“I know,” said Percy, “but Hoard and Terry both speak to-morrow,—­Terry in the morning and the Governor in the afternoon, and they are the men the Professor especially wanted me to hear, if I could.  I think I’ll ’phone to Bronson’s and ask Roscoe to come over and do the chores to-morrow noon.  I can get back by nine to-morrow night.”

“But, Dear, how in the world can you get to Olney to hear Mr. Terry speak to-morrow morning?”

“There is a train east about eight o’clock,” he replied.  “Of course the roads are too awful to think of driving to the station, especially since the mares ought not to be used much.  I put four on the wagon to-day and tried to be as careful as possible but it does not seem right to use them.  I can manage all right.  I will get up a little early in the morning and get things in shape so I can leave here by daylight and I am sure I can make the B. & O. station by eight o’clock easily.  I will wear my rubber boots and carry my shoes in a bundle.  I can change at the depot and put my boots on again when I get back there at seven at night.  If it clears up, I will have the moon to help coming home.”

But, Percy, you do not mean to walk five miles and back through all this mud and water?”

“I wish you would not worry, Mother.  There is grass along the sides most of the way, and I am used to the mud and water.  I will spy out the best track as I go in the morning and just follow my own trail coming back.”

“Then it is time we were asleep,” replied the mother.

CHAPTER XXXVII

HARDER TIMES

THE State Superintendent of Farmers’ Institutes called the meeting to order soon after Percy entered the Opera House at Olney about ten o’clock the next morning.

“Divine blessing will be invoked by Doctor T. E. Sisson, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Olney:” 

“Oh, Thou, whose presence bright all space doth occupy and all motion guide, all life impart, we come this morning in the capacity of this Farmers’ Institute to thank thee for Thy mercies and for Thy blessings, and to invoke Thy presence and Thy continued favor.  As Thou with Thy presence hast surrounded all forms of creation and all stages of being with the providences of welfare and development and grace, so we pray, our Father, for guidance through the sessions of this institute, for the providences of Thy love and Thy wisdom divine as it reveals itself in the open field, in the orchard, in the garden, bringing forth those things which replenish the earth with food and fill the mouths of our hungry ones with bread.