282 HILLS AND LAKES. 



free man, I'm no slave to business, nor to wealth, nor 

 to the customs of the world around me. I've got all 

 I want to make me comfortable, accordin' to my 

 notions of comfort. I've got a wife that sticks by me, 

 and children that loves me, tho' they don't make any 

 fuss over me, nor any parade of their feelin's. 



"I've got my rifle, and a canoe on most all of 

 these lakes, and I've got an honest dog to go with me. 

 I go where I please, and when I please. When I take 

 to the woods, I've no business to suffer while I'm 

 gone, nor distress my mind, while I'm away in the 

 forest. You see, Squire, my lot ain't a hard one, as I 

 understand it, and if it suits me nobocty need com- 

 plain. I've hearn it said, that it takes all kinds of 

 people to make up a world, and I believe it. If a rich 

 man is happy in his ^vealth, I don't envy him. It's 

 his way. If a great man is happy in his greatness, I 

 don't envy him. It's his way too. Such people may 

 stand on one edge of society ; somebody is needed on 

 the other, to make things balance, and I'm content to 

 be that man. Every man's lot, Squire, is hard or 

 easy, accordin' as he himself understands it. A man 

 can be happy and enjoy life, without bein' ^ich, or 

 wise, or high in office. Wealth is a good thing far 



