Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/244

 now and then unduly forces up its price, but the advance is strictly temporary, and even at its height, the farmer seldom benefits. The jumping cost is always the work of the middleman, whom we would gradually eliminate. At first, of course, we should be troubled by him, but we should merely cease for the moment to purchase, and wait till the clouds rolled past. Or, we might at the beginning adopt the Biblical plan; buy in the years of cheapness, and refrain when the purchase involved too great a loss."

As he continued, Stranleigh grew more and more amazed. What a magnificent revivalist preacher this man would have made, had he not turned aside to politics! He quoted as if he knew the whole Book by heart, the words rolling sonorously from his tongue without ever a break or a mistake.

"'Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

"'Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

"'And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.