164 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



HE has the better right to say so of us ! But as 

 for this price-of-corn question this grain crop 

 versus Green crop, trust me, Nature has her true 

 Proportions and is pretty rigorous in maintaining 

 them : and you cannot throw them out of gear, but 

 she'll be down upon you somewhere. Green-cro-* 

 versus Grain-crop ! Which would you show favour 

 to, if either ? the man who comes to make an invest- 

 mentto earn a crop, knowing the cost, or the 

 spoiler that comes to take one, counting nothing ? 

 him that comes to sow before he reaps, or him that 

 comes to reap before he sows ? Do you remember 

 what I said about " Grace before meat ? " 



' Yes, yes ! I remember it, I've thought of it too, 

 though I never did in that way 'xactly before. I 

 see your meaning, now. But but about the 

 What was it you said about the Rents ? ' 



* Ah ! the core ! the vital point isn't it ? touch 

 it tenderly for the life of you ! ' 



'But will they fall?' 



: Will they stop rising a bit? Catch that fish 

 first. Get him well on the hook : land him care- 

 fully ; and you won't have quite an empty basket, I 

 can tell you. I'm not sure if it won't take care of 

 itself afterwards. Which farm pays the best rent, 



