"It's very nice to see flowers blooming and fruit fit to pick with the sun shining and the sky blue; but life is not all summer, my boy, is it?
There are wet days and storms, and rough times, and the flowers you see blossoming have been got ready in the cold wintry weather, when they were only seeds, or bare shabby-looking roots." "Yes, I know that," I said.
"And you think you would like to come ?" "Yes, sir." "What for?
to play in the garden, and look on while the work is done ?" "I think I should be ashamed to do that," I said; "it would be so lazy.
If you please, Mr Brownsmith, I've got to work and do something, and if you will have me, I should like to come." "Well, well," he said, "mine's a good business and profitable and healthy, and there are times when, in spite of bad crops, bad weather, and market losses, I thank God that I took to such a pleasant and instructive way of getting a living." "It is instructive then, sir ?" I said.
"Instructive, my lad!" he cried with energy.

"I don't know any business that is more full of teaching.

I've been at it all my life, and the older I grow the more I find there is to learn." "I like that," I said, for it opened out a vista of adventure to me that seemed full of bright flowers and sunshine.
"A man who has brains may go on learning and making discoveries, not discoveries of countries and wonders, but of little things that may make matters better for the people who are to come after him.

Then he may turn a bit of the England where he works into a tropical country, by covering it over with glass, and having a stove; then some day, if he goes on trying, he may find himself able to write FRHS at the end of his name." "And did you, sir ?" "No," he said, "I never did.

I was content with plodding.