FROM PULPIT TO PLOUGH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 8

FROM PULPIT TO PLOUGH.

From the "cure of souls" in the snug little village.of Frant, in Sussex, to funning in the Golden West is a step which the Key. H. D. Walker is shortly to take. Knrly in .June, accompanied by his svife, Lady Emily Walker—daughter of the -Marque-,-; of Hertford—his five children, Footman, maid, and two of the villagers, -Mr. will be already on his way to Vancouver lsla'id, where he is going tu take up forty acres of farm laud,

The whole party, including the footman, is going to embark on a new life in Canada—the life of the agriculturist. The decision of "parson" to turn farmer has, in the village vernacular, "struck Front all of a hejp," and while some declare that tho euro of souls is not a good training for tilling and ploughing, all vote- him "a rare plucked 'un."

Mr. Walker has the cut of a farmer. His jolly round face and homely beard convey the impression of the optimist, and, considering,that so far the rector has only philandered with the art of fattening pigs, his adventure to the Far Wp-st savours of optimism. But then it is tho optimist who succeeds in Canada. There U no room in the great Dominion for tho pessimist and the grumbler.

Mr. Walker, in the course of an interview the other day, said that it was the thought of his children that had decided him to start lifo afresh in a new country.

"[ sen no prospects for them hero," ho said. "I havo four boys, and I want them to have tin opportunity of niakinj good in the world -which is u difficult thing in this tax-ri&fon country. Tho living is a good one, but I do not sco how I can do the best for my boys with tho present and ever-increasing burden of taxation. In that wonderful country we shall nil bo able, to settle down comfortably together, and my boys will have a fine chanco of making good in tho world. "1 slia'l bo very busy with the farm, and I mean to work hard. I don't mind how hard tho work is. for we aro going out there to make, gool Half tho village wanted to go out with us, but I am not founding a colony, and could not afford to take them, though if things prosper wo shall bo pleased to have them out there. We shall build our own house on the forty acres."

Lady Emily will be tho "Admirable Crichton" of tho expedition. During.her ten years in Ihe cosy rectory she has studied tho problem of rearing chickens, and though, as sho declared, "it is impossible to make them pay over here," sho considers that they will do well on Vancouver Island.

Tho rector has not had such luck. His task was to watch over the pigs, which, unfortunately, were overcome with swine fever, and succumbed.

Lady Emily will look after the poultry, while' Mr. Walker will superintend thn dairy; and the children aro to bo brought up on tho farm.