ures in beautiful halls, erected in
every village. I see them gather like the Saxons of old upon the green
at evening to sing and dance. I see cities rising near them with
schools, and churches, and concert halls, and theatres. I see a day
when the farmer will no longer be a drudge and his wife a bond slave,
but happy men and women who will go singing to their pleasant tasks
upon their fruitful farms." The audience did not cheer, it sat as if in
church. The girl seemed to be speaking prophecy.

"When the boys and girls will not go West nor to the city; when life
will be worth living. In that day the moon will be brighter and the
stars more glad, and pleasure, and poetry, and love of life come back
to the man who tills the soil."

The people broke into wild applause when she finished. All were deeply
stirred. Tears were streaming down many faces, and when Deering arose
to announce a song by the choir his voice shook and he made no secret
of his deep emotion. After the song, he said: "Neighbors, we don't want
to spoil that splendid speech with another this day. The best thing we
can do is to try to think that good time is here and eat our dinner
with the resolution to bring that good time as soon as possible."

Bradley stood there after the others had risen. The dazzling pictures
called up by the speaker's words were still moving confusedly in his
brain. They faded at last and he moved with a sigh and went out to feed
the horses their oats.

II.

THE DINNER UNDER THE OAKS.

The dinner made a beautiful scene, the most idyllic in the farmer's
life. The sun, now high noon, fell through the leaves in patches of
quivering light upon the white table-cloth, spread out upon the planks,
and it fell upon the fair hair of girls, and upon the hard knotted
fingers of men and women grown old in toil. The rattle of dishes, the
harsh-keyed, unwonted laughter of the women, and the sounding
invitations to dinner given and taken filled the air. The long plank
seats placed together made capital tables, and eager children squatted
about wistfully watching the display of each new delicacy. The crude
abundance of the Iowa farm had been brought out to make it a great
dinner. The boys could hardly be restrained from clutching at each new
dish.

The Councills and the Burns families took dinner together. Mrs. Burns,
fretful and worn, cuffed the children back from the table while
bringing out her biscuit and roast chicken. Some sat