Down the Long Hills

“When we go around towns and are among more people, as we will when you’re older, you’ll find there’s other laws besides those you’ve set for your-self, but still you’ll find that the best laws are those you make for yourself to follow and a man should be strict with himself. Nevertheless, you will want to obey the laws of the towns. Folks couldn’t live together unless they had respect for one another, and for the rights of other men. When you get right down to it, all law is based on respect for each other’s rights.

“Now, you look at it, you’ll see it takes us nearly all our time just to make a living. We hunt and we wild and we mow, and we cut wood against the cold of winter, and try to salt some meat and gather some vegetables to store in the cellar.

“When folks live together in a town they have more time, time to sit and talk, to listen to music playing, or to dance. But men can’t do that unless they divide the work, and in a town everybody shares. One man builds, another does the smithing, one teaches, one preaches, and another runs a store. When a man can settle down to do what he does best, he’s happier, and his work is better. I guess that’s where civilization began, with people getting together in a town, sharing the work, and having a chance to talk together.