234 MARK TWAIN'S SKETCHES. 



office, toward sundown, a group of men and boys at the foot of the stairs dispersed 

 with one impulse, and gave me passage-way, and I heard one or two of them say : 

 " That's him ! " I was naturally pleased by this incident. The next morning I 

 found a similar group at the foot of the stairs, and scattering couples and individuals 

 standing here and there in the street, and over the way, watching me with interest. 

 The group separated and fell back as I approached, and I heard a man say, "Look 

 at his eye ! " I pretended not to observe the notice I was attracting, but secretly 

 I was pleased with it,^and was purposing to write an account of it to my aunt. I 

 went up the short flight of stairs, and heard cheery voices and a ringing laugh as I 

 drew near the door, which I opened, and caught a glimpse of two young rural- 

 looking men, whose faces blanched and lengthened when they saw me, and then 

 they both plunged through the window with a great crash. I was surprised. 



In about half an hour an old gentleman, with a flowing beard and a fine but 

 rather austere face, entered, and sat down at my invitation. He seemed to have 

 something on his mind. He took off his hat and set it on the floor, and got out of 

 it a red silk handkerchief and a copy of our paper. 



He put the paper on his lap, and while he polished his spectacles with his 

 handkerchief, he said, " Are you the new editor.? " 



I said I was. 



" Have you ever edited an agricultural paper before .' " 



" No," I said; "this is my first attempt." 



"Very likely. Have you had any experience in agriculture practically.' " 



" No; I believe I have not." 



" Some instinct told me so," said the old gentleman, putting on his spectacles, and 

 looking over them at me with asperity, while he folded his paper into a convenient 

 shape. " I wish to read you what must have made me have that instinct. It was 

 this editorial. Listen, and see if it was you that wrote it : — 



' Turnips should never be pulled, it injures them. It is much better to send a boy up and let him 

 shake the tree." 



" Now, what do. you think of that .' — for I really suppose you wrote it .'" 

 " Think of it 1 Why, I think it is good. I think it is sense. I have no doubt 

 that every year millions and millions of bushels of turnips are spoiled in this 



