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arkand it seemed to me that I could tell something of the Clarks by the box at the crossing。
〃I think they need a friendly word；〃 I said to myself。
So I wrote the name T。 N。 Clark on my envelope and put the letter in his box。
It was with a sense of joyous adventure that I now turned aside into the sandy road and climbed the hill。 My mind busied itself with thinking how I should carry out my experiment； how I should approach these Clarks； and how and what they were。 A thousand ways I pictured to myself the receipt of the letter： it would at least be something new for them； something just a little disturbing； and I was curious to see whether it might open the rift of wonder wide enough to let me slip into their lives。
I have often wondered why it is that men should be so fearful of new ventures in social relationships； when I have found them so fertile； so enjoyable。 Most of us fear （actually fear） people who differ from ourselves； either up or down the scale。 Your Edison pries fearlessly into the intimate secrets of matter； your Marconi employs the mysterious properties of the 〃jellied ether；〃 but let a man seek to experiment with the laws of that singular electricity which connects you and me （though you be a millionaire and I a ditch…digger）； and we think him a wild visionary； an academic person。 I think sometimes that the science of humanity to…day is in about the state of darkness that the natural sciences were when Linneus and Cuvier and Lamarck began groping for the great laws of natural unity。 Most of the human race is still groaning under the belief that each of us is a special and unrelated creation； just as men for ages saw no relationships between the fowls of the air； the beasts of the field； and the fish of the sea。 But； thank God； we are beginning to learn that unity is as much a law of life as selfish struggle； and love a more vital force than avarice or lust of power or place。 A Wandering Carpenter knew it； and taught it； twenty centuries ago。
〃The next house beyond the ridge；〃 said the toothless old woman； pointing with a long finger； 〃is the Clarks'。 You can't miss it；〃 and I thought she looked at me oddly。
I had been walking briskly for some three miles； and it was with keen expectation that I now mounted the ridge and saw the farm for which I was looking； lying there in the valley before me。 It was altogether a wild and beautiful bit of countrystunted cedars on the knolls of the rolling hills； a brook trailing its way among alders and willows down a long valley； and shaggy old fields smiling in the sun。 As I came nearer I could see that the only disharmony in the valley was the work （or idleness） of men。 A broken mowing…machine stood in the field where it had been left the summer before； rusty and forlorn； and dead weeds marked the edges of a field wherein the spring ploughing was now only half done。 The whole farmstead； indeed； looked tired。 As for the house and barn； they had reached that final stage of decay in which the best thing that could be said of them was that they were picturesque。 Everything was as different from the farm of the energetic and joyous Stanleys； whose work I had shared only a few days before； as anything that could be imagined。
Now； my usual way of getting into step with people is simplicity itself。 I take off my coat and go to work with them and the first thing I know we have become first…rate friends。 One doesn't dream of the possibilities of companionship in labour until he has tried it。
But how shall one get into step with a man who is not stepping？
On the porch of the farmhouse； there in the mid…afternoon； a man sat idly； and children were at play in the yard。 I went in at the gate； not knowing in the least what I should say or do； but determined to get hold of the problem somewhere。 As I approached the step； I swung my bag from my shoulder。
〃Don't want to buy nothin'；〃 said the man。
〃Well；〃 said I； 〃that is fortunate； for I have nothing to sell。 But you've got something I want。〃
He looked at me dully。
〃What's that？〃
〃A drink of water。〃
Scarcely moving his head； he called to a shy older girl who had just appeared in the doorway。
〃Mandy； bring a dipper of water。〃
As I stood there the children gathered curiously around me； and the man continued to sit in his chair； saying absolutely nothing； a picture of dull discouragement。
〃How they need something to stir them up；〃 I thought。
When I had emptied the dipper； I sat down on the top step of the porch； and； without saying a word to the man； placed my bag beside me and began to open it。 The shy girl paused； dipper in hand； the children stood on tiptoe； and even the man showed signs of curiosity。 With studied deliberation I took out two books I had with me and put them on the porch； then I proceeded to rummage for a long time in the bottom of the bag as though I could not find what I wanted。 Every eye was glued upon me； and I even heard the step of Mrs。 Clark as she came to the but I did not look up or speak。 Finally I pulled out my tin whistle and； leaning back against the porch column； placed it to my lips； and began playing in Tom Madison's best style （eyes half closed； one toe tapping to the music； head nodding； fingers lifted high from the stops）； I began playing 〃Money Musk；〃 and 〃Old Dan Tucker。〃 Oh； I put vim into it； I can tell you！ And bad as my playing was； I had from the start an absorption of attention from my audience that Paderewski himself might have envied。 I wound up with a lively trill in the high notes and took my whistle from my lips with a hearty laugh； for the whole thing had been downright good fun； the playing itself； the make…believe which went with it； the surprise and interest in the children's faces； the slow…breaking smile of the little girl with the dipper。
〃I'll warrant you； madam；〃 I said to the woman who now stood frankly in the doorway with her hands wrapped in her apron； 〃you haven't heard those tunes since you were a girl and danced to 'em。〃
〃You're right；〃 she responded heartily。
〃I'll give you another jolly one；〃。I said； and； replacing my。 whistle； I began with even greater zest to play 〃Yankee Doodle。〃
When I had gone through it half a dozen times with such added variations and trills as I could command； and had two of the children hopping about in the yard； and the forlorn man tapping his toe to the tune； and a smile on the face of the forlorn woman； I wound up with a rush and then； as if I could hold myself in no longer （and I couldn't either！）； I suddenly burst out：
Yankee doodle dandy！ Yankee doodle dandy！ Mind the music and the step； And with the girls be handy。
It may seem surprising； but I think I can understand why it waswhen I looked up at the woman in the doorway there were tears in her eyes！
〃Do you know 'John Brown's Body'？〃 eagerly inquired the little girl with the dipper； and then； as if she had done something quite bold and improper； she blushed and edged toward the doorway。
〃How does it go？〃 I asked； and one of the bold lads in the yard instantly puckered his lips to show me； and immediately they were all trying it。
〃Here goes；〃 said I； and for the next few minutes； and in my very best style； I hung