“But what do you want?” asked Johannes.

“That’s just what I’d like to talk to you about,” said Uli.  “I could get places enough; I could go to their son, too, and he’d give me as much pay as I wanted.  But I don’t know; being a servant isn’t exactly unsatisfactory, but it seems to me that, if I want to start out for myself, now’s the time.  I’m in the thirties, and almost beginning to get old.”

“Oh, that’s it!” said Johannes.  “Have you got marrying into your head?”

“Not especially,” said Uli.  “But if I’m going to marry it ought to be soon, and a man ought to start for himself, too, while he’s still active.  But I don’t know what to do.  I haven’t enough for anything worth while, for what’s two thousand francs to make a decent start with?  I keep thinking about what you said, that you can’t get the rent out of a little farm, and that a leaseholder can’t very well take over a big place unless he has money in hand, and still he’ll be ruined on a little one.”

“Ho,” said Johannes, “two thousand francs is something, and there’s farms here and there with the stock all on ’em, where you can get the stock too on appraisal, so that you could keep your cash in hand for your own dealings, and then if you needed more you’d probably find folks that had money.”

“Yes, but they won’t give it to me.  If a man wants money he’s got to have good security, or guarantors, and where’d he get ’em?”

“Well, Uli,” said Johannes, “that’s just what I told you:  a good name is good security.  Fifteen years ago I wouldn’t have lent you fifteen cents; but today, if you need two or three thousand francs, you can have ’em on a simple note; or if you want me to indorse your note, just say so.  What are folks in the world for if not to help each other?”

“That’s good news,” said Uli; “I wouldn’t have dared to think of that; and if I knew of anything, I’d take right hold.”

“I wouldn’t,” said Johannes.  “I’d go looking for a wife first, and then when I had one I’d make my start.  Lots of men have been ruined before now, only because their wives didn’t suit their business, or wouldn’t.  To carry on a household well, there must be harmony in it.  Once you’ve got a wife and the two of you choose a place to buy or let that suits you both, you’ve gained a lot.  Or have you something of the kind under way?”

“No,” said Uli.  “I know of one, but she wouldn’t take me.”

“Why not?” asked Johannes.  “Is it another rich farmer’s daughter?”

“No,” said Uli, “it’s the girl that came along today.  She hasn’t much money; but whoever gets her is lucky.  I’ve often thought that with her a man would go farther, even though she hasn’t a cent, than with the rich Elsie.  Whatever she takes hold of she does well; she has luck with everything, and there’s nothing she doesn’t understand.  I don’t think she’s ever tired; she’s first in the morning and last at night, and never idle all