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erstand them； and they seem to like me and understand me。 So I walked up to the group of jolly drivers and stablemen intending to ask my directions。 The talking died out and they all turned to look at me。 I suppose I was not altogether a familiar type there in the city streets。 My bag； especially； seemed to set me apart as a curious person。
〃Friends；〃 I said； 〃I am a farmer〃
They all broke out laughing； they seemed to know it already！ I was just a little taken aback； but I laughed； too； knowing that there was a way of getting at them if only I could find it。
〃It may surprise you；〃 I said； but this is the first time in some dozen years that I've been in a big city like this。〃
〃You hadn't 'ave told us； partner！〃 said one of them； evidently the wit of the group； in a rich Irish brogue。
〃Well；〃 I responded； laughing with the best of them； 〃you've been living right here all the time； and don't realize how amusing and curious the city looks to me。 Why； I feel as though I had been away sleeping for twenty years； like Rip Van Winkle。 When I left the city there was scarcely an automobile to be seen anywhereand now look at them snorting through the streets。 I counted twenty…two passing that corner up there in five minutes by the clock。〃
This was a fortunate remark； for I found instantly that the invasion of the automobile was a matter of tremendous import to such Knights of Bucephalus as these。
At first the wit interrupted me with amusing remarks； as wits will； but I soon had him as quiet as the others。 For I have found the things that chiefly interest people are the things they already know aboutprovided you show them that these common things are still mysterious； still miraculous； as indeed they are。
After a time some one pushed me a stable stool and I sat down among them； and we had quite a conversation； which finally developed into an amusing comparison （I wish I had room to repeat it here） between the city and the country。 I told them something about my farm； how much I enjoyed it； and what a wonderful free life one had in the country。 In this I was really taking an unfair advantage of them； for I was trading on the fact that every man； down deep in his heart； has more or less of an instinct to get back to the soilat least all outdoor men have。 And when I described the simplest things about my barn； and the cattle and pigs； and the beesand the good things we have to eatI had every one of them leaning forward and hanging on my words。
Harriet sometimes laughs at me for the way I celebrate farm life。 She says all my apples are the size of Hubbard squashes； my eggs all double…yolked； and my cornfields tropical jungles。 Practical Harriet！ My apples may not ALL be the size of Hubbard squashes； but they are good； sizable apples； and as for flavourall the spices of Arcady！ And I believe； I KNOW； from my own experience that these fields and hills are capable of healing men's souls。 And when I see people wandering around a lonesome city like Kilburn； with never a soft bit of soil to put their heels into； nor a green thing to cultivate； nor any corn or apples or honey to harvest； I feelwell； that they are wasting their time。
（It's a fact； Harriet！）
Indeed I had the most curious experience with my friend the withis name I soon learned was Healya jolly； round； red…nosed； outdoor chap with fists that looked like small…sized hams； and a rich； warm Irish voice。 At first he was inclined to use me as the ready butt of his lively mind； but presently he became so much interested in what I was saying that he sat squarely in front of me with both his jolly eyes and his smiling mouth wide open。
〃If ever you pass my way；〃 I said to him； 〃just drop in and I'll give you a dinner of baked beans〃and I smacked〃and home made bread〃 and I smacked again 〃and pumpkin pie〃and I smacked a third time〃that will make your mouth water。〃
All this smacking and the description of baked beans and pumpkin pie had an odd counter effect upon ME； for I suddenly recalled my own tragic state。 So I jumped up quickly and asked directions for getting down to the mill neighbourhood； where I hoped to find Bill Hahn。 My friend Healy instantly volunteered the information。
〃And now；〃 I said； 〃I want to ask a small favour of you。 I'm looking for a friend； and I'd like to leave my bag here for the night。〃
〃Sure； sure；〃 said the Irishman heartily。 〃Put it there in the officeon top o' the desk。 It'll be all right。〃
So I put it in the office and was about to say good…bye； when my friend said to me：
〃Come in； partner； and have a drink before you go〃and he pointed to a nearby saloon。
〃Thank you；〃 I answered heartily； for I knew it was as fine a bit of hospitality as he could offer me； 〃thank you； but I must find my friend before it gets too late。〃
〃Aw； come on now；〃 he cried； taking my arm。 〃Sure you'll be better off for a bit o' warmth inside。〃
I had hard work to get away from them； and I am as sure as can be that they would have found supper and a bed for me if they had known I needed either。
〃Come agin；〃 Healy shouted after me； 〃we're glad to see a farmer any toime。〃
My way led me quickly out of the well…groomed and glittering main streets of the town。 I passed first through several blocks of quiet residences； and then came to a street near the river which was garishly lighted； and crowded with small； poor shops and stores； with a saloon on nearly every corner。 I passed a huge； dark； silent box of a mill； and I saw what I never saw before in a city； armed men guarding the streets。
Although it was growing lateit was after nine o'clockcrowds of people were still parading the streets； and there was something intangibly restless； something tense； in the very atmosphere of the neighbourhood。 It was very plain that I had reached the strike district。 I was about to make some further inquiries for the headquarters of the mill men or for Bill Hahn personally； when I saw； not far ahead of me； a black crowd of people reaching out into the street。 Drawing nearer I saw that an open space or block between two rows of houses was literally black with human beings； and in the centre on a raised platform； under a gasolene flare； I beheld my friend of the road； Bill Hahn。 The overcoat and the hat with the furry ears had disappeared； and the little man stood there bare…headed； before that great audience。
My experience in the world is limited； but I have never heard anything like that speech for sheer power。 It was as unruly and powerful and resistless as life itself。 It was not like any other speech I ever heard； for it was no mere giving out by the orator of ideas and thoughts and feelings of his own。 It seemed ratherhow shall I describe it？as though the speaker was looking into the very hearts of that vast gathering of poor men and poor women and merely telling them what they themselves felt； but could not tell。 And I shall never forget the breathless hush of the people or the quality of their responses to the orator's words。 It was as though they said； 〃Yes； yes〃 with a feeling of vast relief〃Yes； yesat last our own hopes and fears and desires are being utteredyes； yes。〃
As for the orator himself； he held up one maimed hand and leaned o