172 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
We were both keenly interested in the experi. 
ment. Nothing that happened on the farm went 
unchallenged. The milk product for the day was 
a thing of interest; the egg count could not go 
unnoted ; a hatch of chickens must be seen before 
they left the incubator ; a litter of new-born pigs 
must be admired; horses and cows were forever 
doing things which they should or should not 
do; men and maids had griefs and joys to share 
with mistress or Headman; flowers were bloom- 
ing, trees were leafing, a robin had built in the 
black oak, a gopher was tunnelling the rose bed, 
— a thousand things, full of interest, were hap- 
pening every day. Asa place where things the 
most unexpected do happen, recommend me to a 
quiet farm. 
But we were not to depend entirely upon out- 
side things for diversion. Books we had galore, 
and we both loved them. Many a charming even- 
ing have I spent, sometimes alone, more often 
with two or three congenial friends, listening to 
Polly’s reading. This is one of her most delight- 
ful accomplishments. Her friends never tire of 
her voice, and her voice never tires of her friends. 
We all grow lazy when she is about; but there 
are worse things than indolence. No, we did 
not mean to drop out of anything worth while; 
but we were pretty well provisioned against a 
siege, if inclement weather or some other acci- 
dent should lock us up at the farm. 
To keep still better hold of the city, I sug- 
