102 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
fied until it was finished correctly. He was not 
a worker for work’s sake, as was Anderson, but 
he was willing to put his shoulder to the wheel 
for results. 
« Wait till I get my shoulder under it,” was a 
favorite expression with him, and I am frank to 
say that when this conjunction took place there 
was apt to be something doing. Thompson is 
still at Four Oaks, and it will be a bad day for 
the farm when he leaves. 
« Thompson,” said I, «you are to be working 
foreman out here, and I want you to put your 
mind on the business and keep it there. I can- 
not raise your wages, for I have a system; but 
you shall have $50 as a Christmas present if 
things go well. Will you stay on these terms ?” 
«I will stay, all right, Dr. Williams, and I 
will give the best I’ve got. I like the looks of 
this place, and I want to see how you are going 
to work it out.” 
That being settled, I told Thompson of some 
things that must be done during January and 
February. 
«You must get out a great lot of wood, have 
it sawed, and store it in the shed, more than 
enough for a year’s use. The wood should be 
taken from that which is already down. Don’t 
cut any standing trees, even though they are 
dead. Use all limbs that are large enough, but 
pile the brushwood where it can be burned. 
We must do wise forestry in these woods, and 
