THE BEGINNING. II 



separate colors in order to produce the required truth- 

 fulness of shading. Of course most of the credit of 

 success in this line must accrue to the publishers, and 

 to them I freely give it. My part was to point the 

 way and to give what aid I could in obtaining correct 

 specimens of the berries during the fruiting season. 

 When the Editor of Farm Journal asked me to 

 write a berry book, I declined, for I did not think I 

 could do it, and I did not want to engage in the work, 

 having more to do than I cared for already ; and 

 Harriet thought I had better not undertake the task, 

 and Tim thought I would be foolish to bother with it ; 

 but that persistent Editor took no notice of my refusal, 

 said he would help me, said, " Oh, fie, go ahead! " 

 said something about hiding our light under a bushel, 

 and what a grand thing the book would be ; and so 

 here I am engaged in the opening chapter and already 

 filled with enthusiasm in the work and hoping to soon 

 fitly accomplish a useful and worthy task. 



