118 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
up my theories at the suggestion of a person who 
had only experience to guide him. The best 
plan, as I have long since learned, is to mix the 
two and use the solid substance that results from 
their combination. 
We located the site of the building, and talked 
plans until the low sun of January 8th disap- 
peared in the west. Then we adjourned to the 
sitting room of the farm-house to finish the 
matter so far as was possible. An hour and a 
half passed, and we were in fair accord, when 
Mrs. Thompson came into the room to say that 
supper was ready, and to ask us to join the men 
at table before starting homeward. I was glad 
of the opportunity, for I was curious to know if 
Mrs. Thompson set a good table. We went into 
the dining room just as the farm family was 
ready to sit down. There were ten of us, —two 
women, six men, Nelson, and myself; and as we 
sat down, I noticed with pleasure that each had 
evidently taken some thought of the obligations 
which a table ought to impose. The table was 
clothed in clean white, and there was a napkin 
at each plate. Nelson and I had the only per- 
fectly fresh ones, and this I took as evidence that 
napkins were usual. The food was all on the 
table, and was very satisfactory to look at. 
Thompson sat at one end, and before him, on a 
great platter, lay two dozen or more pieces of fried 
salt pork, crisp in their shells of browned flour, 
and fit for a king. On one side of the platter 
