Baker Farm

wingbutitwasthelastofanobleline,andthehopeandcynosureoftheworld,insteadofJohnField’spoorstarvelingbrat.Therewesattogetherunderthatpartoftheroofwhichleakedtheleast,whileitshoweredandthunderedwithout.IhadsattheremanytimesofoldbeforetheshipwasbuiltthatfloatedhisfamilytoAmerica.Anhonest,hard-working,butshiftlessmanplainlywasJohnFieldandhiswife,shetoowasbravetocooksomanysuccessivedinnersintherecessesofthatloftystovewithroundgreasyfaceandbarebreast,stillthinkingtoimproveherconditiononedaywiththeneverabsentmopinonehand,andyetnoeffectsofitvisibleanywhere.Thechickens,whichhadalsotakenshelterherefromtherain,stalkedabouttheroomlikemembersofthefamily,toohumanizedmethoughttoroastwell.Theystoodandlookedinmyeyeorpeckedatmyshoesignificantly.Meanwhilemyhosttoldmehisstory,howhardheworked“bogging”foraneighboringfarmer,turningupameadowwithaspadeorboghoeattherateoftendollarsanacreandtheuseofthelandwithmanureforoneyear,andhislittlebroad-facedsonworkedcheerfullyathisfather’ssidethewhile,notknowinghowpoorabargainthelatterhadmade.Itriedtohelphimwithmyexperience,tellinghimthathewasoneofmynearestneighbors,andthatItoo,whocamea-fishinghere,andlookedlikealoafer,wasgettingmylivinglikehimselfthatIlivedinatight,light,andcleanhouse,whichhardlycostmorethantheannualrentofsucharuinashiscommonlyamountstoandhow,ifhechose,hemightinamonthortwobuildhimselfapalaceofhisownthatIdidnotusetea,norcoffee,norbutter,normilk,norfreshmeat,andsodidnothavetoworktogetthemagain,asIdidnotworkhard,Ididnothavetoeathard,anditcostmebutatrifleformyfoodbutashebeganwithtea,andcoffee,andbutter,andmilk,andbeef,hehadtoworkhardtopayforthem,andwhenhehadworkedhardhehadtoeathardagaintorepairthewasteofhissystem,—andsoitwasasbroadasitwaslong,indeeditwasbroaderthanitwaslong,forhewasdiscontentedandwastedhislifeintothebargainandyethehadrateditasagainincomingtoAmerica,thathereyoucouldgettea,andcoffee,andmeateveryday.ButtheonlytrueAmericaisthatcountrywhereyouareatlibertytopursuesuchamodeoflifeasmayenableyoutodowithoutthese,andwherethestatedoesnotendeavortocompelyoutosustaintheslaveryandwarandothersuperfluousexpenseswhichdirectlyorindirectlyresultfromtheuseofsuchthings.ForIpurposelytalkedtohimasifhewereaphilosopher,ordesiredtobeone.Ishouldbegladifallthemeadowsontheearthwereleftinawildstate,ifthatweretheconsequenceofmen’sbeginningtored