24: SUMMER IN A BOG. 



bushes. They are not practical. They -want 

 none of the toil, but a huge slice of dividend. 

 Now, I know this: that not every man can be 

 a farmer by just owning land. It takes a lot 

 of practice and intelligence to produce good 

 crops. One big mistake the millionaires make 

 is bestowing all their endowments on colleges 

 to make scholars, lawyers, and such like. And 

 the cities likewise make generous provision for 

 the coddling of paupers. The country is left 

 to shift for itself the best it can. The homes 

 in the country are often poor excuses, with no 

 epnveniences, no society, no amusements, no 

 anything compared with the towns. I don't 

 wonder that the poor take to coddling and go 

 where they can get it. If the cost of living is 

 to be reduced, some of the indulgences, chari- 

 ties, instructions, benefits, and all that sort o' 

 thing 's got to be distributed around in the 

 rural districts." 



The old gentleman made to push on, but the 

 Doctor had a remark yet to make. 



"I notice young Wier is still at work in 

 his gravel bank. "What is he doing! I have 

 been too busy to stop, but as you live out this 

 way—?" 



"You know his father bought that little 

 place (the house is back on the other road) 

 to try to recuperate his health, but 'twas no 



