And yet, though the view from the tower might not seem very
attractive, a walk through the country revealed many a peculiar
charm to the observant and divining eye. Here one stood upon ground
where man had wrestled with Nature and subdued her. At every step
one encountered the marks of that struggle and victory, reminding
one of Jacob's mysterious encounter with the angel. The waters of
the marsh were now forced within the prescribed limits of a system
of drains and canals. Luxuriant crops triumphed over reeds and
rushes, which were now only permitted to fringe the edges of the
ditches. Sleek, mild-eyed cows grazed and ruminated where formerly
the wildfowl built her nest. Chaos was vanquished, and had to own
man for her lord and master.
Here, upon the scene of his labors, Paul's figure assumed a certain
epic dignity. As a stern lord with a handful of armed followers
keeps down a subjugated people, so Paul, at the head of a few
hundred workmen, held sway over the unruly forces of Nature always
more or less ready to revolt. There were always dikes to be
repaired, ditches to be deepened, drain-pipes to be laid or
improved, or artificial manure to be carted, and Paul was active
from break of day till nightfall, either on foot or on horseback,
hurrying from one end of the estate to the other, everywhere
ordering or giving a helping hand, and always leading his troops
himself to fresh onslaughts against the resisting elements.
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