AN AWAKENING DREAM
"THE chores are all done," said Mrs. Johnston, as Percy began to
take down his heavy work-coat about nine o'clock that evening.
"You ought not to have done them," he chided as he slipped his arm
around her and drew her to the sofa.
"Tell me about the Institute," she said, stroking the hair from his
forehead.
He told her of the professors who were there from the University and
briefly reported the addresses he had heard.
"And I verily believe," he added, "that if Terry were to wake up
some morning and find himself located on the "Barrens" of the
Highland Rim of Tennessee, he would start out with the firm
conviction that all he would need to do to become a successful
farmer there would be to sow clover and then 'work the land for all
that's in it.' But, after all, it is not so strange, perhaps, that
one who has himself discovered and then utilized the power of clover
and tillage to restore and increase the productive power of land
rich in limestone, phosphorus and all other essential mineral plant
food, should jump to the fixed and final conclusion that the same
system of treatment is all that is needed to make any and all land
productive. The fact that Terry's land (if equal to the nearby New
York land) contained two thousand three hundred pounds of phosphorus
in the plowed soil of an acre when he began to work it out, while
the soil of the Tennessee "Barrens" contains only about one
hundred pounds, does not disturb him or modify his opinion so long
as his personal experience is limited to his own land.
"Terry's problem was easier than Mr. West's on his Virginia farm,
where the soil is acid and hence limestone must be used liberally in
order that clover and other legumes may be grown successfully. Even
the supply of phosphorus and other mineral elements is probably
greater in Terry's farm in northeastern Ohio than in the soil of
Westover.
"Our problem is even more difficult, because we must not only
increase the supply of active organic matter, although we have a
reserve of old humus far above that contained in the Terry or West
farms; but in addition we need more limestone than Mr. West and then
we must add the phosphorus. Of course the surface washing is a
serious factor on Westover, but perhaps our tight clay subsoil is
worse.
"But I learned at least two things that I shall try to profit by.
One of these was from Governor Hoard's lecture on 'Cows Versus Cows,
and the man behind the cow'; and the other is that we must do more
work on the land."
"Oh, Percy, I am so sorry you went. How can you possibly do more
work than you have been doing?"
"I may need to hire more," he replied; "and, of course, that will
further increase our expenses, but, it will surely pay to do well
what we try to do."
"When does my boy expect to get married?" she asked, softly, as
she gently stroked his hair.
"I am married," he replied.
She looked at him in wonder.
"Mother mine, I thought that you knew I was married."
"Your face is blank sincerity, as usual," she said smiling, "but you
never deceive me with your voice. Your voice reveals every attempt
at deception. Tell me what you mean."
His voice was sincere now. "I am married to a farm and laboring
together with God. After hearing Terry's talk, I am more than ever
determined to continue to do my part, working in the light as He
gives me the power to see the light."
"Percy, dear," she asked, "did you know the bride whose wedding
cards you received yesterday?"
"Don't you remember what I told you of Adelaide West, Mr. West's
daughter?" he queried.
"I thought so," said the mother. She stepped to Percy's home-made
desk, and from one of the pigeon holes, drew out a bunch of letters,
and selected the top and bottom letters from the pile.
"Here are the first and last letters you have received from Mr.
West. Did you ever see this?" She drew out a crumpled piece of
paper and placed it in his hand.
_"Her Grandma had not consented,"_ he read. "What does that mean?"
"I do not know and I did not know when I read it three years ago. It
came in your first letter from Mr. West. I thought you had not found
it in the envelope, but you gave me the letter to read and I found
it. I left it in the letter, but never till to-day did I feel that I
ought to mention it to you. Yesterday you received a letter with two
cards; but you read only one of them to me."
"But I saw the other was only the wedding announcement, and I left
them both in the letter for you to read."
"And I read them both," she said. "Read this."
Percy took the card and slowly read:
_Mr. and Mrs. Clarance Voit
Announce the marriage of their daughter
Ameila Louise
to
Professor Paul Strongworth Barstow_
She watched his face but saw no sign. She kissed his forehead and
then pointed to the writing, _"With Grandma's Compliments,"_ saying,
"I do not know what this means, but I thought my boy might be
getting too careless, when he fails to read even the wedding
announcement of college professors, sent to him by such a good
friend as Grandma West may intend to be."
Percy looked into his mother's face as if to read her thoughts.
"I think I understand what you have in mind," he said. "Mr. West has
mentioned once or twice that Adelaide was teaching school, but I
supposed that she was trying to earn enough to buy her own wedding
outfit."
"Perhaps that is true," replied the mother, "and perhaps she is
already married or soon to be married; but I thought you ought to
know that she had not married Professor Barstow, lest you might
allude to it in your letters to Mr. West."