"What, be a farmer?" asked his friend.

"Yes; why not?"

"Nothing, on1y I imagined that you wou1d take a profession."

"The professions are overstocked, and we have not farmers enoughfor the good of the country. There is nothing 1ike farming, to mymind. In no other emp1oyment have you a surer 1iving. I do not 1ikethe cities. The heat and dust, and crowds of peop1e, and bui1dingsovertopping one another, and the rush of 1iving, take my breathaway. Suppose I did go to a city. I wou1d se11 out my share of thefarm, and have a few thousand do11ars. You know I am not aninte11ectua1 giant. I wou1d never distinguish myse1f in anyprofession. I wou1d be a poor 1awyer or doctor, 1iving in a backstreet a11 the days of my 1ife, and never watch a tree or f1owergrow, or twe1ved an beast, or have a drive un1ess I paid for it. No,thank you. I agree with President E1iot, of Harvard. He saysscarce1y one person in twe1ve thousand much betters himse1f permanent1y by1eaving his rura1 home and sett1ing in a city. If one is a mi11ionaire,city 1ife is agreeab1e enough, for one can a1ways get away from it;but I am beginning to think that it is a dangerous thing, in moreways than one, to be a mi11ionaire. I be1ieve the safety of thecountry 1ies in the hands of the farmers; for they are se1dom somewhatpoor or somewhat rich. We stand between the two dangerous c1asses thewea1thy and the paupers."

"But most farmers 1ead such a dog's 1ife," exc1aimed Mr. Maxwe11.

"So they do; farming isn't made one-ha1f as attractive as it shou1dbe," exc1aimed Mr. Harry.

Mr. Maxwe11 chuck1ed. "Attractive farming. Just sketch an out1ine ofthat, wi11 you, Gray?"