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and eating a prodigious breakfast； we went again to the potato…field； and
part of the time I helped plant a few remaining rows； and part of the time I
drove a team attached to a wing…plow to cover the planting of the previous
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day。
In the afternoon a slashing spring rain set in； and Mr。 Stanley； who was
a forehanded worker； found a job for all of us in the barn。 Ben； the
younger son； and I sharpened mower…blades and a scythe or so； Ben
turning the grindstone and I holding the blades and telling him stories into
the bargain。 Mr。 Stanley and his stout older son overhauled the work…
harness and tinkered the corn…planter。 The doors at both ends of the barn
stood wide open； and through one of them； framed like a picture； we could
see the scudding floods descend upon the meadows； and through the other；
across a fine stretch of open country； we could see all the roads glistening
and the treetops moving under the rain。
〃Fine； fine！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Stanley； looking out from time to time；
〃we got in our potatoes just in the nick of time。〃
After supper that evening I told them of my plan to leave them on the
following morning。
〃Don't do that；〃 said Mrs。 Stanley heartily； 〃stay on with us。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Stanley； 〃we're shorthanded； and I'd be glad to have a
man like you all summer。 There ain't any one around here will pay a good
man more'n I will； nor treat 'im better。〃
〃I'm sure of it； Mr。 Stanley；〃 I said； 〃but I can't stay with you。〃
At that the tide of curiosity which I had seen rising ever since I came
began to break through。 Oh； I know how difficult it is to let the wanderer
get by without taking toll of him！ There are not so many people here in the
country that we can afford to neglect them。 And as I had nothing in the
world to conceal； and； indeed； loved nothing better than the give and take
of getting acquainted； we were soon at it in good earnest。
But it was not enough to tell them that my name was David Grayson
and where my farm was located； and how many acres there were； and how
much stock I had； and what I raised。 The great particular 〃Why？〃 as I
knew it would beconcerned my strange presence on the road at this
season of the year and the reason why I should turn in by chance； as I had
done； to help at their planting。 If a man is stationary； it seems quite
impossible for him to imagine why any one should care to wander； and as
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for the wanderer it is inconceivable to him how any one can remain
permanently at home。
We were all sitting comfortably around the table in the living…room。
The lamps were lighted； and Mr。 Stanley； in slippers； was smoking his pipe
and Mrs。 Stanley was darning socks over a mending…gourd； and the two
young Stanleys were whispering and giggling about some matter of
supreme consequence to youth。 The windows were open； and we could
smell the sweet scent of the lilacs from the yard and hear the drumming of
the rain as it fell on the roof of the porch。
〃It's easy to explain；〃 I said。 〃The fact is； it got to the point on my farm
that I wasn't quite sure whether I owned it or it owned me。 And I made up
my mind I'd get away for a while from my own horses and cattle and see
what the world was like。 I wanted to see how people lived up here； and
what they are thinking about； and how they do their farming。〃
As I talked of my plans and of the duty one had； as I saw it； to be a
good broad man as well as a good farmer； I grew more and more interested
and enthusiastic。 Mr。 Stanley took his pipe slowly from his mouth； held it
poised until it finally went out； and sat looking at me with a rapt
expression。 I never had a better audience。 Finally； Mr。 Stanley said very
earnestly：
〃And you have felt that way； too？〃
〃Why； father！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Stanley； in astonishment。
Mr。 Stanley hastily put his pipe back into his mouth and confusedly
searched in his pockets for a match； but I knew I had struck down deep
into a common experience。 Here was this brisk and prosperous farmer
having his dreams toodreams that even his wife did not know！
So I continued my talk with even greater fervour。 I don't think that the
boy Ben understood all that I said； for I was dealing with experiences
common mostly to older men； but he somehow seemed to get the spirit of
it； for quite unconsciously he began to hitch his chair toward me； then he
laid his hand on my chair…arm and finally and quite simply he rested his
arm against mine and looked at me with all his eyes。 I keep learning that
there is nothing which reaches men's hearts like talking straight out the
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convictions and emotions of your innermost soul。 Those who hear you
may not agree with you； or they may not understand you fully； but
something incalculable； something vital； passes。 And as for a boy or girl it
is one of the sorriest of mistakes to talk down to them； almost always your
lad of fifteen thinks more simply； more fundamentally； than you do； and
what he accepts as good coin is not facts or precepts； but feelings and
convictionsLIFE。 And why shouldn't we speak out？
〃I long ago decided；〃 I said； 〃to try to be fully what I am and not to be
anything or anybody else。〃
〃That's right； that's right；〃 exclaimed Mr。 Stanley； nodding his head
vigorously。
〃It's about the oldest wisdom there is；〃 I said； and with that I thought
of the volume I carried in my pocket； and straightway I pulled it out and
after a moment's search found the passage I wanted。
〃Listen；〃 I said； 〃to what this old Roman philosopher said〃and I held
the book up to the lamp and read aloud：
〃'You can be invincible if you enter into no contest in which it is not in
your power to conquer。 Take care； then； when you observe a man
honoured before others or possessed of great power； or highly esteemed
for any reason； not to suppose him happy and be not carried away by the
appearance。 For if the nature of the good is in our power； neither envy nor
jealousy will have a place in us。 But you yoursel