Baker Farm

eemthemselves.Amanwillnotneedtostudyhistorytofindoutwhatisbestforhisownculture.Butalas!thecultureofanIrishmanisanenterprisetobeundertakenwithasortofmoralboghoe.Itoldhim,thatasheworkedsohardatbogging,herequiredthickbootsandstoutclothing,whichyetweresoonsoiledandwornout,butIworelightshoesandthinclothing,whichcostnothalfsomuch,thoughhemightthinkthatIwasdressedlikeagentleman,(which,however,wasnotthecase,)andinanhourortwo,withoutlabor,butasarecreation,Icould,ifIwished,catchasmanyfishasIshouldwantfortwodays,orearnenoughmoneytosupportmeaweek.Ifheandhisfamilywouldlivesimply,theymightallgoa-huckleberryinginthesummerfortheiramusement.Johnheavedasighatthis,andhiswifestaredwitharmsa-kimbo,andbothappearedtobewonderingiftheyhadcapitalenoughtobeginsuchacoursewith,orarithmeticenoughtocarryitthrough.Itwassailingbydeadreckoningtothem,andtheysawnotclearlyhowtomaketheirportsothereforeIsupposetheystilltakelifebravely,aftertheirfashion,facetoface,givingittoothandnail,nothavingskilltosplititsmassivecolumnswithanyfineenteringwedge,androutitindetail—thinkingtodealwithitroughly,asoneshouldhandleathistle.Buttheyfightatanoverwhelmingdisadvantage,—living,JohnField,alas!withoutarithmetic,andfailingso. “Doyoueverfish?”Iasked.“Ohyes,IcatchamessnowandthenwhenIamlyingbygoodperchIcatch.”“What’syourbait?”“Icatchshinerswithfish-worms,andbaittheperchwiththem.”“You’dbettergonow,John,”saidhiswife,withglisteningandhopefulfacebutJohndemurred. Theshowerwasnowover,andarainbowabovetheeasternwoodspromisedafaireveningsoItookmydeparture.WhenIhadgotwithoutIaskedforadrink,hopingtogetasightofthewellbottom,tocompletemysurveyofthepremisesbutthere,alas!areshallowsandquicksands,andropebrokenwithal,andbucketirrecoverable.Meanwhiletherightculinaryvesselwasselected,waterwasseeminglydistilled,andafterconsultationandlongdelaypassedouttothethirstyone,—notyetsufferedtocool,notyettosettle.Suchgruelsustainslifehere,Ithoughtso,shuttingmyeyes,andexcludingthemotesbyaskilfullydirectedunder-current,IdranktogenuinehospitalitytheheartiestdraughtIcould.Iamnotsqueamishinsuchcaseswhenmannersareconcerned. AsIwasleavingtheIrishman’sroofaftertherain,bendingmystepsagaintothepond,myhastetocatchpickerel,wadinginretiredmeadows,insloughsandbog-holes,inforlornandsavageplaces,appearedforaninstanttrivialtomewhohadbeensenttoschoola