The work progressed none too rapidly.

Some of the men had to be away at times to attend to their farming.

As for myself I had learned to plow, and was at it from early morning until sundown.

I had many laborers working for me, plowing, sowing, building fences, clearing; in a word, reducing the land to cultivation.

It was a big job.
I had won the respect of the community by the energy with which I had undertaken the task.