when he goes up against Mother Earth. We're used to thinking
of her as kindly, generous, lavishing her favors! I've had another
picture--she's worse than a Czar! She's exacting, she's moody, she's
undependable, at times. I suppose she does it to try out her
children--but anyway, the farmer has to fight every minute!"

He stopped suddenly. "I'm boring you to death, maybe!" He laughed
apologetically. "It's always been a hobby of mine--this working with
the earth. I never thought I'd do anything with it--until the war!
Then I realized how much a nation's prosperity depends upon how its
soil is used. And that's where our government's been short-sighted.
They haven't paid enough attention to the small farmers. Of course,
they try out some good things and publish bulletins, but the farmers
ought to _know_ how, by certain scientific changes, the productiveness
of the land can be doubled! Take Judson, here. He's been farming this
whole place just the way his grandfather did before him! He's read
about new-fangled things, but he's afraid to try them--he doesn't know
how to begin! Think how many Judsons there are all over the world! So
I'm trying to show him by actually working out some experiments I've
tested. If it's a success, if his account at the bank at North Hero
shows it at the end of the season--why, there isn't anything Judson
will be afraid to try. And think what it would mean to this country if
it had a million farmers like Judson! And see how easily they can be
shown!"

Nancy's face was alight with enthusiasm. With her vivid imagination
she pictured a glorious army of Peter Hydes going out over the land,
rescuing the poor farmers, putting new weapons into their hands!

"It's wonderful! And it's--brave!" she added, "because it isn't as if
you went off with a whole lot of others with bands and flags flying!"

She was suddenly struck with remorse that she had, in her heart, so
wronged Peter Hyde! She had thought him a slacker when he had
shouldered the harder task! Something in the earnestness still
reflected on his face made her own her guilt.

"I can't be glad _enough_ you've told me all this! I didn't know! I
never lived in the country. I just thought things to eat grew up any
old way. And all this time I have been thinking horrid things about
you because I thought you hadn't gone to war! I thought, maybe, you
were way off up here to escape the feeling everyone had for slackers!
You ca