The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-11

new ideas, who was always rushing
ahead of common sense, the speaker
had nothing but condemnation. Tho
man whose head was ever in whirl of
theories, whose work consisted chiefly
of experiments along new lines and
whose directions for farming were taken
from what he read-this man was
bound to be failure. "If man has
only a small farm he can't afford to
make an experiment station of it,"
Larry was bursting with triumph, so
to speak. He could not talk to Mabel,
for she would whisper with no one in a
meeting of any kind, but he nudged
her constantly.
But the speaker had suddenly veered
around and was now talking on the
other side. There was another kind
of farmer, he said. One who chung to
old methods and old ways and old i'm
plements just because his forefathers
used such, who was prejudiced against
all things new, no matter how good
they might be, merely because they
were new, who was inclined to regard
all printed matter on the subject of
agriculture as impractical. This style
of farmer, the speaker proceeded to
say, might as we'll die at once.
Mabel was not given to nudging,
but she turned and gave Larry some
expressive looks which as much as
said: "There, did you hear that2"
But both significant glances and
nudges were stopped suddenly, for the
man went on to tell them that one ex-
treme was as far wrong as the other.
There was a medium. The farmer
must be both enterprising and practi-
cal. He must not be too cowardly to
experiment little, but neither must
he be wholly given up to it. And he
must not be slow and stupid about ac-
cepting the successful experiments of
others.
AS they were going down the aisle
group of.girls stopped Mabel and be-
gan talking with her. A little later
some young men they knew approach
ed also. Whether or not any of these
young men had designs on Mabel for
the home drive Larry did not know,
but he promptly relieved himself of all
anxiety on the subject by whispering
in her ear, "Can l see you home Ma
bel?" Mabel said "Yes" with scorn-
full curve of her lip. She usually said
yes to Larry in this way-as if she de-
spised him; yet, be it remarked, she al
ways said "yes" and never "no" when
he asked for her company. Their
mates were wont to say that Mabel
treated Larry the worst and liked him
the best of all the boys of her acquaint-
ance.
A little later they were skimming
o1o, h0r nuar Tho on0xu
"Seems to me, Mabel" Larry re-
marked, as they sped along,-"seems
to me that fellow described our two
cases pretty we'll. He said exactly
some of the same things I've said to
you on the subject, and he said some
of the things you've said to me. /
think he must have overheard us talk
| ing some time-listened to US quarrel.
ing, maybe"
Mabel smiled family for answer to
this, then Larry went on: she said il
was just as bad to be too enterprising
as it was to be unprogressive. he said
there was medium we ought to strike
And now, Mabel, I'm willing to admit
that Pm too much one way if you'll
admit you're too much the other. III
own up that we ought both of US tC
strike medium if you'll own up, tool
Mabel did her ''owning up" very re
luctantly.
81 don't see what we are to do, thu
pair of u.s." said Larry by and by. "I'n
unprogressive and you're too enterpris
ing"
Mabel smiled family again for an
swer, and Larry continued, "There'
one way we might fix it, though" HI
paused a moment and looked doubt
fully at her. For once he was LITTLE
bit afraid. eve might undertake to-
farm together-get married, you know
You could furnish the enterprise and
could furnish the caution and the pre-
JUDGE against new things. Should
think we could run things about RICH
hit the medium exactly that way"
The young man waited rather ner
vously for her to speak, and his merr.
eyes had an odd expression of anxiet.
in them. He was afraid Mabel was go
ing to say no. Then suddenly he fel
sure she would not say no to him.
wasn't in old Mabel to hurt him go
him who had played with her when sh
was little, who had taken care OF her @
| eCuOOl anu WIN udu bht Ou thO hOoi oh
looked at pictures with her when sh
was four years old. No, he was almos
certain she could not refuse him. Sc
, without waiting for her to speak, b
put his arm round her and kissed he
frost-cold cheek.
Mabel did not say "yes, l will, y"
love YOU" or anything else, but she di
not get angry or draw away, 80 LAIR
, knew he was accepted. 1t was her wa.
He was as simple as a child over h
: happiness. He kissed her hands, pa
tedIher shoulder and pressed his chez
: against her muff, while Mabel sat thei
looking down. Once, though, he b,
s trayed her into looking up, and WI
! shocked to see that there were tears
her eyes. He was deeply thoughtf'
for few moments; then resolutic
formed itself within him. 1t was TIL
be would try to be very wise and goo
! In his farm management, in his soci
life, in every waY-in his thoughts eve
for Mabtl's sake he would of &
things be true and good.-New En-
i land Homestead.
8 In MACHINE SHOP. -Marshfiel