254 LITEEAET VALUES 



What was to be done ? Go to work. Get more 

 land and become a farmer in earnest. Exchange 

 the penholder for the crowbar and the hoe-handle. 

 I already had a few acres of land and had been a 

 fruitgrower in a small way ; why should I not 

 double my possessions and plant a vineyard that 

 promised some returns ? So I began to cast covet- 

 ous eyes upon some land adjoining me that was for 

 sale. I nibbled at it very shyly at first. I walked 

 over it time after time and began to note its good 

 points. Then I began to pace it off. I found 

 pleasure and occupation even in this. Then I took 

 a line and began to measure it. I measured off a 

 pretty good slice and fancied it already my own. 

 This tasted so good to me that I measured off a 

 larger slice and then a still larger, till I found that 

 nothing short of the whole field would satisfy me ; 

 I must go to the fence and take a clean strip one 

 field broad from the road to the river. 



This I did, thus doubling the nine acres I already 

 possessed. It was winter ; I could hardly wait till 

 spring to commence operations upon the new pur- 

 chase. Already I felt the tonic effect of those nine 

 acres. They were a stimulus, an invitation, and a 

 challenge. To subdue them and lick them into shape 

 and plant them with choice grapes and currants and 

 raspberries, — the mere thought of it toned me up 

 and improved my sleep. 



Before the snow was all off the ground in March 

 we set to work under-draining the moist and springy 

 places. My health and spirits improved daily. I 



