22 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



he looked at his watch; it was past 5 o'clock, so he 

 went home and shed off his muddy overalls and went 

 across the fields to see the sweetheart, happier than 

 any king. 



Spring came in all its maze of bewildering hope 

 and promise and beauty, as it comes in central Ohio, 

 and the boy was supremely happy. There was just 

 the joy of seeing Grod's miracles all around him, the 

 bursting buds, the unfolding leaves, the blossoms on 

 every twig, the tender grass hiding the dull, ugly 

 earth, the dewdrops sparkling in the morning light 

 and all the little birds singing cheerily their songs 

 of gratitude and joy. There seemed something 

 prophetic in it all, and something vfery wonderful, 

 Grod's forgiveness, God's fulfillment of His gra- 

 cious promises. In a dim way the boy understood 

 and believed, and realized his own duty in the mat- 

 ter and bent eagerly to the task, seeking in a way to 

 make himself partner with the Almighty to cover 

 over the few acres entrusted to his charge with grow- 

 ing things, with bloom and with beauty. 



Yes, it was, the joyous seedtime when all one's 

 hopes spring up anew and he has prophetic insight 

 into what may be and what should be, not only of 

 the good green earth, but of one's own soul as well. 

 Every morning bright and early the boy was astir in 

 the fields, with a faithful colored man, J^rank, to 

 help him. He had brought with him from Utah two 

 bags of alfalfa seed and this he wished to sow. But 

 the father was much alarmed. "No, my boy, we 

 cannot afford to sow so much as that at one time. It 



