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five minutes by the clock。〃
This was a fortunate remark； for I found instantly that the invasion of
the automobile was a matter of tremendous import to such Knights of
Bucephalus as these。
At first the wit interrupted me with amusing remarks； as wits will； but
I soon had him as quiet as the others。 For I have found the things that
chiefly interest people are the things they already know aboutprovided
you show them that these common things are still mysterious； still
miraculous； as indeed they are。
After a time some one pushed me a stable stool and I sat down among
them； and we had quite a conversation； which finally developed into an
amusing comparison （I wish I had room to repeat it here） between the city
and the country。 I told them something about my farm； how much I
enjoyed it； and what a wonderful free life one had in the country。 In this I
was really taking an unfair advantage of them； for I was trading on the fact
that every man； down deep in his heart； has more or less of an instinct to
get back to the soilat least all outdoor men have。 And when I described
the simplest things about my barn； and the cattle and pigs； and the bees
and the good things we have to eatI had every one of them leaning
forward and hanging on my words。
Harriet sometimes laughs at me for the way I celebrate farm life。 She
says all my apples are the size of Hubbard squashes； my eggs all double…
yolked； and my cornfields tropical jungles。 Practical Harriet！ My apples
may not ALL be the size of Hubbard squashes； but they are good； sizable
apples； and as for flavourall the spices of Arcady！ And I believe； I
KNOW； from my own experience that these fields and hills are capable of
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healing men's souls。 And when I see people wandering around a lonesome
city like Kilburn； with never a soft bit of soil to put their heels into； nor a
green thing to cultivate； nor any corn or apples or honey to harvest； I feel
well； that they are wasting their time。
（It's a fact； Harriet！）
Indeed I had the most curious experience with my friend the withis
name I soon learned was Healya jolly； round； red…nosed； outdoor chap
with fists that looked like small…sized hams； and a rich； warm Irish voice。
At first he was inclined to use me as the ready butt of his lively mind； but
presently he became so much interested in what I was saying that he sat
squarely in front of me with both his jolly eyes and his smiling mouth
wide open。
〃If ever you pass my way；〃 I said to him； 〃just drop in and I'll give you
a dinner of baked beans〃and I smacked〃and home made bread〃 and I
smacked again 〃and pumpkin pie〃and I smacked a third time〃that
will make your mouth water。〃
All this smacking and the description of baked beans and pumpkin pie
had an odd counter effect upon ME； for I suddenly recalled my own tragic
state。 So I jumped up quickly and asked directions for getting down to the
mill neighbourhood； where I hoped to find Bill Hahn。 My friend Healy
instantly volunteered the information。
〃And now；〃 I said； 〃I want to ask a small favour of you。 I'm looking
for a friend； and I'd like to leave my bag here for the night。〃
〃Sure； sure；〃 said the Irishman heartily。 〃Put it there in the officeon
top o' the desk。 It'll be all right。〃
So I put it in the office and was about to say good…bye； when my friend
said to me：
〃Come in； partner； and have a drink before you go〃and he pointed to
a nearby saloon。
〃Thank you；〃 I answered heartily； for I knew it was as fine a bit of
hospitality as he could offer me； 〃thank you； but I must find my friend
before it gets too late。〃
〃Aw； come on now；〃 he cried； taking my arm。 〃Sure you'll be better off
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for a bit o' warmth inside。〃
I had hard work to get away from them； and I am as sure as can be that
they would have found supper and a bed for me if they had known I
needed either。
〃Come agin；〃 Healy shouted after me； 〃we're glad to see a farmer any
toime。〃
My way led me quickly out of the well…groomed and glittering main
streets of the town。 I passed first through several blocks of quiet
residences； and then came to a street near the river which was garishly
lighted； and crowded with small； poor shops and stores； with a saloon on
nearly every corner。 I passed a huge； dark； silent box of a mill； and I saw
what I never saw before in a city； armed men guarding the streets。
Although it was growing lateit was after nine o'clockcrowds of
people were still parading the streets； and there was something intangibly
restless； something tense； in the very atmosphere of the neighbourhood。 It
was very plain that I had reached the strike district。 I was about to make
some further inquiries for the headquarters of the mill men or for Bill
Hahn personally； when I saw； not far ahead of me； a black crowd of people
reaching out into the street。 Drawing nearer I saw that an open space or
block between two rows of houses was literally black with human beings；
and in the centre on a raised platform； under a gasolene flare； I beheld my
friend of the road； Bill Hahn。 The overcoat and the hat with the furry ears
had disappeared； and the little man stood there bare…headed； before that
great audience。
My experience in the world is limited； but I have never heard anything
like that speech for sheer power。 It was as unruly and powerful and
resistless as life itself。 It was not like any other speech I ever heard； for it
was no mere giving out by the orator of ideas and thoughts and feelings of
his own。 It seemed ratherhow shall I describe it？as though the speaker
was looking into the very hearts of that vast gathering of poor men and
poor women and merely telling them what they themselves felt； but could
not tell。 And I shall never forget the breathless hush of the people or the
quality of their responses to the orator's words。 It was as though they said；
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〃Yes； yes〃 with a feeling of vast relief〃Yes； yesat last our own hopes
and fe