ys get away from it; but
I am beginning to think that it is a dangerous thing, in more ways than
one, to be a millionaire. I believe the safety of the country lies in
the hands of the farmers; for they are seldom very poor or very rich. We
stand between the two dangerous classes--the wealthy and the paupers."

"But most farmers lead such a dog's life," said Mr. Maxwell.

"So they do; farming isn't made one-half as attractive as it should be,"
said Mr. Harry.

Mr. Maxwell smiled. "Attractive farming. Just sketch an outline of that,
will you, Gray?"

"In the first place," said Mr. Harry, "I would like to tear out of the
heart of the farmer the thing that is as firmly implanted in him as it
is in the heart of his city brother--the thing that is doing more to
harm our nation than anything else under the sun."

"What is that?" asked Mr. Maxwell, curiously.

"The thirst for gold. The farmer wants to get rich, and he works so hard
to do it that he wears himself out soul and body, and the young people
around him get so disgusted with that way of getting rich, that they go
off to the cities to find out some other way, or at least to enjoy
themselves, for I don't think many young people are animated by a desire
to heap up money."

Mr. Maxwell looked amused. "There is certainly a great exodus from
country places cityward," he said. "What would be your plan for checking
it?"

"I would make the farm so pleasant, that you couldn't hire the boys and
girls to leave it. I would have them work, and work hard, too, but when
their work was over, I would let them have some fun. That is what they
go to the city for. They want amusement and society, and to get into
some kind of a crowd when their work is done. The young men and young
women want to get together, as is only natural. Now that could be done
in the country. If farmers would be contented with smaller profits and
smaller farms, their houses could be nearer together. Their children
would have opportunities of social intercourse, there could be societies
and clubs, and that would tend to a distribution of literature. A farmer
ought to take five or six papers and two or three magazines. He would
find it would pay him in the long run, and there ought to be a law made
compelling him to go to the post office once a day."

Mr. Maxwell burst out laughing. "And another to make him mend his roads
as well as mend his ways. I tell you Gray, the bad roads would put an
end to all these