"'But farming isn't dignified,' says Dan.

"'Pardon me ag'in,' says I. 'It's more dignified to search for the
secrets o' God in the soil than to grope for the secrets o' Satan
in a lawsuit. Any fool can learn Blackstone an' Kent an'
Greenleaf, but the book o' law that's writ in the soil is only for
keen eyes.'

"'I want a business that fits a gentleman,' says Dan.

"'An' the future farmer can be as much of a gentleman as God 'll
let him,' says I. 'He'll have as many servants as his talents can
employ. His income will exceed the earnings o' forty lawyers taken
as they average. His position will be like that o' the rich
planter before the war.'

"'Well, how shall I go about it?' he says, half convinced.

"'First stop tryin' to keep up with Lizzie,' says I. 'The way to
beat Lizzie is to go toward the other end o' the road. Ye see,
you've dragged yer father into the race, an' he's about winded.
Turn around an' let Lizzie try to keep up with you. Second, change
yer base. Go to a school of agriculture an' learn the business
just as you'd go to a school o' law or medicine. Begin modest.
Live within yer means. If you do right I'll buy you all the land
ye want an' start ye goin'.'

"When he left I knew that I'd won my case. In a week or so he sent
me a letter saying that he'd decided to take my advice.