“And you, Bradford?”
“I’ve been thinking about agriculture. I never realized, before this trip, how we really depend on iron for our food. That phosphatic fertilizer set me to thinking about plows, mills, and all sorts of things.”
“I think,” said Mr. Prescott, “that the man was right who said that the strength of nations depends on coal and iron far more than it does on gold.
“Another man said practically the same when he said that iron has given man liberty and industry: tools and implements of peace, as well as weapons of war. When you think it out, that seems to cover it all.
“Now, Billy,” Mr. Prescott went on, “I know what you will say. You may say it.”
“Without iron,” said Billy, smiling up at Mr. Prescott, “we should be just ‘nothin’, nobody.’”
“My lecture course,” said Mr. Prescott, “is now finished.
“To-morrow, I am going to show you where they try to make—do make—something greater than iron.”
