Two farmers are each sowing a field. The land lies side by side with only a close fence between, which prevents their seeing each other.
The first farmer has carefully cultivated his soil and is sowing it evenly with choice wheat, gathered and selected from previous crops of his own sowing and reaping. As he sows, he notices occasionally, light, floating particles in the air, blown by the wind, and oft-times falling to the ground; but, not knowing what these particles are, he heeds them not, but thinks as he sows, of the coming harvest and its return for his present patient toil.
In the field beyond the fence, the second farmer is also sowing his field. He shows in countenance and gait, the thought and habit of one accustomed to intoxicating drink. He is sowing mechanically, because his dulled senses recognize that it is seed-time, and why should he not raise a crop as well as his neighbors? But he has neither plowed nor harrowed his soil; has neither broken down, nor burned the dead stalks and weeds yet lingering from the previous year's neglect.
