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diff --git a/37458-8.txt b/37458-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d074a2a --- /dev/null +++ b/37458-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6707 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Natalie: A Garden Scout, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Natalie: A Garden Scout + +Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +Release Date: September 17, 2011 [EBook #37458] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATALIE: A GARDEN SCOUT *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + + + + + +[Illustration: Natalie begins her planting. (_Page 110_)] + + + + + NATALIE: + + _A Garden Scout_ + + By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + + Author of + "Janet: A Stock-Farm Scout," "Norma: A Flower + Scout," "The Blue Birds Series," "The Five + Little Starrs Series." + + Endorsed by and Published with the Approval of + NATIONAL GIRL SCOUTS + + A. L. BURT COMPANY + Publishers New York + + Printed in U. S. A. + + + + + Copyright, 1921, + by + THE NOURSE COMPANY + + Printed in U.S.A. + + + + + An Open Letter From the Author + +Dear Girls Everywhere: + +Perhaps you will like these country life books better for knowing that +the incidents told in them actually happened to me in my girlhood days. +I did not live on a farm such as Natalie's, however, nor was my father a +farmer. He liked to "putter" around the acre of ground after business +hours, simply because he enjoyed such recreation. I was generally at his +heels, and whenever a fruit-tree was being grafted, or a swarm of bees +hived, you could always find me there, too, getting in Daddy's way. If I +was not in the garden, or at the barnyard, I would be shadowing my +brothers who were my seniors. Scouts were unheard of in those days, but +we hiked, camped, fished and did all the enjoyable stunts which you +Scouts now do. + +I have not the space here to tell you of some of the hair-raising +"dares" my brothers tempted me to accomplish, but I will have to write +them for you to read, some time. However, the stunts and the following +results would never be termed ladylike, nor were they graceful. +Freckles, tan, and tattered dresses were the bane of my mother's life, +and the inglorious title of "tomboy" failed to curb my delight in the +freedom of country life. But, dear girls, I stored away a fund of health +and experiences that I can now draw upon without bankrupting myself. + +A keen desire, which I hope to realize soon, is to have a place like +Green Hill, where you girls can come and camp for as long a time as you +like. Then we can sit about the campfire and talk about the fun and +frolics the out-of-door life gives us. Many a laughable experience will +I then tell you. Until that time, dear girls, believe me to be an ardent +admirer of and staunch worker for the Girl Scouts. + + Sincerely, + Lillian Elizabeth Roy. + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. Natalie Solves a Problem 7 + II. A Secret Conclave 23 + III. Green Hill Farm 38 + IV. Girl Scout Farmerettes 59 + V. Investigating Green Hill Farm 91 + VI. Natalie Begins Her Planting 110 + VII. Natalie Learns Several Secrets 131 + VIII. Miss Mason's Patrol Arrives 153 + IX. Janet Forms a Second Patrol 175 + X. Trials of a Farmer's Life 213 + XI. Norma and Frances Launch Themselves 235 + XII. Grit Invites Himself To Green Hill 259 + XIII. Belle's Choice of a Profession 283 + XIV. Visitors and Welcome Orders 301 + + + + +NATALIE: A GARDEN SCOUT + + + + +CHAPTER I--NATALIE SOLVES A PROBLEM + + +"Here comes Natalie Averill, girls!" exclaimed Janet Wardell, as a +slender, pale-faced girl of fifteen came slowly down the walk from the +schoolhouse door. + +"My! Doesn't she look awful?" said Frances Lowden. + +"Poor Nat! I should say she did!" agreed Norma Evaston sympathetically. + +"She looks as if the end of the world had come for her," remarked Belle +Barlow, the fourth girl in this group of chums. + +"Not only the end of the world, but 'the end of her rope,' too," added +Janet, in a low tone so that no one else might hear. + +"If it's true--what mother heard yesterday--the end of Nat's rope has +come," hinted Norma knowingly. + +"What is it?" asked the girls anxiously. + +"Nothing new for poor Natalie to suffer from, I hope," said Helene +Wardell, Janet's younger sister and not a member of the clique of five +girls, although she often walked to and from school with her sister. + +"Well," replied Norma, aware of her important news, "it is about the +worst thing that can happen to a girl after she has lost mother and +father. Mrs. James confided to mother last night that there isn't a cent +for poor Nat. The lawyer said that Mr. Averill kept up appearances but +he had no capital. He must have spent all the money he made since +Natalie's mother died four years ago." + +"How perfectly dreadful for Nat!" cried Janet. + +"After the luxurious manner of life she has had, too," added Belle. + +"S-sh! Not so loud, girls; she will hear us," warned Helene, the +tender-hearted. + +"Did Mrs. James tell your mother what they would do?" whispered Frances +anxiously. + +"She said she would stay on with Natalie for a time, without salary, as +she has learned to love her so. You know she has been her companion for +four years! And Rachel declares _she_ won't go even if the world turns +upside down," returned Norma. + +"Just like good old Rachel," declared Belle. + +"But they can't live in New York without a cent of money, you know," +said Janet, with deep concern. "Folks have to pay rent and have +something to eat, wherever they are." + +But there was no opportunity to discuss more of Natalie's problems then, +as the girl came up and joined her friends. Her whole carriage denoted +utter discouragement, and her face was drawn into lines of anguish. + +"Hello, Nat dear! What made you stay in after school?" asked Janet +cheerily, placing an arm about the girl's shoulders. + +"I had to tell Miss Mason that I would not finish the term at school," +returned Natalie in a quivering voice. + +"No! Why not?" asked several voices. + +"Why, I expect to leave the city very soon." + +"Where to?" chorused her companions anxiously. + +"Oh, girls! I hate to think of it, it is so awful after all I had hoped +to do and be, for Daddy's sake!" cried the girl, hiding her face in her +hands. + +Instantly four girls closed in about her and each one had a loving and +sympathetic word of encouragement to say to her. In a few moments, +Natalie dried her eyes and tried to smile. + +"Janet will think it is wonderful, because she always _did_ like a +farm," said she. "But the only choice in life now given me, is to move +away to an outlandish farm up State, and leave all my friends and +favorite pastimes behind. When I think of having to live all my days on +a barren bit of land, I wish I were dead!" + +Janet tried to change the subject. "What did Miss Mason say when you +told her you would not complete the year here?" + +"Oh, you know what a faddist she is over that Girl Scout organization! +Well, she talked to me of nothing but my splendid opportunities of +opening a Country Camp on the farm and renting out the woodland to girls +who would be glad to use it." + +"But, Natalie, is it your own farm?" asked Janet and Norma. + +"Why, of course! Didn't I tell you about it?" cried the girl +impatiently. + +"No, we thought it was someone else's farm--Mrs. James', or Mr. +Marvin's, perhaps," explained Belle, gently. + +"It used to be my great-grandmother's place. Mother was born there, but +raised in the city. When grandmother died, Aunt stayed on there until +she, too, died. Then it descended to mother, who leased it to a man for +ten years. I have never even seen the horrid place, but I know it is a +mile from anywhere on the map. Mr. Marvin says it is fine, and _he_ +wants me to go and live there." + +"It sounds all right, Nat, if the house is habitable," remarked Janet, +the practical girl of the group. + +"I told Mr. Marvin to sell it for me, but he says I would be foolish to +do that. He says I can live on it for some years and then sell it when I +grow up and get more for it than if I sold it in its present condition. +He says I could spend my summers there and try to grow strong and happy +again, and in a few years he could ask a far better price for the +property than would be advisable now. I reminded him of all the families +who wanted homes, but he said the cost of building was so high that few +sensible investors would consider buying an old house that needed +remodelling. So there I am!" + +"How big a house is it, Nat?" asked Janet, as a thought flashed through +her mind. + +"Mr. Marvin motored over there a few weeks ago, but I refused to go with +him. Jimmy went, however, and has been raving over the place, ever +since. I just had to tell her to keep quiet about it, or I'd run away +from her." + +Helene laughed softly: "But that isn't telling us how large a house you +have on the farm!" + +"What difference would it make?" retorted Natalie plaintively. "The very +size of the barracks is a thorn in my side. It is a two-story affair, +with long rambling wings. Jimmy says it is pure Colonial--whatever that +means--and declares it is an ideal home." + +"Then, for goodness' sake, Nat, why are you so glum? Any other girl +would jump out of her skin for joy if she were left such a wonderful +inheritance," rebuked Norma gently. + +"Can't you girls understand? It isn't the house or farm I abhor so much +as the isolation I shall have to live in. That splendid auto-tour I +planned for the five of us is now out of the question. Even the +apartment Daddy and I were so happy in, is too expensive for my income. +If I can manage to keep any of my parents' lovely furnishings, I shall +be more than lucky." + +Her hearers were silenced by her pathetic complaint, but their teacher, +Miss Mason, now came from the front door of the school and smiled +invitingly at them. She was a great favorite with all the girls of her +class, and these five in particular. She came straight over and stood +with a hand affectionately resting on Natalie's shoulder as she spoke. + +"Have you heard of Natalie's good fortune, girls?" asked she cheerfully. + +"I thought it was fine, but Nat says I don't understand," said Janet +eagerly. + +"I don't believe Natalie can comprehend the fullness of the cup of +opportunity that is handed her, until she sees the place with her own +eyes. It is often difficult to visualize the possibilities in an idea +from another's description. If you girls want to have a little outing on +Saturday, I shall be delighted to drive you to Green Hill Farm in my +brother's car. He has a seven passenger machine, you know, and will not +be home to use it, this week-end," said Miss Mason graciously. + +"Oh, Nat! Won't that be fine?" exclaimed several girlish voices eagerly. + +"It will be a lovely trip, Miss Mason, and I'm sure we will all enjoy +it," grudged Natalie. + +"Maybe we can tuck Mrs. James in, somewhere, so she can play major-domo +for us when we arrive at the farm," added Miss Mason. + +"Maybe," admitted Natalie. "That is, if she cares to go again." + +"This is Thursday, so we have to-morrow to make our final plans. If all +is well, we can start out Saturday morning about ten," ventured Miss +Mason, leaving no room for argument. + +"I'll ask Jimmy when I go home, and let you know what she says," said +Natalie. + +"Where are you girls going now?" asked Miss Mason, with seeming +guilelessness, but with intent aforethought. + +"Why, Helene and I are going home, and Nat was invited to stay for +dinner and spend the evening," replied Janet. "Norma and Francie are +coming over after dinner, and bring Ned Foster and his cousin. They have +a motion-picture camera, you know, Miss Mason, and it is such fun taking +moving pictures of each other." + +"That will be fine! Natalie will enjoy seeing herself as a screen star, +won't you, Nat dear?" laughingly replied the teacher. + +"Oh, I don't know, Miss Mason! Nothing is worth while any more. I just +wish I were dead!" sighed the girl. + +"No you don't, Honey! It is just morbid sorrow that's fastened itself in +your heart. The moment you change your entire present state of mind for +a more harmonious one, you will feel like a new being. Now run along +with your chums and have a real--r-e-e-l--happy time." Miss Mason's +joyous nature was contagious, and smiles appeared where intense feelings +had drawn faces awry. So it was with Natalie: as Miss Mason turned to go +down the street, she stood smiling after her, with a lighter heart than +she had carried for many days. + +The five girls walked arm-in-arm along the city street regardless of +inconvenienced pedestrians who had to give way for them. But four of the +girls vied with each other in cheering Natalie into a happy mood, for +they felt so sorry for her. + +The five schoolmates had known each other for more than five years, and +being very near an age and in the same class in school, naturally became +intimates. Janet Wardell lived a few blocks from Belle Barlow and Norma +Evaston; and Frances Lowden and her brothers boarded at a Family +Apartment Hotel, two blocks west of Norma's home. Natalie Averill, +supposedly the wealthiest girl in school, lived on Riverside Drive, in +one of the modern apartment houses. + +A few years previous to the opening of this story, Natalie's mother +passed away, and Mr. Averill devoted all his love and spare time to his +motherless daughter. She was past the age when so much attention could +spoil her disposition, but since her father's death it was all the +harder for her to live without such love and pampering. Even the funds +that used to provide everything she asked for had vanished, and +henceforth she must go without the things that had made her life so +pleasant for a few years. + +Mrs. James, lovingly called "Jimmy" by Natalie, had accepted the +position of companion and mother to the little girl, when Mr. Marvin +explained the situation. As Mr. Marvin was one of Mr. Averill's closest +friends, as well as being his attorney, his recommendation of Mrs. James +was sufficient. + +As for Mrs. James, a lady in birth and training, she knew Mr. Marvin +would never offer her the home and charge of anyone that was not her +equal in life. Being penniless was no disgrace, but she had found it +most unpleasant when she met her old-time friends and could not feel +free to accept invitations because of her limited circumstances. + +This lovely home with every luxury, and her freedom in time and ways, +made the position an attractive one for her. So she had held the reins +of government very successfully since Mrs. Averill's passing, and Mr. +Averill's appreciation of it was shown in his last words. + +From perfect health and happy hours with his little daughter, Mr. +Averill had suddenly been taken with acute indigestion and in an hour +was gone. It was all so unexpected and helpless, that Natalie had not +grasped the meaning of it until the day of the funeral. Then she gave +way to hysterics and daily became more morbid and despondent. + +Mr. Marvin had confided to Mrs. Mason that, in spite of there being so +much ready money on hand whenever it was asked for in Mr. Averill's +lifetime, there was nothing left for Natalie's future. When the funeral +expenses were paid not a dollar would be on hand for rent, or food, or +clothing. There were some rare and expensive paintings, antiques, and +rugs, but they would be the only things that could be turned into ready +money. + +The lawyer had not given a thought to the farm in the Westchester Hills +that had belonged to Mrs. Averill's mother, as it had always been +mentioned in an apologetic manner. So, naturally, Mr. Marvin believed it +to be a tiny patch of poor land with a cottage of some kind on it. + +Consequently he was all the more surprised when he opened the deed of +the place, and found it was located a few miles west of White Plains, +and a mile east of the Hudson Division of the New York Central Railroad. +As he read down the printed page of the legal paper and found there were +thirty acres of good land,--ten tillable, ten woodland, and ten +pasturage,--with a substantial dwelling and some out-houses on it, he +heaved a deep sigh of relief. + +He telephoned Mrs. James at once, and explained the finding of the deed +and what it meant for Natalie's future. He also invited the chaperone +and Natalie to go out with him and inspect the property that he might +get an idea of the rent he should ask for it--or what price to value it +in case he could find a purchaser. + +Natalie would not go when the time came, so she knew not what the place +looked like. It was enough for her that her dear mother had never wanted +to live there and Daddy hardly ever mentioned it. Mr. Marvin could rent +or sell it as he liked--but she would not take an interest in it. + +To her utter disgust, Natalie found both Mrs. James and Mr. Marvin so +delighted with the old farm that neither spoke of a sale, or of renting +it. It seemed to be a settled fact that Natalie and her chaperone would +move out and live there for the summer. + +When the girl heard the verdict, she stormed away from the room and fled +to the refuge she had always sought when she had been thwarted in +anything in the past. That was Rachel's big brown arms. Rachel had been +housekeeper, cook, and nurse, alternately, in the Averill family. And +the kind-hearted old colored mammy never failed "her li'l' chile." + +But this time, when Natalie wept tears of misery over the idea of going +to live on a farm, Rachel explained how much better that would be than +to be adopted by a stranger, or have to live in a cheap boarding-school +somewhere in the country. + +Natalie had not dreamed of such an alternative, and as her old +confidante described the hardships of being a poor scholar in a cheap +boarding-school, or a handy-help in form of an adopted child in a +working family, her tears vanished and a feeling of dread of such +experiences caused her to consider the farm with a better grace. But it +was not with enthusiasm or cheerfulness that she told her school friends +her plans for the future. + +So Miss Mason left the girls to enjoy the evening, while she hurried +across town until she reached the address on Riverside Drive, where she +hoped to find Mrs. James at home. + + + + +CHAPTER II--A SECRET CONCLAVE + + +"Good-afternoon, Mrs. James," said Miss Mason cheerily, as she entered +the hall of the apartment belonging to the Averills. + +"To what happy circumstance do I owe this unexpected call?" asked Mrs. +James, taking the teacher's hand in warm welcome. + +"It was quite unpremeditated, and consequently I am unprepared with an +answer," laughed Miss Mason. "But I can confess to being one of those +objectionable persons that always want to run other people's affairs for +them. I just left the five girls at the corner of Broadway, and hearing +that Natalie would not be home this afternoon, I took advantage of that +knowledge to run in and have a talk with you." + +"I am very glad you did, as I have thought of asking your advice about a +step Mr. Marvin advises me to take for the child." + +"Perhaps that is the very business I came on. I want to help you run +your affairs, you see, so I am here to offer my experiences in certain +lines, and then I will try to encourage Natalie to look at a country +life with different eyes than she has stubbornly used, recently," +explained Miss Mason. + +"Is it about the farm proposition?" asked Mrs. James. + +"Yes, I left the girls talking it over, but Natalie seems to think she +is giving up all that is worth living for, by going to live at Green +Hill Farm." + +"Yes, that is her attitude, exactly! Whereas Mr. Marvin says she ought +to be the most grateful girl alive to find she has a lovely home +ready-made to go into, instead of moving to a shabby school life where +she will have to earn part of her expenses by waiting on table or doing +chores," explained Mrs. James. + +"Just so. And because I heard of the poor child's destitution, I am here +to suggest several pleasant and wholesome plans by which she can not +only live without cost to herself this summer on the farm, but also make +enough money to pay your and her own way in the city next winter. +Perhaps you are not interested in such suggestions?" ventured Miss +Mason. + +"Interested? My dear friend, you come like a blessing from heaven with +this news. The only great obstacle to our going to the farm at once was +the lack of money to stay there, with Rachel, all summer. No matter +where one lives, one has to eat and abide. And eating costs money, and +an abode needs furniture. The old house is empty and has to be +completely furnished before we can move out there," explained Mrs. +James. + +"Well, then, listen to my idea. It has been tried out so successfully +before, that I am not afraid to advise you to experiment for this +season, anyway. It is this: + +"You know what an enthusiastic member of the Girl Scouts' organization I +am? Last year I offered my services free to a camp of girls who wanted +to spend the summer away in the woods but had no place to go to without +its costing a great deal, and no one would attend them in a camp which +would be within their means. Then I happened in and saw how hungry these +seven girls were for an outdoor life, so I offered them a corner of the +woods on my brother's old farm down in Jersey. Some day I will tell you +the story of our summer down there. It is worth hearing." + +Miss Mason laughed to herself as she stopped for a moment to review +mentally that experience. Then she proceeded. + +"Now this is my idea: Natalie and the other four girls have been talking +of joining the Girl Scouts ever since last fall, when I returned from +camp. But they are like so many other well-meaning girls--they never +quite reach the point where they act! + +"My seven girls who spent the summer in camp with me last year are +begging me to take them this year again. I have agreed to do so if we +can find a good camp-site not so far from home as the Jersey farm was. I +wish to be nearer a railroad than last year, too. We were more than nine +miles from any store, or trolley, so it was most inconvenient to get any +supplies. + +"If Green Hill Farm is anything like what Natalie described it to me, +after school this afternoon, I would rent some of that woodland in a +minute. She said the stream ran through the farm at one corner where the +woodland watered ten acres. If Mr. Marvin will rent me enough of that +land for a camp for my Girl Scouts it will bring in instant returns, and +you will not have cause to regret it. + +"By having my girls on the ground, I can rouse the interest of Natalie +and her friends (if they visit her this summer), and in that way they +will want to join my girls. We now have a Troop in process of +organization, with the required eight members--a new Scout has joined +since last year. These girls are about the same age as our five +schoolmates, so there would be no disparity in years. I have been +elected as Captain of the Patrol, but we have not yet chosen a Corporal +for this year, as our meetings have been very irregular since school +examinations began. + +"These Girl Scouts became interested last spring, but not one of them +attends my school, so I see little of them excepting when they call on +me, or I attend one of their gatherings. Now that we are started on +founding a Troop, we shall have weekly meetings and all the rest of the +programme." + +Miss Mason waited to hear if Mrs. James had anything to say about her +suggestion, and the latter asked: "Do you think these seven--or +eight--Scouts are on the same social plane as Natalie and her friends?" + +"Yes, I do, or I would never have suggested their coming into contact +with our five girls. They are not wealthy girls, and each one will have +to support herself in a short time, but they are fine,--morally, +mentally, and spiritually. A few of them are not perfect physically, and +that is why I wish to give them another long summer out in the open. It +is the best thing a young girl can do to build up her strength and +health." + +"That is a great relief--to hear they are good girls. I have been very +careful of my girl's associations, you know, and now that her father is +not present to protect her, I will have to use more precaution and +better judgment than ever. This is one of the main reasons I have for +urging her to live out of the city for a time." + +"My Girl Scouts can be of great assistance to Natalie, if she will show +a genuine interest in us. For instance, one of the members of my +newly-fledged Patrol lived on a farm all her life before she moved to +New York two years ago. She knows everything necessary for light +gardening and barnyard stock. If you had any idea of planting the +vegetable garden, or keeping chickens, Alice Hastings can show you how +to do it." + +"I had not thought so far as that--gardening and poultry--but there is a +splendid lucrative business for a girl, I should say!" declared Mrs. +James. + +"Of course!" agreed Miss Mason. "And with a little care and good +selection, a garden can be made to keep a houseful of people. Rachel is +a good cook, and you are a thorough housekeeper, so what is there to +interfere with Natalie having a few good boarders stay at the house +during the summer?" + +"That was my idea, when I first saw the farm. I told Mr. Marvin that we +could ask very good prices and fill the spare-rooms, if Natalie would +consent to it. We will need some money for repairs and necessary +furniture for the extra chambers, but that is all. We have our +housekeeping things, and quantities of linen for all purposes, besides +bedroom furniture for five good rooms. I figure that the amount realized +on the sale of the Oriental rugs and draperies, the pictures and +antiques, would pay for all extras we may need, and give us capital with +which to launch a boarding-house for the summer," explained Mrs. James. + +"If you could find a number of girls of Natalie's own age to spend the +summer with you, would you not feel more at ease about the +responsibility of the undertaking?" + +"Oh, of course! I am perfectly at home with girls, you know. And they +would not demand such attention as adult guests, either," said Mrs. +James. + +"True! Then why not offer to chaperone a number of paying girls of +Natalie's age for the season? There are so many parents who would like +their girls to benefit by a summer in the country, but neither mother +nor father can leave home, so the girl has to remain also, because of no +suitable guardian to chaperone her!" declared Miss Mason. + +"I'm sure your idea is practical. And I will speak to Mr. Marvin about +it. If only Natalie would think favorably of the farm plan." Mrs. James +sighed as she thought of the protests and tears she had to contend with +whenever the subject was broached to Natalie. + +"I'll tell you what I proposed to the girls just before I left them, +then I must run along. I invited them to go out and see Green Hill Farm +on Saturday. I said I would get my brother's car and motor out, so they +could judge of the place,--whether it would make a pleasant home for the +season or not." + +"How very kind of you, Miss Mason!" exclaimed Mrs. James. "Mr. Marvin's +automobile is too small to carry more than three of us, and then we are +squeezed close together. He said he wanted an extra seat added, but +everything is so backward this year, the company would not promise to +deliver the car at all, if a seat had to be attached. Now this +invitation of taking Natalie with her friends is far better than driving +her over there alone. It will seem much more desirable to her if her +chums praise the farm and house." + +"That was my idea! And while they are roaming about the place, you and I +might look over the chambers and other rooms indoors, and average up +what might be the income from a number of paying girls," added Miss +Mason. + +"What a fairy-godmother you are, Miss Mason!" declared the elder woman. +"Natalie always said you were a dear, but I find you a most valuable +adviser, too." + +"Mrs. James, who would not move heaven and earth to help a poor little +child like Natalie, in her loss and forlorn state? Were it not for you +being with her, I think she would have followed her father from sheer +lack of interest in life. That is often the case, you know." + +"Yes, I know; but I am sure we have passed the worst phase in her sad +experience, and will now turn our backs on the morbid sorrow and face +the gladsome light," said Mrs. James. + +"That is one reason she ought to be in the country--where she is free +from all memories and can find a new interest in life. But young +companions are necessary, too, to suggest daily fun and work to each +other." + +"Did the girls seem pleased with your proposal to take them to the farm +on Saturday?" asked Mrs. James, anxiously. + +"Oh yes, indeed! They were all delighted, so I left them with a date for +ten o'clock in the morning. The girls can assemble here and I will call +promptly with the car. Now I must really be going." Miss Mason rose as +she spoke, and held out her hand to her hostess. + +"All I can say is, you'll be laying up treasures in heaven for yourself +if you give your summer vacation to girls who need the outing. Their +gratitude and love will be a crown in the future, that you may well be +proud of." + +"I will enjoy myself, too, never fear!" laughed the teacher. + +"I wish there were more like you, then!" + +"Perhaps we had best not speak to Natalie of our talk this afternoon," +ventured Miss Mason. + +"No, I won't mention your call. And we will let all other things work +out naturally,--even the plan of taking girls to board this summer. We +will wait and see if Natalie has any plans of her own," returned Mrs. +James. + +So the teacher said good-by and left. Both women felt happy and +confident that Natalie's problems were being solved after this +confidential chat. And when Natalie came home late that evening she was +gayer than she had been for many weeks. + +"What do you think, Jimmy!" cried she, as she ran in to kiss Mrs. James. + +"I'm thinking it is something good, Honey," returned the lady. + +"Why, Helene's and Janet's mother said to-night that if I went to Green +Hill Farm to stay this summer she would like to send them with me to +_board_! Isn't that interesting--to get an income out of my friends that +way, while they feel that it will be a great favor on your part if the +girls can come!" + +"I should be very glad to take care of them, Natalie, if you think you +would like to have them live with us this season," replied Mrs. James, +wisely refraining from mentioning a word about her talk with Miss Mason. + +"And the moment Frances heard of the idea, she said she would coax and +_coax_ until her mother said she could come, too! That started Norma, +naturally! And Belle declared that she would never stay home alone in +New York if we all were having fun on the farm. In the end, Jimmy, all +five girls were ready to leave home to-night, and start for the farm!" +Natalie laughed merrily at remembrance of the eagerness of her friends +to go and live on the farm. And Mrs. James was made happy at hearing +that care-free laugh,--the first one the girl had given since her father +was taken away. + +"When Mrs. Wardell heard that I didn't want to go to the farm, she said +I was 'cutting off my nose to spite my face.' And she said I wouldn't +act so set against it if I would use a little wisdom and common sense in +my thinking over the whole affair. Then Mr. Wardell told me what +wonderful times every one has in the summer on a good farm. He said that +any Westchester farm in that locality was most desirable. So I need not +feel that I was going to live on a poverty-stricken patch of land, +because I would be, most likely, within arm's reach (metaphorically +speaking, he said) of plenty of millionaires who loved quiet country +life, and found it in the Westchester Hills. So now I am as curious to +see my only home as you could want me to be." + +"I'm thankful for it," sighed Mrs. James. "And I'm thankful to the +Wardells for changing your opinions about Green Hill." + + + + +CHAPTER III--GREEN HILL FARM + + +Saturday morning Miss Mason drove her brother's car up to the curb +before the elegant apartment house where Natalie lived, and motioned the +door-man to come out. + +"Please telephone to the Averills' apartment and say Miss Mason is +waiting in the car. Let me know if they are ready." + +The uniformed attendant bowed politely and hurried in to obey the order. +In a few moments Miss Mason heard a happy voice calling from the window +in one of the upper apartments. She leaned out and tried to look up, but +all she could see was a fluttering of several handkerchiefs waved from +several hands. + +Then the porter came out and smilingly said: "Mrs. James says they will +be right down, Miss." + +"Thank you," was Miss Mason's reply, and she sat back to wait. But she +had not very long for that, as a bevy of merry girls hurried out of the +front door and ran across the walk. + +"Oh, Miss Mason! Isn't it a glorious day?" called Janet. + +"Couldn't be finer if we had ordered it for our trip!" added Belle +joyously. + +"And what do you think, Miss Mason?" cried Natalie, as happy as the +others. "Jimmy had Rachel pack us a lovely picnic lunch so we could +spend some time at the farm this noon. Won't it be fun?" + +"Indeed it will--especially if that famous cook of yours prepared the +goodies, Natalie," laughed Miss Mason. + +"Jimmy will be down with us in a minute, Miss Mason," added Natalie; +"she just stopped to telephone Mr. Marvin that we were all going to +motor out to the farm. Maybe he can come out, too, and join us there." + +"That will be splendid, as he can explain matters we may not +understand," returned Miss Mason. + +"I'm sure there's nothing to understand about a farm," ventured Natalie, +laughingly. + +"You say that because you never lived on one. But once you do, you will +find out that the soil on your garden will have a great deal to do with +the success of your vegetables. Even flowers need certain grades of soil +before they grow to perfection. If you have a pasture lot on the farm, +the quality of the grass will control the grade and amount of milk from +the cows; it will prove valuable, or otherwise, to your horses, to the +sheep, or other stock. Even the chickens that scratch over the field +will show results in the good or poor soil they feed in." + +"Why! How very interesting!" exclaimed Janet, wonderingly. + +"But that need not bother us, Miss Mason, as vegetables and stock will +not come into our lives," laughed Natalie. + +Mrs. James had come out of the house and now she heard what Natalie +said. "My dear child, one of the main reasons for our going to live on +the farm is to offset the high cost of living in the city. By raising +our own vegetables and eggs and chickens, we can live for one-tenth of +the cost in the city." + +"But, Jimmy, not one of us knows a thing about farming!" chuckled +Natalie, amused at the very idea. + +"Perhaps you don't know anything, but I do, Natalie." Mrs. James spoke +gently. "I spent a few years of my early married life on a lovely farm +near Philadelphia, dear, and there is not very much that I did not learn +while there. To make a success of the investment, I found I had to take +hold, personally, and not only supervise the work, but know _how_ to do +it, and to _do_ it if occasion demanded it of me." + +"Now it will just come in fine for Nat, won't it?" declared Janet, +enthusiastically. Mrs. James and the teacher laughed appreciatively at +the remark. + +"Do tell us, Jimmy,--did Mr. Marvin say he would try to meet us at Green +Hill?" asked Natalie, as the car started. + +"Yes, he said he would try to get an old friend to accompany him. He was +not sure that she could get away, but he proposed trying to coax her to +do so." + +"Is it an old friend of his?" asked Natalie. + +"Yes, a friend of many years' standing," replied Mrs. James, smiling +down at her idle hands. + +"Do you know her?" continued Natalie, seeing the smile. + +"Oh yes,--very well indeed!" + +"Do I know her, too?" + +"Yes, you know her." + +"Maybe we all know her,--do we?" asked Janet suddenly. + +"Yes,--you all know her," laughed Mrs. James. + +"Who can it be?" exclaimed several voices, but Janet tossed her head and +smiled knowingly at Mrs. James. The latter placed a finger on her lips +for secrecy, and Janet nodded. + +Many guesses were given but no one thought of the right name, and Mrs. +James refused to divulge the secret. Then so many interesting sights +were seen, as they drove swiftly along the Boulevard that runs through +the Bronx Parkway and northwards through the pretty country section of +Westchester, that the old friend who was to join them later at Green +Hill Farm was eclipsed. + +After a pleasant drive of less than an hour, Miss Mason turned off the +Central Avenue road and followed a cross-country road that ran through +the village where the farmers of that part of the country did their +shopping and got their mail. + +"If this is a village, where are the stores?" asked Natalie. + +"I see it!" exclaimed Mrs. James. + +"Oh, I see a little house with a few brooms standing on the front stoop. +A sign swinging over the door says 'Post Office,'--but you don't mean to +say that is our only shop?" laughed Natalie, as she jeered at the +general country store. + +"That is the 'Emporium' for Green Hill," said Mrs. James. + +"No wonder, then, that we'll have to raise our own food and other +necessities," retorted Natalie humorously. + +The girls laughed, for truly the small store had amused them. New York +stores were so different! + +A mile further on, Mrs. James called to Miss Mason: "We are almost there +now. It is the first house on the right-hand side of the road. You can +see the towering trees of the front lawn from here." + +Instantly every pair of eyes looked eagerly down the road and saw the +fine big trees mentioned by Mrs. James. In a few minutes more the car +was near enough to permit everyone to glimpse the house. + +"Jimmy was right! It is an old peach of a place!" declared Natalie +delightedly, as she took in the picture at a glance. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Miss Mason. "What a treasure, Natalie! Genuine old +Colonial, Mrs. James. I shouldn't wonder if it stood when Washington led +his army across this land to reach Dobb's Ferry. Even the old hand-made +shingles are still siding the house." + +"Yes, I heard it was a Revolutionary relic that was as well preserved as +any house around here. You see the fine old front entrance? With its +half-moon window over the door and the hood for protection from storms? +Even the old stoop and the two seats flanking the door, on each side, +are the old ones." + +"Dear me! To think this gem has been Natalie's right along, and no one +knew of it!" cried Belle, who loved antiques and vowed she was going to +be a collector some day. + +"Not that alone, Belle, but think how Nat balked at coming here to spend +this summer!" laughed Janet. + +"Well, but--I hadn't an idea of what it was like," said Natalie +apologetically. + +"The Law that is the basis of all national laws, says 'Ignorance of the +Law is no excuse for a criminal,'" quoted Miss Mason, smiling at +Natalie. + +"But, now, once I've seen it, I will confess I like it," Natalie +admitted. + +Miss Mason now drove the car through the gate which Norma had opened, +and the automobile drew up to the side door where a long piazza ran the +length of the wing. The moment the car stopped the girls sprang out in +haste, to run about and see the place. But Natalie stood still on the +lowest step of the piazza and gazed in at an open door. + +"Someone's here!" whispered she to her friends. + +Before anyone could reply, a buxom form filled the doorway and a wide +grin almost cleft Rachel's face in half. She held out both hands to +Natalie, and her expression signified a welcome to her "Honey-Chile." + +"Why! Rachie! How did _you_ get here? I left you at home!" exclaimed +Natalie, not certain whether it was flesh and blood she saw, or a +phantom. + +"Diden I come by a short cut, Honey, an' wa'n't it a good joke on +you-all to beat you to dis fahm!" laughed Rachel, delighting in the +mystery. + +"Oh, now I know! It was Rachel who is our friend, eh?" shouted Natalie, +clapping her hands. + +"Shore! Mr. Marwin done brung me in his speeder by d' Hudson Riber +Turnpike. We turned offen d' main road afore we come t' Dobb's Ferry. +Jus' d' udder side f'om Yonkers. Dat's how we come so quick," explained +Rachel. + +"Where is he? I want to thank him, Rachel!" cried Natalie, gratitude +uppermost in her thought just then. + +"You won't have far to go to find me," laughed a genial voice, and +everyone turned to see Mr. Marvin standing behind them. + +Then followed a visit indoors, with Mr. Marvin acting as guide from +attic to cellar, and his party stringing out behind. Some loitered in a +room, and then ran to catch up with the main guard. Or some lingered to +admire a view or interesting object in the house, and hurried after the +others later, for fear of missing something worth while. + +The main hall ran from front to rear of the house, cutting it in half. +On one side of the wide hallway was a "front parlor," and back of it the +back-parlor, or "settin'-room," as the farmers called it. Across the +hall was the dining-room and pantry, and leading from the pantry was the +kitchen. These rooms were so spacious that Janet laughingly remarked: +"Our entire apartment would go in one room." + +"Look at the wonderful fireplaces!" exclaimed Belle. + +"My! One can throw a log three feet long on the fire and not strike +either side of the chimney," added Frances. + +"Girls! Just see the funny little cupboards built in on each side of the +chimney-facing," called Norma, opening one of the panels that fitted +snugly to the bricks. + +Everyone called attention to a different discovery. Janet laughed at the +small wavy-glass window panes, that twisted the scene outdoors into +grotesque views. Natalie marvelled at the great dark beams overhead that +were not only hand-hewn from the timber, but also hand-planed. Mr. +Marvin drew attention to the wooden pegs used in the corners of these +beams, and the crude nails that a Colonial blacksmith had beaten into a +form that could be used by the home-builder of the house. + +"It is all so wonderful, Natalie, it seems like a dream!" exclaimed Miss +Mason, delighted beyond words. + +"Look at the heavy planks in the floors!" said Belle. + +"Yes, even the wood in the floors is hand-sawn and smoothed down by hand +and sandpaper. These floors will _never_ wear out," said Mr. Marvin. + +"Such a room ought to have sand on the floor instead of carpet. Picture +this old house furnished, attic to parlor, in strictly old-time style, +low wooden beds, high-boys, clothes-presses, and patchwork quilts +adorning the foot of the beds; in the front hall, a small stand to hold +the hand-dipped candles and sticks; a few braided mats in the 'company +room' and in the hall, but not in the other rooms; and sand,--glistening +white sand,--sprinkled over these floors every few days, and then washed +out when the dust demands it." + +As Miss Mason pictured the scene of the interior after the old +Revolutionary period, everyone saw how lovely such a plan would be. When +they followed Mr. Marvin up-stairs and saw the extensive view from the +landing of the stairs, Mrs. James said: "Here we must have a seat, so +one can sit and study the lovely, peaceful scene that stretches away +over the hills." + +The second floor had been divided into six rooms, with ample closet +space in each. A modern bathroom had been installed a few years before +by the tenant who had agreed to make all improvements and repairs at his +own expense. + +"Why! These bedrooms have electric lights in them!" exclaimed Natalie, +thus drawing attention to the drop-lights. + +"I didn't see any down-stairs," said Mrs. James. + +"Did anyone think to look for them?" asked Miss Mason. + +"No, we were all trying to see your old homestead with hand-dipped +candles. The light they gave us was so dim we had no way of seeing the +electric lights," laughed Natalie. + +"I'm going down-stairs this minute, and assure myself if there are any," +declared Miss Mason. + +"No one would have them up-stairs and not have them on the first floor," +said Mr. Marvin. + +While the others went to the attic to revel in a real old-time spot, +Miss Mason went down to the first-floor rooms to hunt for electricity. +To her astonishment she found how cleverly the late tenant had arranged +it. That he had a keen appreciation of the house was evident in many +ways, but in none so plainly as in the lighting. + +On top of each old-fashioned wooden mantel that crowned the fireplaces, +at the end of each mantel-board shelf, Miss Mason found the plug for an +electric fixture sunken on a level with the wood of the shelf. And on +each side of the door opposite the fireplace, she found that the +old-fashioned candlestick fixtures that had been admired as genuine +Colonial bits, had been wired and were ready for a bulb. Also she +discovered that a wall-plug was cleverly set in the high base-boards on +either side of the room. From these one could run the wire for a table +lamp, or a floor lamp, as preferred. + +She hastened up-stairs to tell the others about it, but when she reached +the second floor, such shouts of delight came from the attic, she could +not resist the curiosity to go up. + +"Miss Mason! Miss Mason!" shouted Natalie, the moment she saw the +teacher's head appear above the stairway. "Just see what we found!" + +"The very old pieces that Natalie's grandmother used!" added Belle, +pulling Miss Mason across the floor. + +"Isn't it all like a fairy tale, Miss Mason?" laughed Janet, eagerly +clasping her hands in her excitement. + +Mrs. James and Mr. Marvin were dragging great heavy pieces of mahogany +from under the eaves, and the several objects already brought to view +were being dusted, duly examined and admired by the young girls. + +Miss Mason saw one fine old high-boy and another old low-boy. The +foot-boards of three mahogany beds were already out on the floor, and +the two discoverers were working hard to pull out the other sections of +the beds. Miss Mason immediately went to work to bring to light some old +rush-bottomed chairs which were so covered with cobwebs and dust that +one could scarcely see them under the dark eaves. + +When lack of breath caused the three eager workers to desist and rest +for a short time, an inventory was made. Natalie joyously called out the +items while Mr. Marvin wrote them down. + +"Two low-boys; three high-boys; one side-board; five dining-room chairs +with haircloth covered seats; one round extension table; nine odd chairs +with rush-bottoms; four wash-stands of mahogany, with basin-holes and +under-shelf for ewer of water; four complete mahogany fourposter beds, +with rope webbing for springs; one damaged four-poster bed; box of old +candle-sticks, and snuffers, etc." + +"To think that this wonderful old collection of Colonial furniture was +here all these years and the tenants never took them, or used them!" +exclaimed Janet. + +"That goes to show how honest they were," added Norma. + +"The finding of this old family furniture certainly is opportune," +remarked Mr. Marvin. "With these pieces as a start, you can add to the +collection from time to time. I should advise you to keep only such +pieces from the city home, Natalie, as will harmonize with old Colonial +things. Also retain any intimate objects, but sell all the rest that is +only suitable for New York apartments." + +As they all went down-stairs again, Miss Mason remembered the electric +fixtures in the rooms on the first floor. + +When she told of the admirable manner in which the wires had been run to +bring out the best results, in keeping with the type of room, Mrs. James +was surprised. + +"I would never have thought a farmer had enough educated judgment to do +it. It only proves how we _mis_-judge them by considering a farmer an +ignorant individual who does nothing but grub on his farm." + +"Mos' time you-all come down f'om dat garret. I done call an' _call_, +'til my lungs bust open. My goodness! dat fine lunch mos' spiled, now!" +Rachel stood at the foot of the old stairs, glowering up at the +delinquents who had never heard a sound from her while they were in the +attic. + +"Oh, Rachel! We found the loveliest things up in the attic! Just think, +Rachie, my very own great-grandmother's mahogany furniture was tucked +away under the dark eaves, and Jimmy found it!" cried Natalie, catching +hold of Rachel's fat hands and shaking them excitedly. + +"Is dat so, Honey?" gasped Rachel, forgetting all about the luncheon and +the tardy guests. + +"Uh-huh! And we are going to keep everything in the old house strictly +Colonial, so it will look like a picture," said Natalie, leading the way +to the side verandah where the luncheon had been spread upon newspaper. + +Everyone was hungry and Rachel's viands were always tempting, so full +justice was done the sandwiches and other good things provided. Rachel +bustled about with importance, as she waited on her "chillun" and +insisted upon Mr. Marvin having a third cup of tea. Had she but known +the truth--he never took tea in the city, but dearly liked strong black +coffee after a meal. + +"Now you-all kin clar out and see th' fahm whiles I do up the leavin's +f'om lunch. Run down an' see d' riber an' what fine woods we got acrost +d' paster-lot. You'll fin' plenty to see an' keep you busy 'til I +finishes cleanin' up," said Rachel. + +Miss Mason was intensely interested in the woods that formed a boundary +of the property along the riverside for a long stretch. Mrs. James +understood her interest, but no one else had been taken into the +teacher's confidence. She wished to see possibilities before she spoke +of the Patrol of Girl Scouts who were looking for a camp-site. + +However, she found everything so desirable that she soon engaged Mr. +Marvin in a talk that ended with her having rented a section of woodland +for the summer, at a nominal price. She was to give Natalie and her +friends certain lessons in scouting and take them on the hikes with the +Scouts when they all studied birds, beasts, and other Nature-lore, as +part of the consideration. + +It was past three o'clock before the inspectors were ready to start back +home. Rachel had been sitting on the door-step of the spacious kitchen +for a long time before she spied them coming across the fields from the +stream. + +"Ef you-all 'specks to get back home in time fer dinner, we's got to get +a hustle on, 's all I say!" grumbled she. + +"Hoh! Rachel wants to attend Meetin' to-night, and she hates being +late!" laughed Natalie teasingly. + +"Mr. Marvin will get her home all right, long before we are half-way +there," said Mrs. James soothingly. + +"Seein's this comin' Sunday'll be my las' at chu'ch fer a hull summer, +yuh can't wonder I wants to be on time at choir practice t'-night," +remarked Rachel apologetically to Mr. Marvin. + +"Of course not! I'll agree to have you back in the city in a jiffy! And +now that I think of it, Rachel,--why should you bother to prepare dinner +for us to-day? Let me take the girls out somewhere for one night, and +you will have time to get to church early in order to say good-by to all +your friends!" + +As that was all Rachel wished,--to show the importance of herself and +her family who owned such a fine country-place, and brag about it to her +bosom friends,--she smiled serenely and sat down in the roadster driven +by the lawyer. + +The others stood and smiled, too, as they watched Mr. Marvin drive away, +and then turned to get into Miss Mason's car to start back to the city. + + + + +CHAPTER IV--GIRL SCOUT FARMERETTES + + +Mrs. James sent word to the storekeeper at the Corners, directing him to +hire help and send them to Green Hill Farm to clean up the house +thoroughly. Also to see that a man mowed the lawns and cleaned up the +barns and yards. + +Then came the work of selecting the things Natalie wished to keep, and +packing them ready to ship to Green Hill. The other furnishings in the +apartment would not be sold until after the girl was out. Mr. Marvin +said there was no need to cause her any unnecessary heartache. + +The second week in June, Mr. Marvin sent word to Mrs. James that the +house was ready for occupancy whenever she wished to move out there. Not +only was the old furniture placed in the respective rooms, but the +pieces that had been shipped from the apartment in New York were also +arranged for the time being. The only things to be moved were the trunks +and the cases containing the dishes and bric-à-brac which Natalie would +keep. + +Mrs. James read the letter to Natalie at the breakfast table and said: +"The sooner we can get away from here, dear, the better for all. Mr. +Marvin can then save a whole month's rent for you, as the owner agreed +to cancel the lease when Mr. Marvin explained the circumstances. If we +remain to the end of this month, it will take an extra week to dispose +of what remains here, and that will necessitate another month's rent if +it goes over the first of July." + +"Oh, I'll be only too glad to get away from the home where every room +and object speaks of dear Daddy!" cried Natalie. "Green Hill is so +lovely at this time of the year that I feel as if I could look forward +there to meeting Daddy and mother again without feeling any grief at the +parting now." + +"Then let us say we will start in a day or two!" exclaimed Mrs. James +eagerly. + +"But what about school, Jimmy? Exams will not come off until the third +week, and I don't want to miss any." + +"Natalie, maybe we can arrange some way with Miss Mason by which you can +take yours without being in school," said Mrs. James. + +"I'll see her to-morrow, Jimmy, and if she says I may do it that way, +I'll go with you at once." + +"If she can't make such an exception in your case, Natalie, we may be +able to arrange so you can commute to the city for the few last weeks of +school." + +The next noon Natalie hurried home with the good news that the Principal +had been interviewed and had granted Natalie permission to take her +examinations all at one time during the next few days of school, as her +average for the year had been so splendid. The fact that she maintained +a high standard all year through in her classes showed that she would +not fail now in her yearly examinations. + +"Oh, but this is good news, dear!" exclaimed Mrs. James joyously. + +"Yes, isn't it? If it wasn't for Miss Mason taking the time and interest +in me that she does, the Principal would never have listened to my +request. It seems rather wonderful to have a teacher who is a real +friend, too!" + +"We're grateful, no matter through what channel the good came; but I, +too, think Miss Mason a good friend to have," remarked Mrs. James. + +"She said something to me, as I left this noon, about your telling me of +her Scout camp. She laughed and said I would be surprised +and--perhaps--annoyed. If it was the latter feeling, I was to consider +she owed me a debt that she would try to pay as soon as possible. It +sounded so amusing, coming from her to me, who owes her all obligations +for what she has done for me, that I am keen to hear what you have to +explain." + +Mrs. James smiled. "I am sure you will be pleased, Natalie. Miss Mason +rented a section of the woodland that runs along the river bank at Green +Hill for a camp for her Girl Scout Patrol she told us of. They all +expect to go there on the first of July." + +"Oh, goody! Isn't that just scrumptious!" cried Natalie delightedly. + +"I thought you would like it, but Miss Mason was not so sure that you +would welcome her Scouts. The girls are all good girls, but they have +not had the money or social advantages that you and your friends have. I +told Miss Mason that the sooner all such fol-de-rol was dispelled in a +girl's mind the better. And these eight sensible young girls will help +dispel the nonsense." + +"That's right, Jimmy! Since I find myself thrown on the mercy of the +world, I begin to see how unfounded is one's faith in money or position. +One day it is yours and the next it is gone!" + +"Rather precocious views for so young a maid, Natalie," said Mrs. James, +smiling indulgently at her protégée. + +Natalie sighed. "Is it not true?" + +"True, of course, but you have not proven it to be so yet. You speak +from hearsay and from book knowledge. You have not had to make the sorry +experience your own yet." + +"Why, Jimmy! Don't you call my losses the test?" said Natalie, offended +that Mrs. James should consider her limited condition anything less than +a calamity. + +The lady laughed. "Child, you have a lovely home and land free and clear +of debt. It is worth at _least_ ten thousand dollars right now. With +judicious handling it will be worth four times that sum in a few years. +You have Rachel and me to live with you and love and cherish you--as +well as protect you. You have Mr. Marvin to take all charge of your +business interests, and last, but not least--you have four loyal young +friends who stick to you whether you have money or not. This is far from +being thrown on the cold mercy of the world!" + +Natalie thought deeply over this but she said nothing. + +"Well, let's get busy packing, Jimmy! I want to get away this week, if +we can." + +"Are you not going back for the afternoon session of school?" asked Mrs. +James, surprised. + +"Didn't I tell you I was free now? I do not have to return except for +exams. The classes are only reviewing the last term's work now, so I do +not have to report for that." + +"Oh, how nice! Then we will get to work at once." + +By afternoon of Wednesday, all baggage was out of the apartment, and the +three occupants were prepared to leave early in the morning. Mr. Marvin +had been notified and he said the key for Green Hill house was at the +general store. Mrs. Tompkins would give it to them. Mr. Tompkins had +followed his wife's advice and stocked up the kitchen and pantry with +whatever groceries Rachel would need to begin with. + +"Isn't that thoughtful of the Tompkins, Natalie?" said Mrs. James +gratefully. + +"Yes, I feel that we will be good friends--the Tompkins and us." + +Natalie had informed her schoolmates that she was to go on the nine +o'clock local in the morning, and so wished them all good-by that night. + +"It isn't really 'good-by,' Nat, because we will all see you again so +soon," giggled Norma. + +Belle sent Norma a warning glance and explained hastily: "Yes, it is +only a few weeks before we will be up on the farm with you." + +"Try to fix it, girls, so you can all join me on the farm as soon as +school closes," said Natalie. + +"That will be fine!" declared a chorus of voices. + +So repeated good-bys were said and Natalie wondered why the girls +thought it all so funny! The next morning as Mrs. James and Natalie +stood in line at Grand Central Station to buy their tickets, four +laughing girls pounced upon Natalie, and as many girlish voices said: +"Didn't you suspect? How could you believe we would let you go away +without sending you off in a royal manner?" + +Natalie laughed joyously. "But it isn't to the North Pole, girls! And it +is only a few weeks before you will be there." + +"Never mind! If it is only for a few days, we would see that the +railroad company was duly impressed with your importance because of your +friends who escort you to the train," laughed Janet. + +Mrs. James had purchased the tickets by this time, and they all started +to find Rachel, who was waiting with the baggage. Then they hunted up +the particular gate that gave way to the platform of the train they +wanted, and passed through in a grand procession. + +Rachel was last to pass, and as she tried to force the unwieldy bags +through without allowing for the narrow brass rails, she got them stuck. +A porter sprang forward to assist her, but she scorned him. + +"Whad foh yoh try t' show off _now_? Ef yoh had any sence in yoh haid, +yoh'd seen I cud have used help befoh dis! Clar out, now, and don' show +yoh kinky monkey-face heah ag'in!" + +As she puffed out the angry words, Rachel struggled with the baggage, +and finally shot through with the release of the knobby portmanteau that +held her precious property. The gate-keeper laughed quietly at the +discomfiture of the porter who was inordinately proud of his new uniform +and brass-corded cap. To be termed a "monkey-face" by an old mammy was +past endurance! + +The incident caused a merry laugh with the group of girls, and Natalie +said: "There, Rachel! I told you to let us carry one or two of your +bags,--you were too laden for anything!" + +"Da's all right, Honey! I ain't lettin' yoh lug yohse'f to pieces fer +me; but dat pickaninny what's dressed up like a hand organ monkey makes +his livin' by fetchin' an' carryin'; so he oughta know his bis'nis, er +someone's got to teach him it." + +As Natalie reached the platform of the train, she stood still to bid her +chums good-by again. Suddenly she remembered what had occurred the night +before. + +"Oh, is that why you laughed when I said it need not be a long good-by?" + +"Surely! we had it all planned to come and see you off, and give you +consolation in some tangible form because you would be deprived of our +gracious company for two weeks," giggled Belle, holding out a +ribbon-bowed box. + +"What's that for?" demanded Natalie, trying to act impatient because the +girls spent their money on her. But her acting was very poorly done. + +"And I thought you would need some farming implements at Green Hill, so +I managed to secure these for you," added Janet laughingly. + +She held out a long package that defied guessing as to its contents, so +Natalie took it and laughed merrily with the others. + +"And I brought your favorite nourishment, Nat. One of mother's +'chocklate' layercakes," said Norma. + +"Oh, my goodness! How shall I carry it without mashing the icing?" +exclaimed Natalie, managing, however, to place the square box upon her +arm where it was carefully balanced. + +"And I, Nat," said Frances, "feared you would lack fruit on the farm, +and so I tried to start you with a supply from the New York orchards." + +It takes little to make a merry heart laugh, and at each silly +schoolgirl speech made with the gift Natalie laughed so heartily that it +was contagious. + +"All aboard!" called the conductor, consulting his timepiece and waving +Mrs. James into the coach. + +"Good-by! Good-by!" shouted five girls, and Natalie was bundled into the +train and found herself watching the girls as the train receded from the +station. + +After she was seated and had tested the box of candies Belle had given +her, Natalie saw Mrs. James deeply interested in a paper-covered book. + +"What's the name of it?" asked she, handing the candy-box across the +aisle to Rachel. + +"Looks like candy," replied Rachel, thinking the girl was speaking to +her. + +Natalie laughed. "I meant the book, Rachie," explained she. + +Mrs. James looked up with a half absentminded manner. "What did you say +about the book, dear?" + +"I asked you what it was. Who wrote it?" + +"Oh, it is the new book 'Scouting for Girls,' that Miss Mason gave me +last night. It is certainly very interesting, Natalie." + +"Is that the Scout Girls' Manual?" said Natalie, surprised at the +thickness of it. + +"Yes, and ever so good! It is filled, from cover to cover, with +wonderful information. I never dreamed so much could be found in Nature +that is so absorbing to read about or study." + +"I wonder why Miss Mason did not give me a copy?" was Natalie's +rejoinder. + +"She spoke of it. She said she would send it by one of the girls this +morning. Didn't you get it?" asked Mrs. James. + +"I wonder if it is in that box?" + +As she spoke, Natalie began undoing the cord that wrapped the long box, +and having removed the paper and then the box-cover, she found not only +the Manual inside, but a hand-trowel and a weeder. + +"Of all things!" laughed she, as she held out the box to show Mrs. +James. "A shovel and a rake for my garden." + +Then it was Mrs. James' turn to laugh. "That is not a shovel, nor is the +other a rake, Natalie." + +"Oh, isn't it? What is it, then?" + +"The trowel is used when you wish to dig shallow holes, or loose-earth +trenches. The so-called rake is a weeder that you can use about delicate +roots, or in forcing deep roots to let go and come up. Both are very +necessary for a farmer to use about his house-garden." + +"Well, if I ever have occasion to use them, I shall remember Janet." + +"Then you will be remembering her every day this summer, I think," +laughed Mrs. James. "Weeds are the pest of a farmer's existence." + +Natalie was soon absorbed in her Scout book also, and Rachel was the +only one of the trio who could tell about the scenery they passed as the +train sped on to the nearest station to the secluded little village near +the farm. + +As the three travellers left the train and stood on the old platform of +the country station, Natalie gazed about. + +"My goodness! What a desert for isolation. Not a human being in sight, +and no sign of a house or barn. Nothing but glaring sign-boards telling +us where to stop in New York for a dollar per night--private bath +extra!" exclaimed she. + +Mrs. James laughed. It was true, but it sounded funny the way Natalie +spoke. + +"We ain't got to walk, has we, Mis' James?" asked Rachel plaintively. + +"I don't see anything else to do, Rachel. Do you?" + +"Not yet, but mebbe someone'll come along. I'd jes' as soon ride behin' +a mule es not. Th' misery in my spine is _that_ bad sence I've be'n +packin' and movin' so hard all week." + +"A mule would be welcomed, but there is none," laughed Natalie. + +"Isn't the landscape beautiful?" said Mrs. James, gazing about with +admiring eyes. + +"As long as it is all that is beautiful to look at at this station, I +must agree with you, Jimmy," teased Natalie. + +But both of them now saw Rachel staring down at the dusty road that ran +past the platform, and when she dropped her bags and started along the +road, acting in a strange manner, Mrs. James whispered nervously to +Natalie. + +"What can be the matter, Natalie? Can anything have made her brain +turn?" + +Rachel kept on going, however, bending over and staring at the dust in +the middle of the road. Natalie was dumbfounded at such queer behavior, +and was about to call to the colored mammy, when Rachel suddenly +stopped, straightened up and shouted at something hidden from the eyes +of the two who were waiting with the bags. + +"Heigh dere! Come back foh us, yoh hackman!" was the echo that was +wafted back to the station and the patient waiters. + +Both of them laughed heartily. And Natalie said: "That was what she was +doing! Obeying Scout instructions the first thing, and 'tracking a +horse' in the wilds of this land." + +[Illustration: "Maybe that is the cab Mr. Marvin ordered to meet us."] + +"Maybe that is the cab Mr. Marvin ordered to meet us. He said we must +not be discouraged if it turned out to be a 'one-horse chaise' instead +of a taxi," remarked Mrs. James, highly amused at the experience. + +Natalie made a vicious slap at a green bottle-fly that had annoyed her +ever since she alighted from the train. Now she laughed and said: "Not a +one-horse chaise, Jimmy, but 'one horse-fly' is here to meet us." + +It was such an opportune play on words that they both laughed merrily. +Rachel was now found to be arguing with a man seated in an antique +vehicle. He seemed to enjoy the conversation immensely, for he was +comfortably stretched out with his feet up over the dashboard and his +arms resting along the top of the back of his seat. + +"Let's go over and add our persuasions to Rachel's," said Natalie, +picking up her luggage and starting away. + +When they drew near enough to hear the conversation between Rachel and +the man, the former was saying: "Yuh don't know what I kin do to yoh! Do +yuh want to see my pow'ful arm?" + +The driver sat up at that and looked at the doubled up thickness of that +member of Rachel's anatomy. Then he said: "But I always gits that much a +head fer such a long trip." + +"What's the matter here?" demanded Natalie, coming up to join in the +argument. + +"Chile, dis highway robber wants to take fifty cents a haid fer takin' +us acrost to Green Hill Fahm. Why, it ain't no furder'n f'om heah t' +dere, an' I tells him it is stealin'. In Noo York sech profiteers gits +what's comin' t' 'em." + +Mrs. James interpolated at this. "Fifty cents each is not too much, +Rachel. But he must take the luggage as well." + +The colored woman retreated at that, and cabby chuckled. "How much +baggage?" + +"Three suit-cases and these bags and hat-boxes." + +"I don't see no suit-cases," mumbled he. + +"You would, if you had been at the station where you belong. The +station-man took the checks and turned the bags over to us before going +away to enjoy himself until the next train comes in," retorted Natalie, +impatiently. + +"All right; I'll wait fer yuh 'til yuh git back," agreed the driver, +preparing to take things easy again. + +"See here," said Mrs. James, sternly. "Are you Amity Ketchum?" + +"Yes'um,--at your service." + +"Then you're the man our lawyer engaged to meet the train and drive us +to Green Hill. Now stop your arguing and get those suit-cases, then take +us to our home." + +Mrs. James' erstwhile good-nature turned like the proverbial worm and +she became very imperious. So much so, that lazy Amity chirruped to his +horse and went back for the baggage. When he returned and stopped beside +the ladies, Mrs. James got in and sat on the back seat that was +adjustable to meet demands. Natalie got in and sat beside her, and +Rachel laboriously climbed up and dropped into the vacant seat beside +the driver. The entire vehicle cracked when her ponderous weight fell +upon the old bench, and Amity scowled threateningly at her black, shiny +face. + +"I gotta stop at Tompkins' fer some groceries," grumbled Amity, with +scant ceremony in his tones. + +There was silence for the time it took to reach the "Emporium" at the +Corners, but when the proprietor hurried out to welcome the city people, +the latter smiled and felt better for his friendliness. Amity had gone +inside to get his order filled, and then came out with arms laden with +packages. + +Mrs. Tompkins followed her customer out to the steps, and was introduced +by her husband to the three strangers. She was very pleasant and told +Mrs. James to call upon her for anything she needed or wanted done. +After thanking the gracious woman, Mrs. James was about to ask her +advice on an important matter, but the hackman gave his horse a cut with +the hickory stick, and almost dislocated his passengers' necks with the +lurch given the vehicle. + +The two storekeepers were left standing on the steps watching the +buckboard pass out of sight. Mrs. James was angry, but said nothing +more. She knew how Rachel's temper was instantly kindled when anyone +dared to offend a member of her revered family, and she understood just +what Amity would get if he was not more considerate towards them. + +Having driven little less than a mile along the good highway, Amity +suddenly turned off into a rough, badly-kept country road. Mrs. James +looked anxiously back, and on each side, then said: "Mr. Ketchum, this +is not the road to Green Hill Farm. You should have kept right on that +other road." + +"I know it!" retorted Amity. "I'm going this way so's to leave these +vittles at my house fer dinner." + +"Is your house far out on this road?" queried Mrs. James, after an +unusually hard bump of the vehicle over a deep rut. + +"Not so fer. I'll turn down th' next lane, and then to the right, and +there's my place. There's a back road what runs from my farm to your +woodland. I kin go that way and drive you up to your barn by a +wood-cutter's road," explained Amity. + +"Well, I hope you won't find any worse roads than this is, when we turn +into that lane," was Mrs. James' reply. But the words were disconnected +because of the incessant bouncing of the buckboard along the dried mud +and over large stones imbedded in it. + +Rachel had to cling with both hands to the small iron handle at the side +of the board seat, but she fared better than the two in the back seat, +as she was too heavy to be easily moved; and the driver's seat was +stationary, whereas the second seat slid dangerously up and down the +shallow grooves into which its side-feet fitted loosely. The side on +which Rachel sat sagged at least ten inches lower than on Mrs. James' +side, and the latter found it necessary to balance herself on her left +hip to retain any sort of seat whatever. + +They had travelled a mile of this sort of roadway when Cherub, the +horse, of his own accord, turned in at a gap in the old rail fence and +approached a carelessly-kept farm and dilapidated house. This private +road was far worse than the one they just left, but Mrs. James and her +companions expressed no impatience over it. + +Then they came to what might have been a very picturesque stream, had +the banks on both sides been kept in order. The only visible bridge over +this water was composed of enough loose planks to give passageway for +wagons or cattle. These old planks were not secured in any way, and +moved threateningly when anything came in contact with them. + +On both sides of this crude bridge the rains had washed out the dirt +from under the planks, so that deep ruts formed. And just before +reaching this rut, on the side of approach by the vehicle, was a huge +boulder that thrust up its jagged head from the very middle of the rough +roadway. + +Amity had known of this obstruction in the road for a long time, but he +was too lazy to remove this menace. He had always managed to guide the +horse so that the wheels just managed to clear the rock. Sometimes, with +a heavy load on the buckboard, the flooring would scrape along the top +of the stone, but a little nerve-racking thing like that never phased +Amity. + +This time, however, Cherub was in a great hurry to get his feed, which +he was sure would be awaiting him in the barn, so he failed to respond +to the usual hard yank on the reins. The consequence was, one fore-wheel +struck sharply in the middle of the boulder, and brought the buckboard +to an unexpected stop. The awful strain on the old rotten harness when +Cherub pulled and the vehicle was held up, caused the frayed rope +mendings to part and the eager horse hurried forward, leaving his +unwelcome drag behind. + +Of course, the violent halt sent the occupants of the buckboard suddenly +forward, so that Mrs. James unceremoniously struck Amity in the back and +caused him to lose his breath. Had he not had his feet braced against +the foot-rail in front, he would have fallen forward. Rachel, not having +used the foot-rail and not expecting any catapulting, went headlong over +the old dashboard. As the board was meant for a screen from water and +mud and not as a support for such a heavy body as Rachel's, it +splintered and let her sag down between the empty shafts, her head +resting on the whiffle-tree and her heels wildly kicking close to +Natalie's head. + +The two other passengers were too frightened to notice that Rachel had +on her hand-knitted, gayly striped stockings, brought years ago from +"Norf Car'liny" and only worn on rare occasions; and Amity was too +anxious to coax Cherub back and save himself any effort by going for +him, to think of assisting Rachel to extricate herself from the +broken-in dashboard. + +Natalie and Mrs. James jumped out and, after heroically lifting and +pulling, managed to bring Rachel right-side-up once more. The moment she +learned what had happened, and saw the driver waiting for Cherub to +return, she shook a doughty fist at him and scolded well. + +So impressive were her speech and actions that Amity considered +"discretion to be the better part of valor" this time, and jumped out to +catch Cherub and bring him back to his job. While the hackman was away, +Rachel turned to Mrs. James and spoke. + +"Ef yoh-all pays dat good-fer-nuttin' one cent affer my mishap, den I +goes straight back t' Noo York an' gits d' law on him to mek him pay me +fer playin' such tricks on defenseless women." + +"He didn't do it on purpose, Rachel. It was an accident," explained Mrs. +James, hoping to placate Rachel before Amity came back with the horse. + +"Ah don' care--akserdent er no akserdent, I ain't goin' foh to have no +fool-man like him dumpin' me down between dem shaffs what is fit onny +fer a mule! Now yoh heah me? Don' yoh go foh to pay him nuttin' fer dis +trip!" retorted Rachel with ire. + +Natalie laughed unrestrainedly at the funny scene, but the driver was +again crossing the bridge, leading the balky Cherub, so she managed to +cover her face to hide her amusement. While Amity tried to tie up the +damaged portions of the harness so that the trip might be completed, +Rachel came over and glared down at him. + +"Say, yoh pore mis'able chunk of cotton-haid! Don' yoh know I kin +kerleck damages f'om yoh foh whad happened t' me on dis premises of +yourn?" + +Amity looked up and returned her glare. "Say, you old black mammy, don't +you know I kin make you pay handsome fer smashin' my buckboard? Even the +harness would have held if you hadn't been so heavy as to make Cherub +break away from the load." + +That was too much for Rachel. She straightened up with family pride and +planted her hands on her ample hips as she declared: "See heah, ig'nant +clod-hoppeh! Don' yoh go an' fool yohse'f wid t'inkin' I'se as +easy-goin' as dat harness ob yourn--'cus I ain't! I'm an out-an'-out Noo +Yorker, I am, an' yoh kin ast Mis' James! I made one on dem fresh +condoctors in Noo York pay me fohty dollahs onct, when he started his +trolley an' dumped me down flat in th' road an' druv away a-laffin at +me. An' I wasn't damaged half as much dat time, as you done." + +Amity had finished tying up the harness and was backing Cherub into the +shafts as he listened to this warning. He now half-closed his squinty +eyes and switched the quid of chewing tobacco from one cheek to the +other before he replied to Rachel. Then he drawled out tantalizingly: +"You big blackberry, you! Puttin' on such airs about what you did to +car-conductors! But I ain't no easy mark like 'em,--see?" + +Rachel gasped at his insolence and turned to Mrs. James for succor. +Words failed her. + +"Amity Ketchum," commanded Mrs. James sternly, "drive us to our +destination without further delay, or any more words!" + +This gave Rachel courage to add: "Da's whad I say, too! Whad'he wanta +bring us all outen our way, anyway, when we hired him to drive us t' +Green Hill Fahm, an' da's all!" + +"Ef someone here don't make her shet up sassin' me so I'll dump all your +baggidge out an' you kin all walk to Green Hill, es far es I care!" +threatened Amity, standing up defiantly and refusing to get into the +buckboard and start on the way. + +Natalie turned to see how far the main road might be, and Mrs. James +glanced fearfully at the number of heavy suit-cases and bags to be +delivered at the farmhouse, but Rachel was the one to call his dare. + +"Ef yoh hain't in dat seat an' drivin' dat bony nag along in jus' two +secunts,--den yoh go haid-fust down in dat water--unnerstan' me?" She +rolled up her loose sleeves and showed a pair of powerful arms that +looked like business. + +Amity was a thin little man, and this Amazon apparently meant what she +said, for she came for him with dire purpose expressed in her face. So +he jumped into the buckboard and started the horse across the bridge +without waiting for Rachel to get in. + +Mrs. James rapped him on the shoulder to stop, and Natalie called to +Rachel to hurry and get in, but Amity seemed unable to make Cherub halt +and Rachel tossed her head and scorned to ask the man to let her ride. +To Natalie's coaxings, she shouted back: "Don' worry, Honey! Rachel +ain't goin' t' contamerate herse'f by sittin' nex' to sech white trash." + +But the road was bad and walking was irksome for Rachel who was +accustomed to stone walks and trolleys in the city when she felt tired. +She had to jump mud-puddles that reached across the road, or plough +through the sandy deep when the way ran alongside a sand-pit and sand +lay heavy on the road. + +Finally Amity drove up the hill that ascended from the river, and +stopped beside the piazza steps. The driver felt that he had finished a +hard day's work, and now sat back resting, allowing the ladies to get +down as best they could. + +Mrs. James took her purse from the hand-bag to pay for the trip, when +Rachel puffed up beside them. She saw the luggage still in the vehicle, +and turned to order Amity. + +"Carry dat baggidge t' th' doah, yoh lazy-bones!" + +"I was hired to drive three passengers to Green Hill. I done it, an' +that's all I have to do!" retorted he. + +"Mis' James, don' yoh dare pay him a cent till he min's what I tell +him," commanded Rachel, stern because she was on her own soil at last. + +Amity remembered he had not been paid, so he grumblingly transferred the +bags from the buckboard to the steps, then held out his hand for his +payment. "Dollar an' a half," said he. + +"Mis' James, don't you go an' pay him no moh den one dollah, I tells +yoh! He cain't make me pay nottin' cuz he made me walk half th' way. Dat +don't stan' in any United States Co'ht, no-how!" shrilled Rachel, +furiously. + +Mrs. James had opened her purse and hesitated between two fires--"to +pay, or not to pay" the full price asked. + +"Don't fergit my dashboard is smashed, an' I ain't sayin' a word 'bout +payin' fer dat!" snapped Amity. "An' don' yoh fergit my se'f respeck an' +modesty what was smashed when yoh made me stan' on m' haid in dose +shaffs! I shore will git Mr. Marwin to sue yoh, ef yoh don't go 'long +'bout yoh bis'nis!" exclaimed Rachel. + +Mrs. James placed a dollar bill on the front seat, and turned to Natalie +and said: "Open the side-door, dear, so we can go in." + +Amity got up in the buckboard, took the dollar and drove away without +saying another word. Rachel waited and watched him drive to the front +gate, where he turned to call back to her: "When you want a job in a +circus as a giant huckleberry, come to me fer references. 'I'll tell th' +worl'' what a fighter you are!" + +And Rachel shouted back at him: "Yoh got th' fust an' last cent outen +dis fam'ly foh joy-ridin'! I'm goin' to start a hack-line an' put yoh +outen bis'nis, ef I has t' take all m' life-insuhance money to do it, I +am. I got a nephew what'll be glad t' he'p me do a good turn to th' +country, as puttin' yoh back whar yoh b'long!" Then she turned to her +companions for their approval. + + + + +CHAPTER V--INVESTIGATING GREEN HILL FARM + + +As Rachel labored breathlessly with the baggage, she failed to notice +any changes in the appearance of the house or grounds, but Natalie saw +an improvement. + +"What has been done, Jimmy, to make everything look so trim and nice?" + +"I hadn't really noticed, Natalie, but now that you draw attention to +the fact, I see they have trimmed the box-hedges along all the paths, +and the grass has been mowed. Even the shade-trees have been pruned and +cleaned out. How well it looks." + +"Laws'ee, Mis' James! Ef dey hain't gone an' nailed a brass knock on dis +doah!" exclaimed Rachel, dropping her burdens on the mat and staring up +at the quaint old knocker that had been fastened to the Colonial door +since their last visit. + +When the door was thrown open, Natalie had a glimpse of the inside--now +furnished and most attractive. She followed Mrs. James and Rachel +indoors and clapped her hands in pleasure. + +"How perfectly lovely, Jimmy! Who would have dreamed that the dusty old +place would look like this with a few pieces of furniture and a good +clean-up of the rooms." + +"I swan!" breathed Rachel, in admiration, as she noted the braided rag +rugs on the hall floor, the Colonial mirror on the wall, and the +hall-table with drop-leaves flanked on either side by two straight +backed rush-bottom chairs. + +"It's almos' as fine as dem ole manor houses in Norf Car'liny. I ust to +be nuss-maid in one on 'em befoh I come Norf," was her final appraisal +of the inside of the house. + +Every nook and corner had been scoured until the entire house smelled of +cleanliness. Then the antique furniture that had been discovered in the +attic had been cleaned and polished until no one would have said they +were the same old objects. + +Mr. Marvin had selected enough braided and carpet-rag rugs for the +floors as would look artistic without covering up much of the fine old +oak-flooring of great wide boards. Simple cottage draperies hung at the +old-fashioned windows, and the personal effects belonging to Natalie +were so arranged as to give the entire interior a homey look. It was a +cheerful home for a forlorn little orphan, and she felt the atmosphere +of the place instantly. + +Rachel had gone directly to the kitchen after she left the others in the +hall, and now she was heard exclaiming delightedly: "Oh, Mis' James--an' +Honey darlin'! Come right out to my place an' see how fine I am!" + +They hurried out through the pantry and were surprised to find what a +great improvement had been made in the large kitchen, with plenty of +white enamel paint, new porcelain sink and table, and a fine modern +range. Even the chairs and cupboards were glistening white, and white +dotted swiss sash curtains hung at the four large windows. + +"Ain't it jus' too gran' fer anythin'!" giggled Rachel, as pleased as a +child with a new toy. + +"It certainly is! We will all want to live in the kitchen, I fear, +Rachel," said Mrs. James. + +"Who ever straightened up dis house fer us, suttinly knew her bis'nis!" +declared Rachel. "Jus' look at my closets--not one thing outen place. +Pans, pots, an' dishes--jus' whar I'd 'a' put them myse'f." + +Natalie was too curious to inspect the up-stairs, now, to remain longer +in the kitchen, so she ran away, followed by Mrs. James. Rachel was too +engrossed with the idea of preparing a luncheon on the nice kitchen +range to bother about up-stairs. + +On the wide landing of the main stairs Mr. Marvin had had made a +cushioned window-seat, so that one could sit and look out over the +kitchen gardens and beyond the fields, to the woodland that bordered the +stream at the extreme end of the farm. Past the woodland on the farther +side of the river rose a pretty green hill, similar to the one the house +stood upon. + +"Isn't this view just glorious?" cried Natalie, as she dropped upon the +seat and gazed enrapt at the scene. + +After resting for some time in the window-seat, the young owner sighed +and started up the rest of the stairs to the chamber floor. Here she +inspected the various rooms with the old four-posted beds and high-boys, +then came to a large, low-ceiled corner-room that had a similar view as +had from the landing, of the side and back sections of the farm, with +the woodland and stream beyond. + +"Oh, how darling!" cried Natalie, seeing that all her favorite +furnishings were arranged here. "This must be mine." + +"It is, dear. Mr. Marvin said he wanted you to have the best room with +all your beloved objects around you. Here you can read, or sew, or plan +for your estate," said Mrs. James smiling gently at the pleased girl. + +While Natalie rocked in the comfortable sewing-chair that she remembered +her mother had preferred to all others, Rachel was heard coming to the +foot of the stairs. She called authoritatively, "You-all hurry right +down to dis fine lunch what I got ready! Dat range bakes like Ole +Ned--an' I got jus' de fines' pop-overs you eveh saw'd!" + +"Um! That sounds tempting, Jimmy! Let's run," laughed Natalie. + +While the two sat down at the round mahogany table that would easily +seat ten, Rachel stood in the pantry door with her hands folded over her +expansive figure. She smiled indulgently when Mrs. James praised the +brown disks of hot bread just from the oven, and then went back to the +kitchen. + +The afternoon was spent in walking about the farm and planning various +wonderful things: the vegetable gardens; the place where Miss Mason +proposed having her camp for the Girl Scouts; selecting the best pasture +if Mr. Marvin would consent to their having a cow. Then the +out-buildings had to be examined in order to ascertain if they were in +good enough order to house a cow, and a pig, and chickens. + +It was evening before Natalie dreamed it, and they turned toward the +house with appetites that made them as ravenous as any half-starved +tramp. But Rachel was ready for them, and Natalie ate a supper such as +she had not enjoyed in years. Mrs. James watched with pleasure, for the +air and change had already worked a great good in the girl. + +The sun was setting over the woodland when Natalie came from the +dining-room. She sat down on the step of the side piazza to admire the +scene, when Mrs. James joined her, carrying two books. + +"Oh, I wondered where those Scout books were," remarked Natalie, taking +one from her friend. "Are you going to read yours now?" + +"Yes, and I thought you would like to, too. We can sit and enjoy the +cool of the evening, and discuss anything in the book that you do not +understand." + +After reading eagerly for some time, Natalie said: "I see here in the +section of the book that is devoted to forming a Patrol or Troop, that +each Patrol has a Leader, and also a Corporal to assist her. These +offices are held through votes cast by the Scouts, and each one of these +officers holds her position until another election. + +"But there can be no Patrol until there are eight girls banded together +to form one. How could we five girls expect to start a unit when we +haven't enough girls to begin with?" + +"Miss Mason suggested that, after she opens the camp on the river land, +you girls might attend one of the meetings of her Scouts and, if you +like the work, join her Patrol until you have enough members with you to +branch out and organize one of your own. This will not only give you +girls a good beginning in the work, but also help her girls to charter a +Troop." + +"When will this be, Jimmy, if Miss Mason's girls can't get away before +July 1st?" + +Mrs. James laughed. "I'm sure I don't know, dear. Miss Mason will be +better able to tell us that important point." + +"Well, at least I have the book that I can read and find out what Girl +Scouts are supposed to do. Then I will be able to go right along when we +do join Miss Mason's girls." + +"That's a good ambition, Natalie, and let the future take care of +itself. You only have to take one step at a time, you know, and no human +being ever lives more than one moment at a time. But how many of us plan +for the future and worry about to-morrow or next week! People would stop +worrying and hoarding if they understood the only right way to think and +live." + +Natalie smiled, for she knew Mrs. James desired to help humanity stop +its worries. So she said nothing but continued her reading of the +Manual. When she reached page 60, Section VII, and began reading about +the tests for Girl Scouts, she exclaimed: "Oh, now I see what I can do!" + +Mrs. James looked up from her copy and waited to hear. + +"I can learn and recite to you the Scout Promise and the Scout Laws, as +is requested in this section. I can acquaint myself with the Scout +Salute, and when to use it. I can memorize the Scout Slogan and the +Motto, and learn how respect to our Flag is expressed. All these other +things I can study and know, so that I can stand up before Miss Mason's +girls and answer any questions on this section that are asked me." + +"Yes, Natalie, and you can also practice making knots, as mentioned +here; learn the Scout exercises in every way; become proficient in +making a fire, cook decent food, make a bed properly, demonstrate your +sewing, and all the other things requested of a Scout for the tests," +added Mrs. James. + +The two readers became so interested in the books that they failed to +notice how dim the light was growing, until Rachel came to the side door +and exclaimed at seeing them with noses buried in "Scouting for Girls." + +"Laws'ee! Ef dem books tell you-all to spile yoh eyes like-a-dis, den I +ain't got no use foh 'em. Come right along in, now, and set by a lamp +an' read--ef yoh gotta finish de hull book in one night!" + +Mrs. James looked up, laughed, and placed a hand over Natalie's page. +"Rachel is quite right! Here we are trying to read by twilight that +would forbid anyone with common sense to attempt such a thing." + +"I've reached a thrilling place in the book, Jimmy! Can't I just finish +this chapter?" begged Natalie. + +"Certainly, but not out here. Let us go indoors and use the +table-light." + +Rachel had gone in and the lights were switched on, so Natalie ran in to +enjoy the engrossing page. + +"What is the chapter you are so interested in, dear?" asked Mrs. James, +as they settled down in cozy comfort to continue their reading. + +"Oh, this chapter called 'Woodcraft.' It is so wonderful to one who +never dreamed of such things being in the woods!" + +"My! But you must have read very quickly to have reached the thirteenth +section already. I have only read up to the ninth," returned Mrs. James. + +Natalie laughed. "To tell the truth, Jimmy, I skipped some of the +chapters that looked dry and educational. I saw the pictures of these +mushrooms, and the little creatures of the wood, and I glanced at the +opening words of the chapter. After that, I kept right on, and couldn't +stop." + +Mrs. James smiled and shook her head. "That is a bad habit to +form--skipping things that _seem_ dry and hard to do." + +Natalie heard the gentle rebuke but smiled as she read the woodcraft +chapter to its end. Then, instead of repenting of the habit of +"skipping," she turned the pages of the book and read where she found +another interesting chapter. This happened to be Section XVI on a Girl +Scout's Garden. She read this part way through and then had a brilliant +idea. + +"Jimmy! Janet Wardell says I ought to start a vegetable garden at once, +and not only raise enough for us all to live on this summer, but have +some to send to the city to sell to my friends." + +"I spoke to Rachel about that plan, Natalie, and she is of the same +opinion: we really ought to garden and thus save cost of living." + +"You know, Jimmy, that Janet is crazy over the war-garden she had for +two years, and she told me it was the most fun! Digging and seeding down +the soil, and weeding or harvesting was as much fun as playing croquet +or tennis,--and a lot more remunerative. But then Janet always was +ambitious. We all say she should have been a boy instead of a girl--with +her go-a-headness." + +"I don't see why a boy should be accredited with all the ambitions, and +energy, or activity of young folks!" protested Mrs. James. "Girls are +just as able to carry on a successful career as a boy,--and that is one +thing the Girl Scouts will teach the world in general,--there is no +difference in the Mind, and the ambitions and work that that Mind +produces, whether it be in boy or girl. So I'm glad Janet is so positive +a force with you four girls: she will urge you to accomplish more than +you would, if left to your own indolent devices." + +"I'll grant you that, Jimmy, but let's talk about the possibilities of a +garden, without losing any more time. Do you think we might start in at +once? To-morrow, say?" + +"Of course we can! In fact, I wrote our next-door neighbor, Mr. Ames, to +bring his plough and horse in the morning and turn over the soil so we +could see what its condition is." + +"Goody! Then I will start right in and raise vegetables and by the time +the girls come down, I ought to have some greens growing up to show +them!" cried Natalie. + +Mrs. James laughed. "I'm not so sure that seeds will grow so quickly as +to show green tops in two weeks. You must remember that ploughing, +cleaning out stones and old weeds, then raking and fertilizing the soil, +will take several days. By the time the seeds are planted it will have +taken a week. In ten days more, we shall have the girls with us. So our +vegetables will be wonders if they pop up in ten days' time." + +"Well--anyway--I can point out all that has been done in that time, and +explain why the greens do not show themselves," argued Natalie. + +Mrs. James nodded, smilingly, to keep Natalie's ambition alive. It was +the first time in all the time she had known the girl that she had found +her eagerly planning anything that was really constructive and +beneficial to everyone. And especially would it prove beneficial to +herself, for working in the open air, and digging in the ground, would +be the best tonics she could have. And the slender, undersized, morbid +girl needed just such tonic. + +So Mrs. James laid aside her book and devoted the rest of the evening to +the plans for a fine truck garden. + +In half an hour the two had sketched a rough diagram for the garden, +following the picture given in the Scout book. "All around the outside +of the rows of vegetables, I want to plant flowers, so it will be +artistic as well as useful," said Natalie. + +"If I were you, dear, I'd stick to the vegetables in the large garden, +and plant flowers in the roundel and small beds about the house, where +the color and perfume will reach us as we sit indoors or on the +piazzas," suggested Mrs. James. + +"But the vegetable garden will look so plain and ugly with nothing but +bean poles and brush for peas," complained Natalie. + +"Not so, Natalie. When the blossoms on the bean-vines wave in the +breeze, and the gorgeous orange flowers bloom on the pumpkin and melon +vines, or the peas send you their sweet scent, you will be glad you did +as I suggest. Besides, we will need so many flowers about the house that +it will take all the time and money we have to spare to take care of +those beds." + +So Natalie was persuaded to try out Mrs. James' ideas. + +"How long will it take us to get the seeds to plant in our vegetable +garden, Jimmy?" asked she later. + +"I can telephone my order in to the seed store in the morning, and they +can mail the package at once. We ought to have it in two days, at +least," answered Mrs. James. + +"That will be time enough, won't it? Because we have to plough and rake +the beds first. Oh, I do hope that farmer won't forget to come in the +morning," sighed Natalie, running to the door to look out at the night +sky and see if there was any indication of rain for the morrow. + +"The sky is clear and the stars are shining like beacons," exclaimed +she, turning to Mrs. James. + +That lady smiled for she understood why Natalie had gone to investigate +the weather signals. + +"Perhaps we ought to go to bed early, Natalie, so we can be up when +Farmer Ames arrives," hinted she. + +"Why, what time do you think he will be here?" + +"Farmers generally begin work at five, but he may not arrive until after +his chores are attended to. I suppose we may look for him about seven +o'clock." + +"Seven o'clock! Mercy, Jimmy, we won't be awake then," cried Natalie, +surprised at such hours. + +"Oh yes, we will, because everyone in the country goes to bed at nine +and rises at five. We must begin the same habit." + +"Oh, oh! How outlandish! Why, we never _think_ of bed in the city until +eleven,--and later if we go to the theatre, you know." + +"That's why everyone has pasty complexions and has to resort to rouge. +If folks would keep decent hours they'd be healthier and deprive the +doctors and druggists of an income. We will begin to live in the country +as country people do, and then we will show city folks what we gain by +such living," replied Mrs. James, mildly but firmly. + +So they prepared to retire that first night on Green Hill Farm, when the +hands on the old grandfather's clock pointed to eight-forty-five. Even +Rachel laughed as she started up-stairs back of her young mistress, and +after saying good-night, added: "Ef I onny could grow roses in m' cheeks +like-as-how you-all kin! But dey woulden show, nohow, on my black face!" + +She laughed heartily at her joke and went to the small room over the +kitchen, still shaking with laughter. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--NATALIE BEGINS HER PLANTING + + +The singing of the birds, nested in the old red maple tree that +overshadowed the house on the side where Natalie's room was, roused her +from the most restful sleep she had had in months. No vibration of +electricity such as one constantly hears and feels in the city, no +shouting of folks in the streets, no milkman with his reckless banging +of cans, no steamboat's shrieks and wails such as one hears when living +on the Drive, disturbed the peace and quietude of the night in the +country. + +"Oh my! I hope I haven't overslept," thought Natalie, as she sat up, +wide awake. She looked at the clock on the table and could scarcely +believe it was but five minutes of five. + +"Why, it feels like eight to me!" she said to herself, as she sprang +from bed and ran to sniff the delightful fresh air that gently waved the +curtains in and out of the opened windows. + +"I'm going to surprise Jimmy! I'll be dressed and out in the garden +before she wakes up," giggled the girl, hastily catching up her +bath-towel and soap, and running stealthily along the hall to the +bathroom. + +But her plans were not realized, because Mrs. James was up and +down-stairs before Natalie ever heard the birds sing. She sat on the +piazza sorting some bulbs and roots she had brought from the city in her +trunk. + +After Natalie was dressed, she tiptoed to Mrs. James' door and turned +the knob very quietly so the sleeper should not awake. But she found the +bed empty and the room vacated. + +Down-stairs she flew, and saw the side door open. She also got a whiff +of muffins, and knew Rachel was up and preparing an early breakfast. Out +of the door she went, and stood still when she found Mrs. James working +on queer-looking roots. + +"When did you get up?" asked she, taken aback. + +"Oh, about quarter to five. When did you?" laughed Mrs. James. + +"I woke ten minutes later, but I wanted to s'prise you in bed. I went in +and found the room empty," explained Natalie. "What sort of vegetables +are those roots?" + +"These are dahlia roots, and they will look fine at the fence-line, over +there, that divides the field from our driveway. Do you see these dried +sticks that come from each root? Those are last year's plant-stalks. We +leave them on during the winter months, so the roots won't sprout until +you plant them. Now I will cut them down quite close to the root before +I put them in the ground." + +As she spoke, Mrs. James trimmed down the old stalks to within an inch +of the root, then gathered up her apronful of bulbs and roots and stood +ready to go down the steps. + +"Do you wish to help, Natty? You can bring the spade and digging fork +that Rachel placed outside the cellar door for me." + +Natalie ran for the tools and hurried after Mrs. James to the narrow +flower bed that ran alongside the picket fence. A ten-inch grass-border +separated this flower bed from the side door driveway, making the place +for flowers quite secure from wheeltracks or unwary horses' hoofs. + +The dahlia roots were planted so that the tip edge of the old stalks +barely showed above the soil. Then the bulbs were planted: lily bulbs, +Egyptian iris, Nile Grass, and other plants which will come up every +year after once being planted. + +"There now! That is done and they are on the road to beautifying our +grounds," sighed Mrs. James, standing up and stretching her arm muscles. + +"After all I've said, you were the first one to plant, anyway," +complained Natalie. + +"Not in the vegetable garden! And flowers are not much account when one +has to eat and live," laughed Mrs. James. + +A voice calling from the kitchen door, now diverted attention from the +roots and bulbs. "I got dem muffins on de table an' nice cereal ready to +dish up," announced Rachel. + +"And we're ready for it, too!" declared Natalie. + +During the morning meal, Mrs. James and her protégée talked of nothing +but gardening, and the prospects of an early crop. To anyone experienced +in farming, their confidence in harvesting vegetables within a fortnight +would have been highly amusing. But no one was present to reflect as +much as a smile on their ardor, so the planning went on. + +It was not quite seven when Farmer Ames drove in at the side gate and +passed the house. Natalie ran out to greet him and to make sure he had +brought the plough in the farm wagon. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Ames. How long will it be before you start the +ploughing?" called Natalie, as the horse was stopped opposite the side +door. + +"Good-mornin', miss. Is Mis' James to home this mornin'?" asked the +be-whiskered farmer, nodding an acknowledgment of Natalie's greeting. + +"Here I am, Mr. Ames. Both of us are ready to help in the gardening in +whatever way you suggest," said Mrs. James, appearing on the porch. + +"Thar ain't much to be helped, yit, but soon's I git Bob ploughin', +you'se kin go over the sile and pick out any big stones that might turn +up. Ef they ain't taken out they will spile the growin' of the plants by +keepin' out light and heat." + +Natalie exchanged looks with her companion. Neither one had ever thought +of such a possibility. + +"What shall I use for them--a rake?" asked Natalie. + +"Rake--Nuthin'! all its teeth would crack off ef you tried to drag a big +rock with it. Nop--one has to use plain old hands to pick up rocks and +carry them to the side of the field." + +"Maybe we'd better wear gloves, Jimmy," suggested Natalie in a whisper. + +"Yes, indeed! I'm glad we brought some rubber gloves with us in case of +need in the house. I never dreamed of using them for this," returned +Mrs. James. + +She turned and went indoors for the gloves while Farmer Ames drove on to +the barns. Natalie followed the wagon, because she felt she could not +afford to lose a moment away from this valuable ally in the new plan of +work. + +"Mr. Ames, as soon as our garden is ploughed, can it be seeded?" asked +she, when the farmer began to unhitch the horse. + +"That depends. Ef your sile is rich and fertile, then you'se kin plant +as soon as it is smoothed out. First the rocks must come out, then the +ground is broken up fine, and last you must rake, over and over, until +the earth is smooth as a table." + +"What plants ought I to choose first? You see it is so late in the +season, I fear my garden will be backward," said Natalie. + +"Nah--don't worry 'bout that, sis," remarked the farmer. "Becus we had a +cold wet spring and the ground never got warm enough fer seeds until ten +days ago. Why, I diden even waste my time and money tryin' out any seeds +till last week. I will gain more in the end because the sun-rays are +warm enough this month to show results in my planting. Ef I hed seeded +all my vegetables in that cold spell in May they would hev laid dormant +and, mebbe, rotted. So you don't need to worry about its bein' late this +year. Some years that is true--we kin seed in early May, but not this +time." + +"I'm so glad for that! Now I can race with other farmers around here and +see who gets the best crops," laughed Natalie. + +"What'cha goin' to plant down?" asked Mr. Ames, curious to hear how this +city girl would begin. + +"Oh, I was going to leave that to your judgment," returned she naïvely. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" was the farmer's return to this answer. Then he added: +"Wall now, I kin give you some young tomater plants and cabbiges an' +cauliflower slips. Them is allus hard to seed so I plants mine in a +hot-bed in winter and raises enough to sell to the countryside fer +plantin' in the spring. I got some few dozen left what you are welcome +to, ef you want 'em." + +"Oh, fine! I certainly do want them," exclaimed Natalie. "Can I go to +your house, now, and get them?" + +"Better leave 'em planted 'til you wants to put 'em in your garden. They +will wilt away ef you leave 'em out of sile fer a day er night. Besides, +this stonin' work will keep you busy to-day." + +Mrs. James now joined them, and handed Natalie a pair of rubber gloves. +Farmer Ames stared at them in surprise for he had never seen anyone wear +gloves while gardening--at least, not in Greenville. + +As he drove Bob and the plough to the garden-space, Natalie and Mrs. +James followed, talking eagerly of the plants promised them by the +farmer. + +"Mr. Ames, you forgot to tell me what seeds to plant first?" Natalie +reminded him, as he rolled up his shirt sleeves, preparatory to steering +the plough. + +"Well, that is a matter of chice. Some likes to seed their radishes +fust, an' some get their lettuce in fust. Now I does it this way: +lettuce grows so mighty fast that I figgers I lose time ef I put it down +fust and let the other vegetables wait. So I drops in my beets, +radishes, beans, peas, and sech like, an' last of all I gets in the +lettuce seed. I gen'ally uses my early plants from the hot-bed fer the +fust crop in my truck-garden. I got some little beet plants, and a +handful of radish plants what was weeded out of the over-crowded beds, +that you may as well use now, and seed down the others you want. My man +is going over all the beds to-day, and I will hev him save what you kin +use in your garden." + +"Oh, how good you are! I never knew strangers in the country would act +like your own family!" exclaimed Natalie. "In the city everyone thinks +of getting the most out of you for what they have, that you might need." + +Both the adults laughed at this precocious denunciation of city dealers. +Old Bob now began to plod along the edge of the garden-space with his +master behind guiding the plough. Natalie walked beside the farmer and +watched eagerly as the soil curled over and over when the blade of the +plough cut it through and pushed it upwards. + +Farmer Ames was feeling quite at home, now that he was working the +ground, and he began to converse freely with his young companion. + +"Yeh know, don'cha, thet the man what lived here fer ten years, er more, +was what we call a gentleman farmer. He went at things after the rules +given in some books from the Agricultural Department from Washerton, D. +C. He even hed a feller come out from thar and make a test of the sile. +The upshot of it all was, he got a pile of stuff from Noo York--powders, +fertilizers, and such, an' doctored the hull farm until we gaped at him. + +"But, we all hed to confess that he raised the finest pertaters, and +corn, and other truck of anyone fer many a mile around. I allus did say +I'd foller his example, but somehow, thar's so much work waitin' to be +done on a farm, that one never gits time to sit down to writin'. So I +postponed it every year." + +"Why, this is awfully interesting, Mr. Ames. I never knew who the tenant +was, but he must have had a good sensible education on how to run a +farm, or he wouldn't have known about these fertilizers." + +"Yeh, we-all ust to grin at him for fuddling about on the sile before +he'd seed anythin'--but golly! he got crops like-as-how we never saw +raised before." + +"I could try the same methods," said Natalie musingly. + +"He worked over the sile every year, and never planted the same crops in +the same places. He called it a sort of rotary process, and he tol' me +my crops would double ef I did it." + +"Did he mix in the doctorings every year, too?" asked Natalie. + +"Sure! That's why he sent little boxes of dirt to Washerton--to find out +just what to use in certain qualities of sile." + +"Then I ought to do it, too, hadn't I?" asked she. + +"Not this year, 'cause he said the last year he did it, that now he +could skip a year or two. But you've gotta mix in good fertilizer before +you plant. Then you'se kin laff at all us old fogy farmers what stick to +old-fashioned ways." + +Farmer Ames laughed heartily as if to encourage his young student, and +to show how she might laugh after harvesting. Natalie gazed at him with +a fascinated manner, for his lower lip had such a peculiar way of being +sucked in under his upper teeth when he laughed. Not until Mrs. James +explained this, by saying that Farmer Ames had no lower teeth, did she +lose interest in this mannerism. + +"I know all about the tools a farmer has to use in his work, Mr. Ames," +bragged Natalie. + +"Oh, do yeh? Wall then, you kin get the rake and hoe, and fix up the +sile where the plough is done turned it up." + +Natalie remembered the paragraph in "Scouting for Girls" and asked: +"Shall I bring the spade, too?" + +Just then, Mr. Ames stubbed his toe against a large stone that had been +turned out of its bed. He grumbled forth: "Better git a pickaxe and +crowbar." + +"My book didn't mention crowbars and pickaxes, Mr. Ames, so I don't know +what they are," ventured Natalie modestly. + +"Every farmer has to have a pick and crow on hand in case he wants to +dig fence-post holes, er move a rock--like the one I just hit." + +"Oh! But our fences are all made." + +"So are the rocks! But they ain't moved. Better go over the ploughed +dirt and find 'em, then git them outen the garden." + +Natalie began to hunt for stones, and as she found any, to carry them +over to the fence where she threw them over in the adjoining field. This +was not very exciting pastime, and her back began to ache horribly. + +Mrs. James, who had lingered behind, now joined Natalie and exclaimed in +surprise, "Why, I thought you said the old tenant was so particular with +his garden? He should have removed all these stones, then." + +"This section was used fer pertaters an' corn every other year, an' some +stones is good to drain the sile fer them sort of greens. But fer small +truck like you'se plan to plant here, the stones has to get out." + +Mrs. James assisted Natalie in throwing out stones which turned up under +the plough-blade, and when that section of the garden was finished, Mr. +Ames mopped his warm brow and looked back over his work with +satisfaction. + +"Ef you'se want to plant corn over in that unused spot alongside the +field, it will be a fine place to use. It is not been used fer years fer +truck." + +"It looks awfully weedy. Maybe things won't grow there," ventured +Natalie. + +"Hoh, them's only top-weeds what can be yanked out. The sile itself is +good as any hereabouts." + +"Well, then, Mr. Ames," said Mrs. James, "you'd better plough that +section, too, for the corn or potatoes." + +So the rough part of the ground by the fence-line was ploughed up, but +the quantity of stones found in the soil was appalling to Natalie. Mr. +Ames chuckled at her expression. + +"Don't worry about seein' so many, 'cuz you only has to pick out one +stone at a time, you know. Ef you does this one at a time, widdout +thinkin' of how many there seem to be afore your eyes, you soon git them +all out an' away." + +"I see Mr. Ames is a good moralizer," smiled Mrs. James. + +He nodded his head, and then suggested that he visit the barnyard to see +if any old compost was left about by the former tenant. If so, it would +be a good time to dig it under in the ploughed soil. + +"Oh, I want to go with Mr. Ames, Jimmy, to see just what compost he +considers good," exclaimed Natalie, dancing away. + +Mrs. James watched her go and smiled. The tonic of being in the country +and working on the farm was beginning to tell already. Before she +resumed her task of picking up stones, however, the clarion voice of +Rachel came from the kitchen porch. + +"Hey, Mis' James! I'se got lunch all ready to eat!" + +As the lady was well-nigh starved because of the early breakfast and the +work in the earth, she sighed in relief. Now she would have a spell in +which to rest and gain courage to go on with the stoning. This showed +that it was not interesting to Mrs. James, but she was determined to +carry it through. + +Natalie ran indoors soon after Mrs. James and went to the dining-room +where the luncheon was served. She was so eager to tell what Farmer Ames +told her that she hardly saw that Rachel had prepared her favorite +dessert--berry tarts. + +"Jimmy, Mr. Ames knows more about farming and soil than books! He says a +mixed compost from the stables and barnyard makes the best of all +fertilizers." + +"His logic sounds plausible, Natty, but we haven't any such compost to +use, and perhaps never will have if we wish to use it from our own +barns," said Mrs. James regretfully. + +"But Mr. Ames said he could sell us some of that grade compost, if we +needed any. He says he does not believe our soil needs fertilizing this +year, as it is so rich already." + +"That is splendid news, as it will save us much time in seeding, too," +returned Mrs. James. + +"I wanted to show him that I knew something about composts, so I told +him about what I read in the book for Scouts last night:--that one could +use a commercial fertilizer if one had no barnyard manure available. He +looked at me amazed, and I explained that many farmers used four-parts +bone-dust to one part muriate of potash and mixed it well. This would +fertilize a square rod of land. I felt awfully proud of myself as I +spoke, but he soon made me feel humble again, by saying, 'Do you spread +it out on top of the ground after the seed is in, Miss Natalie, or do +you put it under the sile to het up the roots?'" + +Mrs. James laughed and asked, "What could you say?" + +"That's just it--I didn't know, Jimmy; so I made a guess at it. I +replied: 'Why, I mix it very carefully all through the soil'--and Jimmy! +I struck it right first time!" laughed she. + +Mr. Ames had finished his dinner (so he called it) long before Natalie +and her chaperone, and when they started to leave the house they found +that he was hard at work removing the rest of the stones from the +ploughed ground. + +"Oh, I'm so glad of that, Jimmy!" cried Natalie, as she watched the +farmer at work. + +"Well, to tell the truth, Natalie, I'm not sorry to find that job taken +from us," laughed Mrs. James. "I found it most tiresome and with no +encouragement from the stones." + +"Let's do something else, Jimmy, and let Mr. Ames finish the +stone-work," suggested Natalie, quickly. Just then Rachel came out on +the back steps of the kitchen porch. + +"Mis' James, Farmeh Ames say foh you-all to drive ole Bob back to his +house en' fetch a load of compos' what he says is back of his barns. His +man knows about it. Den you kin brung along dem leetle plants what is +weeded out of his garden and keep 'em down cellar fer to-night." + +Natalie felt elated at this novel suggestion of work, thereby freeing +them both from the irksome task of stoning the garden. And Mrs. James +laughed as she pictured herself driving the farm-wagon on the county +road where an endless stream of automobiles constantly passed. + +But she was courageous, and soon the two were gayly chattering, as Bob +stumbled and stamped along the macadam road. Above the clatter of loose +wheels and rattling boards in the floor of the old wagon, the merry +laughter of Natalie could be heard by the autoists, as they passed the +"turn-out" from Green Hill Farm. + +Having reached the Ames's farm and found the handy-man who would load up +the barnyard compost in the wagon for them, Natalie asked him many +questions that had been interesting her. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--NATALIE LEARNS SEVERAL SECRETS + + +Natalie made good use of her eyes while Farmer Ames's man gave her the +vegetable slips, and when she got back home the first question she asked +Mr. Ames was: "Why can't I buy a few of your asparagus slips? I love +asparagus and you have a fine bed of it." + +"I'd give yer some slips, and welcome, but it don't grow that way," +replied he. "First you've got to hev jest the right quality of sand and +loam mixed in kerrect proportions, and then yer seed it down. The fust +season of asparagrass it ain't no good fer cuttin'; the secunt year it +turns out a few baby stalks, but the third year it comes along with a +fine crop--ef you've taken good care of it through the winter cold, and +shaded the young plants from summer's sun-heat the fust two years." + +"Oh, I never dreamed there was so much trouble to just raising +asparagus!" exclaimed Natalie. "How long does it take in the spring, Mr. +Ames, before the plant produces the ripe vegetable?" + +Mr. Ames turned and stared at Natalie to see if she was joking, but +finding she was really in earnest, he laughingly replied: "Asparagrass +doesn't ripen like termaters er beans,--when the young stalk shoots up +from the sile, yer cut it off. It is the tip that is best, fer that +holds the heart of the plant. Ef you let it keep on growin' it will +shoot up into a high plant with the seed in its cup. But we cut it +before it grows up." + +"Oh dear! Then I can't raise it for three years, can I?" said she +complainingly. + +"It don't look that way," remarked the farmer. + +Mrs. James and Natalie had returned with the farm-wagon loaded with +compost late in the afternoon, and Farmer Ames stopped work soon after +their return to Green Hill Farm. + +"I've gotta look after my own stock and truck now, but I'll be back +to-morrer mornin' an' help spread out the fertilizer so's the ground +will be ready in another day er two." + +"I don't know what we would have done without you, Mr. Ames," said +Natalie, standing on the carriage step near the side drive. + +"Well, es long es you diden have to do without me, what's the use tryin' +to figger out what you would have done," laughed he, as he gathered up +the reins. + +"That's splendid logic, Mr. Ames," laughed Mrs. James, pleased at his +reply. + +"I allus says we waste more time crossin' bridges what never was excep' +in our imagination, than it would take to go miles round-about 'em." + +After this last original proverb, he started the horse along his way. + +Directly after the evening meal, Mrs. James took her Scout manual and +sat down on the piazza to study the chapter on gardening. Natalie saw +what she was doing and ran in to get her book, also. + +"Jimmy, it doesn't say one ought to have a trowel and pick for garden +work. Mr. Ames said we should always have them on hand in case of need. +I can see how much easier it would have been to clear the ground of the +stones had we had the pick instead of having had to use the +digging-fork," said Natalie. + +"I think so, too. And the hand-trowel will be very useful when we +transplant the small plants. I don't see how one can get along well +without it, or without a short hand-rake. But I wanted to read what it +says about making the garden beds. That is why I began reading it +to-night." + +"It says the bed should be three feet wide by twelve long," read +Natalie. + +"Yes, I see; but I have found three feet of soil to be uncomfortably +wide to reach over when you wish to weed or dig about the plants. If the +vegetables are bush-beans it is almost impossible to work in the middle +of the bed without rubbing against the outside plants and breaking off +branches. I should certainly plan to have my gardens but two feet wide, +with a foot-path fifteen inches wide between every bed. + +"Of course, where land is limited and costly, one cannot afford a wide +foot-path; but we can, and it will make the weeding much easier. A ten +or twelve-inch foot-path is almost too narrow to move about on without +damaging the plants along its edge." + +"Is our garden composed of clay, Jimmy, like it says in the next +paragraph?" asked Natalie anxiously. + +"Oh, no! Let me read what it says: 'The bed should be dug out to a depth +of two feet, and if the soil is clay, six inches deeper than two feet. +In the latter case you will have to fill in the bottom with broken +stones, or cinders, or gravel, for good drainage. The best soil is a +mixture of one-half sandy loam, one-fourth leaf-mould, or muck that has +been exposed all winter (to rot for this purpose), and then mix this +thoroughly before filling it in the beds. Sprinkle wood-ashes over the +beds next, and rake them well in the ground before you plant anything. +This is to sweeten the soil. Lime may be used for the same purpose; but +in either case, get advice as to the amount needed for the soil in +question.' + +"That is plain enough. The soil on different farms differs as much as +the people do, so that a careful analysis is needed to produce good +crops," explained Mrs. James. + +"I suppose there are soils that need next to no potash, and other soil +that needs no ashes, or other chemical treatments," ventured Natalie. + +"Exactly! So you see, if one added an extra chemical where enough of +such was already in evidence, it would injure the tender plant as it +sprouted," added Mrs. James. + +"Jimmy, Mr. Ames told me to-day that good old leaf-mould was the finest +of _all_ composts. But where can we get any, now?" asked Natalie. + +"I have no doubt we can find enough down on the river banks to cover +your garden beds this year. Then in the fall we can rake up the leaves +and allow them to rot through the winter for next season," said Mrs. +James. + +"Oh, I forgot all about the woodland down by the stream! I'll run down +there in the morning to see if I can find any rotted leaves," said +Natalie eagerly. + +"Natalie, you should also hunt up some long boards in the barn, or +cellar, to use when we plant the seeds," advised Mrs. James. + +"Boards--what for?" + +"Well, if we have the soil all smooth and fine for planting, our feet +will trample down the ground wherever we walk. We must do our seeding by +leaning over the bed and work down from each side of the two-foot wide +space. By placing a board on the foot-path between the beds, we can +stand on it and keep the soil from becoming packed." + +"I should think it would do the path good to be packed down good and +hard." + +"So it will, but the board will do that in an even manner. Our shoes +will cut in and cause the packing to be done in an uneven way," +explained Mrs. James. + +"I suppose we will have to fill some baskets with any leaf-mould we may +find in the woodland. But how can we carry them up to the gardens?" +Natalie now said. + +"Maybe Mr. Ames can suggest a way to do that better than our carrying +the heavy loads." + +"Well, I'd willingly carry it, just to have the benefit of it on my +garden. The vegetables will grow like anything,--Mr. Ames says they +will," responded Natalie. + +After a few moments of silence, she turned again to Mrs. James and +asked: "Why did you just say that we might rake up the leaves in the +fall and put them aside for the winter? Don't you know we won't be here +when the leaves fall?" + +"I'm not so sure of that, Natalie," returned Mrs. James. "I have been +thinking matters out very carefully, and from present indications there +will be a great scarcity of apartments, or rooms, to be had in New York +this year. The rents will be outrageous for us to pay, and as long as we +are so comfortably housed here, why try to earn the necessary income for +high rents? The distance to the station is not long, and you can easily +commute to the city to attend school in September. When winter weather +really sets in, we can take a trunk and board in New York until spring. +That will overcome all financial worries about leases and rents." + +"Oh, I never thought of that! But the girls wouldn't stay with me after +September, I'm afraid," exclaimed Natalie. + +"We won't have to plan or worry about that now," laughed Mrs. James. +"Maybe the girls will be so much in love with farm-life, they will beg +their parents to permit them to remain longer than September! In that +case, you will have no loneliness, I'm sure." + +"No, that's so; and I suppose it is really up to me to make them so +happy here that they will _want_ to remain," admitted Natalie. + +"I haven't suggested this possibility to Mr. Marvin, as yet, but I know +he will be tremendously relieved to hear of it, as he is wondering what +can be done in the fall, with our income so limited." + +"Well, let's talk about it the first time he comes out to see us. I am +perfectly contented to remain here, if it is best for all." + +After this digression, both amateur farmers turned their attention to +the scouting manual again. + +"It states here, Jimmy, that one must be careful not to allow the garden +soil to run over boundaries, and spread out upon the foot-paths. This +can be avoided by using a low length of fence made of a thin board about +six inches high, or the beds can be walled in with field-stone which +looks very artistic as well as useful. The plan of walling in the beds +also helps to retain the moisture in the ground where the roots can +drink it as needed." + +"I'll make a note of that, Natalie, as it sounds practical," said Mrs. +James, writing down the idea on a paper. + +"And it also suggests that the garden beds be built up from the pathway +for about two or three inches, making a tiny terrace of each bed and +sinking the foot-path below the bed. By so doing, any excessive moisture +is drained out from the soil, so the roots are not kept too wet," read +Natalie. + +"Yes, I knew that before, and we certainly will follow that suggestion +when we spread out our beds." + +"Well, when we get as far as that in the work, our seeds ought to +arrive," remarked Natalie, yawning behind her hand. + +Mrs. James smiled at the yawn for it was not yet eight o'clock, and the +previous evening Natalie had grumbled about retiring as early as nine. +But she said nothing about the yawn. + +"Don't hold up the delivery of the seeds on the ground that we must +finish all the garden beds first," laughed the lady. + +"Mercy no! I am as anxious to see the seeds as I am to plant the tiny +green shoots that Mr. Ames promised to give us." Then after another +mighty yawn that almost dislocated her jaw, Natalie added: "Jimmy, I +want to get up very early in the morning to plant those slips we got +to-day. Mr. Ames says I must give them several hours in the ground +before the sun is up, so they won't wilt and die. So I think I will go +up to bed--if you don't mind?" + +"By all means, Natalie. And I will follow, shortly. I just want to enter +a few notes on our work in this diary, then I will retire, also; I think +we can work better at dawn if we get our full quota of sleep during the +night." + +The next day was given to breaking up the clods of earth and raking out +the smaller stones to clear the garden beds. The compost was well-mixed +with the soil by Farmer Ames, while Mrs. James and Natalie went down to +the woodland by the river and found certain places where leaf-mould was +plentiful. It was as fine as gunpowder, and of an exceptionally rich +quality. That morning, Mr. Ames had arrived, driving Bob and an old +buckboard. When it was proposed that someone go for the leaf-mould, +Natalie instantly suggested that they drive Bob to the woodland so the +baskets could be placed on the buckboard and carried to the garden that +way. This would save time and great exertion on the part of someone to +carry them from the river to the beds. + +Now the containers were lifted up and placed securely on the back and +front platforms of the buckboard and the two hard-working companions +gladly sat down on the seat and started Bob up the grass-grown road. + +Soon they were helping to spread out the leaf-mould on the soil, and +while they worked, Natalie asked: "Mr. Ames, how comes it that no one +ever went to the river bank to get this rich mould?" + +"Well, that woodland and the river banks belongs to this farm, so no one +else would trespass on it. And the man who ran this farm had idees of +his own about fertilizer. He placed no faith in Nature's work, but kep' +on buyin' and experimentin' with stuff what came from Noo York." + +Mr. Ames stood up while delivering this explanation, then he added, +winking wisely at Natalie: + +"But he diden spile yer farm, fer all his foolin' wid Noo York stuff +instead of goin' to Nature fer her goods." + +His hearers laughed and Mrs. James remarked: "No, I should say not. And +you said yourself that he managed to get the best results of any farmer +round here." + +When the leaf-mould was well spread over three garden beds, Mr. Ames +made a suggestion. + +"Now you two women-folk kin use my tape-line to measure off three beds +as wide as yuh want 'em, whiles I goes down to the woods with Bob and +brings up some more mould fer the other beds. When the marking is done, +you kin begin to plant them termater plants I brought this mornin'. I +left 'em in the cellar whar it was cool and damp." + +This was encouraging, for it began to sound as if the garden was really +a fact. Before the seeds or slips were in the ground, something might +happen to change the plan, thought Natalie. So Mrs. James and she +eagerly measured out the first few beds, and about the time Mr. Ames was +ready to drive up his installment of leaf-mould, they were ready to get +the cabbage and tomato plants. + +Before sundown that day, three beds were on the way to producing their +vegetables. One bed was planted with tomatoes and one with cabbages, the +third was used for beets and radishes--plants which had been kept in the +cellar from the evening before. + +"To-morrer we will git the other beds done and you'se kin seed 'em down +wid all you'se wants to raise," said Mr. Ames, as he mounted the old +buckboard and prepared to drive home. + +"Oh, Mr. Ames!" called Natalie anxiously. "Do you have anyone who drives +to the Corners to-night, or in the morning, so they might get our seeds +from the mail?" + +"I'm goin' in m'se'f t'-night. Yeh see, Si Tompkins has sort of a +country-club meetin' at his store every week on this night, an' I hain't +never missed one!" bragged Farmer Ames. + +"What do you do at the meetings?" asked Natalie wonderingly. + +"Oh, mos' everything. Lately it has be'n all about the damp cold season, +an' how we are goin' to get our truck goin' ef this weather keeps up. +Some of th' farmers exchange advice on matters. Then when the weather +ain't bad, we talks about polerticks. That old League of Nations kept us +fuming fer th' longest time! But now that it's dead, we let it bury +itself." + +Both Natalie and Mrs. James laughed appreciatively at his explanation, +and the former added: "Well, if you will only bring our seeds, if they +have arrived, I won't dispute your rights to argue on politics." + +"That I will, and gladly," returned the farmer as he drove away. + +Natalie turned to Mrs. James and asked whimsically: "Did Mr. Ames mean +he would gladly argue politics with us, or gladly bring the seeds back?" + +"He meant both, I'm sure," laughed Mrs. James. + +But he did not appear again that evening, and Natalie wondered why not. +Mrs. James laughingly replied: "Because he, most likely, is the speaker +for the night's meeting at the store." + +Although this was said jokingly, it was exactly what occurred and +detained the farmer from driving home until after ten. As the farm-house +was dark at that time, he decided to take the package of seeds home and +deliver them in the morning when he put in his appearance for work. + +The farmerettes were ready for him, when he finally drove in at the side +gate. Natalie watched eagerly as he got out of the vehicle--she wondered +if he had the seeds. + +"I got th' seeds, ladies, but I be'n thinkin' about them pertater seeds +what my brother told me about las' night when we druv home from +Tompkins' Corners. Yuh hain't got no pertaters figgered on yet, have +yeh?" + +"Laws no! I forgot all about potatoes," exclaimed Natalie, using +Rachel's favorite exclamation when amazed. + +"Well--no harm done," returned Mr. Ames. "My brother has a reputation +fer growin' th' best pertater seed in the state, an' he says he kin +spare yuh about a peck, ef yuh let him know at once. I allus gits mine +of him, an' my crops never fail." + +"A peck! Why, Mr. Ames--a peck of seed will plant that whole field!" +cried Natalie, nodding to the big buckwheat field that adjoined her +farm. + +It was the farmer's turn to look amazed now. He glanced from the speaker +to Mrs. James and back again. Mrs. James laughed and said: "Did you +think potato seed looked like our other seeds?" + +"Of course,--doesn't it?" + +Then Farmer Ames threw back his head and gave vent to a loud guffaw. His +Adam's apple jumped up and down in his throat as he gasped for breath, +and his under lip came near being drawn out of sight in the suction +caused by his gasp. + +"Wall, ef that don't beat the Irish!" exclaimed he, when he could speak +again. "Mebbe we'll have a few other surprises to give Miss Natalie +afore she is done farmin'." + +"I haven't a doubt of it!" retorted she. "But just now you might explain +about potato seed." + +"How much seed would you have ordered for a patch of ground about six +beds' size?" asked Mr. Ames instead of answering her request. + +"About a pint,--maybe half a pint would be enough." + +Rachel had heard the farmer's loud laughter and having learned the cause +of it, she decided to spare her little mistress any further ridicule. So +she got an old potato from the basket and, having washed it carefully, +went to the door. + +"Oh, Natty! Ah say, Mis' Natty! Come right heah, Honey." + +Natalie turned and smilingly nodded at Rachel; then excused herself to +Mr. Ames and ran up the steps of the kitchen porch. + +"See heah, Chile! Don' you go an' show your ig'nance about farmin' in +front of dat country-man. Now watch me, Honey, an' den go back an' play +yoh knew it all dis time! Let Mis'r Ames think yuh was funnin' him." + +Rachel then took the large potato and showed it to Natalie. "See dem +leetle dimples in diffrunt places on its skin? Well,--dem is called +'eyes,' and when a pertater gits ole, dem eyes begins to sprout. Every +sprout will make a pertater vine, so farmers call dem eyes 'pertater +seeds'--see?" + +"Really! Why, Rachel, how interesting!" cried Natalie, taking the potato +and studying the eyes. + +"Yep! An' what's more, you'se kin cut a pertater what has f'om two to +six eyes a-growin', into pieces so one big pertater will plant as many +vines as pieces you cut outen him." + +"This potato has five big eyes, Rachel," said Natalie, counting +carefully. + +"An' bein' a great big pertater, I kin cut five pieces--watch me." + +Rachel then deftly cut the five sections and handed them to Natalie. +"But it isn't bestes to cut so many slices, cuz the sap leaks out and +that loses a lot of de power to grow a sturdy plant, Natty. When +pertaters is plentiful, we gen'ally cuts 'em in half--an' the skin +pertecks the sap from runnin' away. Ef we wants to use all dese five +pieces, we has to put 'em in the hot sunshine fer an hour er two, to dry +up de cut skin. Dat keeps in de juice when de slice is in de ground. And +de juice is what feeds de sprout until it grows above de ground." + +"Rachel, you are a brick! Now I can go back to Mr. Ames and show off all +I know!" laughed Natalie joyously, as she ran from the kitchen and +joined Mrs. James and the farmer again. + +But there was no opportunity for her to display her knowledge, as Mrs. +James had an invitation ready for her. "Mr. Ames says he would like to +have us drive with him to his brother's farm and see a model little +place. We can bring back the potato seed and, at the same time, get lots +of good advice and ideas about running our farm this summer." + +In a few minutes more the three were crowded in upon the seat of the +buckboard and Rachel stood in the kitchen doorway watching them drive +off. Their gay laughter echoed back to her as she returned to the sink +to finish the dishes, and she smiled as she murmured to herself: "Ef dis +summer out on a farm don' make dat chile oveh inter a new bein', den my +name ain't 'Rachel!'" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--MISS MASON'S PATROL ARRIVES + + +The drive from Green Hill Farm to Mr. Ames's brother's farm was +enlivened for Mrs. James and Natalie by the driver's gossip about the +neighboring farmers whose places they passed. One farmer made a +speciality of raising poultry, another tried to raise flowers, but his +greenhouses were not arranged well, and his plants generally froze in +cold weather. Still another farmer planned to raise nothing but +market-truck, but he kept postponing the attempt and thus never amounted +to anything. + +All these various plans gave Natalie food for thought, and she had many +schemes outlined in her head by the time Mr. Ames drove in at his +brother's farm-gate. + +The house and front gardens were as neat as wax, and one could see from +the road that the farm itself was well cared for. Mr. Ames spoke the +truth when he bragged of it as being a model farm. + +Mrs. Ames came to the side door at the sound of wheels crunching the +gravel, and smiled a welcome at her brother-in-law. + +"I brung the leddies I tol' you about," explained Mr. Ames, as he jumped +out and turned to help Mrs. James and Natalie. + +After introductions were over, Mrs. Ames remarked: "I'll go call my +husband. He's at the barns tryin' to coax a few little pigs from the +mother." + +"Oh, oh! Are they tiny little pigs!" cried Natalie excitedly. + +"Yes,--not much bigger'n a kitten." + +"Oh dear! Can't I see them?" asked she anxiously. + +Everyone laughed. "Of course you can," returned Mrs. Ames. + +"We will all go and see them," added Mrs. James. "I like to see little +creatures, too." + +So they all walked down the box-edged path-way to the neat out-buildings +where Mr. Ames was struggling with two squirming little pink pigs that +were determined to run away. + +Natalie stood and watched while the battle for supremacy continued, and +finally she offered to help hold them. But this was not necessary, as +the farmer managed to get them in the pen especially built for the +larger pigs of the litter. + +"They've got to be weaned and give the lean ones a chance to grow +better," explained the farmer, mopping his brow after the struggle had +ended. + +Natalie was so interested in the barnyard cattle, that the host escorted +her about and showed her many amusing and instructive things. Mrs. James +enjoyed this visit, also. The modern chicken-houses and duck-yards were +admired; the pig-pens, with their clean runs and concrete pools for the +pigs to bathe in, were inspected by an astonished Natalie who believed +pigs to be filthy animals; and all the other devices for the cleanliness +and comfort of the stock were commended; and then they all went back to +the house. + +Mrs. Ames had hurriedly prepared refreshments, although it was not more +than ten o'clock. Ice-cold butter-milk, home-made sponge cake, and +fruit, was a tempting sight. Natalie was thirsty after the visit to the +barns, and the cold drink proved most refreshing. + +While Mrs. Ames played hostess and showed her visitors her flower +gardens, the two farmers went to the seed-house and sorted the potato +seed Natalie wanted for her own garden. Then several tiny plants were +added to this bag,--slips that had been weeded out that morning, and +thrown out as superfluous in the Ames's gardens. These could be +transplanted at once by Natalie, and would go on growing, thus giving +time for the seeds to sprout. + +Natalie enjoyed the flowers and the stock-yard, but she was interested +in vegetables, and now she was anxious to get home and plant the potato +seed and other slips that had been donated. Hence, the three visitors +were soon on their way back to Green Hill. + +"Mr. Ames," began Natalie, as they drove away, "your brother said I +could save time in growing the corn if I would soak the kernels in +lukewarm water for several hours. He says the soil is quite warm enough +now for me to do this, so the swollen corn will not get a chill when it +is dropped in the hill." + +"Yeh, I know that, too. I was goin' to suggest it," returned Mr. Ames. + +"He said the lukewarm water would start the corn swelling better, and by +the time Natalie wanted to plant it the water would be cold and the +kernel would be the same temperature. The soil would be about the same +heat, so we would not be running any risk of failure in hastening the +seed," added Mrs. James. + +"Yeh--ye kin do that," agreed the farmer. + +"Another thing your brother said--that I thought good, is this: when we +plant slips, such as beets, cauliflower, and other vegetables in a +garden bed, to keep the seeds of such kinds apart from the plant beds; +then when the seeds sprout they won't confuse us with the older plants," +said Natalie. + +"Mr. Ames," now said Mrs. James, "your brother says he always plants his +corn in a rich sandy soil with a mixture of gravel in it, to act as a +drain. The more sunshine it gets, the sweeter it tastes, he said." + +Mr. Ames glanced at the speaker with a pitying look. "Diden yuh know +that afore he tole you?" was all he said. + +Natalie nudged Mrs. James and giggled. But the lady was not silenced by +the farmer's remark. She was enthusiastic about all she had learned and +had to debate it with someone. + +"He said that he seldom used a compost made of cow-manure, unless it was +seasoned with other lighter fertilizer, as it was so heavy it kept all +air from permeating to the roots. _But_ he added that it formed a +splendid foundation for other mixtures to be added to it." + +"Well, diden I say that same thing to yuh?" demanded Mr. Ames. + +"Yes, but it is more satisfactory to hear your advice seconded. Now we +_know_ you were right in your suggestions," said Mrs. James guilelessly. + +"Right here, I wanta tell yuh-all that I brung my brother up in his +farmin' knowledge. And what he knows he learned from me when I was +votin' an' he was onny in knickers!" was Farmer Ames's scornful reply. + +The rest of that day was spent in planting potato seed, Rachel helping, +so that the cut sections need not be dried out. At sundown Mr. Ames went +for his horse and buckboard, saying, + +"Wall, to-morrer yuh won't need me, Mis' James. Everything is goin' on +as fine as kin be, an' you'se know all about th' seeds." + +"Oh dear, Mr. Ames!" cried Natalie, in distress, "we will feel as if we +are at sea without a rudder." + +The remark pleased the farmer, for he was proud of his experience and +loved to have others admit it. So he said: "Well, ef I git time I might +run in at noon when I drives to the store fer mail and house-goods." + +"Please do! We will need you by that time, I am sure," replied Natalie. + +But the seeds and corn and other vegetable products were planted without +further mistakes or delay. Each day saw the work advance and by the time +the city school closed the garden was well on its way to producing +edibles for that season. + +The tiny lettuce slips that Mr. Ames's brother had given Natalie were +growing up fresh and green; the radishes showed three to four sturdy +little leaves, evidence that tiny red balls were forming under the +ground. The cabbages and cauliflowers began to present funny little +button-like heads above the soil; and the seeds were showing slender +little spears of green where the soft earth was cleft by their +protruding points. The tomato vines and other plants started from slips +that had been weeded out from the Ames's farms were doing well; so that +Natalie felt a righteous pride in her garden. + +[Illustration: The garden was well on its way to producing edibles for +that season.] + +A letter from Miss Mason came the last Friday of school: + + Dear Natalie: + + Almost before you will have time to digest the contents of this + letter we will have descended upon Green Hill Farm. The Girl Scouts + in my Patrol packed and shipped the tents and other camping outfit, + by express, the first of the week. I wrote the man at the Corner + Store to hold them until we called there for them. If Mrs. James, + and Rachel and you, have nothing better to do on Sunday, we will be + pleased to have you come to our camp and dine with us. We hope to + have everything in order and be ready for guests by Sunday noon, as + we will arrive at Greenville about noon on Saturday. Until then, I + will wish you all rest and peace, as you will need to draw heavily + upon the reserve fund of it after we arrive. My Girl Scouts are an + active, energetic patrol, and few of them ever stop to sit down or + sleep while in camp. + + Lovingly your teacher, + Anna Mason. + +"Jimmy, Miss Mason says her girls will be here Saturday--that's +to-morrow. But I haven't heard a word from the other girls about when +they will arrive! If only they could come up and be with us all on +Sunday. Don't you suppose we could telephone Janet and let her arrange +it?" asked Natalie anxiously, after reading the letter from Miss Mason. + +"Perhaps the girls are planning to pack up and get away from the city +for all summer when they do come here. In that case, I don't see how +they could manage to get away on Saturday. But we can telephone and find +out," returned Mrs. James. + +So Janet was called over the 'phone, and Natalie heard to her great +delight that Janet was coming Saturday evening even though other girls +in the group would not leave the city until the middle of the following +week. + +That afternoon at sundown Natalie inspected her garden critically, +trying to judge it from another's point of view. When she returned to +the house she sat down on the piazza beside Mrs. James and sighed. + +"I suppose everyone will laugh at my garden. The seeds aren't big +yet,--only the lettuce and other things that I transplanted from the +Ames's farms. Do you think they really will grow up, Jimmy?" + +"Of course they will. Does the sun shine or do we succeed in growing +_anything_ from the ground?" laughed Mrs. James. + +"But this is different. I am not an experienced farmer and maybe the +vegetables won't grow for me." + +"The poor little seeds never stop to wonder whether you are a farmer or +not. They have no partiality. It is their business to grow and bring +forth results, so they get busy and attend to their business the moment +they are planted. But all things take time to develop,--so with seeds. +They do not give you a full-grown head of lettuce or cauliflower in a +night." + +This encouraged Natalie so much that she went to sleep with the +assurance that her garden would thrive just as well as any farmer's in +the county. + +At noon on Saturday Natalie heard the laughter and confused talking of +many girls. She ran to the side porch and saw Tompkins' large +spring-wagon approaching the house. Seated in the back of the wagon was +a bevy of happy girls, and Miss Mason sat beside the driver. + +"Here comes the Patrol, Jimmy!" shouted Natalie, eagerly beckoning to +Mrs. James, who was in the living-room. + +The wagon drove in the side gate and Si Tompkins halted his horses while +Miss Mason called to Natalie: + +"Want to jump in and go with us down to the woodland?" + +"Run along, Natalie, and I will come down later," said Mrs. James, +smiling a welcome at the merry party in the wagon. + +In a few moments Natalie was up beside the teacher, and the wagon moved +on down the hill to the river land. + +Introductions were not given until the girls had jumped out of the wagon +and stood about Miss Mason waiting for orders. Then Natalie found the +Girl Scout Patrol consisted of nine happy, bright, intelligent girls, +who felt very grateful to her for the privilege extended them to camp in +her woodland that summer. + +The camping outfit had been packed in the front end of the wagon, and +when it was all removed, the girls started immediately to pitch their +tents and do other necessary work for an extended camping-time. + +Natalie watched with interest and saw that these girls knew exactly what +to do. Miss Mason selected a site where a cold water spring bubbled up +under a huge rock and formed a small pool. The overflow ran down the +woodland bank into the stream. Quite close to this spring the Patrol +would camp, using the water for all needs, and being far enough away +from it to keep camp débris from being blown, or thrown, into the pool. + +"Girls," called Miss Mason to her Scouts, "we will use this nice level +spot up on the slight elevation for the tents. Here we have natural +drainage away from our spring, and there is no possibility of the river +seeping up into the ground under the tents. Even the hill back of us +will not drain down upon our site, as there is that shallow valley +between our knoll and the further hill." + +So the tents were raised where the Patrol Leader designated, and here +they found all the advantages so desired by a group of campers: plenty +of sunshine part of the day, breezes whenever the wind blew across the +hills, privacy because of the surrounding woods, plenty of dry wood for +camp-fires, water from the spring, and the stream farther down to bathe +and swim in. + +Natalie watched the girls trench about each tent, and she also saw that +each tent was placed about twenty-five feet from the next one. There +were four tents in all,--two large ones for the girls and a smaller one +for Miss Mason, while a tiny one was for a pantry. + +While five girls were engaged in completing the tent arrangements, Miss +Mason and the other girls in the Patrol sought a suitable spot for the +latrine. Here they began to dig a trench and build a shelter. Natalie +went with them and learned that a latrine must be away from the +water-supply and in the opposite direction from which the prevailing +winds blew toward camp. Miss Mason was most particular about this work. + +"That trench is not deep enough, Amy," said she to one Scout who was +leaving the work. "Every trench must be at least two feet deep, one +wide, and four feet long. Your pit is only a foot deep, and you have not +excavated the dirt from either end. Dig it out clean and pile it +alongside so it can be thrown in again to cover over any waste. This +latrine is for summer use--not for a week-end camp, you know." + +When the tents were up and ready for use, Miss Mason called the Girl +Scouts together. + +"Now, girls, let us decide at once what shall be the tasks assigned to +each Scout for the coming week. We will have a similar gathering every +Saturday afternoon while at camp, and exchange duties so that every +Scout in turn will have the pleasure of doing certain duties for a week +all summer through. + +"First, we will choose a Corporal to assist me for the summer. We may +vote for a new Corporal, or allow Helen Marshall to hold her post. Here +are nine slips of paper to vote upon. Each girl can cast a vote for +Helen, or for another girl in the Patrol, and no one shall know who +writes the vote. Sign no name to the paper, but we will soon know what +the general wish of the group is." + +Eight girls voted for Helen to continue in the Patrol as Corporal, and +it turned out that Helen herself voted for Mary Howe as Corporal. + +"Well, Helen is our Corporal still. Now, girls, form ranks so we can +designate to each one the duties of the week." + +The eight girls formed in two rows, four in each row, with Helen at the +front with the Leader. Then Miss Mason began: "Mary, you shall be camp +cook for the first week. Amy is water-scout. Mildred, you are +camp-cleaner,--you have all the baggage and tents to look after. Lillian +will look after the pantry and dishwashing. Peggy must take full charge +of the wood and fire. Elizabeth will be the baker for this week; Alice +will see that the camp-grounds and latrine are kept clean and in order; +and Dorothy will have to be shopper and table-worker. Helen, of course, +is responsible for all work being done properly, and I must supervise +the Patrol and advise each one on any problem. Now, are there any +questions to ask about the duties assigned?" + +Each Scout knew what was expected of her, so there were no remarks at +the time. Miss Mason resumed her talk, to Natalie's great delight. + +"The fire-maker will immediately build a luncheon fire, and the cook +will begin preparations for the midday meal, as we are hungry and will +lunch before planning further tasks." + +"Miss Mason, where shall I find any food for luncheon?" now asked the +camp cook of the Leader. + +"In the soap box that the storekeeper placed with the luggage. We have +everything there necessary to keep us in food over Sunday. The edibles +must be kept under shelter, girls, so reserve the small tent for our +pantry for a few days." + +The wood-gatherer ran away to collect such fire-wood as was needed for a +slight fire to cook luncheon, the table-scout selected a flat place to +spread out the table-cloth, and soon everyone in the Patrol was working +industriously. Natalie had nothing to do, and Miss Mason came over to +her and entertained. + +"Well, Natalie, in the life you've led since you left New York, have you +any reason to regret coming to Green Hill Farm?" + +"I should say not! Why, Miss Mason, these two weeks have simply flown +by,--I have had so much to do, and have had so much fun doing it," +exclaimed Natalie enthusiastically. + +Miss Mason smiled. "If you continue improving in looks and health as you +have in two weeks, Natalie, no one will ever accuse you of being +delicate, or pessimistic. I should say you can compete with Janet for +health and vivacity now." + +"Did you know Janet is coming this afternoon?" asked Natalie eagerly. + +"Yes, she told me the other day that she was ready to run away from the +city the moment school closed. She would have started from home last +night, but the expressman had not called for her trunk and she had not +left out anything to use in case the trunk did not arrive here on time. +So they are checking it on her ticket to insure its arrival to-day." + +"I'll be so glad to see Janet,--she always inspires me with a desire to +do more than I want to when I am left to myself," remarked Natalie. + +"That is the effect of her natural energy and activity," added Miss +Mason. + +"I was thinking, as I watched you call a meeting of the Scouts, what a +corking assistant Janet would make in a Scout Troop. I don't know what +name you give her in a Troop, but in this Patrol you called her a +Corporal," said Natalie. + +"In a Troop she would be called a Lieutenant, but she would have to be +eighteen years of age, or over, and Janet is not that. So she would have +to be a Corporal for a time." + +"Miss Mason, if we five girls want to form a Patrol, can we do so and +choose Janet for our Corporal?" asked Natalie. + +"If you had eight girls to form a Patrol you could do so, but until you +had that number you would have to enlist with an already-formed Patrol. +You five girls might join us for a time and, perhaps, secure enough +girls living at Greenville to complete the necessary number to start a +second Patrol. We have not applied at Headquarters yet for a Charter to +form a Troop, but we hope to do so this year, if you girls can found +another Patrol and make our membership claim two individual Patrols. I +saw a number of girls of your age on our way from the station to Green +Hill. I am sure those girls would hail an invitation to join a Scout +Patrol." + +"Maybe they would, but I never thought of any girls in Greenville, Miss +Mason. I rather thought they would be too busy with home work, or their +own pleasures, to bother about Scouts." + +"There is where you wrong them. Not a girl in the country but would love +to join such an organization. They can always find enough time to do the +necessary requirements of a good Scout, and the pleasure and benefit +they get out of a Troop more than repays them for the time used. I +expect to interest all the girls of a membership age around Greenville +before we return to the city this fall." + +"I'll talk it over with Jimmy, Miss Mason, and see what she thinks of +this idea. I believe the Ames girl would join us, if we told her about +the plan," said Natalie. + +"And once the Ames girl was a Scout, she would tell her friends and they +all would want to join us,--see?" + +"Yes, if they thought it was going to be any fun." + +At this point in the discussion the cook came up and asked Miss Mason to +show her certain matters in connection with the soup-kettle. Natalie +laughed at the girl's anxious expression. But when Miss Mason invited +her to come, too, and tell them what was wrong with the pot, Natalie +hastened to say she would have to go back to the house and get ready to +go to the station for Janet! + + + + +CHAPTER IX--JANET FORMS A SECOND PATROL + + +Mrs. James and Natalie had engaged Amity to call for them and drive them +to the station to meet Janet, and when the expected visitor arrived +there was a great display of delight on Natalie's part. All the way from +the train to the farm the two girls were eagerly exchanging personal +experiences since they had parted in the city. + +"Say, Nat," began Janet, when a lull in confidences gave her time to +remember other things, "Mr. Marvin told Dad that you had started a +vegetable garden all by yourself! Is that so?" + +Natalie smiled joyously. "Yes, and this morning I found my first tiny +green spears above ground, Janet! It is lettuce!" + +Janet laughed. "You are the last one on earth that I expected to take to +truck-farming." + +"But it is the most fun, Janet! I wouldn't get half as much +entertainment out of travelling or motoring as I am having from my +garden." + +The moment the girls arrived at the house, therefore, Natalie insisted +upon Janet's going to her garden to see the tiny greens that were the +result of the seed-planting. + +"Why, look at the fine things growing in those other beds!" exclaimed +Janet, allowing her gaze to wander from the place where the almost +imperceptible green was showing above the ground. + +"Oh yes,--those are tomatoes, potatoes, radishes, cabbages, and other +things. But these particular beds are my very own work, so I feel a +great joy in them." + +"Aren't the others yours, too?" asked Janet. + +"Yes, but the plants were given me by Farmer Ames. He threw some out of +his own gardens because they were too crowded for the best results. I +planted them, but I did not _raise_ them from seeds. My baby plants here +are all my very own!" + +Janet laughed. She understood just how Natalie felt. It was the result +of all her own endeavor--these tiny seedlings. + +"Well," said she, after admiring the garden beds to Natalie's utmost +expectations, "I can't see what there is left for me to do, if you have +succeeded in your farming so soon." + +"I have been thinking of something for you to do, Janet. We've got all +those barn buildings, but they are empty. If only you could keep +chickens and a pig,--wouldn't that be great?" said Natalie eagerly. + +Janet laughed aloud. "Turn me into a stock farmer? I never thought of +it, but now that you present the idea, it surely sounds fascinating. +Can't you see me currying the horses, and milking cows, or chasing a pig +around the farm?" + +"I am in earnest, Jan! You can easily keep chickens and sell eggs. As +for a pig--why, Mr. Ames's brother wants to sell a few of a litter he +has at his farm. They are the cutest little things I ever saw. You'll +want to own one when you see them." + +Janet laughed again, as Natalie's suggestion was so foreign to anything +she had thought of. Not that it was unacceptable, however. The more she +thought of the plan, the more it appealed to her as being worth while +trying out. + +That evening Mrs. James sat with the two girls talking over the plan of +keeping chickens and other farmyard stock. + +"I can manage the initial investment all right, from my allowance that I +have saved up, but how do I know that the poor creatures will not die or +get sick under my management?" said Janet laughingly. + +"We've got Mr. Ames near at hand, if a chicken gets the pip,--that is +what they get more than anything else, I've learned," said Natalie. + +Both her hearers laughed hilariously at her remark, and Janet finally +said: "Well, I just think I'll experiment for fun! Where can I buy some +chickens?" + +"Oh, any farmer will sell you a hen," returned Natalie. + +"But I want more than one hen," said Janet. + +"You'll have to raise them yourself, just as I am raising vegetables +from seeds. You get a hen, put some eggs in a nest and make her sit upon +them. In three weeks you'll have all the young chicks you want to start +with," explained Natalie. + +"It's too bad to-morrow is Sunday, or I'd go over to Farmer Ames in the +morning and see about hens and a pig," said Janet regretfully. + +"We're all invited to go to the Scout camp to spend the day to-morrow. +But you and I will start for Ames's early Monday," replied Natalie +eagerly. + +So it was decided, after several hours' serious talk, that Janet should +venture to raise chickens and keep a pig. + +The next day was very pleasant, and being Sunday, Mrs. James permitted +the two girls to sleep an hour longer than was the daily custom. When +they were through with breakfast, and had visited the gardens to see if +any fresh spears of green had made an appearance since the previous +evening, they all started for the Scout camp. + +"Yoh-all go on ahead, an' I'll be along affer-while. I'se goin' to tote +along a pan of hot biskits fer the club," said Rachel. + +"All right, then we'll warn the cook that she need not worry about Scout +bread for dinner," laughed Mrs. James. + +Janet was curious to visit the camp and see what a lot of Girl Scouts +did with themselves. Natalie had told her about Miss Mason's proposal to +interest some of the Greenville girls, that, with the five who would +live on the farm that summer, they might organize a second Patrol, and +the two Patrols could then apply for a Troop charter. + +The Sunday visit proved to be very interesting and satisfactory, for +both girls saw how much the Scouts could do that they had never dreamed +of before. The Sunday dinner that was prepared and served by these girls +was delicious, and everything in camp was conducted according to Scout +rules. When Mrs. James and her two charges were ready to start for the +house, both Natalie and Janet were enthused with the ambition to launch +a campaign for a second Patrol without delay. + + +[Illustration: The dinner that was prepared and served by these girls +was delicious.] + +On the walk back home Natalie said: "We ought to write the girls to get +a Scout book for themselves, and then come to Green Hill as soon as +possible. We need them to go around and talk up the Scout idea with +girls about here." + +"I wish to goodness Helene was old enough to be a Girl Scout. That would +give us six girls, instead of five," said Janet. + +"Helene can be a Scoutlet--because she is under twelve--but I am not +sure that that would count in our Patrol," said Mrs. James. + +That night a letter was written to each of the three girls remaining in +New York, telling them to go straightway to Headquarters and secure a +copy of "Scouting for Girls," the handbook that is necessary for a Scout +to read and apply. Also the three girls were urged to pack up and come +to the farm without losing any more valuable time. But no mention was +made of the reason why this request was urged. + +Natalie was up an hour before breakfast on Monday and hurried to her +garden to see what had grown since the day before. To her great surprise +and joy, she found the corn had sprung up an inch above ground since she +had visited her beloved gardens the day previous. So excited was she +that she raced back to the house, shouting as soon as she came within +call: + +"Jimmy! Jimmy! My corn's all up! Way up, so'se you can see the blades!" + +Rachel hurried out of the door to learn what had happened, and when she +heard the corn had sprouted and caused all the commotion, she laughed +and shook her fat form in amusement. + +Mrs. James and Janet were most sympathetic, and hurried with Natalie to +the bed. Sure enough! The green blades were bravely holding up their +pointed green heads as if to bless their young planter. + +"That's because yesterday was such a hot day, and the night was damp and +dewy," remarked Mrs. James. + +By this time Natalie had gone to her other vegetable beds, and now +called out: "Oh, oh! The beets and beans are up, too!" + +To the great delight of the farmerette, it was found that all the shoots +had now broken through the soil and tiny green heads were showing in +neat rows wherever Natalie had planted seeds. This was very encouraging, +and the three returned to the house for breakfast in an exalted frame of +mind. + +"I don't s'pose there is anything more I can do to-day to hurry them +along, is there?" Natalie wondered aloud, as they finished breakfast and +were discussing the wonders of a vegetable garden. + +Mrs. James laughed. "No, I should advise you to start out as Janet and +you planned, to interest girls in a Scout Patrol to-day. By permitting +the vegetables to grow unwatched, they will surprise you the more. +Perhaps the corn found courage to come out of the ground when it heard +you were not around to annoy it. Had we been about the place yesterday, +instead of at camp, the corn may never have dared come out of hiding." + +Natalie glanced at the speaker to see if she was in earnest, but Janet +laughed merrily at the words. + +"Well," ventured Natalie, "as we ought really to find enough girls to +fill our quota for a Patrol, I think we will visit some of the families +to-day, and then attend to our farm work later." + +"How shall we manage to get around to the different houses, Nat, if they +are so far apart?" asked Janet. + +"I'm going to sit on the steps and watch for Mr. Ames to go by. When he +comes in sight I shall ask him to drive us to the Corners. He will stop +at Tompkins' for an hour, most likely, and by that time we can be ready +to come back. I want to call on Nancy Sherman and Hester Tompkins. They +are both about our age. On our way back from the store, we will ask Mr. +Ames to tell us when he can drive us to his brother's farm to buy the +pig. He may say we can go this afternoon, and if he does, we'll go!" + +"We'll buy the pig, all right, but we'll also get the Ames girl to say +whether she wants to be a Girl Scout with us," laughed Janet, admiring +Natalie's clever plan. + +"Janet," remarked Mrs. James, "don't you see a great improvement in +Natalie's ambitions? In the city she never gave a thought to planning +anything. Now she is all plans for the future." + +"Yes, I see Nat blossoming out into a regular organizer," laughed Janet. +"If I don't watch out she will usurp my throne. I was always the leader +in the crowd of girls at school, but Nat is fast getting ahead of me." + +The very idea of Natalie advancing ahead of Janet made the girl laugh. +But it pleased her, too, to hear her friends praise her. She knew, as +well as anyone, that she was lazy and procrastinating in the city. But +now she was eager to do things and to do them at once! + +While she sat on the side piazza waiting for Mr. Ames, she watched the +robins alight on the trees beyond the fence that divided the lawn from +the field. They called to others, and chirruped at a great rate, as they +fluttered in and out among the green branches. + +"What do you suppose makes them gather in _those_ trees? They have been +there all day yesterday and to-day. Can they be building community +nests?" wondered Natalie aloud to Mrs. James. + +"I rather think they are after the cherries. The fruit seems to have +ripened quickly these last two days, and robins are very fond of ripe +cherries." + +"Whose cherry trees are they, Jimmy?" + +"I don't know, Natty, but the field is said to belong to this farm, so I +am going to ask Mr. Ames if the cherries are on our property. You see, +they grow on the line with the fence, so I cannot tell what the land-law +says about them." + +Mr. Ames was now seen driving leisurely along the dusty road, and the +three who were awaiting him walked down to the gate and stood under the +great elm tree watching his approach. + +"Good-mornin'," called he, when within hearing. + +"Good-morning," chorused the waiting group. + +"I be'n thinkin' sence yistiddy, when I druv past them churry trees, +there, that you'se oughter pick 'em right off! Ef you don't the durned +robins'll spile all the fruit fer youh," announced the farmer, not +waiting to draw up to the gate. + +"Oh, we wanted to ask you if the trees belonged to us," returned Mrs. +James. + +"Why, sure! Who else kin claim 'em?" said he. + +"They stand on the fence-line, so we were not sure," explained Natalie, +showing off her newly-acquired land-learning. + +"It ain't that they're standin' on the survey line, but that the last +farmer here used them trees fer fence-posts to nail the wire on. That +saved him three hull chestnut posts, see?" + +"Oh, I see!" returned Mrs. James. "But how far off the line is his +fence? Are the trees inside or outside the wire fence?" + +"Well, as fur as I remember now, he ran the fence about a foot this side +the line-path. Your proppity ackchully goes out a foot furder on the +road, but runnin' the wire where he did, he managed to get the use outen +all them trees what grow along the road. He saved 'most fifteen dollars +in posts by doin' that." + +Mrs. James studied the situation for a few moments and then said: "When +was the wire fence stretched on this line?" + +"Why, lemme see!" and Farmer Ames shoved his hat over one ear while he +scratched his head for the necessary intelligence to beam forth. "That +was the last year, before one, that he lived here." + +"Then the fence has stood on that line about three years?" persisted +Mrs. James. + +"Yeh, about that." + +"Well, then, I'll tell Mr. Marvin to order you to change it. When you +get time you can plan to put up posts on the _right_ property line and +remove the old wire fence." + +Natalie and Janet wondered why anyone should bother over such a little +matter, but Mr. Ames understood, and smiled. + +"I reckon you knows somethin' about proppity law, eh?" + +"I know this much--that if that fence is allowed to stand without +protest for a certain time the land becomes public property, and Natalie +would have a lawsuit on her hands if she ever sold it or wished to claim +it again. The fence should never have been placed back from the line, +even if it saved fifteen dollars. Those three cherry trees are worth ten +times that sum, and once they become public property we can never regain +rights in them." + +Thus the two girls learned a bit of amazing real estate law while they +stood by the wagon. When Mrs. James concluded, Natalie told Mr. Ames +they wished to go to the store, so he gladly made room for them on the +seat beside him. + +Janet and Natalie had no difficulty in enlisting Nancy Sherman and +Hester Tompkins in a proposed membership of the new Patrol, and these +two girls promised to interest Mabel Holmes and Sue Harper. So there +were already four girls, each about fourteen years old. + +"I'm sure Dorothy Ames will join right off, 'cause she knows a girl at +White Plains who is a Scout, and Dot wanted to start something like it +here. But we didn't know how to begin," explained Nancy Sherman. + +When Mr. Ames was ready to drive home, his two companions were ready +also. Soon after they had left the Corners Natalie spoke of their desire +to visit his brother's to buy a pig. + +Janet instantly added: "And I want some chickens, too. Must I have a hen +set on eggs to raise them?" + +"You kin do as you like about that! I kin sell you'se some young chicks +cheap, and you kin raise 'em. Then you kin buy a settin' hen and raise a +brood that way, too. An' you'se kin keep some old fowl fer layin' aigs +to use in the cookin'." + +"Dear me, how much would all that cost me?" worried Janet. + +"Wall, the aigs fer settin' ain't more'n other kinds. Th' old hen'll +cost yuh about two dollars. Layin' hens cost about one-fifty each, an' a +good rooster'll cost near abouts two-fifty. The leetle chicks won't cost +no more'n twenty-five cents each." + +"Oh, that is fine! I can do that, all right!" cried Janet delightedly. + +"How much will the pig cost her?" asked Natalie. + +"Not much. When my brother has such a big litter as this one is, I've +known him to give away a few of the little porkers before they cost him +anything fer feed." + +Natalie and Janet exchanged looks! Plainly they said: "Oh, if only those +pigs haven't cost him anything for feed!" + +"How about keepin' right on to my brother's farm, now?" asked Mr. Ames, +as they drew near the Green Hill house. + +"That will be all right! We'll just let Jimmy know," replied Natalie +delightedly. + +Farmer Ames was a kindly soul, but he had a keen sense of business as +well. When he heard the two girls talk of buying a pig and chickens, he +wished to close the bargain without delay for his brother and himself. +If they had time to think it over, they might change their minds, and he +would lose a sale. So he proposed that they go right on then and +conclude the business. + +"How about paying for them, now, Mr. Ames?" asked Janet. "I have to +write home for my money, and that will take a few days." + +"Oh, don't let that worry you any. Let my brother do the worryin' about +his pay," laughed Mr. Ames jokingly. + +Mrs. James consented to their going to the stock-farm then and there, +but reminded the girls that the chicken-coops and pig-pens were not +ready to receive any living creatures yet. + +"Oh, we'll fix all that when we get back," called Janet as they drove +away. + +Janet found the stock-farm so interesting that she almost forgot the +real cause of their visit--the enlisting of Dorothy in the new Patrol. +The little pink pigs were so alluring in their antics that Janet decided +to buy the three which had been separated from the mother and had been +weaned. + +The price asked seemed ridiculously cheap, compared to what butchers in +the city charged for a pound of pork. So the three pigs were placed in a +small box and the top was slatted down to keep the lively little things +in bounds. + +When this thrilling business matter had been concluded, Natalie told +Dorothy about the new Patrol they wished to launch. They had no trouble +whatever in gaining Dorothy's eager consent to become a member, as she +had long wanted to be a Scout. So the two girls started homeward about +noontime, feeling that they had accomplished a wonderful day's business +in many ways. + +"We'll jest stop at my house to let you choose some hens an' chicks, an' +I'll deliver 'em in the mornin', when I drive by." + +"Why can't we take them along with us to-night?" asked Janet. + +"Cuz it is hard work to ketch hens in the daytime whiles they are +scratchin' around. But onct they go to roost at night, it is easy to get +hold of 'em without excitin' 'em too much." + +Natalie and Janet gazed at the various chickens they found about the +place, and Natalie whispered to her companion when the farmer was not +near by: + +"Janet, choose the biggest ones you see, because Mr. Ames said they were +all the same price. Some of these are awfully small while some are great +heavy hens. You won't be taking advantage of him, you know, if he said +we could take any we liked." + +"That's so! I might take those big white hens with the yellow legs," +replied Janet. + +"Yes, they're nice-looking, too. Those dappled ones are not a bit +picturesque; nor are those smaller hens with red-brown plumage. The +white ones will look so nice walking around our lawn." + +So Janet selected six of the largest white hens she could find in the +entire flock of several hundred chickens. Mr. Ames remonstrated in vain +that she had better take Rhode Island Reds, or some of the guinea hens +instead. She _wanted_ the big white ones. + +"And we'll take that lovely rooster with the wonderful tail," added +Janet, selecting one with marvellous hues in his cock-plumes when the +sun changed its colors to variegated beauty. + +"He ain't no good fer a rooster, Miss," said Mr. Ames. + +Natalie whispered advice again. "Janet, I believe he wants to keep him +for himself. Don't let him do it." + +"Mr. Ames, I'll take the one with those pretty feathers, or I won't buy +any!" declared Janet firmly. + +"Oh, all right, Miss. I don't care what you choose as long as you want +them. But I'm tellin' you-all, them hens is old and that rooster is +sickly," explained Mr. Ames, in a tone that said plainly: "I wash my +hands of all your future complaints." + +"Now how about the young chicks you told us about? Can I buy some of +them?" asked Janet, when hens and rooster were noted on a paper. + +"Yeh; come with me and I'll show you the kind you'd best get to start +with. They're about three to four weeks old and kin scratch fer +themselves and eat whatever they find. You kin let them run wild, and +they'll get stronger that way." + +Then the chicks were selected and Mr. Ames found a hen that was wanting +to set on a nest of eggs. So he picked up the hen and put her in a +feed-bag. Both Natalie and Janet cried in fear lest she smother before +they reached home. + +"Nah, she's ust to such ways. I'll set her when we git over to Green +Hill, and you gals kin pick out the eggs and slip 'em under her to-night +when it is dark. Then she won't bother you." + +All this was very interesting to the two girls who had never heard a +word about raising chickens, or setting hens, before. So Mr. Ames drove +them home in high spirits. The crate holding the pigs was left by the +kitchen steps, and the hen placed in the coop on some china eggs, until +Janet could select other eggs. + +On his way past the house again, Mr. Ames called to Mrs. James: "Them +churries oughter be picked soon. Ef you want me and my man to do it, we +kin come this afternoon, likely." + +Rachel overheard and said: "Mis' James, pickin' ox-hearts is fun fer +gals. Dem trees is jus' bustin' wid fruit a-waitin' a lot of young gals' +hands to pick 'em. Ef I wuz you, Honey, I'd give Mr. Ames an answer in +th' mawnin'. One night moh won't hurt the fruit, nohow." + +The farmer sent an angry glance at Rachel, but she met it with +effrontery. When Mrs. James said, "I think I will wait until to-morrow +before deciding," Rachel grinned at the discomfited man. + +He drove away without loss of time, and merely said: "I'll bring them +chickens over to-morrer." + +The moment he was out of hearing, Rachel said eagerly: "Why, Mis' James, +them Girl Scouts down at camp'll give their haids to climb them trees +and pick cherries on shares fer you. Charity begins to home, so let our +gals get the benefit, says I!" + +"Oh yes, Jimmy! Then Janet and I can help them, too. It will be heaps of +fun, I think. We have a good ladder in the barn, and another shorter one +in the cellar, so some of us can pick the outside boughs while the +others climb up and do the inside branches," planned Natalie. + +Mrs. James studied the blue sky seriously. Then said: "I suppose we +ought to pick them at once, then, while the weather is good. Once a rain +sets in, cherries will rot. The birds, too, are ruining the ripe fruit +with their pickings, so we ought to begin work immediately after +luncheon." + +"I'll tell you, then!" exclaimed Natalie. "While you and Rachel get the +luncheon out, Janet and I will hurry to camp and ask Miss Mason if her +girls want to do the work." + +"I'm sure they will be crazy to do it," added Janet. + +So the two friends ran down to the woodland camp where a bevy of merry +Girl Scouts were just finishing their dinner. Natalie told what brought +her there, and added: "We ought to be able to pick all the cherries +before sundown, don't you think so, Miss Mason?" + +"Why, yes, if so many of us work. But we might break down the branches +if we all climb in the trees," said she. + +"Some of us will use ladders, and some climb the trees. There are three, +you know, so we can plan to be on different boughs to pick," explained +Natalie. + +The Scouts donned their overalls which they generally used in outdoor +work about camp, and started back with Natalie. At the house they were +told that the fruit was to be gathered on shares, and each girl could +sell her cherries to Mrs. James, or keep them, as she chose. Then the +pickers were given baskets, or pails, and sent to the trees, where +Natalie and Janet joined them after luncheon. + +The step-ladder found in the attic was brought down and placed under the +tree with the low boughs. One girl mounted this and began to pick from +its top step. The long ladder from the barn was placed against another +tree so that the topmost branches could be reached by careful work, and +a short ladder was put against the lower boughs. + +Natalie eagerly climbed up in the branches of one of the trees and began +to pick quickly. She had a two-quart tin pail that was hung over a short +branch near her hands, and as she began to pick the cherries, she sang +or called to her companions. Rachel smiled approvingly as she heard her +"Honey-Chile" so happy, then she turned to go back to her kitchen and +start a big supper for so many Girl Scouts that night. + +After a time, Janet called to Natalie: "Say, aren't a lot of the +cherries bad from the pecking the birds gave them?" + +"Yes, and it's a shame, too! I pick what seems to be a luscious cherry, +and when it is in my hand, it turns out to have a great rotted spot on +the other side," added one of the Scouts. + +"If the birds would only keep at the same cherry and finish it, instead +of flying from one to another and taking a nip out of each," said +Natalie. + +"Well, you see, they bite the ripe spot out of the cherry, and then fly +to another good ripe mouthful. It is easier that way than trying to turn +their heads around the cherry to eat the opposite side," laughed Janet. + +"Girls!" now shouted Natalie, making a quick dash at something about her +head. "Do these horrid little yellow-jackets annoy you, too?" + +"They are after the decayed cherries," called a Scout. + +"They are not yellow-jackets, are they? I thought they were hornets," +said another Scout. + +"They're both--there is a hornet, now--buzzing about my ear!" cried +Janet. + +At that very moment, a sharp scream from Natalie caused every girl to +turn her head and see what had happened. In another moment a crash of +branches and a flash of a body falling down through the leaves made +several of the Scouts cry out in fright. + +Natalie had been picking the cherries from the topmost branches, as she +liked to sit up high and pelt the stones from the fruit she ate, down at +the girls' heads, to tease them. The hornets had a small nest in the top +of the tree, but Natalie was not aware of that. As she called and +laughed at her friends, the hornets began to grow excited, and when they +found the annoyance failed to go away but came ever nearer their nest, +they buzzed about and threatened in angry terms. Still Natalie paid no +attention to what they said to her. She thought they wanted to feed on +the rotten fruit, whereas they merely wished her to go and leave them in +peace. + +At last the disturbance was too much for one of the old hornets. He flew +in circles about her head and scolded until his exasperation took form +in the offensive. Natalie's neck was a very advantageous spot and she +could not see him when he lit on her collar and quickly crept up to the +soft smooth skin in the nape of the neck. + +Without further warning he drove in his dagger-point and Natalie +screamed with pain. Forgetting that she was up in a tree, and must cling +fast to the boughs, she suddenly put both hands to her neck. The natural +result was, she fell down so quickly that her friends could not get to +her assistance in time to do a thing. + +Smaller twigs and branches had given way with her weight and she would +have fallen to the ground, had not a friendly bough caught her under the +arms and suspended her momentarily. Then the smaller bough that grew +from the friendly one snapped short off under the girl's weight, and the +sharp up-thrusting section left on the tree ran right through the +suspender-straps at the back of her overalls. There she hung, like a toy +doll on a Christmas Tree,--her feet dangling and her head and hands +helplessly held out to be taken down by some kind friend. + +The terrifying scream brought Rachel running from the kitchen and Mrs. +James up from the cellar, where she had gone to hunt for more containers +for the cherries. When Rachel saw what had happened she wrung her fat +hands in agony. + +"Oh, m' Honey! My li'l' chile--hang on t' dat limb fer all you'se wuth!" +yelled she. Then she rushed over the grass to the rescue,--but Natalie +dangled just out of reach above her head. + +Janet slid down the rough trunk of the cherry-tree the moment she heard +her friend shriek. Her thin stockings hung in strips when she reached +the ground, and her legs were skinned from knees to ankles, but she felt +no pain, as she was so excited over the outcome of this accident. + +"Quick! Someone get that step-ladder we had here!" cried she, jumping up +and down in her fear that Natalie would let go and fall; yet she was too +excited to run for the ladder herself. + +Rachel instantly comprehended and jumped across the intervening space +between the two trees and caught a firm hold of the lower part of the +step-ladder. She never stopped to see if anyone was on the top step. But +one of the Scouts had been standing on it with her form hidden in the +foliage of the tree. As Rachel whirled the ladder out from under her, +the Scout was left in mid-air, instinctively clutching the branches to +save herself. + +The other Scouts had descended the trees by this time, and some ran over +to help save Natalie, while others stopped under the tree where the new +accident threatened to take place. + +"Help! Help!" yelled the girl who was dangling from a bough. + +Miss Mason had been measuring the cherries impartially, half for the +individual pickers and half for Mrs. James, when the first accident +happened. She was out of the house and crossing the grass when the +second scream reached her ears. She saw an old hemp hammock hanging from +a clothes pole on the drying-place, and had a sudden idea. + +The hammock was snatched and carried over to the tree where the Scout +hung. "Here, girls! Spread it out quickly! We will have a life-saving +net and win a reward for our presence of mind!" ordered the teacher. + +The Scouts instantly obeyed and the net was spread even as May wailed: +"I have to let go! My hands won't hold on longer!" + +"All right! Drop!" commanded Miss Mason. "We'll save you." + +May yelled and let go. She was caught in the meshes of the old hammock, +but the hemp was so rotten that in another moment it separated and let +May down on the grass. However, it had answered its purpose, for the +time, and had broken her fall. + +While this "first-aid" was being given, Rachel ran, in great excitement, +back to assist Natalie. She had hastily placed the extra-high +step-ladder under the tree and, without taking time to see that the +braces that hold back and front sections firmly apart were _not_ taut, +she began to mount the steps to reach her "Honey." + +Half-way up, the now overbalanced ladder started to sway uncertainly, +and Rachel gasped as she wildly tried to clutch something to steady +herself. Natalie's feet were the only available things in sight. + +"Ough! Mis' James! Heigh, down dere--someone grab hol' on dis ladder!" +shouted Rachel, her eyes almost popping from her head. + +"Wait! Hold on, Rachel!" called a chorus of voices below. + +The ladder was still quaking uncertainly when Rachel lost courage and +began to descend precipitously, without stopping to find a sure footing +on the steps. Consequently, she missed the second step from the bottom +and sat down unceremoniously in a bushel of ripe ox-hearts. + +"Umph!" was the grunt that was forced from her lungs, but the Scouts all +howled with dismay when they saw the result to their patient cherry +picking. + +Janet did not stop to see what was occurring to Rachel. The moment she +saw the mammy come down, she ran up the steps and steadied herself by +holding to the bough from which Natalie still swung. Miss Mason managed +to hold the bottom of the ladder until Janet had guided her friend's +feet to the top step. Then the strain on the suspenders was loosened and +it was easy to unbuckle the straps at the back of the overalls. + +In a few more moments, Natalie was helped down the ladder and once more +stood on _terra firma_. But such a funny sight was presented her when +she breathed in safety once more, that she momentarily forgot the hornet +sting and laughed wildly. + +Mrs. James had called several of the Scouts to help her in pulling +Rachel up out of the bushel basket upon her feet again. This muscular +deed was accomplished just as Natalie stepped down on the ground. But +Rachel's percale bungalo-gown was a sight! + +The luscious ripe cherries were mashed all over her skirt, and half of +the fruit in the basket was crushed as if done by a fruit-press. Rachel +was torn between two fires--that of humble apology to the scout-pickers +for spoiling their "fruits of labor" and concern over Natalie who was +holding her hand over the back of her neck. Mother-instinct that was so +deeply rooted in Rachel, although she had never had a child of her own, +won the day and she ran over to Natalie to ascertain the extent of the +troublesome sting. + +"Oh, mah pore Honey! Mah sweet li'l' chile--did dem nasty bees sting +yoh?" Rachel cried, enfolding Natalie in her capacious embrace. Then she +added, "Now jus' you-all wait a minit, chillun, an' I'll soon git dat +stinger out." + +Consequently she made a soft paste of mud and water, and slapped a +handful of it on Natalie's neck. Then she tied a towel over it to keep +it in place. + +"Now, Honey, yoh jus' sit heah wid yoh haid down in front, so's dat mud +won't run down yoh back," advised she. + +Natalie obeyed, albeit the mud did ooze in trickles down her back and +fill up at her belt in a dried lump. + +The pain of the sting was soon over, and Natalie tried to gather some +more cherries, but she kept away from the top of the tree where the +hornets still buzzed angrily about. The other Scouts also kept a safe +distance from that nest. + +By sundown all the cherries were picked, and the quantity evenly divided +into shares. Each girl had made a pile of the fruit she gathered, and so +no Scout felt that another was benefiting by her work. But when all was +measured out, it was found that the girls had picked about the same +quantities, with but little variation. + +That evening while enjoying Rachel's bountiful supper, the Scout girls +were told about the new Patrol that Janet and Natalie were hoping to +start. That was a very engrossing subject and no one gave a thought to +things outside, until it was time for the Scouts to return to camp. Then +a plaintive squealing came from a crate placed on the piazza, and Janet +suddenly remembered the pigs. + +"Oh, horrors! Will little pigs die if they have been left without a +thing to eat for a day?" wailed she, as she clasped her hands in shocked +concern. + +Everyone laughed at her, and Mrs. James said: "Not if you attend to them +at once. But they will have to live in the crate overnight, as nothing +can be done about housing them now." + +So Rachel mixed a dish of warm milk and corn meal for the wailing +squealers, and soon hushed their clamorings. Janet felt guilty of gross +neglect on the first night of her business investment, but Natalie tried +to condole with her by saying: + +"Well, cherries, and pigs, and new Scouts can't all be gathered in one +day, you know." + +This created such a laugh at the quaint combination of the triple +interests, that Janet felt relieved in mind. After the Scouts had gone +back to camp, Natalie reminded Janet of the eggs they were to give the +hen for setting. + +"We'll do that now," said Janet anxiously. + +So the two girls went to the pantry without asking advice of Rachel or +Mrs. James, and counted out twelve eggs. These were carefully carried to +the hen-coop and after many wild squawkings from the hen, and concerned +action by the two farmerettes, seven of the twelve eggs remained +unbroken and were placed under the future mother of a family. + +"My! I wouldn't want to experience a skirmish with a hen very often," +said Janet, counting the scratches on her hands and arms after they +reëntered the kitchen. + +"Neither would I," agreed Natalie, holding her hands and wrists under +the cold water faucet to let the cooling flood wash away the signs of +battle with the hen's sharp bill. + +"Well, she's got seven sound eggs to hatch, anyway. When we get time to +spare, we will put a few other eggs under her, so we can have the full +dozen chicks as Mr. Ames advised." + +"I never knew it was such a simple matter to raise chicks, did you?" +remarked Natalie, as she wiped her hands on the kitchen towel. + +"No, and when you think of all the money we pay for roast chicken in New +York, it makes you want to live always on a farm, doesn't it?" added +Janet. + +But neither girl knew that many store eggs were not suitable for +hatching chicks. They had not examined the yolks as chicken farmers do, +to see if the egg was fertilized. So they had placed two suitable eggs, +and five unfertilized eggs, under the hen. When but two chicks would +result from that experiment, what a disappointment there would be. Janet +would be sure to declare that stock-raising wasn't such an easy +business, after all! + + + + +CHAPTER X--TRIALS OF A FARMER'S LIFE + + +Mr. Ames brought the chickens and hens early in the morning, and so +interested was Natalie in Janet's stock-investment that the vegetable +gardens were quite forgotten for a few days. Sunday she had spent at +camp with the Girl Scouts; Monday she and Janet had gone to the Corners +and enlisted girls to join them in a new Patrol, and in the afternoon +they had picked cherries; then on Tuesday the chickens came, and some +sort of a house had to be built for the pigs, as well as for the hens. +So three days had passed by and she had not had time to inspect her +gardens. + +Farmer Ames acted huffy because the cherries had all been gathered when +he drove up to the kitchen door in the morning. So he merely delivered +the crate containing the hens and young chicks, and having handed Rachel +the basket of eggs for the setting hen, drove away again. + +"Dear me! I wanted to ask him how big a pen to build for three pigs!" +sighed Janet, when she heard he had gone. + +"No 'count why he hes to tell yuh that! I rickon anyone like me, what's +borned and brought up on a farm in Norf Car'liny, kin help dat way, +better'n an ole grumpy farmer in Noo York state," announced Rachel. + +"All right, Rach, I'll be thankful of your advice," replied Janet, +gazing down at the squirming pigs. + +So Natalie and Janet occupied themselves most industriously in the +building of a pig-pen for the little porkers, and in mending the old +hen-house and chicken run. A separate coop was found where the setting +hen might brood quietly on the eggs, and the young chicks were given +their freedom of the place, because Rachel said they would grow much +faster if they could run about and scratch. + +But this advice had dire results, as Natalie learned, too late. + +By sundown the pigs were nicely housed, and the old hens and rooster +found comfortable roosts in a remodelled hen-house. The young chicks +clustered together in the chicken yard and were driven inside the house +by the persuasive "s-sh's" and waving hands of the concerned +farmerettes. + +These important matters disposed of for the day and Rachel not having +announced supper, Natalie said: "Come with me to see my garden. I +haven't had a moment's time to visit it lately." + +"I suppose the lettuce is large enough to pull, now," laughed Janet +teasingly. + +"No, but I shouldn't be surprised if the radishes that were transplanted +from Ames's garden were big enough to use." + +The two girls went arm-in-arm down the pathway and when they reached the +old box hedge that divided the vegetable beds from the back lawns, they +stood for a moment listening to the echo of merry laughter coming from +the woodland down by the river. + +Then Natalie came to the first garden bed. + +"Oh, oh! Look,--Janet! What has happened to my beans?" cried she +shrilly, as she stood gazing in horror at what she saw. + +Janet gazed, too. The tiny green things that had looked so fresh and +pert a few days before were out of the ground in many places, and the +soil was unevenly scattered in small heaps. From this havoc, Natalie +quickly looked over at the lettuce bed. + +"Oh, oh! How dreadful! Look at that garden bed! Why, all the lettuce is +cropped off close to the ground. _What_ could have done it, Janet?" her +eyes filled with tears and her voice threatened an imminent howl. + +"Goodness me, Nat! I don't know what has happened!" said Janet, deeply +concerned for her friend. + +The two then hastily visited the other beds, and found the radishes and +potato plants undisturbed, but the corn was dug up in spots and the +remaining blades half-eaten. + +Without a thought for the tender green still remaining, Natalie suddenly +collapsed upon the corn hills and gave vent to a heart-breaking cry. +Once the flood-gates were down, she wept and wailed and would not be +comforted. Finally Janet ran to the house and summoned relief. + +Mrs. James and Rachel hurried after her to soothe the crying damsel in +the corn field; but Rachel understood what had taken place in that +garden, even as she raced past the half-destroyed vegetable beds. + +She knelt down beside Natalie and tried to pacify her by endearing +terms, but the amateur farmer was too sorry for herself to pay any +attention to Rachel. All she could gasp forth was: "If I ever find out +who did this, I'll kill them!" + +Rachel sent Mrs. James a knowing look, and nodded toward the barnyard. +Thus the lady gathered that the hens and chicks had feasted on the +tender greens and had dug up the soft rich soil in seeking for +earthworms when they had been turned loose that day. + +Darkness slowly crept up from the river banks and the four finally +turned to go in to supper. As they reached the box hedge, Rachel +remembered the boiling potatoes that were almost cooked when she was +summoned hastily by Janet. + +"Oh, laws! I betcher they am all black as cinders by this time!" cried +she, making a leap to escape over the hedge and reach the kitchen in a +hurry. + +A dense smoke was seen issuing from the open door of the kitchen, and +Rachel's three followers forgot their recent troubles in this new +disaster. + +Just as they reached the steps of the back porch, Rachel rushed the +smoking pot out of the door and ran with it to the grass beside the +board-walk. + +"Dere ain't no smell on eart' ner unner de eart' to beat dis smell o' +burnin' pertaters!" growled Rachel angrily, as she planked the blackened +cooking pot down upon the ground. + +"Oh my! The kitchen is full of smoke!" exclaimed Janet, who had poked +her head in at the open door. + +"Did you'se 'speck it to be sweet an' free as hebben?" snapped Rachel +scornfully. + +Mrs. James said nothing but quickly drew the two girls aside to the +other door to permit Rachel to calm her perturbed nerves. Then Natalie +remembered her beloved garden. + +"Jimmy, who could have been so mean as to do that?" + +"Of course, I wasn't present, Natalie, dear. But I have heard that crows +love to dig up corn kernels in a newly-planted field, so that farmers +have to use scarecrows to keep them off. Maybe some sort of a bird found +the toothsome greens and called to all the family to hurry and feast +while there was time." + +Natalie pondered this idea for a time, but it never occurred to her to +lay the trouble at the heels of the chickens. But she determined to lose +no time in dressing up the most frightful scarecrow that was +conceivable. + +After the unscorched remainder of the supper was served, Rachel came to +the dining-room to make a suggestion. + +"Ef we-all git up earlier than us'al to-morrer mornin' we kin git all +dem rooted-up plants back in the groun' afore sun-up. Mebbe it will rain +to-morrer, then no harm'll come of diggin' up all dem roots." + +The mere possibility of rain made Natalie jump up from the table and, +quickly excusing herself, run out on the porch to study the heavens. + +"Not a star out, and the sky looks awfully cloudy," cried she hopefully, +as she returned. + +"Then we'll all get up at dawn and begin work in making amends in the +garden," said Mrs. James consolingly. + +The little plants were replanted early in the morning and certain spots +where the soil had been scratched away were smoothed out again, so that +only a close observer would have seen that there were places here and +there where no vegetables grew. + +About seven o'clock a fine drizzle began, and Natalie welcomed it with +sparkling eyes. "_Now_ the roots can have time to get freshened again +before a hot sun comes to dry things up." + +A letter came that morning telling Natalie that Norma, Frances, and +Belle would soon be ready to leave the city. By counting from the date +of the letter, it was found that they would be at Greenville that very +day on the noon train. Probably the letter had been delayed in coming, +or had been overlooked in some way. + +"We had better send word to Amity, by Mr. Ames, that he is to meet the +train they come on," suggested Mrs. James. + +But the girls watched for Mr. Ames in vain that morning, and noon hour +came and still no word had been sent to Amity. Janet was out feeding the +pigs when she heard a shout from the road. She looked up wonderingly and +saw the three girls tramping along in the rain and mud, trying to manage +suit-cases and umbrellas at the same time, as they jumped puddles or +avoided a stretch of mud. + +She ran to the house and called Natalie. In another moment, both girls +were out on the side-piazza waiting to take the luggage from the +bespattered girls. + +"My goodness me! Why don't you move nearer the railroad station, Nat?" +complained Norma. + +"That horrid hackman wouldn't give us a lift, although he was sitting at +Tompkins' store toasting his feet at a stove," added Belle, angrily. + +"At a stove! In summer?" cried Natalie, wonderingly. + +"Yes, but there was no fire in the thing. He was tilted back in a wooden +chair telling stories to some farmers, and his old horse was standing +out in the rain, patiently waiting for a bag of oats," said Frances. + +Mrs. James joined the group now, and overheard the last words of +complaint. "I don't see why he could not drive you here, as long as he +was not engaged." + +"That's exactly what Belle asked him, but he said: 'Can't you see I _am_ +engaged? I must not interrupt this talk on polerticks. It's mos' votin' +time and we-all has to get facks afore we cast a ballot,'" laughed Norma +imitating Amity. + +"Did you entice him with extra pay?" asked Janet laughingly. + +"What was the good? He just ignored us, so we had to walk the rest of +the way here," Frances said. "But I made up my mind to one thing: If +that is the way the only cab-man of Greenville treats his trade, I'll +cut him out of it all, if I can manage to have _my_ way." + +They were all in the living-room now, and had removed muddy overshoes +and wet coats and hats. Rachel was hastily brewing some hot tea to make +everyone feel more cheerful, so the girls sat and talked. + +Natalie instantly asked Frances what she meant. + +"Well, Daddy and mother are going out to Colorado for the summer, and +the machine will be put up in a garage, or I will have it out here to +use. Now I've been thinking over all Nat said about each one of us +earning some money this summer, and I couldn't think of a single thing I +could do. But that cranky old hackman gave me a cue: I'll use the car +out here for the people who wish to travel back and forth, or take a +drive to certain places. I ought to be able to save quite a sum before +fall," explained Frances eagerly. + +"Frans, that will be fine! We will be your best customers," laughed +Janet, while the other girls all approved the plan. + +"That seems like Frances' golden opportunity, but Norma and I haven't +found a thing to do, yet," added Belle. + +"You will, never fear. Janet found her vocation the first day she was +here," laughed Natalie. + +Then Janet had to tell about her stock-raising, and her friends laughed +heartily when they heard about the first night the piggies arrived at +their new home. + +"The chickens are doing fine! I had to keep them shut up in the yard +to-day to get them thoroughly acquainted with their surroundings, so +they won't run away," said Janet, but she did not say that they were +kept locked up for fear they might wander over to the garden again and +create more trouble. + +"I should think you would have a cow and sell milk," suggested Belle +laughingly. + +"Cows cost a lot of money. I priced one of Ames's and when I heard the +sum, I lost interest in milk," replied Janet, causing the girls to laugh +at her explanation. + +"But I am going to buy some ducks as soon as my new allowance is due. +There is plenty of water for them to swim in and ducks look so rural, +don't you know," added she. + +"But they are difficult to raise, Janet," said Mrs. James. + +"Why? If you let them swim about and give them enough feed, what more +can they want?" + +"I don't know, but they take certain spells of sickness quicker than any +other fowl and, in a day or two, the whole flock droops and dies off. +Geese are much easier to rear and bring better prices in the market, +too." + +"Oh, then I'll have geese. But I've heard they chase one, if they don't +like you," said Janet. + +"They wouldn't chase you if you fed them; and should they take it into +their geese-heads to run anyone else out of the yard, it will be a +warning for others to keep away." + +The drizzle stopped after luncheon, so that the girls put on raincoats +and oil-skin caps and started to visit the Scout camp. On the way, they +visited Natalie's garden and extolled her work and patience that had +brought forth such results. + +Natalie beamed like a full moon at the deserved praise and explained how +wonderful the vegetables were before the dastardly birds dug everything +up. + +"Yes, Nat, I know," remarked Belle. "It's almost like the wonderful fish +one just missed catching, isn't it?" + +Everyone laughed at this, even Natalie joining in at her own expense. +"Well, I don't care! They _would_ have been much better if they had not +been interfered with," said she. + +After leaving the garden, Natalie opened the subject of the Scout Patrol +that would be an offshoot of Miss Mason's first Patrol. This would give +both Patrols the opportunity to launch the Troop. + +"Fine! How soon can we begin?" said Belle. + +"Well talk it over with Miss Mason this afternoon. I haven't had time, +yet, to tell her about the Greenville girls who agreed to join us, as +Janet and I have had _so_ much to do since then," explained Natalie. + +The girls were now near enough to the woodland to hear the sound of +singing. Mrs. James held up a hand for silence and they stood and +listened. It sounded very wonderful from the hillside where they were to +hear the blending of soprano and alto voices in the national anthem "Our +America." There was a martial impetus in the singing that spoke well for +the patriotism of the Girl Scouts. + +"What does Miss Mason call her Patrol, Nat?" asked Norma, as they +resumed their way to the river. + +"Now that you speak of it, Norma, I must confess that I never asked. +Isn't it funny that I never thought of it?" said Natalie. + +"But we will ask now, and find out. Of course we will have to use the +same name if Miss Mason has already chosen one for a Troop," said Janet. + +The visitors reached the camp site and found the Scouts holding a +council meeting. They had just finished the patriotic song and Miss +Mason was opening the meeting by an address. The unexpected guests were +invited to sit down on a huge log and hear the Leader's speech. + +"The members of this Patrol know the reason for this council, but I will +explain to the newcomers, too," said Miss Mason, turning to Mrs. James +and the girls. + +"We have decided to send to Headquarters in New York to ask to be +enrolled as a Troop, now that we have had more than a year's experience +with the organization. Because you girls wish to start another Patrol +and unite with our Troop, we think it urgent to be registered and +chartered by the National Headquarters, and be able to own a flag and +choose a title and crest for our use." + +The visiting girls exchanged glances with each other, as the question +just asked Natalie was about to be answered now. Miss Mason did not see +their looks and proceeded with her explanation. + +"We chose a name when first we started our Patrol but we have never +registered it, and there was a question whether we would care to change +it after a time. We called ourselves the 'Solomon's Seal Patrol' as +having so much meaning to the name. We think that the reflected glory of +Solomon's wisdom is better than none. So we have decided, now, to +christen our Troop by that name. We will vote on this later. At present +I wish to mention a few other points. + +"I am now about to speak of a new Patrol, or new members, so it is +fortunate that our visitors arrived in time to hear all I have to say. + +"I suppose every girl present has a manual: 'Scouting for Girls'?" +Everyone nodded in the affirmative, and Miss Mason continued: + +"Then you will read on page 44, that every girl who wishes to enroll as +a Scout must be at least ten years old and must have attended meetings +for a month, during which time she will have passed her Tenderfoot Test. +During the first month she is known as a Candidate. When she knows the +meaning of the Promise and the Laws, and is sure she understands the +meaning of the oath she is about to take, and comprehends the meaning of +'Honor,' she is eligible to be a Tenderfoot. + +"My Girl Scouts passed the Tenderfoot class last year, and then took the +Second Class Test, which was also passed successfully by them. We are +all ready to pass the First Class Scout Test, except that each girl must +present a Tenderfoot who has been trained by the candidate. This is our +opportunity, as you girls all wish to be Scouts, and my girls can train +you, thus giving them the privilege of being First Class Scouts. + +"I was going to speak of other things, but since our visitors' arrival, +I wish Mrs. James to tell us how many girls she knows on whom we can +count for the new Patrol." Miss Mason turned to Mrs. James and waited. + +"Natalie knows more about the matter than I, Miss Mason, as she and +Janet went about the Corners securing the candidates. Let her tell us +about it," replied Mrs. James. + +Natalie was called upon to address the audience and so she got up and +spoke. "Janet and I called on Nancy Sherman and Hester Tompkins and +secured their promise to join our Patrol as soon as we were ready for +them. Then we went to Dorothy Ames's house and got her interested. With +these girls"--Natalie waved her hand at the four girls sitting on the +log,--"we will have eight applicants. Janet has a younger sister Helene, +who is not twelve yet, so we are not sure whether we want her to belong +to our Patrol. All of us girls are over twelve and it is more fun when +girls are nearer an age. I've been thinking that Helene might start a +Brownie Troop, a younger Patrol than ours. We might allow them to join +us, later on." + +As Natalie sat down, the girls of Solomon's Seal Patrol showed their +delight at the progress made in the enlisting, and Miss Mason commended +the two who had visited the girls of Four Corners and had interested +them in the proposed plan. + +"Mrs. James, have you thought of a Leader and Corporal for Natalie's new +Patrol?" asked Miss Mason. + +"I fear I am not well enough versed in scouting to take such a +responsibility upon myself. I would prefer having you do it," responded +Mrs. James. + +"I'd rather not be any officer, Miss Mason," exclaimed Natalie, "because +they always have to work while the others have a good time. I'll just be +an every-day Scout." + +The girls laughed, as there was more reason than rhyme in the statement. +But Miss Mason said: "There's always one girl in a group who has the +knack of directing her companions. Such a girl ought to be an officer." + +"Then, for goodness' sake, choose Janet for our manager," exclaimed +Natalie. "She always runs us and everything concerned with us." + +The Scouts laughed, and Miss Mason nodded her head. "I always thought as +much, but you will confess, Natalie, that she makes a pretty good +general, eh?" + +Janet blushed with pleasure at the teacher's praise, and Natalie smiled: +"Oh, _pretty_ good!" Then she grinned at her friend. + +"Janet, will you act as Patrol Leader for your new Scouts?" asked Miss +Mason, turning again to Janet. + +"I will, if Natalie will be my Corporal," returned Janet. + +"Seeing that there are only two members in our Patrol as yet, I can't +see how I can get out of being either one or the other," laughed +Natalie. + +"Oh, but we will have more members shortly, and this office of Corporal +must be considered as binding until a new election," explained Janet. + +"Well then, Jan, if you can bear up under the arduous duties of a Patrol +Leader, I reckon I can survive the work of acting as your Corporal," +retorted Natalie. + +"All right. Then we'll enroll our Tenderfoot Scouts in a Patrol before +the next official meeting here, and begin training them in the path that +they should follow," agreed irrepressible Janet. + +After this, many subjects that interest Girl Scouts were taken up and +discussed, and the girls from Green Hill Farmhouse were more deeply +impressed with the wonders of scouting than they had dreamed possible. +Each girl determined to do everything possible to learn as much that +summer as those Girl Scouts of Solomon's Seal knew. + + + + +CHAPTER XI--NORMA AND FRANCES LAUNCH THEMSELVES + + +Frances lost no time in putting her idea for business into operation, so +she wrote her father that night, asking him to let her have the +automobile at Green Hill Farm for the summer instead of storing it with +some big garage company. She did not say that she wished to start a +service route to earn money, but she did say that there was a fine barn +on the farm where the car could be kept, and it would give them all such +pleasure to be able to drive about the lovely country in Westchester. + +No one was shown this letter, but Frances insisted upon walking to the +Corners with it that night, to get it out on the first early morning +mail to New York. + +"Let's all walk to the store with Frans," suggested Janet, jumping up to +show her readiness to go. + +"That will give me the chance to get some slips that Mrs. Tompkins +promised us the other day," added Natalie. + +"And we can introduce Norma, Belle, and Frances to Nancy Sherman and +Hester Tompkins," added Janet. + +So the girls hastily arranged their hair and started out, with Mrs. +James to escort them. The country road was very alluring in the +twilight, but there were no gorgeous colors from a flaring sunset that +evening, as the grey overcast sky had continued all day. + +They tramped along the foot-path that ran beside the road and Norma said +jokingly: "When we hiked this from the station we never dreamed we would +be retracing our steps so soon." + +"It seems almost as if we had been at Green Hill a month, doesn't it?" +said Frances. + +Just at this moment Janet gave a sudden gasp. "Oh me, oh my! I must run +right back home, girls!" + +"What for? What's happened?" asked four anxious voices. + +"Oh, _oh_, oh! It isn't what's happened,--it's what I forgot to do!" + +"But what? Can't you confide in us?" urged Natalie. + +"I forgot all about those pesky chickens. I never fed them to-night, nor +did I give them fresh water. I've got to do it before it is too late." + +Everyone laughed, but Mrs. James said: "You're too late already, Janet. +Chickens go to roost before twilight. You will not get them to eat or +drink to-night." + +"Dear me! Then they will grow so thin I'll never be able to enter them +in a County Fair!" said Janet whimsically. + +"You never hinted that that was your ambition," laughed Natalie. "You +started out to do a thriving business with eggs and broilers." + +"I can do that, too, can't I? But there is nothing to prevent me from +trying for a cash prize in some Poultry Show this fall, either," +explained Janet. + +"If I start a business of any kind, you won't find me neglecting it like +that!" bragged Norma. + +"Wait until you start one--then talk!" retorted Janet. + +"How are your vegetables growing to-night, Nat?" said Belle teasingly. +"Almost ready to ship to Washington Market?" + +"Instead of laughing at Janet, or my investments, why don't you do +something yourselves?" demanded Natalie scornfully. + +"We would love to, but what is there left for us to do?" returned Norma. + +"Surely you don't think vegetables and stock-raising compose all the +industries in the world, do you?" laughed Mrs. James. + +"No, not in a city; but on a farm, what else can one do?" asked Belle. + +"Well, I always thought there was a wonderful opportunity for some +ambitious girl to raise flowers and send in bouquets to the city every +morning," suggested Mrs. James. + +"Bouquets! Who to?" asked Belle. + +The other girls were listening attentively, for they had never thought +of such a possibility before. + +"Mr. Marvin said the flowers he cut back of the house, the day he came +up here, brightened his office for many a day. I am convinced that many +hard-working business men downtown would lean back in their swivel +chairs and smile at a handful of homely country flowers on their desks, +if they but had them. Think of the scores of troubled, rushing men in +the financial districts of New York, who would stop a minute in their +mad race for success to think of their boyhood home, should a rose give +forth its perfume on his desk? Think of the peaceful rural picture a few +flowers in a glass on the desk might bring to a jaded man who never +takes time to dream of his old home." + +Mrs. James' words created a vision that was most effective with the +girls. After a few moments of silence, Norma said softly: "I'd love to +do just that thing, Mrs. James." + +"But you haven't any flowers to start with," said Belle. + +"Why can't I start some just as Nat did her vegetables, if I go right at +it now?" demanded Norma. + +"Norma, Mrs. Tompkins promised me some petunia plants, and asters, and +sweet-peas, and other slips, if I wanted to use them in the flower +gardens. I really didn't want them but I hated to refuse her, as she is +so fond of flowers she thinks everyone else must be, also. Now, this is +your opportunity!" said Mrs. James. + +"You take the plants and slips she offers, and by judicious praise you +will urge her to talk about her gardens. In this way, you can find out +more about raising flowers than if you had a book on the subject. I +never saw such gorgeous blossoms as she has," said Natalie eagerly. + +"When she finds she has a really interested florist who intends doing +the work properly, she may give Norma more slips than Natalie could draw +from her," suggested Frances. + +"At any rate, we need plenty of flowers around the place to make it look +attractive, and Norma's plan will beautify the grounds as well as give +her her profession," said Mrs. James. + +When they arrived at the Corners Frances mailed her letter; and Norma, +with Mrs. James, stopped in to see Mrs. Tompkins and her flower gardens; +but the other girls went to Nancy Sherman's house to plan about the +Patrol meetings. + +Mrs. Tompkins was delighted to have visitors who were interested in +flowers, and when Norma was ready to join the girls to go home, she +carried a huge market basket filled with all sorts of plants,--from a +delicate lily to a briar-rose. + +As they trudged along the dark road, Norma said: "I suppose it will be +too dark when we get home to plant the flowers to-night, Mrs. James?" + +"Oh yes; but you can get up before the sun in the morning and have the +planting done before the heat of the day," said Mrs. James. + +"Mrs. Tompkins told me to place inverted flower-pots over all the young +plants during the middle of the day, until they began to perk up their +heads. That would show they had taken new root in the soil to which they +had been transplanted. But the rose-bush and lily I must plant in a +sheltered spot and shade them with a screen for a week or more. They +would always freshen up at night but would droop during the day unless I +did this," explained Norma. + +"I wonder how long it will be before those little things have flowers?" +said Belle. + +"Mrs. Tompkins told me that they would bud in two weeks at least. I +mean, the portulaca and heliotrope and other old-fashioned plants she +dug up for me. You see, they were already started in her garden, and +this transplanting will only set them back a few days, she said." + +"Then you can begin to figure on an income in a month's time, at the +very latest," teased Belle. + +Norma made no reply to this laughing remark, but she was determined to +show Belle that perseverance and persistence were great things that made +for success. + +It was past nine when the girls reached Green Hill Farm. As they entered +the side gate they heard strange sounds coming from the barnyard. +Everyone glanced at Janet to inquire the cause of the sounds. + +"It sounds just like those piggies. What can they be squealing for at +this hour?" said Mrs. James. + +Janet looked guilty, but she said nothing. However, as soon as they +reached the side piazza, she hurried on past the kitchen door and made +for the barn. + +Rachel heard the arrival and came out on the piazza. "Mis' James, dem +pigs ain't kep' still all night. I guv 'em some hot mush at six o'clock +'cause Janet fergot to feed 'em. But I ain't goin' to be no nuss-gal to +any porkers when I'se got my house-wuk to look affer. Ef I wuz goin' to +raise hogs, I'd raise 'em, but I ain't goin' to do it fer no one else, +nohow." + +Everyone laughed appreciatively, and Mrs. James added: "Janet told us +she had forgotten the chickens to-night. But I told her there was no use +in her returning home, then, as fowl went to roost with the sun, and +would not want to be bothered again. I was not aware the pigs had been +forgotten, too." + +"Wall, I kin tell her what ails 'em, but I jes' thought I'd let her try +to fin' it out herself. Mebbe she'll take a little interest in her +business if she is left to do the wuk!" declared Rachel. + +"What makes them squeal, Rachel? You can tell us, can't you?" coaxed +Natalie. + +"Well den, dey ain't got no beddin' to sleep on, an' t' dish wid water +is be'n upsot all evenin', so dey ain't got no drinkin' water. Young +pigs drink an orful lot of water an' dey has to have good beddin' to +sleep on, or dey'll squeal." + +After this explanation, the other girls were eager to go to the pig-pen +and see what Janet was doing for the comfort of her investment. Natalie +ran indoors and got an electric flashlight, and they all started for the +barnyard, Rachel bringing up the rear. + +Poor Janet was ready to scream, when they found her trying to hush the +pigs. She would try to catch first one, then another to see if anything +had happened to them, but they kept her jumping around the pen without +her fingers ever touching their little pink hides. + +After Mrs. James explained the cause of their rioting, Janet crawled +over the closely-fitted laths that fenced them in; and all the girls +started for the barn to find some fresh straw for a bed. Water had been +given them, and the avidity with which they drank it showed how thirsty +they had been. + +When the bed was made up in the little house, the three weary little +fellows ran in and were soon curled up to sleep. Then the girls followed +Rachel back to the house, Janet listening very humbly to her discourse +on "Cruelty to Domestic Animals." + +Early in the morning Norma was up, and without disturbing anyone, +slipped down-stairs and started to work on the flower beds. She had +listened so earnestly to Mrs. Tompkins' advice about digging and +fertilizing the soil, that she had finished the narrow beds that edged +the house before the other girls came down. + +"Why, Norma, you certainly are industrious," said Mrs. James, when she +saw all that had been accomplished. + +"Isn't it fun, Mrs. James! I never dreamed how nice it is to be a +farmer. But I never want to be anything else, now." + +Belle laughed, for she was too dignified and superior to ever think of +farm-work. Natalie watched Norma rake over the roundel that was the +center of the turn-around in the drive from the road, and then remarked: +"Where did you find the compost, Norma?" + +Norma looked up and smiled. "Mrs. Tompkins told me how to mix the +fertilizer found in a barnyard, and so I did. But I found some in a box +over there by the vegetable gardens and I used some of that, too." + +"If I didn't have to go and look after my vegetable gardens, Norma, I'd +help you plant the flowers," said Natalie. "But duty calls me, so I must +obey." + +"I'll help Norma plant the slips," offered Janet. + +"Your duty is calling you with a louder voice than Natalie's ever +could," laughed Belle, holding up a finger to attract attention to the +pig-pen. + +The girls laughed, and Janet sighed. "I suppose it will be pigs, pigs, +pigs all summer, whenever I have anything else I wish to do. Even that +old hen misbehaves, and gets off the nest every time I examine the eggs +to see if they are being pecked." + +Natalie had started for her garden by this time, but when she reached +the low dividing fence at the end of the grass plat back of the kitchen, +she screamed furiously and ran for her precious vegetables. + +The other girls turned and ran over to see what had happened. Natalie +was shooing the young chicks away from her tender green sprouts, but she +dared not tramp upon her beds, so the broilers ran a few feet away and +then stood eyeing her. They, seemingly, were but waiting for her to go +away so they could resume their breakfast. + +"That's because Janet forgot to feed them last night for supper. Now all +my young beets are eaten off the top! How can we ever raise anything to +eat or sell, if her old pesky chickens keep this up!" wailed Natalie, +examining the beets. + +"They only managed to get a few of them, Nat! Thank your stars you got +here when you did," remarked Belle. + +"I just bet it was those same horrid birds that destroyed my garden +before! I never saw a crow after that, and I thought I had frightened +them away with the scarecrow. But now, I'm sure it was the broilers!" +declared Natalie. + +"What a lot of satisfaction it will be to pick their bones," suggested +Frances. That made them all laugh and put Natalie in a better humor. +Janet was wise enough to remain at her work with the pigs and chickens, +and not venture near Natalie that morning. + +At breakfast Natalie opened the subject. "Janet, you've got to keep +those chickens in a yard. If they get into my garden again, I'm going to +wring their necks and stew them for dinner!" + +"Wait until they have a little more to them than skin and bone," laughed +Janet. + +"They'll make soup--if nothing more," snapped Natalie. + +"I was about to say, Janet, that you might get some wire-netting at the +Corners, such as is used for runways for chickens," suggested Mrs. +James. + +"How much will it cost? I can't spend more than my allowance, you know," +answered Janet. + +"I have a letter here, in reply to one I wrote Mr. Marvin, saying I was +to use my own good judgment about the out-buildings. I wrote him that we +ought to repair the coops and pens, as well as the barns, as soon as +possible. And he says we can get whatever material we need for slight +repairs at the Corners. He opened an account for us with Si Tompkins and +this wire can be charged to that." + +"But I don't see why you should pay for my chicken run, Mrs. James?" +said Janet. + +"We are going to repair it, anyway, whether you keep chickens in it, or +someone else does it. If you are willing to help with the work to be +done on it, we will consider it squared on the cost of the wire-netting +and nails," explained Mrs. James. + +"I'll go to the Corners right after breakfast and get the wire. Maybe I +can find someone to drive me home again, so I won't have to carry the +awkward roll," said Janet eagerly. + +Norma was too busy with her flowers to join the other girls after +breakfast, and Natalie said she saw some weeds growing up in her garden +beds so she would have to get after them. Janet and Belle and Frances, +therefore, started for the store, planning to help carry the roll of +wire back home. + +Mrs. James assisted Rachel with the housework as it was cleaning-day, +and so everyone was engaged when an automobile stopped in front of the +house. + +Norma Evaston was carefully patting down the soil about a geranium plant +when a shadow fell across it. She glanced up, and started in surprise +when she saw Mr. Lowden smiling down at her. + +"Good-morning, Norma. I thought to find Frances here, too, so I crept up +the walk to surprise her," said he. + +"Oh, how did you get here? There isn't a train until eleven," returned +Norma wonderingly. + +"We came in the machine. Mrs. Lowden and I are going to leave it here +for you to use this summer, so we thought it best to drive out and go +back later by the train." + +"Why, Mr. Lowden! Frans only mailed that letter last night! How could +you have received it already and driven here?" Norma puckered her brow +as she tried to figure out what time the letter could have arrived in +the city that morning, if it left Greenville at six o'clock. + +"What letter?" It was now Mr. Lowden's turn to be surprised. + +"Oh, didn't you know Frances wanted the car to use all summer as an +investment?" asked Norma innocently. + +"As an investment! What do you mean?" + +"Yes, and we think it will be great fun, too," returned Norma eagerly. +"You see, I am going in for flowers to sell to tired homesick financiers +downtown in New York. One sniff of a sprig of heliotrope or the cheerful +nod of a pink standing in a glass of water on his desk will refresh one +so that he will start out like a new man! + +"Nat is raising vegetables. She has all the greens up above the ground +already, but those hungry chickens ate off a number of her best ones, so +that makes them look a bit messy just now. However, they will soon +recover and grow as good as ever. The household will buy all its +vegetables from her, and Solomon's Seal Patrol expect to buy theirs from +her, too. + +"Janet went in for stock-farming. She only has a few pigs and the +chickens as yet, but there are plenty of other things to get, as her +allowance comes due. She is now planning to buy some guinea-hens, a +flock of geese, some bees for honey, a few pigeons so we can have +squabs, and other stock as time rolls by. + +"But Frances chose to go into the service business. She is going to run +an auto-bus from the station to the different destinations, and when we +girls wish to take a pleasure-ride in the country, we all expect to pay +a just price for the use of the car. By fall, Frans ought to have saved +quite a sum of money, don't you think so?" + +Norma had talked so fast that Mr. Lowden could not have said a word had +he wanted to; but he listened with face growing redder and redder, and +when Norma concluded her amazing explanation he burst out laughing loud +and long. His wife heard the mirth as she sat in the car waiting to +learn if he had found the right place. Now she jumped out of the tonneau +and ran over. + +Norma sat back on her feet gazing up at the breathless man, when Mrs. +Lowden joined the two. He tried to sober down enough to explain, but he +spoke in gasps. + +"Natalie raises vegetables for Solomon; Janet has turned +stock-broker--her stock breaks down all of Natalie's greens. Norma here +is the philanthropist of the crowd,--she is about to raise flowers for +heart-sick financiers. But our Frances is the Shylock of the party. She +is going to charge fees for the use of an automobile that costs her +nothing! What do you think of your daughter, now, Mabel?" And he laughed +again, so heartily that Rachel came out to see who was with Norma. + +Mrs. James soon followed Rachel, and the Lowdens were welcomed by the +hostess. Norma could not stop her work long enough to sit down on the +piazza and visit, but she sent this advice after Mr. Lowden as he was +about to mount the porch-steps: + +"Janet went to the Corners for chicken-wire and you can do the girls a +great favor by going for them with the car. Belle and Frances went with +Jan, to take turns carrying the roll. But I guess it is going to be +awfully heavy for them!" + +Mr. Lowden then excused himself for a time, and left his wife with Mrs. +James. He soon had the car speeding along the road that went to the +Corners, and Norma felt she had done her friends a good turn. But she +never dreamed that Frances had not mentioned the automobile as a +money-maker for that summer. + +When the machine came back with the girls and their roll of +wire-netting, Frances looked disconsolate. Norma was wondering whether +her father had refused her the car for business purposes, and so she +stopped planting long enough to join the party on the piazza. + +"What do you think, Norma? Dad says I have to be sixteen before I can +have a license to drive a jitney. If I drive without one, that old lazy +Amity Parsons will arrest me. And if I use someone else's license, I can +be heavily fined. That explodes all my ambition!" exclaimed Frances +woefully. + +But Janet came to the rescue, as usual. "Say, Mr. Lowden, Frans can +drive the car without a license if she has someone in the seat beside +her who _does_ have a regular license." + +"Who can I have?" demanded Frances. + +"Well, I don't know! I haven't thought of that, yet!" admitted Janet. + +"I can drive a car, so there is no excuse why I should not be able to +secure one," said Mrs. James thoughtfully. + +"The main point is--we've got the car here to use for the summer, and +the other points can be covered as we reach them," remarked Janet. + +Mr. Lowden laughed again, for all this business ambition was highly +amusing to him. But he had no objections to the automobile remaining at +Green Hill Farm during his absence in the west, and the girls all +breathed easier when they heard his verdict. + +"Well, you can argue out the question about a jitney license, but I must +go back to my flowers," said Norma, getting up from the steps and +starting for the roundel. + +"And I must start work on that chicken-fencing. If it is to be done +before nightfall, I must ask help, too," said Janet, beckoning Belle to +help her carry the roll of wire. + +Mr. and Mrs. Lowden were invited to stay to dinner but they declined +with regrets, as they were to be back in New York soon after noon. Then +Frances said: "I'll have to drive you to the station to catch the only +train that stops at Greenville this afternoon, and how will I get back +if I haven't a license?" + +"I'll accompany you, Frances, and later we will have to plan a way out +of the difficulty," said Mrs. James. + +Good-bys were said, and the girls stood on the piazza waiting to see the +car start off, when Rachel came out. "Hey, Mis' James! I got it! Jes' +hol' up a minit, will yuh?" + +She hurried down the walk and ran out of the gate to lay her plan before +the owners of the automobile. + +"Yuh all knows my nephew Sam in Noo York? Well, he got a shover's +license las' spring cuz he figgered on drivin' somebody's car this +summer in the country. But we all know what a easy-goin' darky he is, +too! + +"He diden have ambichun enough to hunt out a place, so he jes' waited +fer a plum to drap in his mout'. Ef he is in Noo York, he'll be at dis +address, sure! Ef I tells him to come out heah, widdout fail, to run dat +car, he'll come quick as lightnin'. Ef us gives him room an' board, he +oughter be glad fer the chants. Den no one kin pester Mis' Francie 'bout +license, er nuttin. An' Sam kin make hisself useful to me by bringin' in +coal an' wood fer t' kitchen fire, an' doin' odd jobs about t' place." + +This information seemed to suit Mr. Lowden exactly, and he turned to +Rachel to say: "I'll find him, Rachel, never fear--if he is to be found +in the city. Look for him in the next day or two." + +Then saying good-by again, they drove away. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--GRIT INVITES HIMSELF TO GREEN HILL + + +The vegetables, animals, and flowers might have experienced gross +neglect during the next few days, after the automobile arrived, had it +not been for Mrs. James' insistence that "duty came before pleasure." +Even so, Natalie spent no time weeding the beds but gave the "farmer's +curse" ample opportunity to thrive luxuriantly. + +The third day after the Lowdens had promised to hunt up Sam and send him +to Green Hill Farm, a most unique post-card came for Rachel. It had the +picture of the Woolworth Building on one side, and the information that +this was a "gift card" given to those who visited the tower. On the side +with the address, Sam printed with lead-pencil, "Deer ant: wurd cam fer +me to be shoffer at yur place. Money O. K. comin rite away. sam." + +This elaborate epistle was displayed by Rachel with so much family pride +that the girls had hard work to keep straight faces. But they knew how +hurt Rachel would be if she thought the writing was illiterate, so they +said nothing. + +"If that card was mailed yesterday, as the postmark shows it was, Sam +ought to be here to-day," said Mrs. James. + +"Yes, but he won't get here in time to drive us to Ames's farm for the +guinea-hens," said Natalie. + +"As that will be my last act of law-breaking, I'll drive," announced +Frances. + +Therefore, the girls hurried away in the car. They had not gone more +than half the distance to Dorothy Ames's home, when Natalie saw a dog +following the machine. + +"Go home, old fellow!" called she, waving her hat to drive him back. + +But the dog stood momentarily still and wagged his stumpy tail, then +galloped after the car again, to make up for lost time. + +"Girls, what shall we do with that dog?" cried Natalie in distress. "If +he follows us much further he may get lost." + +Frances stopped the car and called the dog to her. He stood with front +paws on the running-board and looked up at her with happy eyes. + +"He's a fine Collie, girls. Look at his head and the lines of his body. +Someone get out and look at the collar for the owner's name," said +Frances, leaning over to study the dog. + +Belle got out and having examined the collar, remarked: "No name on it. +It's just a plain leather affair with a frayed rope-end still attached +to the ring." + +The dog gave a short friendly yelp at Belle and wagged his tail rapidly, +as a token of good fellowship. + +"Let him run after us if he wants to, then we will take him back with us +when we return," suggested Janet. + +"We'd better have him jump inside the car, then, so he won't stray while +our attentions are turned," ventured Norma. + +So the dog was given room in the tonneau where he stood and watched over +the side of the machine as they flew along the road. + +Arrived at Dorothy Ames's farm, he waited until the door was opened, +then he leaped out and pranced about the girls. + +"That's some dog you girls got there!" declared Mr. Ames, as he came +forward to welcome his visitors. + +"Yes, he must belong to someone living near Green Hill. He ran after our +car as we turned from the state road into this road," explained Natalie. + +"I ain't never seen him about afore. I knows every dog fer ten mile +around Greenville, and there hain't no farmer that kin afford a' animal +like that," returned Mr. Ames. + +"Why--is he a good one?" wondered Janet. + +"Got every point a prize-winnin' Collie ought to have. I wish he was my +dog! I'd win a blue ribbon on him," said Mr. Ames, as he examined the +dog critically. + +"Then someone will worry until he is home again," said Norma +concernedly. + +The dog seemed not to worry, however, for he yawned and followed the +girls about as if he had known them since puppyhood. Mr. Ames told the +girls that the dog must be about two years old, and certainly showed he +had been accustomed to a good living. + +The guinea-hens were selected, several pigeons ordered to be delivered +in a few days when the house would be ready, and a number of young +goslings spoken for. Janet was not going to lose time planning for a +stock-farm business and not act, it seemed. + +"If you gals are going to take the dog back the way he came, you'd +better not try to take the crate with the hens, too. I'll leave them on +my way to the Corners," advised Mr. Ames. + +The business matters settled, Frances spoke of her new line of work. "If +you folks ever want to rent a car for a trip, or when you want to go to +the station, just call me on the 'phone and I'll come for you. I am +starting a jitney-line and am always on hand for my clients." + +Mr. Ames laughed and said: "Sort of runnin' opposition to Amity, eh?" + +"Well, not opposition, exactly, as Amity is never about to attend to +business. But I intend running the car faithfully, as anyone who is in +the public service should do," said Frances. + +"What about a license?" questioned the farmer wisely. + +"Oh, that's taken care of. My chauffeur, Sam White, is going to drive +the machine, while I act as conductor." + +Mr. Ames laughed again, heartier than ever, and Dorothy smiled +sympathetically at Frances. Then she said: "I wish I had something to do +besides churning butter and working on the farm." + +"Well, Dorothy, just you stick to us Girl Scouts and we'll find you some +desirable field of labor," said Janet encouragingly. + +Soon after this the girls started homeward, the dog jumping in without +being invited and sitting up in the place provided him before. The girls +patted him and said he was a clever fellow. That started his tail +wagging violently and his tongue panting with pleasure. + +At Green Hill, Mrs. James watched the girls stop at the side piazza, and +then, to her surprise, she saw the dog jump out of the car. He stood +waiting for his companions to alight and then he sprang up the steps and +wagged his tail at her. + +"What a fine dog," said Mrs. James, patting his head. "Whose is he?" + +"We don't know, Jimmy. He just followed us after we left the state road. +Mr. Ames says he doesn't belong to anyone around here, 'cause he knows +every dog in the county," answered Natalie. + +"He must have lost his way, then. Maybe he was with a party of autoists +who passed that way. They will surely come back to hunt for him, so we +had better hang a large sign out on the tree by the front gate," said +Mrs. James. + +"That's a good plan," assented Natalie. "I'll run in and get a cardboard +box and print the sign." + +"Don't describe the dog,--just say we found a strayed canine," advised +Janet. + +"If no one comes for him, we may as well keep him until we determine +what to do about it," added Natalie. + +"We must find a name for him, too. What do you suppose he was called?" +asked Mrs. James. + +"If we knew that, we might have a clue to his owners," laughed Janet. + +"The best way to name him is this way," suggested Natalie. "Let each one +write a name on a slip of paper and fold it up. Rachel shall deal out +the votes and the last one out of the box shall be his name. How is +that?" + +"Good! Run and get the paper, Nat," laughed Janet. + +So in a few moments six slips of paper were cut and handed out. The +pencil was passed around and everyone wrote her choice of a name for the +dog. Rachel was called out to collect the votes in an old hat, and when +they were well shaken she removed them, one by one, until the last one +was taken up. + +[Illustration: Mrs. James leaned over to see who was coming in.] + +She opened it slowly and spelled out carefully: "G-r-i-t." + +"Ho, _Grit,_ that is my choice!" shouted Natalie, clapping her hands. As +if the dog was pleased with his name, he jumped around madly and barked +shrilly. + +"He seems to like his name," said Janet, laughing at the way the animal +tried to lick Natalie's face. + +"Maybe it sounds something like his real one," suggested Mrs. James. + +"Wall, whatever it is, I says he oughter have a pan of water to drink. +Affer all dis excitement he needs refreshin'," remarked Rachel, going to +the kitchen and calling the dog to follow her. + +He went obediently, and just as the girls began to plan the sign, and +what to write thereon, the gate clicked. Mrs. James leaned over the +piazza rail to see who was coming in, and saw a short, fat, colored +youth of about eighteen, approaching. + +"It must be Sam,--Rachel's nephew," whispered Mrs. James. + +The expected chauffeur saw the party on the piazza and removed his cap +politely, but his face expressed trouble, and he sighed as he stopped at +the foot of the steps. + +"You are Sam, aren't you?" began Mrs. James. + +"Yas'm, an' I would huv be'n here long ago, as I writ, but I lost my +bes' friend and be'n huntin' him fer more'n an hour." Again Sam sighed +heavily and his eyes were moist. + +"Oh, what a pity!" exclaimed Mrs. James. "How did it happen, Sam?" + +"Wall, yuh see, Ma'am, I brung him on the baggidge car tied to a rope, +an' when we got off at the Statchun he was that glad to see the green +grass and fresh air that he galavanted 'round like a crazy thing. He tuk +it inter his head to chase a bird what flied low along the road, and I +laffed as I follered after him. But I lost sight of him, down the road, +until I got to the Corners. I diden know what way to take there, so I +went the most travelled one. + +"That's where I made my mistake. I should hev asked the storekeeper the +way to Green Hill. I whistled and called fer a mile, er more, but Grip +never showed up. Then I got afraid he was really lost. I turned back and +asked the man at the Corners ef he saw'd a dog run by, an' he said, +'Yeh, the mutt was chasin' down the road to Green Hill Farm.' + +"I got mad at him fer callin' Grip a mutt, but I hurried along the road +he pointed out. I kep' on goin' and callin', an' went right by this +place widdout knowin' it. When I came to a farm owned by a man called +Ames--a mile down the road,--he tol' me I was too far. So I come back +again. But I hain't seen no sound of Grip sence." A heavy sigh escaped +Sam and he drew his sleeve across his wet eyes. + +Perhaps the sound of the voice reached Grit--or Grip--in the kitchen, or +perhaps his canine instinct told him his master was there,--whatever it +was, he came bounding out of the house and leaped upon Sam with such +force that the little fellow was rolled over backward upon the soft +grass. + +Grip pawed and rolled over again in his joy at seeing his master again, +and the girls stood and shouted aloud with amusement at the scene. When +Grip's violent expression of welcome had somewhat quieted down, Mrs. +James said: + +"This certainly is a good ending to our adventure." + +Then she proceeded to tell Sam how the girls found Grip on the road, and +how fortunate it was that no other tourists had taken him in. + +Rachel heard a familiar voice and now came hurrying from her kitchen. +"Wall, of all things! Ef it ain't Sambo! How'de, my son?" exclaimed she, +enfolding the little man in her capacious arms. + +"You talk as ef you hadn't looked fer me?" grinned Sam, endeavoring to +free himself from the close embrace. + +"I'm that glad to see yoh, Chile! I felt sort o' fearsome 'bout leavin' +yoh all alone in a wicked city widdout me near to advise yoh dis +summer," returned Rachel, beaming joyously upon her kin. + +Sam laughed, and then the story of Grip was told in a most graphic +manner, the girls interrupting to add some forgotten item. + +"Laws'ee! Ain't dat a plain case o' Providence fer us? An' to think how +Natalie called the dawg Grit, too!" + +"Now that all this excitement is ended, suppose you business girls go +and attend to your work," suggested Mrs. James. "While you were away I +walked over to the vegetable garden and was horrified to find so many +weeds growing taller than the plants we are trying to coax along. And +Janet's investment has escaped from the pen and given Rachel and me the +race of our lives. After half an hour's heated chase we captured the +pigs, but the chickens are still at large, scratching Norma's flower +slips out of the ground. I have shouted at them, and driven them away +repeatedly, but I see they are back there again." + +No more needed to be said then, and in a minute's time three excited +girls were wildly racing to their various places of work to repair the +damages made in their investments. + +Then Sam was shown his room in the attic, where he could unpack his +fabrikoid suit-case and don his farm-clothes. It was plainly evident +that he liked the idea of living in the country and driving a car when +called upon, and Mrs. James considered the girls were most fortunate to +have Rachel's own relative--to say nothing of the dog--on the place that +summer. + +Mr. Ames drove by before noon and left the crate with the guinea-hens +and pigeons, and Janet eagerly began work on a separate coop for the +hens. Sam offered to help build the pigeon-coop on the gable end of the +carriage-house, where the birds could alight without molestation. + +But the story of Janet's stock-farm and how she succeeded is told in +another book and can be given no extra room in this story. Suffice it to +say, she certainly had troubles of her own in trying to raise a barnyard +full of different domestic animals; and had it not been for Sam's +ever-willing help in catching the runaways or repairing the demolished +fences, the result would not have been quite so good. + +That evening, as they all sat on the side steps of the piazza watching +the far-reaching fingers of red that shot up from the western sky, Belle +spoke plaintively: + +"I feel like a laggard, with you girls all working so hard at some +business. Nat with her garden, Janet with the barnyard, Norma with the +flowers, and Frans with her jitney--what is there for me to do? I hate +dirt and animals, and I haven't any car,--so what _is_ left for me?" she +sighed. + +"Why don't you turn your attention to Scout study?" asked Natalie, +feeling that they had neglected Solomon's Seal Camp lately. + +"I don't want that kind of work,--I want a real business, like you girls +have,--but what is there to do?" + +"You'll just have to pray and wait for an answer," suggested Norma, the +devout one of the group. + +"Is that what you did before the flowers came your way from Mrs. +Tompkins?" asked Belle. + +"No, but you see, I always pray and hope for an answer, so I don't have +to lose time when something comes to me. It is always coming at the +right moment, so I never have to ask especially for any one thing," +explained Norma seriously. + +Belle laughed softly. "I wish you'd do it for me, Norma." + +"Why, Belle! You know how to ask for yourself! You'll get it all the +sooner if you stop laughing and try my plan," rebuked Norma. + +The talk suddenly changed at this point, and no one thought more of +Norma's advice to Belle. But the latter was duly impressed by Norma's +faith, and determined to try secretly a prayer or two in her own behalf. +So that evening after she had retired, she earnestly asked that a way +might be shown her to occupy herself that summer even as her friends +were doing. + +The following morning Sam suggested that the car meet the three daily +trains from the city, to carry any passengers to their destinations. As +it took but a short time to drive to the station and back, this plan was +agreed upon. Frances would act as conductor of the fares and direct Sam +the way to go when taking a passenger home. + +On the morning trip they would bring back the mail and any orders that +might be needed for the house or the Scout camp. In the afternoon the +trip would be made for passenger service only, and at evening the mail +would be brought back, or any purchases needed at Tompkins' store. + +The initial trip was made that morning at nine-thirty, the girls wishing +Frances all success in her new venture. As the car disappeared down the +road Natalie hurried to her garden to go to work on the weeding. + +Janet went to the farmyard to begin building some sort of shelter for a +calf she purposed buying from Mr. Ames. And Norma began to plant seeds +in her flower beds. Mrs. James went in to help Rachel, and Belle was +left alone on the porch to plan various things to interest herself, +also. + +As she rocked nervously, trying to think of something agreeable to do, +she heard Natalie cry loudly from the garden. She sprang from the porch +and ran down the path to render any help possible to the friend in +distress, and saw Natalie jumping up and down, with skirts held high and +close about her form. + +"Oh, oh! Belle,--bring a rock! Get a gun--anything--quick!" yelled +Natalie. + +"What for--what's the matter?" shouted Belle, looking anxiously about +for a stone or a big stick. + +"A snake! A great big snake ran out of the ground and tried to get me!" +screamed Natalie, still jumping up and down. + +Belle caught up a heavy stone and tried to carry it quickly to her +friend, but she had to drop it after running a short distance, as it was +too heavy for her. Then she found a smaller stone and ran with that to +demolish utterly the awful thing! + +"Where is it? Where did it go?" cried Belle excitedly, as she reached +the vegetable beds. + +"Oh, oh--it came out of that hole in the corn-hill, and ran that way!" +gasped Natalie, breathless with her violent exercise. + +"Out of that hole! Why, that is only as big as my small finger! How +could a great snake come from there?" + +"All the same it did! Oh, _oh,_ OH! Look, Belle! There it is,--under +that corn-spear!" shouted Natalie, bending and pointing at the +terrifying (?) object. + +Belle had to look hard to be able to detect the little frightened snake. +There, curled up under the tiny spear of green, was a young grass snake +about three inches long. It held up its pretty striped head and watched +fearfully for the huge rock to fall upon its innocent body. + +Belle stood upright and gave vent to a loud laugh. "Oh, Nat! That is +only a dear little worker in your garden. Why would you kill a creature +that will gobble up your troubles?" + +"What do you mean?" demanded Natalie, ashamed of her groundless fears. + +"Why, I've read in school that grass snakes, garter snakes, and even +black snakes, are the farmers' best friends. They eat cut-worms, clean +off all grubs from plants, and even keep out moles, beetles, and other +pests, that ruin vegetables." + +Natalie bravely turned her back upon the grass snake at this and wagged +her head prophetically: "All the same, where a young snake like that can +be found there must be a big parent, too." + +"Doubtless, but the parent snake can kill off ten times as many pests as +a baby snake, so don't go and kill it when it hurries to your cornfield +to catch a field-mouse," laughed Belle. + +As Belle started back for the rocking-chair to continue her mental +planning, she saw Frances' car approach swiftly from the Corners. + +"Oh, goody! She has a passenger!" shouted Belle to Norma as she ran past +the flower beds. + +Norma dropped her trowel and fork and raced after Belle to the gate to +watch the private jitney go past. But Sam stopped in front of the gate +and Frances beckoned to the girls. + +As Belle ran out to see what was wanted of them, a well-dressed lady, +seated in the tonneau, smiled and said: + +"I alighted at Greenville by mistake. I was directed to a country place +beyond White Plains, where I hear I can buy some antiques. I am in the +business in New York, but I haven't time now to wait for another train +and go on to visit this lady. Your young friend here thought the one +named Belle might possibly undertake this commission for me, as she was +at liberty to sell her time. Which of you is Belle?" + +Belle immediately signified that she was the one, and the lady +continued: "I believe you know something of antique furniture and +china?" + +"Something--because I started a little collection of my own at home. I +have read many books to be had at the Library on the subject and can +tell a Wedgewood jug or bowl or a Staffordshire plate, as readily as +anyone. I also know the different Colonial period furniture when I see +any." + +"Splendid! Then you can act as my agent up here, if you will. I must get +back to keep an appointment in New York at two o'clock, but you can hunt +up this old farmhouse for me that is somewhere west of Pleasantville, on +a road that is described accurately on this map," said the stranger, as +she unfolded a paper and glanced at it to see that it was the right one. +This was handed to Belle, and the lady continued: + +"If you find anything there--or at any place in this section of the +country--such as brasses, dishes, furniture, or pictures, telephone me +at my business address and I will make an appointment to meet you +wherever it is. Will you consider it?" + +"I should like nothing better, if you think I can do it for you," +returned Belle, delighted at the prospect. + +"I think you can, and for this service I will pay you for the time you +actually give to the pursuit. Also I will pay for the hire of the car, +as I explained to this young lady here. + +"If you can possibly find time to go to this house to-day, it will +please me greatly, as I want information about the four-poster canopied +bed I hear is there for sale. Telephone me full particulars after you +come back, will you?" + +Belle agreed eagerly to the proposition, and the lady then mentioned the +salary she would pay, by the hour, for this service of Belle's. Also +Frances mentioned her charge for the use of the car, which was agreed to +without demur. + +"Now I wish your man would drive me to the railway station at the +nearest point where a train can be taken without losing more time. I do +not care which town it is, as long as I can get back to the city before +two o'clock." + +Belle was left standing speechless on the footpath as the car drove +rapidly away, and Norma smiled happily. "Did you pray as I told you to, +Belle?" asked she. + +"Uh-huh!" was all the reply Norma got, but she understood Belle's ways +and ran back to her flowers without another word. Belle walked slowly +toward the house to get her hat and handbag so as to start on the new +venture as soon as Frances returned from the White Plains railroad +station. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--BELLE'S CHOICE OF A PROFESSION + + +Solomon's Seal Patrol invited the Tenderfoot members to their camp on +the afternoon before the Fourth of July to begin their lessons in +scouting. Frances agreed to notify the three Greenville girls of the +invitation and then call for them at the time appointed. + +Because of the afternoon to be spent at the camp, Natalie planned to +give her entire morning to the garden. There had been enough rainfall at +intervals, during the time she had first started her garden, to keep the +plants sufficiently moist, but for several days, now, the sun had baked +the soil and there had been no sign of a cloud in the sky. + +At breakfast that Saturday morning Natalie spoke of it. "Jimmy, my +garden is as dry as a lime-kiln. What had I better do about it?" + +"You might try sprinkling it with a hose. I see there is a hydrant right +near the box-hedge--for that very purpose, I guess." + +"I never thought of that! But I will need a hose," said Natalie. + +"I saw one in the cellar, Nat, when I was nosing about for some old +flower-pots to cover my transplanted flowers," now remarked Norma. + +"Then I'll get it out right after breakfast, and see if it will screw +onto the hydrant." + +Norma went with Natalie as she went down the outside cellar-steps to the +partitioned corner where the hose had been seen. It was wound on an old +wooden rack that could be carried up to the grass-plot and turned to +unwind the long piece of rubber. + +"Isn't it great to discover this all ready for us?" said Natalie +delightedly. + +"With a brass cap on one end to screw it to the hydrant, too," added +Norma. + +The other girls gathered around to watch the two gardeners manipulate +the hose, and when it had been carefully unwound Natalie dragged one end +over to the hedge to try and screw the cap to the hydrant. + +This was soon accomplished, and Norma then straightened out the length +of rubber to allow the water to flow through it more readily when +Natalie should turn the faucet. As the unexpected advent of a garden +hose was a cause for celebration, the four girls called to Mrs. James to +come out and watch the sprinkler work. + +Rachel felt that she must be on the spot also, so she hurried out, +wiping her wet hands on her apron as she came. + +"All ready, Nat,--turn on the water!" called Norma, as she picked up the +end with the sprinkler on it. + +Natalie turned the brass faucet and instantly the flow of water swelled +the hose out, but there were many punctures in its length, and one +serious crack, so that the water spurted up through the holes and made +graceful fountains. There was enough force of water, however, to cause a +fine shower of water to come from the sprinkler, until suddenly, without +warning, a sound as of a muffled explosion came, and quite near the +sprinkler the rubber burst and shot forth a stream of water. + +"Wait a minit, Honey--I'll run an' git a piece of mendin' tape what I +foun' in my kitchen closet," called Rachel, hurrying up the stoop-steps +and disappearing through the doorway. + +The girls tried to stop the undesired spurt of water by placing their +hands over the crack and on other holes in the length of the tube. Then +Rachel appeared with the bicycle tape, and was just coming down the +steps when Natalie called to her. + +Norma still held the sprinkler in her hand and now turned to see what +Rachel had; in so doing, she unconsciously turned the end of the hose +also, so that instantly all the girls trying to stop the leakage were +thoroughly sprinkled. + +Such a screaming and shouting ensued that Norma instantly turned to see +what had happened. This time the water drenched Mrs. James, who fled +precipitately for the house. + +Rachel was haw-hawing loudly at the funny scene when Norma turned to +explain the accident to the girls. Without warning, the shower now fell +upon Rachel, who had approached within its radius. + +But the latter was not as docile about being soaked as were the girls. +She dashed forward, caught the hose from Norma's hands and threw it upon +the grass. + +"Turn dat water off at d' hydran', Natalie Av'rill!" shouted the irate +woman. + +Natalie had been laughing immoderately at the outcome of the experiment +with the hose, but she quickly obeyed Rachel's order and turned off the +water. + +"You thought it was awfully funny, Rachie, until you got a soaking +yourself," called Natalie, still giggling. + +"Me! I wa'n't mad, a'tall! I jes' wants to mend dis pipe, an' one cain't +do nuthin' wid water flyin' through it at such a rate. Now I kin wrap +dis tape aroun' it an' fix it, so's you kin water your gardens," +explained Rachel loftily. + +After this incident the hose was mended and Natalie soon had her young +vegetables well watered and left to the mercy of the sun that day. No +one at Green Hill Farm knew enough to advise her not to water the plants +while the sun was shining upon them, and Natalie fondly fancied she had +done a good thing. + +Norma sprinkled her flowers well when Natalie had done with the hose, +but the flower beds were sheltered from the noonday sun, so they did not +fare as badly as did the vegetables. + +Sam was in the barnyard helping Janet construct a new shed for the calf +which she wanted to buy the next week, and he was not so well versed in +farm-lore, so Natalie never understood why all her tender seedlings +should wilt so quickly and seem to dry away before the afternoon heat. + +The tomato plants, that had been transplanted from Mr. Ames's farm, had +grown wonderfully well, and were large enough to warrant Natalie's +starting the frames which would be needed when the red fruit appeared on +the vines. So she planned how to make the best kind of square frame for +them, as she loosened the soil about the potato plants that morning. + +Her thoughts were so filled with the vision of the lath frames that she +failed to see something crawling on a tiny leaf of the potato vine where +she was hoeing. When her eye was attracted to the movement, she gave a +slight shudder and screamed. + +"Wat's d' matter now?" called Rachel from the kitchen steps. + +"Ooh! A horrid bug on one of my dear little potato vines!" cried +Natalie, standing still to watch the crawling beetle. + +Rachel hurried over to the garden. "Da's onny a tater-bug, Honey. Ain't +chew ever hear tell of tater-bugs? Ef you'se let 'em go, dey will eat up +all your taters in no time." + +As she explained, Rachel took the Colorado beetle between her fat thumb +and forefinger and soon crushed it. Natalie shivered as she watched the +remains flung away, but Rachel meant business and had no time for dainty +shudderings. + +In a few minutes she had turned over other tiny leaves and revealed many +bugs eating away at the juicy food. These were quickly caught and +killed, but a few of them managed to get away by flying up out of +Rachel's reach. + +Natalie stood by and watched, and when Rachel said: "Now you'se kin go +on wid dis job. Ebery vine has to be hunted on and dem tater-bugs killed +off." + +"Rachie, I just can't crush them the way you do!" complained Natalie. + +Rachel looked at the girl for a moment, then said: "Neber mind dis way, +Honey. I'll git Sam to fix you up a tin can on a stick. You kin have +some kerosene in it and brush dese pests into t' can by using a short +stick. Dey can't fly away, when once dey fall in dat kerosene." + +"But Rachel, isn't there a way to keep the horrid pests away from my +garden?" asked Natalie anxiously. + +"Yeh--we'se will have to squirt Paris Green or hellebore on the leaves, +I rickon," returned Rachel thoughtfully. + +"Then tell Frances to buy some next time she drives past Si Tompkins' +store," said Natalie, turning her back on the potato-beds and starting +work on the bean-plants. + +The weeding had all been finished, and most of the potato-vines had been +cleaned of the beetles, before the noonday meal was announced to the +busy workers. They were half famished, as was usual nowadays, and +hastened to the house to wash and clean up before appearing in the +dining-room. + +Frances drove to the Corners and not only got the powder for Natalie's +plants, but also got the two girls who were to attend the Scout meeting +that day. Having left them at the house, she drove on to Ames's farm for +Dorothy. + +Mr. Ames came out of the corn-house when he saw the car and walked over +to speak to Frances. Dorothy was almost ready, so while there were a few +minutes to fill, Frances told the farmer about Natalie's potato-bugs and +the powder she bought. + +"Tell her to use it when the leaves are damp with dew in the mornin'--it +has better results that time. Ef she squirts it on dry, an' the leaves +are dry, too, the eggs won't die. It is the wet paste made on the leaves +when the powder melts in the dew that chokes off the young so they can't +breathe." + +"I'll tell her what you say," replied Frances thankfully. + +"An' warn her to keep an eye open fer cutworms, too, 'cause they will +appear about these times, when beans an' young vines are becomin' +hearty. I've hed many a fine plant of cabbitch chopped down through the +stem, jus' as it was goin' to head." + +Natalie was given these advices and felt that she was being well looked +after, with two interested farmers at hand to keep her right. + +The afternoon at Solomon's Seal Patrol Camp was spent in interesting +ways. Miss Mason first read the principles of the Girl Scouts, then +repeated the motto. Most of the girls knew the slogan, which they gave +in unison, and then said the pledge aloud. + +Miss Mason then read the letter from National Headquarters which was a +reply to her application for a Troop registration. The members of the +first Patrol had heard its news--that they might begin their ceremonies +as a Troop, because the application had been filed and accepted, and the +registration would soon reach them. + +The new Patrol heard this with delight, and the fact that they were +going to be actual members of a Troop made them feel that they had +become more important to the public than ever, in the last few minutes. + +The new Scouts were put through several tests that afternoon, and were +then permitted to watch the Scouts of Patrol No. 1 do many thrilling +First Aid demonstrations. The afternoon ended with refreshments, all +prepared and served by the girls. The cakes, wild berries and lemonade +tasted delicious as the girls sat under the great oak tree and chatted. + +On the homeward walk, Nancy Sherman said to Natalie: "There are a few +more girls at the Corners who are crazy to join the Scouts this summer. +But I told them I thought our Patrol was full. Was that right?" + +"Who are the girls--and how old are they, Nancy?" + +"Oh, most of them are about thirteen or fourteen, but one girl is past +fifteen. There are six, in all, and they say that they know some more +girls who will join when they hear of it." + +"Why can't they start Patrol No. 3, and belong to this same Troop," +suggested Janet. + +"That's just what I was thinking," said Natalie. + +Then Mrs. James spoke. "Nancy, you invite all these girls to our farm +some day and we will entertain them. After we have shown them what we +can do in Scout work we will accept them as candidates, if they consent +to become _our_ Tenderfoot Scouts. In this way, girls, you all can win +the needed test to enroll as a First Class Scout when the time is at +hand." + +This was an excellent idea, and the girls felt greatly encouraged at the +hope of being able to take the examinations as First Class Scouts, of +Patrol No. 2, of Solomon's Seal Troop. + +Nancy was entrusted with the invitation to the girls, and warned to keep +secrecy about the plan to secure the approval as First Class Scouts on +their Tenderfoot training. + +Sam and the car were nowhere in sight when the girls reached the house, +but Rachel came out and explained. + +"A telerphone call come f'om Noo York f'om dat antique woman, sayin' fer +Belle t' git dat ol' chest of drawers oveh by Tarrytown road, right now. +It war to be expressed at onct to her shop in Noo York, what Belle had +an address of, so I had Sam go along to git it an' fetch it back so's we +coul' pack an' ship it right off." + +"Oh, Rachel! He need not have done that! I made all arrangements with a +man near there to get the chest to the railroad station and express it +to the city. I was only awaiting orders," exclaimed Belle, annoyed at +the way her well-laid plans were upset. + +"I wuz thinkin', Honey, dat mebbe dat man would cost somethin' to do t' +wuk, an' Sam ain't doin' nuthin' whiles he's waitin' fer orders. So yuh +oughta get dat money foh yo'se'f." + +Belle had not thought of this, and now she saw that Sam and Rachel were +planning for her benefit. But Frances said: "How is he ever going to +carry the chest if it is a big affair?" + +"It isn't, Frans," said Belle. "It is a low-boy that will easily go in +the tonneau, and no harm come to the car." + +"Then I think Sam's plan was good. It saved you time and expense," said +Mrs. James. + +"Yes, and I must share the charges the man would have asked me, with +Sam," said Belle. + +This pleased Rachel immensely,--that her kin should be commended and +given a share in the profits. She felt amply repaid for all the +solicitude she had felt about the order. + +The Solomon's Seal Tenderfoot Scouts had to walk home that day to the +Corners, as Sam was not expected back in time to drive them home. The +Green Hill girls accompanied their fellow-members to the gate and +watched them depart. + +That evening Sam told Belle that he would build her a strong crate from +some old wood found in the barn, and the chest could be taken to White +Plains station early Monday. This plan would save time, and also the +cost of crating and expressage if done at Tarrytown. So the chauffeur +was highly commended for the suggestion and told to do it as soon as he +could. + +The experiences of Belle that summer in hunting antiques in the +Westchester Hill farms were most interesting, but no room can be spared +in this book for the telling of her adventures. So that must wait for a +volume on her exploits. + +As the next day was Sunday, Natalie did not do any garden work, but +Janet had to attend to her farmyard stock the same as on week-days. She +grumbled a great deal over the cares and endless work of a stock-farmer, +but the girls noticed that she was daily planning to add to her troubles +by buying additions. + +The girls were seated under the large sugar maple on the side lawn, +waiting for Janet to finish her feeding of the pigs and chickens, when a +siren was heard. Natalie jumped up and saw a car approaching along the +road. A party of ladies were with the man who drove the machine. + +"Oh, I do believe it is Mr. Marvin, girls!" called Natalie. + +"What!" cried Mrs. James in consternation. "Just look at us all--in our +old clothes!" + +But the automobile was already at the gate, and the girls found to their +delight that he had brought out their mothers. + +It seemed like ages since they had seen each other. The girls talked +eagerly of all that had happened since they came to Green Hill. Norma +showed her flower beds, which really were looking good. And Belle told +about her antique collecting. Frances displayed with pride the sum of +money already earned with her private jitney, and Janet took the +greatest satisfaction in escorting her younger sister Helene and the +ladies to the barnyard to see her stock. Natalie, last of all, showed +her gardens, which looked as neat as a row of pins. + +Mr. Marvin complimented the girls on all their work, and then spoke of +the roses in Natalie's cheeks and the difference in her general physical +looks. + +"I suppose you are going to stay to dinner, aren't you?" ventured +Natalie cautiously. + +"No; we are invited to dine with some friends quite near Green Hill +Farm, but we thought we ought to stop in and see you before we go on to +our hostess's place," said Mr. Marvin. + +"I never knew you people were acquainted with anyone around here," said +Janet, wonderingly, to her mother. + +"We are, however. A young lady we know well in the city is summering in +Greenville, and we came to visit her and her family." + +Neither of the girls dreamed that Mrs. Wardell was referring to Miss +Mason and her Troop, so they kept guessing who the acquaintance might +be. Finally Mr. Marvin laughed and told the secret. + +Natalie laughed, too, and said: "Well, we certainly were thick-witted +that time. We might have known it was Miss Mason's camp." + +Mr. Marvin could not take his eyes from Natalie, she was so different +from the girl he had always known in the city. As she told of the +adventures she and the girls had with their "professions" and the funny +experiences with the old garden hose, her face was so alive with healthy +interest and her eyes sparkled with such fun, that everyone saw the +benefit the country life had been to her. + +Later, as they all started for Solomon's Seal Camp, Mr. Marvin confided +to Mrs. James: "She is so changed that I do not dread her return to the +city again. She hasn't spoken one morbid word, nor seemed pessimistic +once, since I've been here." + +"She isn't, either," admitted Mrs. James. "Ever since she started work +on that garden she has mentioned nothing that has happened in the past +to cause her sorrow. I sometimes wonder if she has forgotten it all." + +"Let's hope so. These mournful remembrances never do anyone the +slightest good. Don't revive them in her memory." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--VISITORS AND WELCOME ORDERS + + +That afternoon at the Scout Camp taught the city visitors many things +about the outdoor life that now interested their girls. Then when it was +time for Mr. Marvin to drive home, he suddenly remembered something most +important. + +"How could it have slipped my mind?" said he, as he took several folded +papers from his breast pocket. + +He adjusted his glasses and read: "Miss Norma Evaston, Floriculturist, +Green Hill, Greenville, New York." + +This long paper was handed to Norma who opened it with much curiosity. +She glanced at it and then exclaimed in surprise, + +"Oh, splendid! What does it mean?" + +"Well, I'll tell you. I told a few friends of your idea of keeping their +office desks refreshed with old-fashioned flowers during the summer, and +each one signified a desire to be placed on your customer list. So, you +see, when the plants blossom, many of us will expect bouquets." + +And then Mr. Marvin handed Belle a paper. She almost forgot her dignity +in her joy. + +"Mr. Marvin authorizes me to find him an old Colonial secretaire with +diamond-paned glass in the upper doors, and the old urn and balls +crowning the top. I'm sure I know just where to get such an one!" + +"I want a mahogany one, Belle, and I am not particular about the cost, +either. The condition of it will govern the price," explained the +lawyer. + +Janet frowned over the paper which Mr. Marvin now gave her. "What's the +matter with your order, Janet?" asked Helene. + +"Why, here I have orders for fresh eggs and broilers every week, and the +horrid old hens won't lay a single egg. Three of them insist upon +setting, and I can't keep them away from the nests that have China decoy +eggs in them. The silly old things just set on them and chuckle with +satisfaction. If I shoo them away, they make the _most_ fuss!" + +Everyone laughed at Janet's trials, but Mr. Marvin said, "That order +stands good for all season, Janet. When your hens do begin to lay, +you'll have to ship the eggs by the car-load." + +"How about an order for me?" called Natalie, seeing a paper in Mr. +Marvin's hand. + +"'Last but not least,'" laughed he. "We have all voted to turn +vegetarians after this, just to order your crops, Natalie. Here is an +order for our winter potatoes, all the sweet corn you have left to sell, +and other fresh things." + +Natalie laughed and opened her paper. She laughed still louder as she +read the orders given her to fill at some future date. + +Then the city visitors said good-by. As Mr. Marvin started the engine, +he called back over his shoulder: "A month from to-day I am coming out +with a truck for deliveries." + +The girls laughed and waved their hands at him, and soon the car was out +of sight. Then they sat down to discuss the marvellous opportunity given +them by Mr. Marvin. + +After a time, Sam sauntered up to the side piazza and waited for an +opportunity to speak to Mrs. James. Seeing him anxiously awaiting his +chance, she smiled. + +"What rests so heavily on your conscience, Sam?" + +"I jus' walked down Miss Natalie's garden path to have a look at her +wegetables, an' I see dem brush peas is 'way up. She oughta get her +brush to-morrer, sure, er she'll have trouble makin' t' vines cling. Ef +she says t' word, I'll go an' cut down some good brush in t' woodland +afore she gets up in t' mornin' an' have it ready to use when she comes +out." + +"Oh, Sam! Will you, please? I didn't know those peas needed anything to +hold to. I wasn't sure whether I planted the dwarf peas first, or the +climbing variety," exclaimed Natalie. + +"That ain't all, either, Miss Nat," added Sam seriously. "I saw you got +lima beans planted in one bed, an' no poles on hand fer 'em. Did you +order any bean poles f'om Ames?" + +"Bean poles! Why, no!" returned Natalie. + +The girls laughed at her surprise, but Sam continued: + +"How did you 'speckt the vines to clim'?" + +"I never knew they did climb! I thought they just naturally grew and +branched out and bore beans," explained Natalie, to the great amusement +of Mrs. James and the girls. + +"Well, den, I'd better hunt up some decent poles, too, in t' woods, eh?" +asked Sam. + +"Would you have to cut down any good trees?" + +"I'd choose any what looked sickly, er maybe some dead young trees. +Don't worry 'bout me choppin' down any fine ones." + +"Say, Nat, I think it will be fun for us all to go with Sam in the +morning before breakfast, and help cut the brush and bean poles," +suggested Janet. + +"I'm willin'," said Sam, smiling at the girls. + +So the five girls went with Sam at sunrise the next morning, and by +breakfast-time, Natalie had sufficient poles and brush at her garden +beds to help all the peas and beans she could find room for that year. + +The stock-grower and florist, and even the antiquarian, took such an +interest in sticking the brush into the garden for the peas and helping +the tendrils cling to their new support, that they left their own tasks +undone. + +Sam had driven Frances in the car to the store after breakfast, so he +was not around when the girls planted the bean poles. He had not pointed +out the particular bed where the limas were growing, as he thought, of +course, that Natalie knew. But she had not followed Mrs. James' advice +given a few weeks before, when the seed was sown--to register each bed +with the ticket of the vegetable that was planted there. Now she had to +depend on her own memory to determine which of the different plants were +beans. + +The three other girls carried the poles where she directed, and +carefully walked on the boards Natalie laid down for their feet, to keep +the beds from being trodden while they dug holes and firmly placed a +seven-foot pole in each hill of beans. + +"There now, don't they look business-like?" exulted Natalie, as she +surveyed with pride the rows of bean poles. + +Sam stopped the automobile near the side porch just after Natalie made +this remark, and seeing the girls still at the garden, he hurried there +to see if he could help them in any way. + +"All done, Sam! Aren't the poles nice?" exclaimed Natalie. + +"Yeh, Miss Natalie, the poles is nice enough, but you ain't got 'em +planted in the lima-bean garden," said Sam slowly, so as to break the +news gently. + +"What?" cried three girls in one voice. + +"Nah. Them green plants is dwarf string-beans, and t' lima beans is on +the other side." + +"Oh goodness' sake!" wailed Natalie, sitting down plump on the radish +bed. "All that work done for nothing?" + +Norma and Belle frowned at the poles, but Janet laughed. "If this isn't +the funniest thing, yet!" she exclaimed. + +The greater part of the morning had passed before the error made in the +garden had been corrected. Natalie was so tired by the time she reached +the house that she dropped wearily upon the steps and sighed. + +Mrs. James came out upon the piazza when she saw her approaching the +house, and at the sigh she said: "What's wrong?" + +"Oh, that horrid old garden is _such_ a care! I wish to goodness I had +chosen stock-raising instead. Then I could have had the pleasure of +watching the little things run about and show their gratitude when one +feeds them. But lifeless old seeds and expressionless vegetables are +such uninteresting things to work for!" + +Mrs. James understood that something had gone awry, so she wisely +remarked: "Oh, I don't know! Janet seems to have as much trouble with +her stock as anyone has with other work." + +"Well, she doesn't have to dig holes and plant bean poles for her pigs +to climb up on!" + +Mrs. James barely kept from laughing outright at the funny excuse given. +But she replied: "Janet had a dreadful time just now, trying to catch +two of the little pigs that escaped and started to run down the road." + +"No,--really!" exclaimed Natalie, sitting up with great animation. +"Where is she now?" + +"Trying to repair the fence that they broke down. They are growing so +big and strong that the rickety enclosure she made at first will never +keep them in, now." + +"I just hope they get away and give her a chase all the way to the +Corners!" cried Natalie. + +"Why should you wish such hard luck for poor Janet?" asked Mrs. James, +laughingly. + +"Because she laughed at my bean poles and refused to help us dig them up +again." + +"Dig them up again! Did you bury them?" + +Then Natalie found she had made an admission that would have to be +explained. + +"No, not buried them, but we mistook the plants. It was such an easy +thing to do--to believe the string-beans were limas, you know." + +"Oh! Then you never followed my advice about tagging the different +beds." + +But Natalie did not reply. + +The following morning, Janet asked Frances to inquire if there was a +package for her at the post-office, as it should have arrived several +days before. + +"Is it a big package?" asked Frances. + +"No, it's a book that I ordered from the city. It's all about raising +things. Not that I need to find out about chickens and pigs, but I +expect to buy that calf from Mr. Ames, and Belle saw some sheep in a +pasture up in the Hills the other day, when she was hunting for +antiques. I am wondering if they are difficult to raise. That is why I +want the book." + +The book arrived that morning, and Janet straightway applied herself to +studying its pages, in order to learn what other farmyard animals she +could keep that would not give her too much trouble, and repay her for +the expense incurred. + +The result of that reading was to rouse Janet's growing ambition to +fever-heat. She determined upon a plan by which she could borrow the +capital from her father and buy her stock without further loss of time. +But her experiences are told in the volume following this one, called +"Janet: a Stock-Farm Scout." + +Natalie's garden beds began to look most flourishing, for every seed had +sprouted and the transplanted greens were growing like wildfire. She +began to figure ahead to find how soon she might gather crops, but she +kept this vision a secret, as she knew the girls would tease if they +heard of it. + +The very impressive paper that conveyed the rights of Solomon's Seal +Troop to take its place in the Girl Scout Organization arrived that +week, also, so that Natalie realized that great things were already +growing out of her coming to Green Hill Farm that summer. But how they +multiplied and developed thrilling experiences will be narrated in the +second volume of this Girl Scout Country Life Series. + + THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Natalie: A Garden Scout, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATALIE: A GARDEN SCOUT *** + +***** This file should be named 37458-8.txt or 37458-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/5/37458/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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