my 
profession I pleaded not guilty, for my profession 
had dismissed me without so much as saying 
« By your leave.’ I was obliged to change my 
mode of life, and I chose to be a producer rather 
than a consumer of things produced by others. 
I was conserving my health, pleasing my wife, 
and at the same time gratifying a desire which 
had long possessed me. I have neither apology 
to make nor regret to record ; for as individuals 
and as a family we have lived healthier, happier, 
more wholesome, and more natural lives on the 
farm than we ever did in the city, and that is 
saying much, 
—— 
