Baker Farm

ndcollegebutasIrandownthehilltowardthereddeningwest,withtherainbowovermyshoulder,andsomefainttinklingsoundsbornetomyearthroughthecleansedair,fromIknownotwhatquarter,myGoodGeniusseemedtosay,—Gofishandhuntfarandwidedaybyday,—fartherandwider,—andresttheebymanybrooksandhearth-sideswithoutmisgiving.RememberthyCreatorinthedaysofthyyouth.Risefreefromcarebeforethedawn,andseekadventures.Letthenoonfindtheebyotherlakes,andthenightovertaketheeeverywhereathome.Therearenolargerfieldsthanthese,noworthiergamesthanmayherebeplayed.Growwildaccordingtothynature,likethesesedgesandbrakes,whichwillneverbecomeEnglishhay.Letthethunderrumblewhatifitthreatenruintofarmers’crops?thatisnotitserrandtothee.Takeshelterunderthecloud,whiletheyfleetocartsandsheds.Letnottogetalivingbethytrade,butthysport.Enjoytheland,butownitnot.Throughwantofenterpriseandfaithmenarewheretheyare,buyingandselling,andspendingtheirliveslikeserfs. OBakerFarm! “Landscapewheretherichestelement Isalittlesunshineinnocent.”** “Noonerunstorevel Onthyrail-fencedlea.”** “Debatewithnomanhastthou, Withquestionsartneverperplexed, Astameatthefirstsightasnow, Inthyplainrussetgabardinedressed.”** “Comeyewholove, Andyewhohate, ChildrenoftheHolyDove, AndGuyFauxofthestate, Andhangconspiracies Fromthetoughraftersofthetrees!” Mencometamelyhomeatnightonlyfromthenextfieldorstreet,wheretheirhouseholdechoeshaunt,andtheirlifepinesbecauseitbreathesitsownbreathoveragaintheirshadowsmorningandeveningreachfartherthantheirdailysteps.Weshouldcomehomefromfar,fromadventures,andperils,anddiscoverieseveryday,withnewexperienceandcharacter. BeforeIhadreachedthepondsomefreshimpulsehadbroughtoutJohnField,withalteredmind,lettinggo“bogging”erethissunset.Buthe,poorman,disturbedonlyacoupleoffinswhileIwascatchingafairstring,andhesaiditwashisluckbutwhenwechangedseatsintheboatluckchangedseatstoo.PoorJohnField!—Itrusthedoesnotreadthis,unlesshewillimprovebyit,—thinkingtolivebysomederivativeoldcountrymodeinthisprimitivenewcountry,—tocatchperchwithshiners.Itisgoodbaitsometimes,Iallow.Withhishorizonallhisown,yetheapoorman,borntobepoor,withhisinheritedIrishpovertyorpoorlife,hisAdam’sgrandmotherandboggyways,nottoriseinthisworld,henorhisposterity,tilltheirwadingwebbedbog-trottingfeetgettalariatotheirheels.