The Honest Farmer
ELLA LYMAN CABOT
here was a war in Germany long ago and thousands of soldiers were scattered over the country. A captain of cavalry, who had a great many men and horses to feed, was told by his colonel that he must get food from the farmers near by. The captain walked for some time through the lonely valley, and at last knocked at the door of a small cottage. The man who opened it looked old and lame. He leaned on a stick.
"Good-day, sir," said the captain. "Will you kindly show me a field where my soldiers can cut the grain and carry it off for our army?"
The old man led the soldiers through the valley for about a mile, and in the distance they saw a field of barley waving in the breeze.
"This is just what we want. We'll stop here," exclaimed the captain.
"No, not yet," said the old man. "You must follow me a little farther."