In the meanwhile Dick had been taking hold of the contracting business with such good results that I found myself able to throw more and more upon him. He had with him a college mate, and the two under the spur of youth went hustling after new business at a pace that made my services unnecessary except as a sort of advisory committee. With my new interests to occupy me, with the business prospering under the younger management and with a fair amount in the bank as a surety against accidents, I was glad to have it so. I believe it’s an older man’s duty to turn over his business to the younger generation whenever it is possible. During the winter I watched the progress of the two boys closely and was surprised at the shrewdness and level-headedness that Dick displayed. I give credit for that to his experience in selling newspapers on the streets. It taught him not only self-reliance but in his association with men both self-confidence and poise. He knew how to approach men, how to put forward his case in the shortest possible time, and then how and when to leave. He was popular too with the gang and I found the latter turning more and more to him. It was in February that after a long talk with Ruth I called the boy into my den one evening. “Dick,” I said, “I haven’t been very much more than a figurehead in the business during the last few months and now I think I’ll pull out altogether.” “For Heaven’s sake, Dad,” he answered, “what’s the matter with you?” “Nothing,” I said. “Only you don’t need me and I want to take up farming.” “You’d better let me call in the doc,” he answered. “Do I look as though I needed him?” said I. “It’s sure that if I felt that way I wouldn’t be undertaking a new business.” “It’s all right for you to putter around here for fun,” he said, “but you know as well as I that you can’t make farming pay. Just look around you--” “That’s what makes me believe farming will pay,” I said. “I look around me and I see men doing just what you advise me to do--puttering around. You wouldn’t expect to make contracting pay if you went at it that way, would you?” “I know, but--”