diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:25:13 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:25:13 -0700 |
| commit | 9dc1fda4d6b54d65943c073bed9d0ce75c2bda21 (patch) | |
| tree | 26d2eb5c720c6fb5208ccd642f28cbfff16f01c6 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 5269.txt | 7629 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 5269.zip | bin | 0 -> 148773 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/drvbk10.txt | 7866 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/drvbk10.zip | bin | 0 -> 148022 bytes |
7 files changed, 15511 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5269.txt b/5269.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb3a916 --- /dev/null +++ b/5269.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7629 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Driven Back to Eden, by E. P. Roe + +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: Driven Back to Eden + +Author: E. P. Roe + +Posting Date: September 8, 2012 [EBook #5269] +Release Date: March, 2004 +First Posted: June 23, 2002 +Last Updated: February 27, 2005 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN + + +BY + + +E. P. ROE + + + + +THIS VOLUME + +IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO + +"JOHNNIE" + + + + +PREFACE + +Months since, with much doubt and diffidence, I began this simple +story. I had never before written expressly for young people, and I +knew that the honest little critics could not be beguiled with words +which did not tell an interesting story. How far I have succeeded, the +readers of this volume, and of the "St. Nicholas" magazine, wherein the +tale appeared as a serial, alone can answer. + +I have portrayed no actual experience, but have sought to present one +which might be verified in real life. I have tried to avoid all that +would be impossible or even improbable. The labors performed by the +children in the story were not unknown to my own hands, in childhood, +nor would they form tasks too severe for many little hands now idle in +the cities. + +The characters are all imaginary; the scenes, in the main, are real: +and I would gladly lure other families from tenement flats into green +pastures. + +E. P. R. + +CORNWALL-ON-THE-HUDSON, + +August 10, 1885. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I A PROBLEM + +CHAPTER II I STATE THE CASE + +CHAPTER III NEW PROSPECTS + +CHAPTER IV A MOMENTOUS EXPEDITION + +CHAPTER V A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT + +CHAPTER VI A BLUFF FRIEND + +CHAPTER VII MR. JONES SHOWS ME THE PLACE + +CHAPTER VIII TELLING ABOUT EDEN + +CHAPTER IX "BREAKING CAMP" + +CHAPTER X SCENES ON THE WHARF + +CHAPTER XI A VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON + +CHAPTER XII A MARCH EVENING IN EDEN + +CHAPTER XIII RESCUED AND AT HOME + +CHAPTER XIV SELF-DENIAL AND ITS REWARD + +CHAPTER XV OUR SUNNY KITCHEN + +CHAPTER XVI MAKING A PLACE FOR CHICKENS + +CHAPTER XVII GOOD BARGAINS IN MAPLE SUGAR + +CHAPTER XVIII BUTTERNUTS AND BOBSEY'S PERIL + +CHAPTER XIX JOHN JONES, JUN + +CHAPTER XX RASPBERRY LESSONS + +CHAPTER XXI THE "VANDOO" + +CHAPTER XXII EARLY APRIL GARDENING + +CHAPTER XXIII A BONFIRE AND A FEAST + +CHAPTER XXIV "NO BLIND DRIFTING" + +CHAPTER XXV OWLS AND ANTWERPS + +CHAPTER XXVI A COUNTRY SUNDAY + +CHAPTER XXVII STRAWBERRY VISIONS AND "PERTATERS" + +CHAPTER XXVIII CORN, COLOR, AND MUSIC + +CHAPTER XXIX WE GO A-FISHING + +CHAPTER XXX WEEDS AND WORKING FOR DEAR LIFE + +CHAPTER XXXI NATURE SMILES AND HELPS + +CHAPTER XXXII CHERRIES, BERRIES, AND BERRY-THIEVES + +CHAPTER XXXIII GIVEN HIS CHOICE + +CHAPTER XXXIV GIVEN A CHANCE + +CHAPTER XXXV "WE SHALL ALL EARN OUR SALT" + +CHAPTER XXXVI A THUNDERBOLT + +CHAPTER XXXVII RALLYING FROM THE BLOW + +CHAPTER XXXVIII AUGUST WORK AND PLAY + +CHAPTER XXXIX A TRIP TO THE SEASHORE + +CHAPTER XL A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM + +CHAPTER XLI HOARDING FOR WINTER + +CHAPTER XLII AUTUMN WORK AND SPORT + +CHAPTER XLIII THANKSGIVING DAY + +CHAPTER XLIV WE CAN MAKE A LIVING IN EDEN + + + + +DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A PROBLEM + + +"Where are the children?" + +"They can't be far away," replied my wife, looking up from her +preparations for supper. "Bobsey was here a moment ago. As soon as my +back's turned he's out and away. I haven't seen Merton since he brought +his books from school, and I suppose Winnie is upstairs with the +Daggetts." + +"I wish, my dear, you could keep the children at home more," I said, a +little petulantly. + +"I wish you would go and find them for me now, and to-morrow take my +place--for just one day." + +"Well, well," I said, with a laugh that had no mirth in it; "only one +of your wishes stands much chance of being carried out. I'll find the +children now if I can without the aid of the police. Mousie, do you +feel stronger to-night?" + +These words were spoken to a pale girl of fourteen, who appeared to be +scarcely more than twelve, so diminutive was her frame. + +"Yes, papa," she replied, a faint smile flitting like a ray of light +across her features. She always said she was better, but never got +well. Her quiet ways and tones had led to the household name of +"Mousie." + +As I was descending the narrow stairway I was almost overthrown by a +torrent of children pouring down from the flats above. In the dim light +of a gas-burner I saw that Bobsey was one of the reckless atoms. He had +not heard my voice in the uproar, and before I could reach him, he with +the others had burst out at the street door and gone tearing toward the +nearest corner. It seemed that he had slipped away in order to take +part in a race, and I found him "squaring off" at a bigger boy who had +tripped him up. Without a word I carried him home, followed by the +jeers and laughter of the racers, the girls making their presence known +in the early December twilight by the shrillness of their voices and by +manners no gentler than those of the boys. + +I put down the child--he was only seven years of age--in the middle of +our general living-room, and looked at him. His little coat was split +out in the back; one of his stockings, already well-darned at the +knees, was past remedy; his hands were black, and one was bleeding; his +whole little body was throbbing with excitement, anger, and violent +exercise. As I looked at him quietly the defiant expression in his eyes +began to give place to tears. + +"There is no use in punishing him now," said my wife. "Please leave him +to me and find the others." + +"I wasn't going to punish him," I said. + +"What are you going to do? What makes you look at him so?" + +"He's a problem I can't solve--with the given conditions." + +"O Robert, you drive me half wild. If the house was on fire you'd stop +to follow out some train of thought about it all. I'm tired to death. +Do bring the children home. When we've put them to bed you can figure +on your problem, and I can sit down." + +As I went up to the Daggetts' flat I was dimly conscious of another +problem. My wife was growing fretful and nervous. Our rooms would not +have satisfied a Dutch housewife, but if "order is heaven's first law" +a little of Paradise was in them as compared to the Daggetts' +apartments. "Yes," I was told, in response to my inquiries; "Winnie is +in the bed-room with Melissy." + +The door was locked, and after some hesitation the girls opened it. As +we were going downstairs I caught a glimpse of a newspaper in my girl's +pocket. She gave it to me reluctantly, and said "Melissy" had lent it +to her. I told her to help her mother prepare supper while I went to +find Merton. Opening the paper under a street lamp, I found it to be a +cheap, vile journal, full of flashy pictures that so often offend the +eye on news-stands. With a chill of fear I thought, "Another problem." +The Daggett children had had the scarlet fever a few months before. +"But here's a worse infection," I reflected. "Thank heaven, Winnie is +only a child, and can't understand these pictures;" and I tore the +paper up and thrust it into its proper place, the gutter. + +"Now," I muttered, "I've only to find Merton in mischief to make the +evening's experience complete." + +In mischief I did find him--a very harmful kind of mischief, it +appeared to me. Merton was little over fifteen, and he and two or three +other lads were smoking cigarettes which, to judge by their odor, must +certainly have been made from the sweepings of the manufacturer's floor. + +"Can't you find anything better than that to do after school?" I asked, +severely. + +"Well, sir," was the sullen reply, "I'd like to know what there is for +a boy to do in this street." + +During the walk home I tried to think of an answer to his implied +question. What would I do if I were in Merton's place? I confess that I +was puzzled. After sitting in school all day he must do something that +the police would permit. There certainly seemed very little range of +action for a growing boy. Should I take him out of school and put him +into a shop or an office? If I did this his education would be sadly +limited. Moreover he was tall and slender for his age, and upon his +face there was a pallor which I dislike to see in a boy. Long hours of +business would be very hard upon him, even if he could endure the +strain at all. The problem which had been pressing on me for +months--almost years--grew urgent. + +With clouded brows we sat down to our modest little supper. Winifred, +my wife, was hot and flushed from too near acquaintance with the stove, +and wearied by a long day of toil in a room that would be the better +for a gale of wind. Bobsey, as we called my little namesake, was +absorbed--now that he was relieved from the fear of punishment--by the +wish to "punch" the boy who had tripped him up. Winnie was watching me +furtively, and wondering what had become of the paper, and what I +thought of it. Merton was somewhat sullen, and a little ashamed of +himself. I felt that my problem was to give these children something to +do that would not harm them, for do SOMETHING they certainly would. +They were rapidly attaining that age when the shelter of a narrow city +flat would not answer, when the influence of a crowded house and of the +street might be greater than any we could bring to bear upon them. + +I looked around upon the little group for whom I was responsible. My +will was still law to them. While my little wife had positive ways of +her own, she would agree to any decided course that I resolved upon. +The children were yet under entire control, so that I sat at the head +of the table, commander-in-chief of the little band. We called the +narrow flat we lived in "home." The idea! with the Daggetts above and +the Ricketts on the floor beneath. It was not a home, and was scarcely +a fit camping-ground for such a family squad as ours. Yet we had stayed +on for years in this long, narrow line of rooms, reaching from a +crowded street to a little back-yard full of noisy children by day, and +noisier cats by night. I had often thought of moving, but had failed to +find a better shelter that was within my very limited means. The +neighborhood was respectable, so far as a densely populated region can +be. It was not very distant from my place of business, and my work +often kept me so late at the office that we could not live in the +suburb. The rent was moderate for New York, and left me some money, +after food and clothing were provided, for occasional little outings +and pleasures, which I believe to be needed by both body and mind. +While the children were little--so long as they would "stay put" in the +cradle or on the floor--we did not have much trouble. Fortunately I had +good health, and, as my wife said, was "handy with children." Therefore +I could help her in the care of them at night, and she had kept much of +her youthful bloom. Heaven had blessed us. We had met with no serious +misfortunes, nor had any of our number been often prostrated by +prolonged and dangerous illness. But during the last year my wife had +been growing thin, and occasionally her voice had a sharpness which was +new. Every month Bobsey became more hard to manage. Our living-room was +to him like a cage to a wild bird, and slip away he would, to his +mother's alarm; for he was almost certain to get into mischief or +trouble. The effort to perform her household tasks and watch over him +was more wearing than it had been to rock him through long hours at +night when he was a teething baby. These details seem very homely no +doubt, yet such as these largely make up our lives. Comfort or +discomfort, happiness or unhappiness, springs from them. There is no +crop in the country so important as that of boys and girls. How could I +manage my little home-garden in a flat? + +I looked thoughtfully from one to another, as with children's appetites +they became absorbed in one of the chief events of the day. + +"Well," said my wife, querulously, "how are you getting on with your +problem?" + +"Take this extra bit of steak and I'll tell you after the children are +asleep," I said. + +"I can't eat another mouthful," she exclaimed, pushing back her almost +untasted supper. "Broiling the steak was enough for me." + +"You are quite tired out, dear," I said, very gently. + +Her face softened immediately at my tone and tears came into her eyes. + +"I don't know what is the matter with me," she faltered. "I am so +nervous some days that I feel as if I should fly to pieces. I do try to +be patient, but I know I'm growing cross!" + +"Oh now, mamma," spoke up warm-hearted Merton; "the idea of your being +cross." + +"She IS cross," Bobsey cried; "she boxed my ears this very day." + +"And you deserved it," was Merton's retort. "It's a pity they are not +boxed oftener." + +"Yes, Robert, I did," continued my wife, sorrowfully. "Bobsey ran away +four times, and vexed me beyond endurance, that is, such endurance as I +have left, which doesn't seem to be very much." + +"I understand, dear," I said. "You are a part of my problem, and you +must help me solve it." Then I changed the subject decidedly, and soon +brought sunshine to our clouded household. Children's minds are easily +diverted; and my wife, whom a few sharp words would have greatly +irritated, was soothed, and her curiosity awakened as to the subject of +my thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +I STATE THE CASE + + +I pondered deeply while my wife and Winnie cleared away the dishes and +put Bobsey into his little crib. I felt that the time for a decided +change had come, and that it should be made before the evils of our lot +brought sharp and real trouble. + +How should I care for my household? If I had been living on a far +frontier among hostile Indians I should have known better how to +protect them. I could build a house of heavy logs and keep my wife and +children always near me while at work. But it seemed to me that Melissa +Daggett and her kin with their flashy papers, and the influence of the +street for Merton and Bobsey, involved more danger to my little band +than all the scalping Modocs that ever whooped. The children could not +step outside the door without danger of meeting some one who would do +them harm. It is the curse of crowded city life that there is so little +of a natural and attractive sort for a child to do, and so much of evil +close at hand. + +My wife asked me humorously for the news. She saw that I was not +reading my paper, and my frowning brow and firm lips proved my problem +was not of a trifling nature. She suspected nothing more, however, than +that I was thinking of taking rooms in some better locality, and she +was wondering how I could do it, for she knew that my income now left +but a small surplus above expenses. + +At last Winnie too was ready to go to bed, and I said to her, gravely: +"Here is money to pay Melissa for that paper. It was only fit for the +gutter, and into the gutter I put it. I wish you to promise me never to +look at such pictures again, or you can never hope to grow up to be a +lady like mamma." + +The child flushed deeply, and went tearful and penitent to bed. Mousie +also retired with a wistful look upon her face, for she saw that +something of grave importance occupied my mind. + +No matter how tired my wife might be, she was never satisfied to sit +down until the room had been put in order, a green cloth spread upon +the supper-table and the student lamp placed in its centre. + +Merton brought his school-books, and my wife took up her mending, and +we three sat down within the circle of light. + +"Don't do any more work to-night," I said, looking into my wife's face, +and noting for a few moments that it was losing its rounded lines. + +Her hands dropped wearily into her lap, and she began gratefully: "I'm +glad you speak so kindly to-night, Robert, for I am so nervous and out +of sorts that I couldn't have stood one bit of fault-finding--I should +have said things, and then have been sorry all day to-morrow. Dear +knows, each day brings enough without carrying anything over. Come, +read the paper to me, or tell me what you have been thinking about so +deeply, if you don't mind Merton's hearing you. I wish to forget +myself, and work, and everything that worries me, for a little while." + +"I'll read the paper first, and then, after Merton has learned his +lessons, I will tell you my thoughts--my purpose, I may almost say. +Merton shall know about it soon, for he is becoming old enough to +understand the 'why' of things. I hope, my boy, that your teacher lays +a good deal of stress on the WHY in all your studies." + +"Oh, yes, after a fashion." + +"Well, so far as I am your teacher, Merton, I wish you always to think +why you should do a thing or why you shouldn't, and to try not to be +satisfied with any reason but a good one." + +Then I gleaned from the paper such items as I thought would interest my +wife. At last we were alone, with no sound in the room but the low roar +of the city, a roar so deep as to make one think that the tides of life +were breaking waves. + +I was doing some figuring in a note-book when my wife asked: "Robert, +what is your problem to-night? And what part have I in it?" + +"So important a part that I couldn't solve it without you," I replied, +smiling at her. + +"Oh, come now," she said, laughing slightly for the first time in the +evening; "you always begin to flatter a little when you want to carry a +point." + +"Well, then, you are on your guard against my wiles. But believe me, +Winifred, the problem on my mind is not like one of my ordinary brown +studies; in those I often try to get back to the wherefore of things +which people usually accept and don't bother about. The question I am +considering comes right home to us, and we must meet it. I have felt +for some time that we could not put off action much longer, and +to-night I am convinced of it." + +Then I told her how I had found three of the children engaged that +evening, concluding: "The circumstances of their lot are more to blame +than they themselves. And why should I find fault with you because you +are nervous? You could no more help being nervous and a little +impatient than you could prevent the heat of the lamp from burning you, +should you place your finger over it. I know the cause of it all. As +for Mousie, she is growing paler and thinner every day. You know what +my income is; we could not change things much for the better by taking +other rooms and moving to another part of the city, and we might find +that we had changed for the worse. I propose that we go to the country +and get our living out of the soil." + +"Why, Robert! what do you know about farming or gardening?" + +"Not very much, but I am not yet too old to learn; and there would be +something for the children to do at once, pure air for them to breathe, +and space for them to grow healthfully in body, mind, and soul. You +know I have but little money laid by, and am not one of those smart men +who can push their way. I don't know much besides bookkeeping, and my +employers think I am not remarkably quick at that. I can't seem to +acquire the lightning speed with which things are done nowadays; and +while I try to make up by long hours and honesty, I don't believe I +could ever earn much more than I am getting now, and you know it +doesn't leave much of a margin for sickness or misfortune of any kind. +After all, what does my salary give us but food and clothing and +shelter, such as it is, with a little to spare in some years? It sends +a cold chill to my heart to think what should become of you and the +children if I should be sick or anything should happen to me. Still, it +is the present welfare of the children that weighs most on my mind, +Winifred. They are no longer little things that you can keep in these +rooms and watch over; there is danger for them just outside that door. +It wouldn't be so if beyond the door lay a garden and fields and woods. +You, my overtaxed wife, wouldn't worry about them the moment they were +out of sight, and my work, instead of being away from them all day, +could be with them. And all could do something, even down to pale +Mousie and little Bobsey. Outdoor life and pure air, instead of that +breathed over and over, would bring quiet to your nerves and the roses +back to your cheeks. The children would grow sturdy and strong; much of +their work would be like play to them; they wouldn't be always in +contact with other children that we know nothing about. I am aware that +the country isn't Eden, as we have imagined it--for I lived there as a +boy--but it seems like Eden compared to this place and its +surroundings; and I feel as if I were being driven back to it by +circumstances I can't control." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NEW PROSPECTS + + +There is no need of dwelling further on the reasons for or against the +step we proposed. We thought a great deal and talked it over several +times. Finally my wife agreed that the change would be wise and best +for all. Then the children were taken into our confidence, and they +became more delighted every day as the prospect grew clearer to them. + +"We'll all be good soon, won't we?" said my youngest, who had a rather +vivid sense of his own shortcomings, and kept them in the minds of +others as well. + +"Why so, Bobsey?" + +"'Cause mamma says that God put the first people in a garden and they +was very good, better'n any folks afterwards. God oughter know the best +place for people." + +Thus Bobsey gave a kind of divine sanction to our project. Of course we +had not taken so important a step without asking the Great Father of +all to guide us; for we felt that in the mystery of life we too were +but little children who knew not what should be on the morrow, or how +best to provide for it with any certainty. To our sanguine minds there +was in Bobsey's words a hint of something more than permission to go up +out of Egypt. + +So it was settled that we should leave our narrow suite of rooms, the +Daggetts and the Ricketts, and go to the country. To me naturally fell +the task of finding the land flowing with milk and honey to which we +should journey in the spring. Meantime we were already emigrants at +heart, full of the bustle and excitement of mental preparation. + +I prided myself somewhat on my knowledge of human nature, which, in +regard to children, conformed to comparatively simple laws. I knew that +the change would involve plenty of hard work, self-denial and careful +managing, which nothing could redeem from prose; but I aimed to add to +our exodus, so far as possible, the elements of adventure and mystery +so dear to the hearts of children. The question where we should go was +the cause of much discussion, the studying of maps, and the learning of +not a little geography. + +Merton's counsel was that we should seek a region abounding in Indians, +bears, and "such big game." His advice made clear the nature of some of +his recent reading. He proved, however, that he was not wanting in +sense by his readiness to give up these attractive features in the +choice of locality. + +Mousie's soft black eyes always lighted up at the prospect of a +flower-garden that should be as big as our sitting-room. Even in our +city apartments, poisoned by gas and devoid of sunlight, she usually +managed to keep a little house-plant in bloom, and the thought of +placing seeds in the open ground, where, as she said, "the roots could +go down to China if they wanted to," brought the first color I had seen +in her face for many a day. + +Winnie was our strongest child, and also the one who gave me the most +anxiety. Impulsive, warm-hearted, restless, she always made me think of +an overfull fountain. Her alert black eyes were as eager to see as was +her inquisitive mind to pry into everything. She was sturdily built for +a girl, and one of the severest punishments we could inflict was to +place her in a chair and tell her not to move for an hour. We were +beginning to learn that we could no more keep her in our sitting-room +than we could restrain a mountain brook that foams into a rocky basin +only to foam out again. Melissa Daggett was of a very different type--I +could never see her without the word "sly" coming into my mind--and her +small mysteries awakened Winnie's curiosity. Now that the latter was +promised chickens, and rambles in the woods, Melissa and her secrets +became insignificant, and the ready promise to keep aloof from her was +given. + +As for Bobsey, he should have a pig which he could name and call his +own, and for which he might pull weeds and pick up apples. We soon +found that he was communing with that phantom pig in his dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A MOMENTOUS EXPEDITION + + +By the time Christmas week began we all had agreed to do without candy, +toys, and knick-knacks, and to buy books that would tell us how to live +in the country. One happy evening we had an early supper and all went +to a well-known agricultural store and publishing-house on Broadway, +each child almost awed by the fact that I had fifteen dollars in my +pocket which should be spent that very night in the purchase of books +and papers. To the children the shop seemed like a place where tickets +direct to Eden were obtained, while the colored pictures of fruits and +vegetables could portray the products of Eden only, so different were +they in size and beauty from the specimens appearing in our market +stalls. Stuffed birds and animals were also on the shelves, and no +epicure ever enjoyed the gamy flavor as we did. But when we came to +examine the books, their plates exhibiting almost every phase of +country work and production, we felt like a long vista leading toward +our unknown home was opening before us, illumined by alluring pictures. +To Winnie was given a book on poultry, and the cuts representing the +various birds were even more to her taste than cuts from the fowls +themselves at a Christmas dinner. The Nimrod instincts of the race were +awakened in Merton, and I soon found that he had set his heart on a +book that gave an account of game, fish, birds, and mammals. It was a +natural and wholesome longing. I myself had felt it keenly when a boy. +Such country sport would bring sturdiness to his limbs and the right +kind of color into his face. + +"All right, Merton," I said: "you shall have the book and a +breech-loading shot-gun also. As for fishing-tackle, you can get along +with a pole cut from the woods until you have earned money enough +yourself to buy what you need." + +The boy was almost overwhelmed. He came to me, and took my hand in both +his own. + +"O papa," he faltered, and his eyes were moist, "did you say a gun?" + +"Yes, a breech-loading shot-gun on one condition--that you'll not smoke +till after you are twenty-one. A growing boy can't smoke in safety." + +He gave my hand a quick, strong pressure, and was immediately at the +farther end of the store, blowing his nose suspiciously. I chuckled to +myself: "I want no better promise. A gun will cure him of cigarettes +better than a tract would." + +Mousie was quiet, as usual; but there was again a faint color in her +cheeks, a soft lustre in her eyes. I kept near my invalid child most of +the time, for fear that she would go beyond her strength. I made her +sit by a table, and brought the books that would interest her most. Her +sweet, thin face was a study, and I felt that she was already enjoying +the healing caresses of Mother Nature. When we started homeward she +carried a book about flowers next to her heart. + +Bobsey taxed his mother's patience and agility, for he seemed all over +the store at the same moment, and wanted everything in it, being sure +that fifteen dollars would buy all and leave a handsome margin; but at +last he was content with a book illustrated from beginning to end with +pigs. + +What pleased me most was to see how my wife enjoyed our little outing. +Wrapped up in the children, she reflected their joy in her face, and +looked almost girlish in her happiness. I whispered in her ear, "Your +present shall be the home itself, for I shall have the deed made out in +your name, and then you can turn me out-of-doors as often as you +please." + +"Which will be every pleasant day after breakfast," she said, laughing. +"You know you are very safe in giving things to me." + +"Yes, Winifred," I replied, pressing her hand on the sly; "I have been +finding that out ever since I gave myself to you." + +I bought Henderson's "Gardening for Profit" and some other practical +books. I also subscribed for a journal devoted to rural interests and +giving simple directions for the work of each month. At last we +returned. Never did a jollier little procession march up Broadway. +People were going to the opera and evening companies, and carriages +rolled by, filled with elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen; but my +wife remarked, "None of those people are so happy as we are, trudging +in this roundabout way to our country home." + +Her words suggested our course of action during the months which must +intervene before it would be safe or wise for us to leave the city. Our +thoughts, words, and actions were all a roundabout means to our +cherished end, and yet the most direct way that we could take under the +circumstances. Field and garden were covered with snow, the ground was +granite-like from frost, and winter's cold breath chilled our +impatience to be gone; but so far as possible we lived in a country +atmosphere, and amused ourselves by trying to conform to country ways +in a city flat. Even Winnie declared she heard the cocks crowing at +dawn, while Bobsey had a different kind of grunt or squeal for every +pig in his book. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT + + +On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them +on a table. Merton was almost wild when he found a bright +single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner. Even +Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of +flower-seeds on her plate. To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs +with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily +reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation. Little +Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his +eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard. In the number of domestic +animals he swallowed that day he equalled the little boy in Hawthorne's +story of "The House of the Seven Gables," who devoured a ginger-bread +caravan of camels and elephants purchased at Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon's +shop. + +Our Christmas dinner consisted almost wholly of such vegetables as we +proposed to raise in the coming summer. Never before were such +connoisseurs of carrots, beets, onions, parsnips, and so on through +almost the entire list of such winter stock as was to be obtained at +our nearest green-grocery. We celebrated the day by nearly a dozen +dishes which the children aided my wife in preparing. Then I had Merton +figure the cost of each, and we were surprised at the cheapness of much +of country fare, even when retailed in very small quantities. + +This brought up another phase of the problem. In many respects I was +like the children, having almost as much to learn as they--with the +advantage, however, of being able to correct impressions by experience. +In other words, I had more judgment; and while I should certainly make +mistakes, not many of them would be absurd or often repeated. I was +aware that most of the homely kitchen vegetables cost comparatively +little, even though (having in our flat no good place for storage) we +had found it better to buy what we needed from day to day. It was +therefore certain that, at wholesale in the country, they would often +be exceedingly cheap. This fact would work both ways: little money +would purchase much food of certain kinds, and if we produced these +articles of food they would bring us little money. + +I will pass briefly over the period that elapsed before it was time for +us to depart, assured that the little people who are following this +simple history are as eager to get away from the dusty city flat to the +sunlight, breezy fields, brooks, and woods as were the children in my +story. It is enough to say that, during all my waking hours not devoted +to business, I read, thought, and studied on the problem of supporting +my family in the country. I haunted Washington Market in the gray dawn +and learned from much inquiry what products found a ready and certain +sale at some price, and what appeared to yield to the grower the best +profits. There was much conflict of opinion, but I noted down and +averaged the statements made to me. Many of the market-men had hobbies, +and told me how to make a fortune out of one or two articles; more gave +careless, random, or ignorant answers; but here and there was a plain, +honest, sensible fellow who showed me from his books what plain, +honest, sensible producers in the country were doing. In a few weeks I +dismissed finally the tendency to one blunder. A novice hears or reads +of an acre of cabbages or strawberries producing so much. Then he +figures, "if one acre yields so much, two acres will give twice as +much," and so on. The experience of others showed me the utter folly of +all this; and I came to the conclusion that I could give my family +shelter, plain food, pure air, wholesome work and play in plenty, and +that not very soon could I provide much else with certainty. I tried to +stick closely to common-sense; and the humble circumstances of the vast +majority living from the soil proved that there was in these pursuits +no easy or speedy road to fortune. Therefore we must part reluctantly +with every penny, and let a dollar go for only the essentials to the +modest success now accepted as all we could naturally expect. We had +explored the settled States, and even the Territories, in fancy; we had +talked over nearly every industry from cotton and sugarcane planting to +a sheep-ranch. I encouraged all this, for it was so much education out +of school-hours; yet all, even Merton, eventually agreed with me that +we had better not go far away, but seek a place near schools, markets, +churches, and well inside of civilization. + +"See here, youngsters, you forget the most important crop of all that I +must cultivate," I said one evening. + +"What is that?" they cried in chorus. + +"A crop of boys and girls. You may think that my mind is chiefly on +corn and potatoes. Not at all. It is chiefly on you; and for your sakes +mamma and I decided to go to the country." + +At last, in reply to my inquiries and my answers to advertisements, I +received the following letter:-- + +Maizeville, N.Y. March 1st, '83 + +Robert Durham, Esq. + +Dear Sir + +I have a place that will suit you I think. It can be bought at about +the figure you name. Come to see it. I shan't crack it up, but want you +to judge for yourself. + +Resp'y John Jones + +I had been to see two or three places that had been "cracked up" so +highly that my wife thought it better to close the bargain at once +before some one else secured the prize--and I had come back disgusted +in each instance. + +"The soul of wit" was in John Jones's letter. There was also a +downright directness which hit the mark, and I wrote that I would go to +Maizeville in the course of the following week. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A BLUFF FRIEND + + +The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the +fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right. Spring +was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like +"Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies. We were as eager as +robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward. + +My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured +tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should +leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the +problem of country living and to preparations for departure. I obtained +illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over +them every evening. At first they bewildered us with their long lists +of varieties, while the glowing descriptions of new kinds of vegetables +just being introduced awakened in us something of a gambling spirit. + +"How fortunate it is," exclaimed my wife, "that we are going to the +country just as the vegetable marvels were discovered! Why, Robert, if +half of what is said is true, we shall make our fortunes." + +With us, hitherto, a beet had been a beet, and a cabbage a cabbage; but +here were accounts of beets which, as Merton said, "beat all creation," +and pictures of prodigious cabbage heads which well-nigh turned our +own. With a blending of hope and distrust I carried two of the +catalogues to a shrewd old fellow in Washington Market. He was a dealer +in country produce who had done business so long at the same stand that +among his fellows he was looked upon as a kind of patriarch. During a +former interview he had replied to my questions with a blunt honesty +that had inspired confidence. The day was somewhat mild, and I found +him in his shirt-sleeves, smoking his pipe among his piled-up barrels, +boxes, and crates, after his eleven o'clock dinner. His day's work was +practically over; and well it might be, for, like others of his +calling, he had begun it long before dawn. Now his old felt hat was +pushed well back on his bald head, and his red face, fringed with a +grizzled beard, expressed a sort of heavy, placid content. His small +gray eyes twinkled as shrewdly as ever. With his pipe he indicated a +box on which I might sit while we talked. + +"See here, Mr. Bogart," I began, showing him the seed catalogues, "how +is a man to choose wisely what vegetables he will raise from a list as +long as your arm? Perhaps I shouldn't take any of those old-fashioned +kinds, but go into these wonderful novelties which promise a new era in +horticulture." + +The old man gave a contemptuous grunt; then, removing his pipe, he blew +out a cloud of smoke that half obscured us both as he remarked, +gruffly, "'A fool and his money are soon parted.'" + +This was about as rough as March weather; but I knew my man, and +perhaps proved that I wasn't a fool by not parting with him then and +there. + +"Come now, neighbor," I said, brusquely, "I know some things that you +don't, and there are affairs in which I could prove you to be as green +as I am in this matter. If you came to me I'd give you the best advice +that I could, and be civil about it into the bargain. I've come to you +because I believe you to be honest and to know what I don't. When I +tell you that I have a little family dependent on me, and that I mean +if possible to get a living for them out of the soil, I believe you are +man enough both to fall in with my plan and to show a little friendly +interest. If you are not, I'll go farther and fare better." + +As I fired this broadside he looked at me askance, with the pipe in the +corner of his mouth, then reached out his great brown paw, and said,-- + +"Shake." + +I knew it was all right now--that the giving of his hand meant not only +a treaty of peace but also a friendly alliance. The old fellow +discoursed vegetable wisdom so steadily for half an hour that his pipe +went out. + +"You jest let that new-fangled truck alone," he said, "till you get +more forehanded in cash and experience. Then you may learn how to make +something out of them novelties, as they call 'em, if they are worth +growing at all. Now and then a good penny is turned on a new fruit or +vegetable; but how to do it will be one of the last tricks that you'll +learn in your new trade. Hand me one of them misleadin' books, and I'll +mark a few solid kinds such as produce ninety-nine hundredths of all +that's used or sold. Then you go to What-you-call-'em's store, and take +a line from me, and you'll git the genuine article at market-gardeners' +prices." + +"Now, Mr. Bogart, you are treating me like a man and a brother." + +"Oh thunder! I'm treating you like one who, p'raps, may deal with me. +Do as you please about it, but if you want to take along a lot of my +business cards and fasten 'em to anything you have to sell, I'll give +you all they bring, less my commission." + +"I've no doubt you will, and that's more than I can believe of a good +many in your line, if all's true that I hear. You have thrown a broad +streak of daylight into my future. So you see the fool didn't part with +his money, or with you either, until he got a good deal more than he +expected." + +"Well, well, Mr. Durham, you'll have to get used to my rough ways. When +I've anything to say, I don't beat about the bush. But you'll always +find my checks good for their face." + +"Yes, and the face back of them is that of a friend to me now. We'll +shake again. Good-by;" and I went home feeling as if I had solid ground +under my feet. At supper I went over the whole scene, taking off the +man in humorous pantomime, not ridicule, and even my wife grew +hilarious over her disappointed hopes of the "new-fangled truck." I +managed, however, that the children should not lose the lesson that a +rough diamond is better than a smooth paste stone, and that people +often do themselves an injury when they take offence too easily. + +"I see it all, papa," chuckled Merton; "if you had gone off mad when he +the same as called you a fool, you would have lost all his good advice." + +"I should have lost much more than that, my boy, I should have lost the +services of a good friend and an honest man to whom we can send for its +full worth whatever we can't sell to better advantage at home. But +don't mistake me, Merton, toadyism never pays, no matter what you may +gain by it; for you give manhood for such gain, and that's a kind of +property that one can never part with and make a good bargain. You see +the old man didn't mean to be insolent. As he said, it was only his +rough, blunt way of saying what was uppermost in his mind." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +MR. JONES SHOWS ME THE PLACE + + +The next day, according to appointment, I went to Maizeville. John +Jones met me at the station, and drove me in his box-sleigh to see the +farm he had written of in his laconic note. I looked at him curiously +as we jogged along over the melting snow. The day was unclouded for a +wonder, and the sun proved its increasing power by turning the +sleigh-tracks in the road into gleaming rills. The visage of my new +acquaintance formed a decided contrast to the rubicund face of the +beef-eating marketman. He was sandy even to his eyebrows and +complexion. His scraggy beard suggested poverty of soil on his lantern +jaws. His frame was as gaunt as that of a scare-crow, and his hands and +feet were enormous. He had one redeeming feature, however--a pair of +blue eyes that looked straight at you and made you feel that there was +no "crookedness" behind them. His brief letter had led me to expect a +man of few words, but I soon found that John Jones was a talker and a +good-natured gossip. He knew every one we met, and was usually greeted +with a rising inflection, like this, "How are you, John?" + +We drove inland for two or three miles. + +"No, I didn't crack up the place, and I ain't a-goin' to," said my +real-estate agent. "As I wrote you, you can see for yourself when we +get there, and I'll answer all questions square. I've got the sellin' +of the property, and I mean it shall be a good bargain, good for me and +good for him who buys. I don't intend havin' any neighbors around +blamin' me for a fraud;" and that is all he would say about it. + +On we went, over hills and down dales, surrounded by scenery that +seemed to me beautiful beyond all words, even in its wintry aspect. + +"What mountain is that standing off by itself?" I asked. + +"Schunemunk," he said. "Your place--well, I guess it will be yours +before plantin'-time comes--faces that mountain and looks up the valley +between it and the main highlands on the left. Yonder's the house, on +the slope of this big round hill, that'll shelter you from the north +winds." + +I shall not describe the place very fully now, preferring that it +should be seen through the eyes of my wife and children, as well as my +own. + +"The dwelling appears old," I said. + +"Yes; part of it's a good deal more'n a hundred years old. It's been +added to at both ends. But there's timbers in it that will stand +another hundred years. I had a fire made in the livin'-room this +mornin', to take off the chill, and we'll go in and sit down after +we've looked the place over. Then you must come and take pot-luck with +us." + +At first I was not at all enthusiastic, but the more I examined the +place, and thought it over, the more it grew on my fancy. When I +entered the main room of the cottage, and saw the wide, old-fashioned +fireplace, with its crackling blaze, I thawed so rapidly that John +Jones chuckled. "You're amazin' refreshin' for a city chap. I guess +I'll crack on another hundred to the price." + +"I thought you were not going to crack up the place at all." + +"Neither be I. Take that old arm-chair, and I'll tell you all about it. +The place looks rather run down, as you have seen. Old Mr. and Mrs. +Jamison lived here till lately. Last January the old man died, and a +good old man he was. His wife has gone to live with a daughter. By the +will I was app'inted executor and trustee. I've fixed on a fair price +for the property, and I'm goin' to hold on till I get it. There's +twenty acres of plowable land and orchard, and a five-acre wood-lot, as +I told you. The best part of the property is this. Mr. Jamison was a +natural fruit-grower. He had a heap of good fruit here and wouldn't +grow nothin' but the best. He was always a-speerin' round, and when he +come across something extra he'd get a graft, or a root or two. So he +gradually came to have the best there was a-goin' in these parts. Now I +tell you what it is, Mr. Durham, you can buy plenty of new, bare +places, but your hair would be gray before you'd have the fruit that +old man Jamison planted and tended into bearing condition; and you can +buy places with fine shade trees and all that, and a good show of a +garden and orchard, but Jamison used to say that an apple or cherry was +a pretty enough shade tree for him, and he used to say too that a tree +that bore the biggest and best apples didn't take any more room than +one that yielded what was fit only for the cider press. Now the p'int's +just here. You don't come to the country to amuse yourself by +developin' a property, like most city chaps do, but to make a livin'. +Well, don't you see? This farm is like a mill. When the sun's another +month higher it will start all the machinery in the apple, cherry, and +pear trees and the small fruits, and it will turn out a crop the first +year you're here that will put money in your pocket." + +Then he named the price, half down and the rest on mortgage, if I so +preferred. It was within the limit that my means permitted. + +I got up and went all over the house, which was still plainly furnished +in part. A large wood-house near the back door had been well filled by +the provident old man. There was ample cellar room, which was also a +safeguard against dampness. Then I went out and walked around the +house. It was all so quaint and homely as to make me feel that it would +soon become home-like to us. There was nothing smart to be seen, +nothing new except a barn that had recently been built near one of the +oldest and grayest structures of the kind I had ever seen. The +snow-clad mountains lifted themselves about me in a way that promised a +glimpse of beauty every time I should raise my eyes from work. Yet +after all my gaze lingered longest on the orchard and fruit-trees that +surrounded the dwelling. + +"That's sensible," remarked Mr. Jones, who followed me with no trace of +anxiety or impatience. "Paint, putty, and pine will make a house in a +few weeks, but it takes a good slice out of a century to build up an +orchard like that." + +"That was just what I was thinking, Mr. Jones." + +"Oh, I knowed that. Well, I've got just two more things to say, then +I'm done and you can take it or leave it. Don't you see? The house is +on a slope facing the south-east. You get the morning sun and the +southern breeze. Some people don't know what they're worth, but I, +who've lived here all my life, know they're worth payin' for. Again, +you see the ground slopes off to the crick yonder. That means good +drainage. We don't have any malary here, and that fact is worth as much +as the farm, for I wouldn't take a section of the garden of Eden if +there was malary around." + +"On your honor now, Mr. Jones, how far is the corner around which they +have the malaria?" + +"Mr. Durham, it ain't a mile away." + +I laughed as I said, "I shall have one neighbor, it seems, to whom I +can lend an umbrella." + +"Then you'll take the place?" + +"Yes, if my wife is as well satisfied as I am. I want you to give me +the refusal of it for one week at the price you named." + +"Agreed, and I'll put it in black and white." + +"Now, Mr. Jones," I began with an apologetic little laugh, "you grow +one thing up here in all seasons, I fancy--an appetite. As I feel now, +your pot-luck means good luck, no matter what is in it." + +"Now you talk sense. I was a-hankerin' myself. I take stock right off +in a man or a critter with an appetite. They're always improvin'. Yes, +sir; Maizeville is the place to grow an appetite, and what's more we +can grow plenty to satisfy it." + +Mrs. Jones made a striking contrast to her husband, for she first +impressed me as being short, red, and round; but her friendly, bustling +ways and hearty welcome soon added other and very pleasant impressions; +and when she placed a great dish of fricasseed chicken on the table she +won a good-will which her neighborly kindness has steadily increased. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +TELLING ABOUT EDEN + + +Never was a traveller from a remote foreign clime listened to with more +breathless interest than I as I related my adventures at our late +supper after my return. Mousie looked almost feverish in her +excitement, and Winnie and Bobsey exploded with merriment over the name +of the mountain that would be one of our nearest neighbors. They dubbed +the place "Schunemunks" at once. Merton put on serious and +sportsman-like airs as he questioned me, and it was evident that he +expected to add largely to our income from the game he should kill. I +did not take much pains to dispel his illusions, knowing that one day's +tramp would do this, and that he would bring back increased health and +strength if nothing else. + +No fairy tale had ever absorbed the children like the description of +that old house and its surroundings; and when at last they were induced +to retire I said to my wife, after explaining more in practical detail +the pros and cons to be considered: "It all depends on you. If you wish +I will take you up the first pleasant day, so that you can see for +yourself before we decide." + +She laughed as she said, "I decided two minutes after you arrived." + +"How is that?" + +"I saw you had the place in your eyes. La, Robert! I can read you like +a book. You give in to me in little things, and that pleases a woman, +you know. You must decide a question like this, for it is a question of +support for us all, and you can do better on a place that suits you +than on one never quite to your mind. It has grown more and more clear +to me all the evening that you have fallen in love with the old place, +and that settles it." + +"Well, you women have a way of your own of deciding a question." + +My wife was too shrewd not to make a point in her favor, and she +remarked, with a complacent nod, "I have a way of my own, but there are +women in the world who would have insisted on a smart new house." + +"Little wife," I said, laughing, "there was another girl that I was a +little sweet on before I met you. I'm glad you are not the other girl." + +She put her head a little to one side with the old roguish look which +used to be so distracting when the question of questions with me was +whether pretty Winnie Barlow would give half a dozen young fellows the +go-by for my sake, and she said, "Perhaps the other girl is glad too." + +"I've no doubt she is," I sighed, "for her husband is getting rich. I +don't care how glad she is if my girl is not sorry." + +"You do amuse me so, Robert! You'd like to pass for something of a +philosopher, with your brown studies into the hidden causes and reasons +for things, yet you don't half know yet that when a woman sets her +heart on something, she hasn't much left with which to long for +anything else. That is, if she has a heart, which seems to be left out +of some women." + +"I think it is, and others get a double allowance. I should be content, +for I was rich the moment I won yours." + +"I've been more than content; I've been happy--happy all these years in +city flats. Even in my tantrums and bad days I knew I was happy, deep +in my heart." + +"I only hope you will remain as blind about your plodding old husband +who couldn't make a fortune in the city." + +"I've seen men who made fortunes, and I've seen their wives too." + +I thanked God for the look on her face--a look which had been there +when she was a bride, and which had survived many straitened years. + +So we chose our country home. The small patrimony to which we had added +but little--(indeed we had often denied ourselves in order not to +diminish it)--was nearly all to be invested in the farm, and a debt to +be incurred, besides. While yielding to my fancy, I believed that I had +at the same time chosen wisely, for, as John Jones said, the mature +fruit trees of the place would begin to bring returns very soon. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"BREAKING CAMP" + + +We were now all eager to get away, and the weather favored our wishes. +A warm rain with a high south wind set in, and the ice disappeared from +the river like magic. I learned that the afternoon boat which touched +at Maizeville would begin its trips in the following week. + +I told my wife about the furniture which still remained in the house, +and the prices which John Jones put upon it. We therefore found that we +could dispose of a number of bulky articles in our city apartments, and +save a goodly sum in cartage and freight. Like soldiers short of +ammunition, we had to make every dollar tell, and when by thought and +management we could save a little it was talked over as a triumph to be +proud of. + +The children entered into the spirit of the thing with great zest. They +were all going to be hardy pioneers. One evening I described the +landing of the "Mayflower," and some of the New-England winters that +followed, and they wished to come down to Indian meal at once as a +steady diet. Indeed, toward the last, we did come down to rather plain +fare, for in packing up one thing after another we at last reached the +cooking utensils. + +On the morning of the day preceding the one of our departure I began to +use military figures of speech. + +"Now we must get into marching order," I said, "and prepare to break +camp. Soldiers, you know, when about to move, dispose of all their +heavy baggage, cook several days' provisions, pack up and load on +wagons what they mean to take with them, and start. It is a trying +time--one that requires the exercise of good soldierly qualities, such +as prompt obedience, indifference to hardship and discomfort, and +especially courage in meeting whatever happens." + +Thus the children's imaginations were kindled, and our prosaic breaking +up was a time of grand excitement. With grim satisfaction they looked +upon the dismantling of the rooms, and with sighs of relief saw carts +take away such heavy articles as I had sold. + +Winnie and Bobsey were inclined to take the children of neighbors into +their confidence, and to have them around, but I said that this would +not do at all--that when soldiers were breaking camp the great point +was to do everything as secretly and rapidly as possible. Thenceforward +an air of mystery pervaded all our movements. + +Bobsey, however, at last overstepped the bounds of our patience and +became unmanageable. The very spirit of mischief seemed to have entered +his excited little brain. He untied bundles, placed things where they +were in the way, and pestered the busy mother with so many questions, +that I hit upon a decided measure to keep him quiet. I told him about a +great commander who, in an important fight, was strapped to a mast, so +that he could oversee everything. Then I tied the little fellow into a +chair. At first he was much elated, and chattered like a magpie, but +when he found he was not to be released after a few moments he began to +howl for freedom. I then carried him, chair and all, to one of the back +rooms. Soon his cries ceased, and tender-hearted Mousie stole after +him. Returning she said, with her low laugh, "He'll be good now for a +while; he's sound asleep." + +And so passed the last day in our city rooms. Except as wife and +children were there, they had never appeared very homelike to me, and +now they looked bare and comfortless indeed. The children gloated over +their appearance, for it meant novelty to them. "The old camp is about +broken up," Merton remarked, with the air of a veteran. But my wife +sighed more than once. + +"What troubles you, Winifred?" + +"Robert, the children were born here, and here I've watched over them +in sickness and health so many days and nights." + +"Well, my dear, the prospects are that in our new home you will not +have to watch over them in sickness very much. Better still, you will +not have to be so constantly on your guard against contagions that harm +the soul as well as the body. I was told that there are rattle-snakes +on Schunemunk, but greater dangers for Winnie and Merton lurk in this +street--yes, in this very house;" and I exulted over the thought that +we were about to bid Melissa Daggett a final good-by. + +"Oh, I know. I'm glad; but then--" + +"But then a woman's heart takes root in any place where she has loved +and suffered. That tendency makes it all the more certain that you'll +love your new home." + +"Yes; we may as well face the truth, Robert. We shall suffer in the new +home as surely as in the old. There may be stronger sunshine, but that +means deeper shadow." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SCENES ON THE WHARF + + +The last night in the city flat was in truth like camping out, the +fatigues of the day brought us sound sleep, and we looked and felt like +emigrants. But in the morning we rose with the dawn, from our +shakedowns on the floor, to begin eagerly and hopefully our final +preparations for departure. In response to my letters John Jones had +promised to meet us at the Maizeville Landing with his strong covered +rockaway, and to have a fire in the old farmhouse. Load after load was +despatched to the boat, for I preferred to deal with one trusty +truckman. When all had been taken away, we said good-by to our +neighbors and took the horse-car to the boat, making our quiet exit in +the least costly way. I knew the boat would be warm and comfortable, +and proposed that we should eat our lunch there. + +The prospect, however, of seeing the wharves, the boats, and the river +destroyed even the children's appetites. We soon reached the crowded +dock. The great steamer appeared to be a part of it, lying along its +length with several gangways, over which boxes, barrels, and packages +were being hustled on board with perpetual din. The younger children +were a little awed at first by the noise and apparent confusion. Mousie +kept close to my side, and even Bobsey clung to his mother's hand. The +extended upper cabin had state-rooms opening along its sides, and was +as comfortable as a floating parlor with its arm and rocking chairs. +Here, not far from the great heater, I established our headquarters. I +made the children locate the spot carefully, and said: "From this point +we'll make excursions. In the first place, Merton, you come with me and +see that all our household effects are together and in good order. You +must learn to travel and look after things like a man." + +We spent a little time in arranging our goods so that they would be +safer and more compact. Then we went to the captain and laughingly told +him we were emigrants to Maizeville, and hoped before long to send a +good deal of produce by his boat. We therefore wished him to "lump" us, +goods, children, and all, and deliver us safely at the Maizeville wharf +for as small a sum as possible. + +He good-naturedly agreed, and I found that the chief stage of our +journey would involve less outlay than I had expected. + +Thus far all had gone so well that I began to fear that a change must +take place soon, in order that our experience should be more like the +common lot of humanity. When at last I took all the children out on the +afterdeck, to remove the first edge of their curiosity, I saw that +there was at least an ominous change in the weather. The morning had +been mild, with a lull in the usual March winds. Now a scud of clouds +was drifting swiftly in from the eastward, and chilly, fitful gusts +began to moan and sigh about us. A storm was evidently coming, and my +hope was that we might reach our haven before it began. I kept my fears +to myself, and we watched the long lines of carts converging toward the +gang-planks of our own and other steamboats. + +"See, youngsters," I cried, "all this means commerce. These loads and +loads of things will soon be at stores and homes up the river, +supplying the various needs of the people. Tomorrow the residents along +the river will bring what they have to sell to this same boat, and by +daylight next morning carts will be carrying country produce and +manufactured articles all over the city. Thus you see commerce is made +by people supplying themselves and each other with what they need. Just +as soon as we can bring down a crate of berries and send it to Mr. +Bogart we shall be adding to the commerce of the world in the best way. +We shall become what are called the 'producers,' and but for this class +the world would soon come to an end." + +"'Rah!" cried Bobsey, "I'm goin' to be a p'oducer." + +He promised, however, to be a consumer for a long time to come, +especially of patience. His native fearlessness soon asserted itself, +and he wanted to go everywhere and see everything, asking questions +about machinery, navigation, river craft, the contents of every box, +bale, or barrel we saw, till I felt that I was being used like a town +pump. I pulled him back to the cabin, resolving to stop his mouth for a +time at least with the contents of our lunch basket. + +Winnie was almost as bad, or as good, perhaps I should say; for, +however great the drain and strain on me might be, I knew that these +active little brains were expanding to receive a host of new ideas. + +Mousie was quiet as usual, and made no trouble, but I saw with renewed +hope that this excursion into the world awakened in her a keen and +natural interest. Ever since the project of country life had been +decided upon, her listless, weary look had been giving place to one of +greater animation. The hope of flowers and a garden had fed her life +like a deep, hidden spring. + +To Merton I had given larger liberty, and had said: "It is not +necessary for you to stay with me all the time. Come and go on the boat +and wharf as you wish. Pick up what knowledge you can. All I ask is +that you will use good sense in keeping out of trouble and danger." + +I soon observed that he was making acquaintances here and there, and +asking questions which would go far to make good his loss of schooling +for a time. Finding out about what one sees is, in my belief, one of +the best ways of getting an education. The trouble with most of us is +that we accept what we see, without inquiry or knowledge. + +The children were much interested in scenes witnessed from the side of +the boat farthest from the wharf. Here in the enclosed water-space were +several kinds of craft, but the most curious in their eyes was a group +of canal boats--"queer travelling houses" Mousie called them; for it +was evident that each one had a family on board, and the little +entrance to the hidden cabin resembled a hole from which men, women, +and children came like rabbits out of a burrow. Tough, hardy, +barefooted children were everywhere. While we were looking, one +frowsy-headed little girl popped up from her burrow in the boat, and, +with legs and feet as red as a boiled lobster, ran along the guards +like a squirrel along a fence. + +"O dear!" sighed Mousie, "I'd rather live in a city flat than in such a +house." + +"I think it would be splendid," protested Winnie, "to live in a +travelling house. You could go all over and still stay at home." + +I was glad on our return to find my wife dozing in her chair. She was +determined to spend in rest the hours on the boat, and had said that +Mousie also must be quiet much of the afternoon. + +Between three and four the crush on the wharf became very great. Horses +and drays were so mixed up that to inexperienced eyes it looked as if +they could never be untangled. People of every description, loaded down +with parcels, were hurrying on board, and it would seem from our point +of view that American women shared with their French sisters an aptness +for trade, for among the passengers were not a few substantial, +matronly persons who appeared as if they could look the world in the +face and get the better of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON + + +As four P.M. approached, I took the children to a great glass window in +the cabin, through which we could see the massive machinery. + +"Now," said I, "watch the steel giant; he is motionless, but in a +moment or two he will move." + +True enough, he appeared to take a long breath of steam, and then +slowly lifted his polished arms, or levers, and the boat that had been +like a part of the wharf began to act as if it were alive and were +waking up. + +"Now," I asked, "shall we go to the after-deck and take our last look +at the city, or forward and see the river and whither we are going?" + +"Forward! forward!" cried all in chorus. + +"That's the difference between youth and age," I thought. "With the +young it is always 'forward.'" But we found that we could not go out on +the forward deck, for the wind would have carried away my light, frail +Mousie, like a feather. Indeed it was whistling a wild tune as we stood +in a small room with glass windows all round. The waves were crowned +with foaming white-caps, and the small craft that had to be out in the +gale were bobbing up and down, as if possessed. On the river was a +strange and lurid light, which seemed to come more from the dashing +water than from the sky, so dark was the latter with skurrying clouds. + +Mousie clung timidly to my side, but I reassured her by saying: "See +how steadily, how evenly and boldly, our great craft goes out on the +wide river. In the same way we must go forward, and never be afraid. +These boats run every day after the ice disappears, and they are +managed by men who know what to do in all sorts of weather." + +She smiled, but whispered, "I think I'll go back and stay with mamma;" +but she soon found much amusement in looking at passing scenes from the +windows of the warm after-cabin--scenes that were like pictures set in +oval frames. + +The other children appeared fascinated by the scene, especially Winnie, +whose bold black eyes flashed with excitement. + +"I want to see everything and know everything," she said. + +"I wish you to see and know about things like these," I replied, "but +not such things as Melissa Daggett would show you." + +"Melissy Daggett, indeed!" cried Winnie. "This beats all her stories. +She tried to tell me the other day about a theatre at which a woman +killed a man--" + +"Horrid! I hope you didn't listen?" + +"Only long enough to know the man came to life again, and danced in the +next--" + +"That will do. I'm not interested in Melissa's vulgar stories. As you +say, this, and all like this, is much better, and will never prevent +you from becoming a lady like mamma." + +Winnie's ambition to become a lady promised to be one of my strong +levers in uplifting her character. + +I confess that I did not like the looks of the sky or of the +snow-flakes that began to whirl in the air, but the strong steamer +plowed her way rapidly past the city and the villa-crowned shores +beyond. The gloom of the storm and of early coming night was over all, +and from the distant western shores the Palisades frowned dimly through +the obscurity. + +My wife came, and after a brief glance shivered and was turning away, +when I said, "You don't like your first glimpse of the country, +Winifred?" + +"It will look different next June. The children will take cold here. +Let them come and watch the machinery." + +This we all did for a time, and then I took them on excursions about +the enclosed parts of the boat. The lamps were already lighted, and the +piled-up freight stood out in grotesque light and shadow. + +Before very long we were standing by one of the furnace rooms, and the +sooty-visaged man threw open the iron doors of the furnace. In the +glare of light that rushed forth everything near stood out almost as +vividly as it would have done in a steady gleam of lightning. The +fireman instantly became a startling silhouette, and the coal that he +shovelled into what was like a flaming mouth of a cavern seemed +sparkling black diamonds. The snow-flakes glimmered as the wind swept +them by the wide-open window, and in the distance were seen the lights +and the dim outline of another boat rushing toward the city. Clang! the +iron doors are shut, and all is obscure again. + +"Now the boat has had its supper," said Bobsey. "O dear! I wish I could +have a big hot supper." + +The smoking-room door stood open, and we lingered near it for some +moments, attracted first by a picture of a great fat ox, that suggested +grassy meadows, plowing, juicy steaks, and other pleasant things. Then +our attention was drawn to a man, evidently a cattle-dealer, who was +holding forth to others more or less akin to him in their pursuits. + +"Yes," he was saying, "people in the country eat a mighty lot of +cow-beef, poor and old at that. I was buying calves out near Shawangunk +Mountains last week, and stopped at a small tavern. They brought me a +steak and I tried to put my knife in it--thought the knife might be +dull, but knew my grinders weren't. Jerusalem! I might have chawed on +that steak till now and made no impression. I called the landlord, and +said, 'See here, stranger, if you serve me old boot-leather for steak +again I'll blow on your house.'--'I vow,' he said, 'it's the best I kin +get in these diggin's. You fellers from the city buy up every likely +critter that's for sale, and we have to take what you leave.' You see, +he hit me right between the horns, for it's about so. Bless your soul, +if I'd took in a lot of cow-beef like that to Steers and Pinkham, +Washington Market, they'd 'a taken my hide off and hung me up 'longside +of my beef." + +"Grantin' all that," said another man, "folks in the country would be a +sight better off if they'd eat more cow-beef and less pork. You know +the sayin' about 'out of the frying-pan into the fire'? Well, in some +parts I've travelled they had better get out of the fryin'-pan, no +matter where they fetch up." + +We went away laughing, and I said: "Don't you be troubled, Mousie; we +won't go to the frying-pan altogether to find roses for your cheeks. +We'll paint them red with strawberries and raspberries, the color put +on from the inside." + +As time passed, the storm increased, and the air became so thick with +driving snow that the boat's speed was slackened. Occasionally we +"slowed up" for some moments. The passengers shook their heads and +remarked, dolefully, "There's no telling when we'll arrive." + +I made up my mind that it would be good economy for us all to have a +hearty hot supper, as Bobsey had suggested; and when, at last, the gong +resounded through the boat, we trooped down with the others to the +lower cabin, where there were several long tables, with colored waiters +in attendance. We had not been in these lower regions before, and the +eyes of the children soon wandered from their plates to the berths, or +sleeping-bunks, which lined the sides of the cabin. + +"Yes," I replied, in answer to their questions; "it is a big +supper-room now, but by and by it will be a big bedroom, and people +will be tucked away in these berths, just as if they were laid on +shelves, one over the other." + +The abundant and delicious supper, in which steaks, not from cow-beef, +were the chief feature, gave each one of us solid comfort and +satisfaction. Bobsey ate until the passengers around him were laughing, +but he, with superb indifference, attended strictly to business. + +My wife whispered, "You must all eat enough to last a week, for I +sha'n't have time to cook anything;" and I was much pleased at the good +example which she and Mousie set us. + +Both before and after supper I conducted Bobsey to the wash-room, and +he made the people laugh as he stood on a chair and washed his face. +But he was a sturdy little fellow, and only laughed back when a man +said he looked as though he was going to dive into the basin. + +Mousie at last began to show signs of fatigue; and learning that it +would be several hours still before we could hope to arrive, so severe +was the storm, I procured the use of a state-room, and soon Bobsey was +snoring in the upper berth, and my invalid girl smiling and talking in +soft tones to her mother in the lower couch. Winnie, Merton, and I +prowled around, spending the time as best we could. Occasionally we +looked through the windows at the bow, and wondered how the pilot could +find his way through the tempest. I confess I had fears lest he might +not do this, and felt that I should be grateful indeed when my little +band was safe on shore. The people in charge of the boat, however, knew +their business. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A MARCH EVENING IN EDEN + + +At length we were fast at the Maizeville Landing, although long after +the usual hour of arrival. I was anxious indeed to learn whether John +Jones would meet us, or whether, believing that we would not come in +such a storm, and tired of waiting, he had gone home and left us to +find such shelter as we could. + +But there he was, looking in the light of the lanterns as grizzled as +old Time himself, with his eyebrows and beard full of snow-flakes. He +and I hastily carried the three younger children ashore through the +driving snow, and put them in a corner of the storehouse, while Merton +followed with his mother. + +"Mr. Jones," I exclaimed, "you are a neighbor to be proud of already. +Why didn't you go home and leave us to our fate?" + +"Well," he replied, laughing, "'twouldn't take you long to get snowed +under to-night. No, no; when I catch fish I mean to land 'em. Didn't +know but what in such a buster of a storm you might be inclined to stay +on the boat and go back to the city. Then where would my bargain be?" + +"No fear of that. We're in for it now--have enlisted for the war. What +shall we do?" + +"Well, I vow I hardly know. One thing first, anyhow--we must get Mrs. +Durham and the kids into the warm waiting-room, and then look after +your traps." + +The room was already crowded, but we squeezed them in, white from +scarcely more than a moment's exposure to the storm. Then we took hold +and gave the deck-hands a lift with my baggage, Merton showing much +manly spirit in his readiness to face the weather and the work. My +effects were soon piled up by themselves, and then we held a council. + +"Mrs. Durham'll hardly want to face this storm with the children," +began Mr. Jones. + +"Are you going home?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir. I'd rather travel all night for the sake of being home in +the morning." + +"To tell the truth I feel the same way," I continued, "but reason must +hold the reins. Do you think you could protect Mrs. Durham and the +children from the storm?" + +"Yes, I think we could tuck 'em in so they'd scarcely know it was +snowin', and then we could sled your things up in the mornin'. +'Commodations on the landin' to-night will be pretty crowded." + +"We'll let her decide, then." + +When I explained how things were and what Mr. Jones had said, she +exclaimed, "Oh, let us go home." + +How my heart jumped at her use of the word "home" in regard to a place +that she had never seen. "But, Winifred," I urged, "do you realize how +bad a night it is? Do you think it would be safe for Mousie?" + +"It isn't so very cold if one is not exposed to the wind and snow," she +replied, "and Mr. Jones says we needn't be exposed. I don't believe +we'd run as much risk as in going to a little hotel, the best rooms of +which are already taken. Since we can do it, it will be so much nicer +to go to a place that we feel is our own!" + +"I must say that your wishes accord with mine." + +"Oh, I knew that," she replied, laughing. "Mr. Jones," she added, +sociably, "this man has a way of telling you what he wishes by his +looks before asking your opinion." + +"I found that out the day he came up to see the place," chuckled my +neighbor, "and I was half a mind to stick him for another hundred for +being so honest. He don't know how to make a bargain any more than one +of the children there. Well, I'll go to the shed and get the hosses, +and we'll make a pull for home. I don't believe you'll be sorry when +you get there." + +Mr. Jones came around to the very door with the rockaway, and we tucked +my wife and children under the buffalo robes and blankets till they +could hardly breathe. Then we started out into the white, spectral +world, for the wind had coated everything with the soft, wet snow. On +we went at a slow walk, for the snow and mud were both deep, and the +wheeling was very heavy. Even John Jones's loquacity was checked, for +every time he opened his mouth the wind half filled it with snow. Some +one ahead of us, with a lantern, guided our course for a mile or so +through the dense obscurity, and then he turned off on another road. At +first I hailed one and another in the black cavern of the rockaway +behind me, and their muffled voices would answer, "All right." But one +after another they ceased to answer me until all were fast asleep +except my wife. She insisted that she was only very drowsy, but I knew +that she was also very, very tired. Indeed, I felt myself, in a way +that frightened me, the strange desire to sleep that overcomes those +long exposed to cold and wind. + +I must have been nodding and swaying around rather loosely, when I felt +myself going heels over head into the snow. As I picked myself up I +heard my wife and children screaming, and John Jones shouting to his +horses, "Git up," while at the same time he lashed them with his whip. +My face was so plastered with snow that I could see only a dark object +which was evidently being dragged violently out of a ditch, for when +the level road was reached, Mr. Jones shouted, "Whoa!" + +"Robert, are you hurt?" cried my wife. + +"No, are you?" + +"Not a bit, but I'm frightened to death." + +Then John Jones gave a hearty guffaw and said: + +"I bet you our old shanghai rooster that you don't die." + +"Take you up," answered my wife, half laughing and half crying. + +"Where are we?" I asked. + +"I'm here. Haven't the remotest idea where you be," replied Mr. Jones. + +"You are a philosopher," I said, groping my way through the storm +toward his voice. + +"I believe I was a big fool for tryin' to get home such a night as +this; but now that we've set about it, we'd better get there. That's +right. Scramble in and take the reins. Here's my mittens." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"I'm going to 'light and smell out the road. This is equal to any +blizzard I've read of out West." + +"How far have we to go now?" + +"Half a mile, as nigh as I can make out;" and we jogged on again. + +"Are you sure you are not hurt?" Mousie asked me. + +"Sure; it was like tumbling into a feather bed." + +"Stop a bit," cried Mr. Jones. "There's a turn in the road here. Let me +go on a little and lay out your course." + +"Oh, I wish we had stayed anywhere under shelter," said my wife. + +"Courage," I cried. "When we get home, we'll laugh over this." + +"Now," shouted Mr. Jones, "veer gradually off to the left toward my +voice--all right;" and we jogged on again, stopping from time to time +to let our invisible guide explore the road. + +Once more he cried, "Stop a minute." + +The wind roared and shrieked around us, and it was growing colder. With +a chill of fear I thought, "Could John Jones have mistaken the road?" +and I remembered how four people and a pair of horses had been frozen +within a few yards of a house in a Western snow-storm. + +"Are you cold, children?" I asked. + +"Yes, I'm freezing," sobbed Winnie. "I don't like the country one bit." + +"This is different from the Eden of which we have been dreaming," I +thought grimly. Then I shouted, "How much farther, Mr. Jones?" + +The howling of the wind was my only answer. I shouted again. The +increasing violence of the tempest was the only response. + +"Robert," cried my wife, "I don't hear Mr. Jones's voice." + +"He has only gone on a little to explore," I replied, although my teeth +chattered with cold and fear. + +"Halloo--oo!" I shouted. The answering shriek of the wind in the trees +overhead chilled my very heart. + +"What has become of Mr. Jones?" asked my wife, and there was almost +anguish in her tone, while Winnie and Bobsey were actually crying aloud. + +"Well, my dear," I tried to say, reassuringly, "even if he were very +near to us we could neither see nor hear him." + +Moments passed which seemed like ages, and I scarcely knew what to do. +The absence of all signs of Mr. Jones filled me with a nameless and +unspeakable dread. Could anything have happened to him? Could he have +lost his way and fallen into some hole or over some steep bank? If I +drove on, we might tumble after him and perish, maimed and frozen, in +the wreck of the wagon. One imagines all sorts of horrible things when +alone and helpless at night. + +"Papa," cried Merton, "I'll get out and look for Mr. Jones." + +"You are a good, brave boy," I replied. "No; you hold the reins, and +I'll look for him and see what is just before us." + +At that moment there was a glimmer of light off to the left of us. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +RESCUED AND AT HOME + + +All that the poets from the beginning of time have written about light +could not express my joy as I saw that glimmer approaching on the left. +Before it appeared I had been awed by the tempest, benumbed with cold, +shivering in my wet clothes, and a prey to many terrible fears and +surmises; but now I cried, "Cheer up; here comes a light." + +Then in my gladness I shouted the greeting that met Mr. Jones +everywhere, "How are YOU, JOHN?" + +A great guffaw of laughter mingled with the howl of the storm, and my +neighbor's voice followed from the obscurity: "That's famous--keepin' +up your courage like a soldier." + +"Oh, I won't brag about keeping up my courage." + +"Guess you didn't know what had become of me?" + +"You're right and we didn't know what was to become of us. Now aren't +we nearly home? For we are all half frozen." + +"Just let me spy a bit with the lantern, and I'll soon tell you +everything." He bobbed back and forth for a moment or two like a +will-o'-the-wisp. "Now turn sharp to the left, and follow the light." + +A great hope sprung up in my heart, and I hushed Winnie's and Bobsey's +crying by saying, "Listen, and you'll soon hear some good news." + +Our wheels crunched through the deep snow for a few moments, and soon I +saw a ruddy light shining from the window of a dwelling, and then Mr. +Jones shouted, "Whoa! 'Light down, neighbors; you're at your own door." + +There was a chorus of delighted cries. Merton half tumbled over me in +his eagerness to get down. A door opened, and out poured a cheerful +glow. Oh the delicious sense of safety and warmth given by it already! + +I seized Mousie, floundered through the snow up to my knees, and placed +her in a big rocking-chair. Mr. Jones followed with Winnie, and Merton +came in with Bobsey on his back. The little fellow was under such +headway in crying that he couldn't stop at once, although his tears +were rapidly giving place to laughter. I rushed back and carried in my +wife, and then said, in a voice a little unsteady from deep feeling, +"Welcome home, one and all." + +Never did the word mean more to a half-frozen and badly frightened +family. At first safety, warmth, and comfort were the uppermost in our +thoughts, but as wraps were taken off, and my wife and children thawed +out, eager-eyed curiosity began to make explorations. Taking Mousie on +my lap, and chafing her hands, I answered questions and enjoyed to the +full the exclamations of pleasure. + +Mr. Jones lingered for a few moments, then gave one of his big guffaws +by way of preface, and said: "Well, you do look as if you was at home +and meant to stay. This 'ere scene kinder makes me homesick; so I'll +say good-night, and I'll be over in the mornin'. There's some lunch on +the table that my wife fixed up for you. I must go, for I hear John +junior hollerin' for me." + +His only response to our profuse thanks was another laugh, which the +wind swept away. + +"Who is John junior?" asked Merton. + +"Mr. Jones's son, a boy of about your age. He was here waiting for us, +and keeping the fire up. When we arrived he came out and took the +horses, and so you didn't see him. He'll make a good playmate for you. +To use his father's own words, 'He's a fairish boy as boys go,' and +that from John Jones means that he's a good fellow." + +Oh, what a happy group we were, as we gathered around the great, open +fire, on which I piled more wood! + +"Do you wish to go and look around a little?" I asked my wife. + +"No," she replied, leaning back in her rocking-chair: "let me take this +in first. O Robert, I have such a sense of rest, quiet, comfort, and +hominess that I just want to sit still and enjoy it all. The howling of +the storm only makes this place seem more like a refuge, and I'd rather +hear it than the Daggetts tramping overhead and the Ricketts children +crying down-stairs. Oh, isn't it nice to be by ourselves in this quaint +old room? Turn the lamp down, Robert, so we can see the firelight +flicker over everything. Isn't it splendid?--just like a picture in a +book." + +"No picture in a book, Winifred--no artist could paint a picture that +would have the charm of this one for me," I replied, leaning my elbow +on the end of the mantel-piece, and looking fondly down on the little +group. My wife's face looked girlish in the ruddy light. Mousie gazed +into the fire with unspeakable content, and declared she was "too happy +to think of taking cold." Winnie and Bobsey were sitting, Turk-fashion, +on the floor, their eyelids drooping. The long cold ride had quenched +even their spirit, for after running around for a few moments they +began to yield to drowsiness. Merton, with a boy's appetite, was +casting wistful glances at the lunch on the table, the chief feature of +which was a roast chicken. + +There seemed to be no occasion for haste. I wished to let the picture +sink deep into my heart. At last my wife sprang up and said:-- + +"I've been sentimental long enough. You're not of much account in the +house, Robert"--with one of her saucy looks--"and I must see to things, +or Winnie and Bobsey will be asleep on the floor. I feel as if I could +sit here till morning, but I'll come back after the children are in +bed. Come, show me my home, or at least enough of it to let me see +where we are to sleep." + +"We shall have to camp again to-night. Mrs. Jones has made up the one +bed left in the house, and you and Mousie shall have that. We'll fix +Winnie and Bobsey on the lounge; and, youngsters, you can sleep in your +clothes, just as soldiers do on the ground. Merton and I will doze in +these chairs before the fire. To-morrow night we can all be very +comfortable." + +I took the lamp and led the way--my wife, Mousie, and Merton +following--first across a little hall, from which one stairway led to +the upper chambers and another to the cellar. Opening a door opposite +the living-room, I showed Winifred her parlor. Cosey and comfortable it +looked, even now, through Mr. and Mrs. Jones's kind offices. A Morning +Glory stove gave out abundant warmth and a rich light which blended +genially with the red colors of the carpet. + +"Oh, how pretty I can make this room look!" exclaimed my wife. + +"Of course you can: you've only to enter it." + +"You hurt your head when you fell out of the wagon, Robert, and are a +little daft. There's no place to sleep here." + +"Come to the room over this, warmed by a pipe from this stove." + +"Ah, this is capital," she cried, looking around an apartment which +Mrs. Jones had made comfortable. "Wasn't I wise when I decided to come +home? It's just as warm as toast. Now let the wind blow--Why, I don't +hear it any more." + +"No, the gale has blown itself out. Finding that we had escaped, it got +discouraged and gave up. Connected with this room is another for Mousie +and Winnie. By leaving the door open much of the time it will be warm +enough for them. So you see this end of the house can be heated with +but little trouble and expense. The open fire in the living-room is a +luxury that we can afford, since there is plenty of wood on the place. +On the other side of the hall there is a room for Merton. Now do me a +favor: don't look, or talk, or think, any more to-night. It has been a +long, hard day. Indeed"--looking at my watch--"it is already to-morrow +morning, and you know how much we shall have to do. Let us go back and +get a little supper, and then take all the rest we can." + +Winifred yielded, and Bobsey and Winnie waked up for a time at the word +"supper." Then we knelt around our hearth, and made it an altar to God, +for I wished the children never to forget our need of His fatherly care +and help. + +"I will now take the children upstairs and put them to bed, and then +come back, for I can not leave this wood fire just yet," remarked my +wife. + +I burst out laughing and said, "You have never been at home until this +night, when you are camping in an old house you never saw before, and I +can prove it by one question--When have you taken the children UPSTAIRS +to bed before?" + +"Why--why--never." + +"Of course you haven't--city flats all your life. But your nature is +not perverted. In natural homes for generations mothers have taken +their children upstairs to bed, and, forgetting the habit of your life, +you speak according to the inherited instinct of the mother-heart." + +"O Robert, you have so many fine-spun theories! Yet it is a little +queer. It seemed just as natural for me to say upstairs as--" + +"As it was for your mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother." + +"Very well. We are in such an old house that I suppose I shall begin to +look and act like my great-grandmother. But no more theories +to-night--nothing but rest and the wood fire." + +She soon joined me at the hearth again. Merton meanwhile had stretched +himself on the rag-carpet, with his overcoat for a pillow, and was in +dreamless sleep. My wife's eyes were full of languor. She did not sit +down, but stood beside me for a moment. Then, laying her head on my +shoulder, she said, softly, "I haven't brains enough for theories and +such things, but I will try to make you all happy here." + +"Dear little wife!" I laughed; "when has woman hit upon a higher or +better wisdom than that of making all happy in her own home? and you +half asleep, too." + +"Then I'll bid you good-night at once, before I say something awfully +stupid." + +Soon the old house was quiet. The wind had utterly ceased. I opened the +door a moment, and looked on the white, still world without. The stars +glittered frostily through the rifts in the clouds. Schunemunk Mountain +was a shadow along the western horizon, and the eastern highlands +banked up and blended with the clouds. Nature has its restless moods, +its storms and passions, like human life; but there are times of +tranquillity and peace, even in March. How different was this scene +from the aspect of our city street when I had taken my farewell look at +a late hour the previous night! No grand sweeping outlines there, no +deep quiet and peace, soothing and at the same time uplifting the mind. +Even at midnight there is an uneasy fretting in city life--some one not +at rest, and disturbing the repose of others. + +I stole silently through the house. Here, too, all seemed in accord +with nature. The life of a good old man had quietly ceased in this +home; new, hopeful life was beginning. Evil is everywhere in the world, +but it seemed to me that we had as safe a nook as could be found. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SELF-DENIAL AND ITS REWARD + + +I remember little that followed until I was startled out of my chair by +a loud knocking. The sunlight was streaming in at the window and John +Jones's voice was at the door. + +"I think we have all overslept," I said, as I admitted him. + +"Not a bit of it. Every wink you've had after such a day as yesterday +is like money put in the bank. But the sleighing is better now than it +will be later in the day. The sun'll be pretty powerful by noon, and +the snow'll soon be slush. Now's your chance to get your traps up in a +hurry. I can have a two-hoss sled ready in half an hour, and if you say +so I can hire a big sleigh of a neighbor, and we'll have everything +here by dinner-time. After you get things snug, you won't care if the +bottom does fall out of the roads for a time. Well, you HAVE had to +rough it. Merton might have come and stayed with us." + +"Oh, I'm all right," said the boy, rubbing his eyes open as he rose +from the floor, at the same time learning from stiff joints that a +carpet is not a mattress. + +"Nothing would suit me better, Mr. Jones, than your plan of prompt +action, and I'm the luckiest man in the world in having such a +long-headed, fore-handed neighbor to start with. I know you'll make a +good bargain for the other team, and before I sleep to-night I wish to +square up for everything. I mean at least to begin business in this way +at Maizeville." + +"Oh, go slow, go slow!" said Mr. Jones. "The town will mob you if they +find you've got ready money in March. John junior will be over with a +pot of coffee and a jug of milk in a few minutes, and we'll be off +sharp." + +There was a patter of feet overhead, and soon Bobsey came tearing down, +half wild with excitement over the novelty of everything. He started +for the door as if he were going head first into the snow. + +I caught him, and said: "Do you see that chair? Well, we all have a +busy day before us. You can help a good deal, and play a little, but +you can't hinder and pester according to your own sweet will one bit. +You must either obey orders or else be put under arrest and tied in the +chair." + +To go into the chair to-day would be torture indeed, and the little +fellow was sobered at once. + +The others soon joined us, eager to see everything by the broad light +of day, and to enter upon the task of getting settled. We had scarcely +come together before John junior appeared with the chief features of +our breakfast. The children scanned this probable playmate very +curiously, and some of us could hardly repress a smile at his +appearance. He was even more sandy than his father. Indeed his hair and +eyebrows were nearly white, but out of his red and almost full-moon +face his mother's black eyes twinkled shrewdly. They now expressed only +good-will and bashfulness. Every one of us shook hands with him so +cordially that his boy's heart was evidently won. + +Merton, to break the ice more fully, offered to show him his gun, which +he had kept within reach ever since we left the boat. It made him feel +more like a pioneer, no doubt. As he took it from its stout cloth cover +I saw John junior's eyes sparkle. Evidently a deep chord was touched. +He said, excitedly: "To-day's your time to try it. A rabbit can't stir +without leaving his tracks, and the snow is so deep and soft that he +can't get away. There's rabbits on your own place." + +"O papa," cried my boy, fairly trembling with eagerness, "can't I go?" + +"I need you very much this morning." + +"But, papa, others will be out before me, and I may lose my chance;" +and he was half ready to cry. + +"Yes," I said; "there is a risk of that. Well, YOU shall decide in this +case," I added, after a moment, seeing a chance to do a little +character-building. "It is rarely best to put pleasure before business +or prudence. If you go out into the snow with those boots, you will +spoil them, and very probably take a severe cold. Yet you may go if you +will. If you help me we can be back by ten o'clock, and I will get you +a pair of rubber boots as we return." + +"Will there be any chance after ten o'clock?" he asked, quickly. + +"Well," said John junior, in his matter-of-fact way, "that depends. As +your pa says, there's a risk." + +The temptation was too strong for the moment. "O dear!" exclaimed +Merton, "I may never have so good a chance again. The snow will soon +melt, and there won't be any more till next winter. I'll tie my +trousers down about my boots, and I'll help all the rest of the day +after I get back." + +"Very well," I said quietly: and he began eating his breakfast--the +abundant remains of our last night's lunch--very rapidly, while John +junior started off to get his gun. + +I saw that Merton was ill at ease, but I made a sign to his mother not +to interfere. More and more slowly he finished his breakfast, then took +his gun and went to the room that would be his, to load and prepare. At +last he came down and went out by another door, evidently not wishing +to encounter me. John junior met him, and the boys were starting, when +John senior drove into the yard and shouted, "John junior, step here a +moment." + +The boy returned slowly, Merton following. "You ain't said nothin' to +me about goin' off with that gun," continued Mr. Jones, severely. + +"Well, Merton's pa said he might go if he wanted to, and I had to go +along to show him." + +"That first shot wasn't exactly straight, my young friend John. I told +Merton that it wasn't best to put pleasure before business, but that he +could go if he would. I wished to let him choose to do right, instead +of making him do right." + +"Oho, that's how the land lays. Well, John junior, you can have your +choice, too. You may go right on with your gun, but you know the length +and weight of that strap at home. Now, will you help me? or go after +rabbits?" + +The boy grinned pleasantly, and replied, "If you had said I couldn't +go, I wouldn't; but if it's choosin' between shootin' rabbits and a +strappin' afterward--come along, Merton." + +"Well, go along then," chuckled his father; "you've made your bargain +square, and I'll keep my part of it." + +"Oh, hang the rabbits! You shan't have any strapping on my account," +cried Merton; and he carried his gun resolutely to his room and locked +the door on it. + +John junior quietly went to the old barn, and hid his gun. + +"Guess I'll go with you, pa," he said, joining us. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Mr. Jones. "It was a good bargain to back out of. +Come now, let's all be off as quick as we can. Neighbor Rollins down +the road will join us as we go along." + +"Merton," I said, "see if there isn't a barrel of apples in the cellar. +If you find one, you can fill your pockets." + +He soon returned with bulging pockets and a smiling face, feeling that +such virtue as he had shown had soon brought reward. My wife said that +while we were gone she and the children would explore the house and +plan how to arrange everything. We started in good spirits. + +"Here's where you thought you was cast away last night," Mr. Jones +remarked, as we passed out of the lane. + +The contrast made by a few short hours was indeed wonderful. Then, in +dense obscurity, a tempest had howled and shrieked about us; now, in +the unclouded sunshine, a gemmed and sparkling world revealed beauty +everywhere. + +For a long distance our sleighs made the first tracks, and it seemed +almost a pity to sully the purity of the white, drift-covered road. + +"What a lot of mud's hid under this snow!" was John Jones's prose over +the opening vistas. "What's more, it will show itself before night. We +can beat all creation at mud in Maizeville, when once we set about it." + +Merton laughed, and munched his apples, but I saw that he was impressed +by winter scenery such as he had never looked upon before. Soon, +however, he and John junior were deep in the game question, and I noted +that the latter kept a sharp lookout along the roadside. Before long, +while passing a thicket, he shouted, "There's tracks," and floundered +out into the snow, Merton following. + +"Oh, come back," growled his father. + +"Let the boys have a few moments," I said. "They gave up this morning +about as well as you could expect of boys. Would Junior have gone and +taken a strapping if Merton hadn't returned?" + +"Yes, indeed he would, and he knows my strappin's are no make-believe. +That boy has no sly, mean tricks to speak of, but he's as tough and +obstinate as a mule sometimes, especially about shooting and fishing. +See him now a-p'intin' for that rabbit, like a hound." + +True enough, the boy was showing good woodcraft. Restraining Merton, he +cautiously approached the tracks, which by reason of the lightness and +depth of the snow were not very distinct. + +"He can't be far away," said Junior, excitedly. "Don't go too fast till +I see which way he was a-p'intin'. We don't want to follow the tracks +back, but for'ard. See, he came out of that old wall there, he went to +these bushes and nibbled some twigs, and here he goes--here he +went--here--here--yes, he went into the wall again just here. Now, +Merton, watch this hole while I jump over the other side of the fence +and see if he comes out again. If he makes a start, grab him." + +John Jones and I were now almost as excited as the boys, and Mr. +Rollins, the neighbor who was following us, was standing up in his +sleigh to see the sport. It came quickly. As if by some instinct the +rabbit believed Junior to be the more dangerous, and made a break from +the wall almost at Merton's feet, with such swiftness and power as to +dash by him like a shot. The first force of its bound over, it was +caught by nature's trap--snow too deep and soft to admit of rapid +running. + +John Jones soon proved that Junior came honestly by his passion for +hunting. In a moment he was floundering through the bushes with his son +and Merton. In such pursuit of game my boy had the advantage, for he +was as agile as a cat. But a moment or two elapsed before he caught up +with the rabbit, and threw himself upon it, then rose, white as a +snow-man, shouting triumphantly and holding the little creature aloft +by its ears. + +"Never rate Junior for hunting again," I said, laughingly, to Mr. +Jones. "He's a chip of the old block." + +"I rather guess he is," my neighbor acknowledged, with a grin. "I own +up I used to be pretty hot on such larkin'. We all keep forgettin' we +was boys once." + +As we rode on, Merton was a picture of exultation, and Junior was on +the sharp lookout again. His father turned on him and said: "Now look +a' here, enough's as good as a feast. I'll blindfold you if you don't +let the tracks alone. Mrs. Durham wants her things, so she can begin to +live. Get up there;" and a crack of the whip ended all further hopes on +the part of the boys. But they felt well repaid for coming, and Merton +assured Junior that he deserved half the credit, for only he knew how +to manage the hunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OUR SUNNY KITCHEN + + +Before we reached the landing I had invested a goodly sum in four pairs +of rubber boots, for I knew how hopeless it would be to try to keep +Winnie and Bobsey indoors. As for Mousie, she would have to be prudent +until the ground should become dry and warm. + +There is no need of dwelling long on the bringing home of our effects +and the getting to rights. We were back soon after ten, and found that +Winnie and Bobsey, having exhausted the resources of the house, had +been permitted to start at the front door, and, with an old fire-shovel +and a piece of board, had well-nigh completed a path to the well, +piling up the snow as they advanced, so that their overshoes were a +sufficient protection. + +After we had carried in the things I interceded with Mr. Jones and then +told the boys that they could take their guns and be absent two or +three hours if they would promise to help faithfully the rest of the +day. + +I had bought at Maizeville Landing such provisions, tools, etc., as I +should need immediately. Therefore I did not worry because the fickle +March sky was clouding up again with the promise of rain. A heavy +downpour now with snow upon the ground would cause almost a flood, but +I felt that we could shut the door and find the old house a very +comfortable ark. + +"A smart warm rain would be the best thing that could happen to yer," +said Mr. Jones, as he helped me carry in furniture and put up beds; "it +would take the snow off. Nat'rally you want to get out on the bare +ground, for there's allus a lot of clearin' up to be done in the spring +and old man Jamison was poorly last year and didn't keep things up to +the mark." + +"Yes," I replied, "I am as eager to get to work outdoors as the boys +were to go after rabbits. I believe I shall like the work, but that is +not the question. I did not come to the country to amuse myself, like +so many city people. I don't blame them; I wish I could afford farming +for fun. I came to earn a living for my wife and children, and I am +anxious to be about it. I won't ask you for anything except advice. +I've only had a city training, and my theories about farming would +perhaps make you smile. But I've seen enough of you already to feel +that you are inclined to be kind and neighborly, and the best way to +show this will be in helping me to good, sound, practical, common-sense +advice. But you mustn't put on airs, or be impatient with me. Shrewd as +you are, I could show you some things in the city." + +"Oh, I'd be a sight queerer there than you here. I see your p'int, and +if you'll come to me I won't let you make no blunders I wouldn't make +myself. Perhaps that ain't saying a great deal, though." + +By this time everything had been brought in and either put in place or +stowed out of the way, until my wife could decide where and how she +would arrange things. + +"Now," I said, when we had finished, "carry out our agreement." + +Mr. Jones gave me a wink and drove away. + +Our agreement was this--first, that he and Mr. Rollins, the owner of +the other team, should be paid in full before night; and second, that +Mrs. Jones should furnish us our dinner, in which the chief dish should +be a pot-pie from the rabbit caught by Merton, and that Mr. Jones +should bring everything over at one o'clock. + +My wife was so absorbed in unpacking her china, kitchen-utensils, and +groceries that she was unaware of the flight of time, but at last she +suddenly exclaimed, "I declare it's dinner-time!" + +"Not quite yet," I said; "dinner will be ready at one." + +"It will? Oh, indeed! Since we are in the country we are to pick up +what we can, like the birds. You intend to invite us all down to the +apple barrel, perhaps." + +"Certainly, whenever you wish to go; but we'll have a hot dinner at one +o'clock, and a game dinner into the bargain." + +"I've heard the boys' guns occasionally, but I haven't seen the game, +and it's after twelve now." + +"Papa has a secret--a surprise for us," cried Mousie; "I can see it in +his eyes." + +"Now, Robert, I know what you've been doing. You have asked Mrs. Jones +to furnish a dinner. You are extravagant, for I could have picked up +something that would have answered." + +"No; I've been very prudent in saving your time and strength, and +saving these is sometimes the best economy in the world. Mousie is +nearer right. The dinner is a secret, and it has been furnished chiefly +by one of the family." + +"Well, I'm too busy to guess riddles to-day; but if my appetite is a +guide, it is nearly time we had your secret." + +"You would not feel like that after half an hour over a hot stove. Now +you will be interrupted, in getting to rights, only long enough to eat +your dinner. Then Mousie and Merton and Winnie will clear up +everything, and be fore night you will feel settled enough to take +things easy till to-morrow." + +"I know your thoughtfulness for me, if not your secret," she said, +gratefully, and was again putting things where, from housewifely +experience, she knew they would be handy. + +Mr. and Mrs. Jamison had clung to their old-fashioned ways, and had +done their cooking over the open fire, using the swinging crane which +is now employed chiefly in pictures. This, for the sake of the picture +it made, we proposed to keep as it had been left, although at times it +might answer some more prosaic purpose. + +At the eastern end of the house was a single room, added unknown years +ago, and designed to be a bed-chamber. Of late it had been used as a +general storage and lumber room, and when I first inspected the house, +I had found little in this apartment of service to us. So I had asked +Mr. Jones to remove all that I did not care for, and to have the room +cleansed, satisfied that it would just suit my wife as a kitchen. It +was large, having windows facing the east and south, and therefore it +would be light and cheerful, as a kitchen ever should be, especially +when the mistress of the house is cook. There Mr. Jones and I set up +the excellent stove that I had brought from New York--one to which my +wife was accustomed, and from which she could conjure a rare good +dinner when she gave her mind to it. Now as she moved back and forth, +in such sunlight as the clouding sky permitted, she appeared the +picture of pleased content. + +"It cheers one up to enter a kitchen like this," she said. + +"It is to be your garden for a time also," I exclaimed to Mousie. "I +shall soon have by this east window a table with shallow boxes of +earth, and in them you can plant some of your flower-seeds. I only ask +that I may have two of the boxes for early cabbages, lettuce, tomatoes, +etc. You and your plants can take a sun-bath every morning until it is +warm, enough to go out of doors, and you'll find the plants won't die +here as they did in the dark, gas-poisoned city flat." + +"I feel as if I were going to grow faster and stronger than the +plants," cried the happy child. + +Junior and Merton now appeared, each carrying a rabbit. My boy's face, +however, was clouded, and he said, a little despondently, "I can't +shoot straight--missed every time; and Junior shot 'em after I had +fired and missed." + +"Pshaw!" cried Junior; "Merton's got to learn to take a quick steady +sight, like every one else. He gets too excited." + +"That's just it, my boy," I said. "You shall go down by the creek and +fire at a mark a few times every day, and you'll soon hit it every +time. Junior's head is too level to think that anything can be done +well without practice. Now, Junior," I added, "run over home and help +your father bring us our dinner, and then you stay and help us eat it." + +Father and son soon appeared, well laden. Winnie and Bobsey came in +ravenous from their path-making, and all agreed that we had already +grown one vigorous rampant Maizeville crop--an appetite. + +The pot-pie was exulted over, and the secret of its existence +explained. Even Junior laughed till the tears came as I described him, +his father, and Merton, floundering through the deep snow after the +rabbit, and we all congratulated Merton as the one who had provided our +first country dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MAKING A PLACE FOR CHICKENS + + +Before the meal was over, I said, seriously, "Now, boys, there must be +no more hunting until I find out about the game-laws. They should be +obeyed, especially by sportsmen. I don't think that we are forbidden to +kill rabbits on our own place, particularly when they threaten to be +troublesome; and the hunt this morning was so unexpected that I did not +think of the law, which might be used to make us trouble. You killed +the other rabbits on this place, Junior?" + +"Yes, sir, both of 'em." + +"Well, hereafter you must look after hawks, and other enemies of +poultry. Especially do I hope you will never fire at our useful +song-birds. If boys throughout the country would band together to +protect game when out of season, they would soon have fine sport in the +autumn." + +In the afternoon we let Winnie and Bobsey expend their energy in making +paths and lanes in every direction through the snow, which was melting +rapidly in the south wind. By three o'clock the rain began to fall, and +when darkness set in there was a gurgling sound of water on every side. +Our crackling fire made the warmth and comfort within seem tenfold more +cheery. + +A hearty supper, prepared in our own kitchen, made us feel that our +home machinery had fairly started, and we knew that it would run more +and more smoothly. March was keeping up its bad name for storm and +change. The wind was again roaring, but laden now with rain, and in +gusty sheets the heavy drops dashed against the windows. But our old +house kept us dry and safe, although it rocked a little in the blasts. +They soon proved a lullaby for our second night at home. + +After breakfast the following morning, with Merton, Winnie, and Bobsey, +I started out to see if any damage had been done. The sky was still +clouded, but the rain had ceased. Our rubber boots served us well, for +the earth was like an over-full sponge, while down every little incline +and hollow a stream was murmuring. + +The old barn showed the need of a good many nails to be driven here and +there, and a deal of mending. Then it would answer for corn-stalks and +other coarse fodder. The new barn had been fairly built, and the +interior was dry. It still contained as much hay as would be needed for +the keeping of a horse and cow until the new crop should be harvested. + +"Papa," cried Winnie, "where is the chicken place?" + +"That is one of the questions we must settle at once," I replied. "As +we were coming out I saw an old coop in the orchard. We'll go and look +at it." + +It was indeed old and leaky, and had poultry been there the previous +night they would have been half drowned on their perches. "This might +do for a summer cottage for your chickens, Winnie," I continued, "but +never for a winter house. Let us go back to the barn, for I think I +remember a place that will just suit, with some changes." + +Now the new barn had been built on a hillside, and had an ample +basement, from which a room extending well into the bank had been +partitioned, thus promising all one could desire as a cellar for apples +and roots. The entrance to this basement faced the east, and on each +side of it was a window. To the right of the entrance were two +cow-stalls, and to the left was an open space half full of mouldy +corn-stalks and other rubbish. + +"See here, Winnie and Merton," I said, after a little examination, "I +think we could clear out this space on the left, partition it off, make +a door, and keep the chickens here. After that window is washed, a good +deal of sunlight can come in. I've read that in cold weather poultry +need warmth and light, and must be kept dry. Here we can secure all +these conditions. Having a home for ourselves, suppose we set to work +to make a home for the chickens." + +This idea delighted Winnie, and pleased Merton almost as much as +hunting rabbits. "Now," I resumed, "we will go to the house and get +what we need for the work." + +"Winifred," I said to my wife, "can you let Winnie have a small pail of +hot water and some old rags?" + +"What are you up to now?" + +"You know all about cleaning house; we are going to clean barn, and +make a place for Winnie's chickens. There is a window in their future +bedroom--roost-room I suppose I should call it--that looks as if it had +never been washed, and to get off the dust of years will be Winnie's +task, while Merton, Bobsey, and I create an interior that should +satisfy a knowing hen. We'll make nests, too, children, that will +suggest to the biddies that they should proceed at once to business." + +"But where are the chickens to come from?" my wife asked, as she gave +the pan to Merton to carry for his sister. + +"Oh, John Jones will put me in the way of getting them soon;" and we +started out to our morning's work. Mousie looked after us wistfully, +but her mother soon found light tasks for her, and she too felt that +she was helping. "Remember, Mousie," I said, in parting, "that I have +three helpers, and surely mamma needs one;" and she was content. + +Merton at first was for pitching all the old corn-stalks out into the +yard, but I said: "That won't do. We shall need a cow as well as +chickens, and these stalks must be kept dry for her bedding. We'll pile +them up in the inner empty stall. You can help at that, Bobsey;" and we +set to work. + +Under Winnie's quick hands more and more light came through the window. +With a fork I lifted and shook up the stalks, and the boys carried them +to the empty stall. At last we came to rubbish that was so damp and +decayed that it would be of no service indoors, so we placed it on a +barrow and I wheeled it out to one corner of the yard. At last we came +down to a hard earth floor, and with a hoe this was cleared and made +smooth. + +"Merton," I said, "I saw an old broom upstairs. Run and get it, and +we'll brush down the cobwebs and sweep out, and then we shall be ready +to see about the partition." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GOOD BARGAINS IN MAPLE SUGAR + + +By eleven o'clock we had all the basement cleaned except the one +cow-stall that was filled to the ceiling with litter; and Winnie had +washed the windows. Then John Jones's lank figure darkened the doorway, +and he cried, "Hello, neighbor, what ye drivin' at?" + +"Look around and see, and then tell us where to get a lot of chickens." + +"Well, I declare! How you've slicked things up! You're not goin' to +scrub the dirt floor, are you? Well, well, this looks like +business--just the place for chickens. Wonder old man Jamison didn't +keep 'em here; but he didn't care for fowls. Now I think of it, there's +to be a vandoo the first of the week, and there was a lot o' chickens +printed on the poster." + +I smiled. + +"Oh, I don't mean that the chickens themselves was on the poster, but a +statement that a lot would be sold at auction. I'll bid 'em in for you +if they're a good lot. If you, a city chap, was to bid, some +straw-bidder would raise 'em agin you. I know what they're wuth, and +everybody there'll know I do, and they'll try no sharp games with me." + +"That will suit me exactly, Mr. Jones. I don't want any game-fowls of +that kind." + +"Ha, ha! I see the p'int. Have you looked into the root-cellar?" + +"Yes; we opened the door and looked, but it was dark as a pocket." + +"Well, I don't b'lieve in matches around a barn, but I'll show you +something;" and he opened the door, struck a match, and, holding it +aloft, revealed a heap of turnips, another of carrots, five barrels of +potatoes, and three of apples. The children pounced upon the last with +appetites sharpened by their morning's work. + +"You see," resumed Mr. Jones, "these were here when old man Jamison +died. If I hadn't sold the place I should have taken them out before +long, and got rid of what I didn't want. Now you can have the lot at a +low figure," which he named. + +"I'll take them," I said, promptly. + +"The carrots make it look like a gold-mine," cried Merton. + +"Well, you're wise," resumed Mr. Jones. "You'll have to get a cow and a +horse, and here's fodder for 'em handy. Perhaps I can pick 'em out for +you, too, at the vandoo. You can go along, and if anything strikes your +fancy I'll bid on it." + +"O papa," cried the children, in chorus, "can we go with you to the +vandoo?" + +"Yes, I think so. When does the sale take place?" + +"Next Tuesday. That's a good breed of potatoes. Jamison allus had the +best of everything. They'll furnish you with seed, and supply your +table till new ones come. I guess you could sell a barrel or so of +apples at a rise." + +"I've found a market for them already. Look at these children; and I'm +good for half a barrel myself if they don't decay too soon. Where could +we find better or cheaper food? All the books say that apples are +fattening." + +"That's true of man and beast, if the books do say it. They'll keep in +this cool, dark cellar longer than you'd think--longer than you'll let +'em, from the way they're disappearin'. I guess I'll try one." + +"Certainly, a dozen, just as if they were still yours." + +"They wasn't mine--they belonged to the Jamison estate. I'll help +myself now quicker'n I would before. I might come it over a live man, +you know, but not a dead one." + +"I'd trust you with either." + +While I was laughing at this phase of honesty, he resumed: "This is the +kind of place to keep apples--cool, dry, dark, even temperature. Why, +they're as crisp and juicy as if just off the trees. I came over to +make a suggestion. There's a lot of sugar-maple trees on your place, +down by the brook. Why not tap 'em, and set a couple of pots b'ilin' +over your open fire? You'd kill two birds with one stone; the fire'd +keep you warm, and make a lot of sugar in the bargain. I opinion, too, +the children would like the fun." + +They were already shouting over the idea, but I said dubiously, "How +about the pails to catch the sap?" + +"Well," said Mr. Jones, "I've thought of that. We've a lot of spare +milk-pails and pans, that we're not usin'. Junior understands the +business; and, as we're not very busy, he can help you and take his pay +in sugar." + +The subject of poultry was forgotten; and the children scampered off to +the house to tell of this new project. + +Before Mr. Jones and I left the basement, he said: "You don't want any +partition here at present, only a few perches for the fowls. There's a +fairish shed, you remember, in the upper barnyard, and when 'tain't +very cold or stormy the cow will do well enough there from this out. +The weather'll be growin' milder 'most every day, and in rough spells +you can put her in here. Chickens won't do her any harm. Law sakes! +when the main conditions is right, what's the use of havin' everything +jes' so? It's more important to save your time and strength and money. +You'll find enough to do without one stroke that ain't needful." Thus +John Jones fulfilled his office of mentor. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +BUTTERNUTS AND BOBSEY'S PERIL + + +I restrained the children until after dinner, which my wife hastened. +By that time Junior was on hand with a small wagon-load of pails and +pans. + +"Oh, dear, I wanted you to help me this afternoon," my wife had said, +but, seeing the dismayed look on the children's faces, had added, +"Well, there's no hurry, I suppose. We are comfortable, and we shall +have stormy days when you can't be out." + +I told her that she was wiser than the queen of Sheba and did not need +to go to Solomon. + +The horse was put in the barn, for he would have mired in the long +spongy lane and the meadow which we must cross. So we decided to run +the light wagon down by hand. + +Junior had the auger with which to bore holes in the trees. "I tapped +'em last year, as old Mr. Jamison didn't care about doin' it," said the +boy, "an' I b'iled the pot of sap down in the grove; but that was slow, +cold work. I saved the little wooden troughs I used last year, and they +are in one of the pails. I brought over a big kittle, too, which mother +let me have, and if we can keep this and yours a-goin', we'll soon have +some sugar." + +Away we went, down the lane, Junior and Merton in the shafts, playing +horses. I pushed in some places, and held back in others, while Winnie +and Bobsey picked their way between puddles and quagmires. The snow was +so nearly gone that it lay only on the northern slopes. We had heard +the deep roar of the Moodna Creek all the morning, and had meant to go +and see it right after breakfast; but providing a chickenhome had +proved a greater attraction to the children, and a better investment of +time for me. Now from the top of the last hillside we saw a great flood +rushing by with a hoarse, surging noise. + +"Winnie, Bobsey, if you go near the water without me you march straight +home," I cried. + +They promised never to go, but I thought Bobsey protested a little too +much. Away we went down the hill, skirting what was now a good-sized +brook. I knew the trees, from a previous visit; and the maple, when +once known, can be picked out anywhere, so genial, mellow, and generous +an aspect has it, even when leafless. + +The roar of the creek and the gurgle of the brook made genuine March +music, and the children looked and acted as if there were nothing left +to be desired. When Junior showed them a tree that appeared to be +growing directly out of a flat rock, they expressed a wonder which no +museum could have excited. + +But scenery, and even rural marvels, could not keep their attention +long. All were intent on sap and sugar, and Junior was speedily at +work. The moment he broke the brittle, juicy bark, the tree's +life-blood began to flow. + +"See," he cried, "they are like cows wanting to be milked." + +As fast as he inserted his little wooden troughs into the trees, we +placed pails and pans under them, and began harvesting the first crop +from our farm. + +This was rather slow work, and to keep Winnie and Bobsey busy I told +them they could gather sticks and leaves, pile them up at the foot of a +rock on a dry hillside, and we would have a fire. I meanwhile picked up +the dead branches that strewed the ground, and with my axe trimmed them +for use in summer, when only a quick blaze would be needed to boil the +supper kettle. To city-bred eyes wood seemed a rare luxury, and +although there was enough lying about to supply us for a year, I could +not get over the feeling that it must all be cared for. + +To children there are few greater delights than that of building a fire +in the woods, and on that cloudy, chilly day our blaze against the rock +brought solid comfort to us all, even though the smoke did get into our +eyes. Winnie and Bobsey, little bundles of energy that they were, +seemed unwearied in feeding the flames, while Merton sought to hide his +excitement by imitating Junior's stolid, business-like ways. + +Finding him alone once, I said: "Merton, don't you remember saying to +me once, 'I'd like to know what there is for a boy to do in this +street'? Don't you think there's something for a boy to do on this +farm?" + +"O papa!" he cried, "I'm just trying to hold in. So much has happened, +and I've had such a good time, that it seems as if I had been here a +month; then again the hours pass like minutes. See, the sun is low +already." + +"It's all new and exciting now, Merton, but there will be long +hours--yes, days and weeks--when you'll have to act like a man, and to +do work because it ought to be done and must be done." + +"The same would be true if we stayed in town," he said. + +Soon I decided that it was time for the younger children to return, for +I meant to give my wife all the help I could before bedtime. We first +hauled the wagon back, and then Merton said he would bring what sap had +been caught. Junior had to go home for a time to do his evening +"chores," but he promised to return before dark to help carry in the +sap. + +"There'll be frost to-night, and we'll get the biggest run in the +morning," was his encouraging remark, as he made ready to depart. + +Mrs. Jones had been over to see my wife, and they promised to become +good friends. I set to work putting things in better shape, and +bringing in a good pile of wood. Merton soon appeared with a brimming +pail. A kettle was hung on the crane, but before the sap was placed +over the fire all must taste it, just as it had been distilled by +nature. And all were quickly satisfied. Even Mousie said it was "too +watery," and Winnie made a face as she exclaimed, "I declare, Merton, I +believe you filled the pails from the brook!" + +"Patience, youngsters; sap, as well as some other things, is better for +boiling down." + +"Oh what a remarkable truth!" said my wife, who never lost a chance to +give me a little dig. + +I laughed, and then stood still in the middle of the floor, lost in +thought. + +"A brown study! What theory have you struck now, Robert?" + +"I was thinking how some women kept their husbands in love with them by +being saucy. It's an odd way, and yet it seems effective." + +"It depends upon the kind of sauce, Robert," she said with a knowing +glance and a nod. + +By the time it was dark, we had both the kettles boiling and bubbling +over the fire, and fine music they made. With Junior for guest, we +enjoyed our supper, which consisted principally of baked apples and +milk. + +"'Bubble, bubble,' 'Toil' and no 'trouble'--" + +"Yet, worth speaking of," said my wife; "but it must come, I suppose." + +"We won't go half-way to meet it, Winifred." + +When the meal was over, Junior went out on the porch and returned with +a mysterious sack. + +"Butternuts!" he ejaculated. + +Junior was winning his way truly, and in the children's eyes was +already a good genius, as his father was in mine. + +"O papa!" was the general cry, "can't we crack them on the hearth?" + +"But you'll singe your very eyebrows off," I said. + +"Mine's so white 'twouldn't matter," said Junior; "nobody'd miss 'em. +Give me a hammer, and I'll keep you goin'." + +And he did, on one of the stones of the hearth, with such a lively +rat-tat-snap! that it seemed a regular rhythm. + +"Cracked in my life well-nigh on to fifty bushel, I guess," he +explained, in answer to our wonder at his skill. + +And so the evening passed, around the genial old fireplace; and before +the children retired they smacked their lips over sirup sweet enough to +satisfy them. + +The following morning--Saturday--I vibrated between the sugar-camp and +the barn and other out-buildings, giving, however, most of the time to +the help of my wife in getting the house more to her mind, and in +planning some work that would require a brief visit from a carpenter; +for I felt that I must soon bestow nearly all my attention on the +outdoor work. I managed to keep Bobsey under my eye for the most part, +and in the afternoon I left him for only a few moments at the +sugar-bush while I carried up some sap. A man called to see me on +business, and I was detained. Knowing the little fellow's proneness to +mischief, and forgetfulness of all commands, I at last hastened back +with a half guilty and worried feeling. + +I reached the brow of the hill just in time to see him throw a stick +into the creek, lose his balance, and fall in. + +With an exclamation of terror, his own cry forming a faint echo, I +sprang forward frantically, but the swift current caught and bore him +away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JOHN JONES, JUN + + +My agonized shout as I saw Bobsey swept away by the swollen current of +the Moodna Creek was no more prompt than his own shrill scream. It so +happened, or else a kind Providence so ordered it, that Junior was +further down the stream, tapping a maple that had been overlooked the +previous day. He sprang to his feet, whirled around in the direction of +the little boy's cry, with the quickness of thought rushed to the bank +and plunged in with a headlong leap like a Newfoundland dog. I paused, +spellbound, to watch him, knowing that I was much too far away to be of +aid, and that all now depended on the hardy country lad. He disappeared +for a second beneath the tide, and then his swift strokes proved that +he was a good swimmer. In a moment or two he caught up with Bobsey, for +the current was too swift to permit the child to sink. Then, with a +wisdom resulting from experience, he let the torrent carry him in a +long slant toward the shore, for it would have been hopeless to try to +stem the tide. Running as I never ran before, I followed, reached the +bank where there was an eddy in the stream, sprang in up to my waist, +seized them both as they approached and dragged them to solid ground. +Merton and Winnie meanwhile stood near with white, scared faces. + +Bobsey was conscious, although he had swallowed some water, and I was +soon able to restore him, so that he could stand on his feet and cry: +"I--I--I w-won't d-do so any--any more." + +Instead of punishing him, which he evidently expected, I clasped him to +my heart with a nervous force that almost made him cry out with pain. + +Junior, meanwhile, had coolly seated himself on a rock, emptied the +water out of his shoes, and was tying them on again, at the same time +striving with all his might to maintain a stolid composure under +Winnie's grateful embraces and Merton's interrupting hand-shakings. But +when, having become assured of Bobsey's safety, I rushed forward and +embraced Junior in a transport of gratitude, his lip began to quiver +and two great tears mingled with the water that was dripping from his +hair. Suddenly he broke away, took to his heels, and ran toward his +home, as if he had been caught in some mischief and the constable were +after him. I believe that he would rather have had at once all the +strappings his father had ever given him than to have cried in our +presence. + +I carried Bobsey home, and his mother, with many questionings and +exclamations of thanksgiving, undressed the little fellow, wrapped him +in flannel, and put him to bed, where he was soon sleeping as quietly +as if nothing had happened. + +Mrs. Jones came over, and we made her rubicund face beam and grow more +round, if possible, as we all praised her boy. I returned with her, for +I felt that I wished to thank Junior again and again. But he saw me +coming, and slipped out at the back door. Indeed, the brave, bashful +boy was shy of us for several days. When at last my wife got hold of +him, and spoke to him in a manner natural to mothers, he pooh-poohed +the whole affair. + +"I've swum in that crick so often that it was nothin' to me. I only had +to keep cool, and that was easy enough in snow water, and the swift +current would keep us both up. I wish you wouldn't say anything more +about it. It kinder makes me feel--I don't know how--all over, you +know." + +But Junior soon learned that we had adopted him into our inmost hearts, +although he compelled us to show our good-will after his own off-hand +fashion. + +Sunday was ushered in with another storm, and we spent a long, quiet, +restful day, our hearts full of thankfulness that the great sorrow, +which might have darkened the beginning of our country life, had been +so happily averted. + +On Sunday night the wind veered around to the north, and on Monday +morning the sky had a clear metallic hue and the ground was frozen +hard. Bobsey had not taken cold, and was his former self, except that +he was somewhat chastened in spirit and his bump of caution was larger. +I was resolved that the day should witness a good beginning of our +spring work, and told Winnie and Bobsey that they could help me. +Junior, although he yet avoided the house, was ready enough to help +Merton with the sap. Therefore soon after breakfast we all were busy. + +Around old country places, especially where there has been some degree +of neglect, much litter gathers. This was true of our new home and its +surroundings. All through the garden were dry, unsightly weeds, about +the house was shrubbery that had become tangled masses of unpruned +growth, in the orchard the ground was strewn with fallen branches, and +I could see dead limbs on many of the trees. + +Therefore I said to my two little helpers: "Here in this open space in +the garden we will begin our brush-pile, and we will bring to it all +the refuse that we wish to burn. You see that we can make an immense +heap, for the place is so far away from any buildings that, when the +wind goes down, we can set the pile on fire in safety, and the ashes +will do the garden good." + +During the whole forenoon I pruned the shrubbery, and raked up the +rubbish which the children carried by armfuls to our prospective +bonfire. They soon wished to see the blaze, but I told them that the +wind was too high, and that I did not propose to apply the match until +we had a heap half as big as the house; that it might be several days +before we should be ready, for I intended to have a tremendous fire. + +Thus with the lesson of restraint was given the hope of something +wonderful. For a long time they were pleased with the novelty of the +work, and then they wanted to do something else, but I said: "No, no; +you are gardeners now, and I'm head gardener. You must both help me +till dinner-time. After that you can do something else, or play if you +choose; but each day, even Bobsey must do some steady work to earn his +dinner. We didn't come to the country on a picnic, I can tell you. All +must do their best to help make a living;" and so without scruple I +kept my little squad busy, for the work was light, although it had +become monotonous. + +Mousie sometimes aided her mother, and again watched us from the window +with great interest. I rigged upon the barrow a rack, in which I +wheeled the rubbish gathered at a distance; and by the time my wife's +mellow voice called, "Come to dinner"--how sweet her voice and summons +were after long hours in the keen March wind!--we had a pile much +higher than my head, and the place began to wear a tidy aspect. + +Such appetites, such red cheeks and rosy noses as the outdoor workers +brought to that plain meal! Mousie was much pleased with the promise +that the bonfire should not be lighted until some still, mild day when +she could go out and stand with me beside it. + +Merton admitted that gathering the sap did not keep him busy more than +half the time; so after dinner I gave him a hatchet, and told him to go +on with the trimming out of the fallen branches in our wood lot--a task +that I had begun--and to carry all wood heavy enough for our fireplace +to a spot where it could be put into a wagon. + +"Your next work, Merton, will be to collect all your refuse trimmings, +and the brush lying about, into a few great heaps; and by and by we'll +burn these, too, and gather up the ashes carefully, for I've read and +heard all my life that there is nothing better for fruit then +wood-ashes. Some day, I hope, we can begin to put money in the bank; +for I intend to give all a chance to earn money for themselves, after +they have done their share toward our general effort to live and +thrive. The next best thing to putting money in the bank is the +gathering and saving of everything that will make the ground richer. In +fact, all the papers and books that I've read this winter agree that as +the farmer's land grows rich he grows rich." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +RASPBERRY LESSONS + + +It must be remembered that I had spent all my leisure during the winter +in reading and studying the problem of our country life. Therefore I +knew that March was the best month for pruning trees, and I had gained +a fairly correct idea how to do this work. Until within the last two or +three years of his life, old Mr. Jamison had attended to this task +quite thoroughly; and thus little was left for me beyond sawing away +the boughs that had recently died, and cutting out the useless sprouts +on the larger limbs. Before leaving the city I had provided myself with +such tools as I was sure I should need; and finding a ladder under a +shed, I attacked the trees vigorously. The wind had almost died out, +and I knew I must make the most of all still days in this gusty month. +After playing around for a time, Winnie and Bobsey concluded that +gathering and piling up my prunings would be as good fun as anything +else; and so I had helpers again. + +By the middle of the afternoon Mr. Jones appeared, and I was glad to +see him, for there were some kinds of work about which I wanted his +advice. At one end of the garden were several rows of blackcap +raspberry bushes, which had grown into an awful snarl. The old canes +that had borne fruit the previous season were still standing, ragged +and unsightly; the new stalks that would bear the coming season +sprawled in every direction; and I had found that many tips of the +branches had grown fast in the ground. I took my neighbor to see this +briery wilderness, and asked his advice. + +"Have you got a pair of pruning-nippers?" he asked. + +Before going to the house to get them, I blew a shrill whistle to +summon Merton, for I wished him also to hear all that Mr. Jones might +say. I carried a little metallic whistle one blast on which was for +Merton, two for Winnie, and three for Bobsey. When they heard this call +they were to come as fast as their feet could carry them. + +Taking the nippers, Mr. Jones snipped off from one-third to one-half +the length of the branches from one of the bushes and cut out the old +dead cane. + +"I raise these berries myself for home use," he said; "and I can tell +you they go nice with milk for a July supper. You see, after taking off +so much from these long branches the canes stand straight up, and will +be self-supporting, no matter how many berries they bear; but here and +there's a bush that has grown slant-wise, or is broken off. Now, if I +was you, I'd take a crow-bar 'n' make a hole 'longside these weakly and +slantin' fellers, put in a stake, and tie 'em up strong. Then, soon as +the frost yields, if you'll get out the grass and weeds that's started +among 'em, you'll have a dozen bushel or more of marketable berries +from this 'ere wilderness, as you call it. Give Merton a pair of old +gloves, and he can do most of the job. Every tip that's fast in the +ground is a new plant. If you want to set out another patch, I'll show +you how later on." + +"I think I know pretty nearly how to do that." + +"Yes, yes, I know. Books are a help, I s'pose, but after you've seen +one plant set out right, you'll know more than if you'd 'a' read a +month." + +"Well, now that you're here, Mr. Jones, I'm going to make the most of +you. How about those other raspberries off to the southeast of the +house?" + +"Those are red ones. Let's take a look at 'em." + +Having reached the patch, we found almost as bad a tangle as in the +blackcap patch, except that the canes were more upright in their growth +and less full of spines or briers. + +"It's plain enough," continued Mr. Jones, "that old man Jamison was too +poorly to take much care of things last year. You see, these red +raspberries grow different from those black ones yonder. Those increase +by the tips of the branches takin' root; these by suckers. All these +young shoots comin' up between the rows are suckers, and they ought to +be dug out. As I said before, you can set them out somewhere else if +you want to. Dig 'em up, you know; make a trench in some out-of-the-way +place, and bury the roots till you want 'em. Like enough the neighbors +will buy some if they know you have 'em to spare. Only be sure to cut +these long canes back to within six inches of the ground." + +"Yes," I said, "that's all just as I have read in the books." + +"So much the better for the books, then. I haven't lived in this +fruit-growin' region all my life without gettin' some ideas as to +what's what. I give my mind to farmin'; but Jamison and I were great +cronies, and I used to be over here every day or two, and so it's +natural to keep comin'." + +"That's my good luck." + +"Well, p'raps it'll turn out so. Now Merton's just the right age to +help you in all this work. Jamison, you see, grew these raspberries in +a continuous bushy row; that is, say, three good strong canes every +eighteen inches apart in the row, and the rows five feet apart, so he +could run a horse-cultivator between. Are you catchin' on, Merton?" + +"Yes, sir," said the boy, with much interest. + +"Well, all these suckers and extra plants that are swampin' the ground +are just as bad as weeds. Dig 'em all out, only don't disturb the roots +of the bearin' canes you leave in the rows much." + +"How about trimming these?" I asked. + +"Well, that depends. If you want early fruit, you'll let 'em stand as +they be; if you want big berries, you'll cut 'em back one-third. Let me +see. Here's five rows of Highland Hardy; miserable poor-tastin' kind; +but they come so early that they often pay the best. Let them stand +with their whole length of cane, and if you can scatter a good +top-dressin' of fine manure scraped up from the barnyard, you'll make +the berries larger. Those other rows of Cuthbert, Reliance, and Turner, +cut back the canes one-third, and you'll get a great deal more fruit +than if you left more wood on 'em. Cuttin' back'll make the berries +big; and so they'll bring as much, p'raps, as if they were early." + +"Well, Merton, this all accords with what I've read, only Mr. Jones +makes it much clearer. I think we know how to go to work now, and +surely there's plenty to do." + +"Yes, indeed," resumed Mr. Jones; "and you'll soon find the work +crowdin' you. Now come to the big raspberry patch back of the barn, the +patch where the canes are all laid down, as I told you. These are +Hudson River Antwerps. Most people have gone out of 'em, but Jamison +held on, and he was makin' money on 'em. So may you. They are what we +call tender, you see, and in November they must be bent down close to +the ground and covered with earth, or else every cane would be dead +from frost by spring. About the first week in April, if the weather's +mild, you must uncover 'em, and tie 'em to stakes durin' the month." + +"Now, Mr. Jones, one other good turn and we won't bother you any more +to-day. All the front of the house is covered by two big grape-vines +that have not been trimmed, and there are a great many other vines on +the place. I've read and read on the subject, but I declare I'm afraid +to touch them." + +"Now, you're beyond my depth. I've got a lot of vines home, and I trim +'em in my rough way, but I know I ain't scientific, and we have pretty +poor, scraggly bunches. They taste just as good, though, and I don't +raise any to sell. There's a clever man down near the landin' who has a +big vineyard, and he's trimmed it as your vines ought to have been long +ago. I'd advise you to go and see him, and he can show you all the +latest wrinkles in prunin'. Now, I'll tell you what I come for, in the +first place. You'll remember that I said there'd be a vandoo to-morrow. +I've been over and looked at the stock offered. There's a lot of +chickens, as I told you; a likely-looking cow with a calf at her side; +a fairish and quiet old horse that ought to go cheap, but he'd answer +well the first year. Do you think you'll get more'n one horse to start +with?" + +"No; you said I could hire such heavy plowing as was needed at a +moderate sum, and I think we can get along with one horse for a time. +My plan is to go slow, and, I hope, sure." + +"That's the best way, only it ain't common. I'll be around in the +mornin' for you and such of the children as you'll take." + +"On one condition, Mr. Jones. You must let me pay you for your time and +trouble. Unless you'll do this in giving me my start, I'll have to +paddle my own canoe, even if I sink it." + +"Oh, I've no grudge against an honest penny turned in any way that +comes handy. You and I can keep square as we go along. You can give me +what you think is right, and if I ain't satisfied, I'll say so." + +I soon learned that my neighbor had no foolish sensitiveness. I could +pay him what I thought the value of his services, and he pocketed the +money without a word. Of course, I could not pay him what his advice +was really worth, for his hard common-sense stood me in good stead in +many ways. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE "VANDOO" + + +The next morning at about eight o'clock Mr. Jones arrived in a long +farm-wagon on springs, with one seat in it; but Junior had half filled +its body with straw, and he said to Merton, "I thought that p'raps, if +you and the children could go, you'd like a straw-ride." + +The solemnity with which Winnie and Bobsey promised to obey orders gave +some hope of performance; so I tossed them into the straw, and we drove +away, a merry party, leaving Mousie consoled with the hope of receiving +something from the vendue. + +"There's allers changes and breakin's up in the spring," said Mr. +Jones, as we drove along; "and this family's goin' out West. Everything +is to be sold, in doors and out." + +The farmhouse in question was about two miles away. By the time we +arrived, all sorts of vehicles were converging to it on the muddy +roads, for the weather had become mild again. Stylish-looking people +drove up in top-buggies, and there were many heavy, springless wagons +driven by rusty-looking countrymen, whose trousers were thrust into the +top of their cowhide boots. I strolled through the house before the +sale began, thinking that I might find something there which would +please Mousie and my wife. The rooms were already half filled with the +housewives from the vicinity; red-faced Irish women, who stalked about +and examined everything with great freedom; placid, peach-cheeked dames +in Quaker bonnets, who softly cooed together, and took every chance +they could to say pleasant words to the flurried, nervous family that +was being thrust out into the world, as it were, while still at their +own hearth. + +I marked with my eye a low, easy sewing-chair for my wife, and a rose +geranium, full of bloom, for Mousie, purposing to bid on them. I also +observed that Junior was examining several pots of flowers that stood +in the large south window. Then giving Merton charge of the children, +with directions not to lose sight of them a moment, I went to the +barn-yard and stable, feeling that the day was a critical one in our +fortunes. True enough, among the other stock there was a nice-looking +cow with a calf, and Mr. Jones said she had Jersey blood in her veins. +This meant rich, creamy milk. I thought the animal had a rather ugly +eye, but this might be caused by anxiety for her calf, with so many +strangers about. We also examined the old bay horse and a market wagon +and harness. Then Mr. Jones and I drew apart and agreed upon the limit +of his bids, for I proposed to act solely through him. Every one knew +him and was aware that he would not go a cent beyond what a thing was +worth. He had a word and a jest for all, and "How ARE YOU, JOHN?" +greeted him wherever he went. + +At ten o'clock the sale began. The auctioneer was a rustic humorist, +who knew the practical value of a joke in his business. Aware of the +foibles and characteristics of the people who flocked around and after +him, he provoked many a ripple and roar of laughter by his telling hits +and droll speeches. I found that my neighbor, Mr. Jones, came in for +his full share, but he always sent back as good as he received. The +sale, in fact, had the aspect of a country merrymaking, at which all +sorts and conditions of people met on common ground, Pat bidding +against the best of the landed gentry, while boys and dogs innumerable +played around and sometimes verged on serious quarrels. + +Junior, I observed, left his mark before the day was over. He was +standing, watching the sale with his usual impassive expression, when a +big, hulking fellow leered into his face and cried. + +"Tow head, white-head, Thick-head, go to bed." + +The last word was scarcely out of his mouth before Junior's fist was +between his eyes, and down he went. + +"Want any more?" Junior coolly asked, as the fellow got up. + +Evidently he didn't, for he slunk off, followed by jeers and laughter. + +At noon there was an immense pot of coffee with crackers and cheese, +placed on a table near the kitchen door, and we had a free lunch. To +this Bobsey paid his respects so industriously that a great, gawky +mountaineer looked down at him and said, with a grin, "I say, young +'un, you're gettin' outside of more fodder than any critter of your +size I ever knowed." + +"'Tain't your fodder," replied Bobsey, who had learned, in the streets, +to be a little pert. + +The day came to an end at last, and the cow and calf, the old bay +horse, the wagon, and the harness were mine. On the whole, Mr. Jones +had bought them at reasonable rates. He also bid in for me, at one +dollar per pair, two cocks and twenty hens that looked fairly well in +their coop. + +For my part, I had secured the chair and blooming geranium. To my +surprise, when the rest of the flowers were sold, Junior took part in +the bidding for the first time, and, as a result, carried out to the +wagon several other pots of house-plants. + +"Why, Junior," I said, "I didn't know you had such an eye for beauty." + +He blushed, but made no reply. + +The chickens and the harness were put into Mr. Jones's conveyance, the +wagon I had bought was tied on behind, and we jogged homeward, the +children exulting over our new possessions. When I took in the geranium +bush and put it on the table by the sunny kitchen window, Junior +followed with an armful of his plants. + +"They're for Mousie," he said; and before the delighted child could +thank him, he darted out. + +Indeed, it soon became evident that Mousie was Junior's favorite. She +never said much to him, but she looked a great deal. To the little +invalid girl he seemed the embodiment of strength and cleverness, and, +perhaps because he was so strong, his sympathies went out toward the +feeble child. + +The coop of chickens was carried to the basement that we had made +ready, and Winnie declared that she meant to "hear the first crow and +get the first egg." + +The next day the horse and the cow and calf were brought over, and we +felt that we were fairly launched in our country life. + +"You have a bigger family to look after outdoors than I have indoors," +my wife said, laughingly. + +I was not long in learning that some of my outdoor family were anything +but amiable. The two cocks fought and fought until Junior, who had run +over before night, showed Merton that by ducking their heads in cold +water their belligerent spirit could be partially quenched. Then he +proceeded to give me a lesson in milking. The calf was shut up away +from the cow, which was driven into a corner, where she stood with +signs of impatience while Junior, seated on a three-legged stool, +essayed to obtain the nectar we all so dearly loved. At first he did +not succeed very well. + +"She won't let it down--she's keepin' it for the calf," said the boy. +But at last she relented, and the white streams flowed. "Now," said +Junior to me, "you see how I do it. You try." + +As I took his place, I noticed that Brindle turned on me a vicious +look. No doubt I was awkward and hurt her a little, also; for the first +thing I knew the pail was in the air, I on my back, and Brindle +bellowing around the yard, switching her tail, Junior and Merton +meanwhile roaring with laughter. I got up in no amiable mood and said, +roughly, to the boys, "Quit that nonsense." + +But they couldn't obey, and at last I had to join in the laugh. + +"Why, she's ugly as sin," said Junior. "I'll tell you what to do. Let +her go with her calf now, and in the morning we'll drive her down to +one of the stalls in the basement of the barn and fasten her by the +head. Then we can milk her without risk. After her calf is gone she'll +be a great deal tamer." + +This plan was carried out, and it worked pretty well, although it was +evident that, from some cause, the cow was wild and vicious. One of my +theories is, that all animals can be subdued by kindness. Mr. Jones +advised me to dispose of Brindle, but I determined to test my theory +first. Several times a day I would go to the barn-yard and give her a +carrot or a whisp of hay from my hand, and she gradually became +accustomed to me, and would come at my call. A week later I sold her +calf to a butcher, and for a few days she lowed and mourned deeply, to +Mousie's great distress. But carrots consoled her, and within three +weeks she would let me stroke her, and both Merton and I could milk her +without trouble. I believe she had been treated harshly by her former +owners. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +EARLY APRIL GARDENING + + +Spring was coming on apace, and we all made the most of every pleasant +hour. The second day after the auction proved a fine one; and leaving +Winnie and Merton in charge of the house, I took my wife, with Bobsey +and Mousie, who was well bundled up, to see the scientific +grape-grower, and to do some shopping. At the same time we assured +ourselves that we were having a pleasure-drive; and it did me good to +see how the mother and daughter, who had been kept indoors so long, +enjoyed themselves. Mr. Jones was right. I received better and clearer +ideas of vine-pruning in half an hour from studying work that had been +properly done, and by asking questions of a practical man, than I could +ever have obtained by reading. We found that the old bay horse jogged +along, at as good a gait as we could expect, over the muddy road, and I +was satisfied that he was quiet enough for my wife to drive him after +she had learned how, and gained a little confidence. She held the reins +as we drove home, and, in our own yard, I gave her some lessons in +turning around, backing, etc. + +"Some day," I said, "you shall have a carriage and a gay young horse." +When we sat down to supper, I was glad to see that a little color was +dawning in Mousie's face. + +The bundles we brought home supplemented our stores of needful +articles, and our life began to take on a regular routine. The +carpenter came and put up the shelves, and made such changes as my wife +desired; then he aided me in repairing the out-buildings. I finished +pruning the trees, while Merton worked manfully at the raspberries, for +we saw that this was a far more pressing task than gathering wood, +which could be done to better advantage in the late autumn. Every +morning Winnie and Bobsey were kept steadily busy in carrying our +trimmings to the brush heap, which now began to assume vast +proportions, especially as the refuse from the grape-vine and raspberry +bushes was added to it. As the ground became settled after the frost +was out, I began to set the stakes by the side of such raspberry canes +as needed tying up; and here was a new light task for the two younger +children. Bobsey's little arms could go around the canes and hold them +close to the stake, while Winnie, a sturdy child, quickly tied them +with a coarse, cheap string that I had bought for the purpose. Even my +wife came out occasionally and helped us at this work. By the end of +the last week in March I had all the fruit-trees fairly pruned and the +grape-vines trimmed and tied up, and had given Merton much help among +the raspberries. In shallow boxes of earth on the kitchen table, +cabbage, lettuce, and tomato seeds were sprouting beside Mousie's +plants. The little girl hailed with delight every yellowish green germ +that appeared above the soil. + +The hens had spent their first few days in inspecting their quarters +and becoming familiar with them; but one morning there was a noisy +cackle, and Winnie soon came rushing in with three fresh-laid eggs. A +week later we had all we could use, and my wife began to put some by +for the first brooding biddies to sit upon. + +The first day of April promised to be unusually dry and warm, and I +said at the breakfast table: "This is to be a great day. We'll prove +that we are not April-fools by beginning our garden. I was satisfied +yesterday that a certain warm slope was dry enough to dig and plant +with hardy vegetables, and I've read and studied over and over again +which to plant first, and how to plant them. I suppose I shall make +mistakes, but I wish you all to see how I do it, and then by next +spring we shall have learned from experience how to do better. No +doubt, some things might have been planted before, but we've all been +too busy. Now, Merton, you go and harness old Bay to the cart I bought +with the place, and I'll get out my treasure of seeds. Mousie, by ten +o'clock, if the sun keeps out of the clouds, you can put on your +rubbers and join us." + +Soon all was bustle and excitement. Among my seeds were two quarts of +red and two of white onion sets, or little bits of onions, which I had +kept in a cool place, so that they should not sprout before their time. +These I took out first. Then with Merton I went to the barn-yard and +loaded up the cart with the finest and most decayed manure we could +find, and this was dumped on the highest part of the slope that I meant +to plant. + +"Now, Merton, I guess you can get another load, while I spread this +heap and begin to dig;" and he went off with the horse and cart, having +an increased idea of his importance. I marked a long strip of the sunny +slope, fifteen feet wide, and spread the manure evenly and thickly, for +I had read, and my own sense confirmed the view, that a little ground +well enriched would yield more than a good deal of poor land. I then +dug till my back ached; and I found that it began to ache pretty soon, +for I was not accustomed to such toil. + +"After the first seeds are in," I muttered, "I'll have the rest of the +garden plowed." + +When I had dug down about four feet of the strip, I concluded to rest +myself by a change of labor; so I took the rake and smoothed off the +ground, stretched a garden line across it, and, with a sharp-pointed +hoe, made a shallow trench, or drill. + +"Now, Winnie and Bobsey," I said, "it is time for you to do your part. +Just stick these little onions in the trench about four inches apart;" +and I gave each of them a little stick of the right length to measure +the distance; for they had vague ideas of four inches. "Be sure," I +continued, "that you get the bottom of the onion down. This is the top, +and this is the bottom. Press the onion in the soil just enough to make +it stand firm, so. That's right. Oh, you're learning fast. Now I can +rest, you see, while you do the planting." + +In a few moments they had stuck the fifteen feet of shallow trench, or +drill, full of onions, which I covered with earth, packing it lightly +with my hoe. I then moved the line fourteen inches further down and +made another shallow drill. In this way we soon had all the onion sets +in the ground. Merton came back with his load in time to see how it was +done, and nodded his head approvingly. I now felt rested enough to dig +awhile, and Merton started off to the barn-yard again. We next sowed, +in even shallower drills, the little onion seed that looked like +gunpowder, for my garden book said that the earlier this was planted +the better. We had completed only a few rows when Mr. Jones appeared, +and said: "Plantin' onions here? Why, neighbor, this ground is too dry +and light for onions." + +"Is it? Well, I knew I'd make mistakes. I haven't used near all my +onion seed yet, however." + +"Oh, well, no great harm's done. You've made the ground rich, and, if +we have a moist season, like enough they'll do well. P'raps it's the +best thing, after all, 'specially if you've put in the seed thick, as +most people do. Let 'em all grow, and you'll have a lot of little +onions, or sets, of your own raisin' to plant early next spring. Save +the rest of your seed until you have some rich, strong, deep soil +ready. I came over to say that if this weather holds a day or two +longer I'll plow the garden; and I thought I'd tell you, so that you +might get ready for me. The sooner you get your early pertaters in the +better." + +"Your words almost take the ache out of my back," I said. "I fear we +shouldn't have much of a garden if I had to dig it all, but I thought +I'd make a beginning with a few early vegetables." + +"That's well enough, but a plow beats a fork all hollow. You'll know +what I mean when you see my plow going down to the beam and loosenin' +the ground from fifteen to twenty inches. So burn your big brush-pile, +and get out what manure you're goin' to put in the garden, and I'll be +ready when you are." + +"All right. Thank you. I'll just plant some radishes, peas, and beans." + +"Not beans yet, Mr. Durham. Don't put those in till the last of the +month, and plant them very shallow when you do." + +"How one forgets when there's not much experience to fall back upon! I +now remember that my book said that beans, in this latitude, should not +be planted until about the 1st of May." + +"And lima beans not till the 10th of May," added Mr. Jones. "You might +put in a few early beets here, although the ground is rather light for +'em. You could put your main crop somewhere else. Well, let me know +when you're ready. Junior and me are drivin' things, too, this +mornin';" and he stalked away, whistling a hymn-tune in rather lively +time. + +I said: "Youngsters, I think I'll get my garden book and be sure I'm +right about sowing the radish and beet seed and the peas. Mr. Jones has +rather shaken my confidence." + +When Merton came with the next load I told him that he could put the +horse in the stable and help us. As a result, we soon had several rows +of radishes and beets sown, fourteen inches apart. We planted the seed +only an inch deep, and packed the ground lightly over it. Mousie, to +her great delight, was allowed to drop a few of the seeds. Merton was +ambitious to take the fork, but I soon stopped him, and said: "Digging +is too heavy work for you, my boy. There is enough that you can do +without overtaxing yourself. We must all act like good soldiers. The +campaign of work is just opening, and it would be very foolish for any +of us to disable ourselves at the start. We'll plant only half a dozen +rows of these dwarf peas this morning, and then this afternoon we'll +have the bonfire and get ready for Mr. Jones's plow." + +At the prospect of the bonfire the younger children set up shouts of +exultation, which cheered me on as I turned over the soil with the +fork, although often stopping to rest. My back ached, but my heart was +light. In my daily work now I had all my children about me, and their +smaller hands were helping in the most practical way. Their voices were +as joyous as the notes of the robins, song-sparrows, and bluebirds that +were singing all about us. A soft haze half obscured the mountains, and +mellowed the sunshine. From the springing grass and fresh-turned soil +came odors sweet as those which made Eden fragrant after "a mist went +up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground." + +All the children helped to plant the peas, which we placed carefully +and evenly, an inch apart, in the row, and covered with two inches of +soil, the rows being two feet distant one from another. I had decided +to plant chiefly McLean's Little Gem, because they needed no stakes or +brush for support. We were almost through our task when, happening to +look toward the house, I saw my wife standing in the doorway, a framed +picture. + +"Dinner," she called, in a voice as sweet to me as that of the robin +singing in the cherry-tree over her head. + +The children stampeded for the house, Winnie crying: "Hurry up, mamma, +for right after dinner papa will set the great brush-pile on fire, and +we're going to dance round it like Indians. You must come out, too." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A BONFIRE AND A FEAST + + +It amused and interested me to see upon the children's faces such an +eager expectancy as they hurried through our midday meal. Nothing +greater than a bonfire was in prospect, yet few costly pleasures could +have afforded them such excitement. I found myself sharing in their +anticipation to a degree that surprised me, and was led to ask myself +why it is that outdoor pursuits often take so strong a hold upon the +fancy. I recalled traits shown by one of my former employers. He was a +gray-headed man, possessing great wealth and an elegant city home, +while his mind was occupied by a vast and complicated business. When he +learned that I was going to the country, he would often come to me, +and, with kindling eyes and animated tones, talk of his chickens, cows, +fruit-trees and crops. He proved that the best product of his farm was +the zest it brought him into his life--a zest that was failing in his +other occupations and interests. What was true of him I knew to be +equally so of many others to whom wealth brings no greater luxury than +the ability to indulge in expensive farming. A lifetime in the city +does not destroy the primal instinct which leads men to the soil nor +does a handsome dividend from stocks give the unalloyed pleasure +awakened by a basket of fresh eggs or fruit. This love of the earth is +not earthiness, but has been the characteristic of the best and +greatest minds. Washington would turn from the anxieties of a campaign +and the burdens of state to read, with absorbing interest, the reports +of the agent who managed his plantation, and to write out the minutest +details for the overseer's guidance. + +In my limited way and sphere I was under the influence of the same +impulses; and, as I looked around the table at those so dear to me, I +felt that I had far more at stake. I had not come back to Nature merely +to amuse myself or to gratify a taste, but to co-work with her in +fulfilling the most sacred duties. With the crops of the coming years +these children must be nourished and fitted for their part in life, and +I felt that all my faculties must be employed to produce the best +results from my open-air toil. + +Therefore, why should not I also be interested in the prospective +bonfire? It would transmute the unsightly rubbish of the place into +fertilizing ashes, and clear the ground for the plow. The mellow soil +would produce that which would give brain and muscle--life to those +whose lives were dear. + +He who spreads his table with food secured by his own hands direct from +nature should feel a strong incentive to do his best. The coarse, +unvaried diet, common to many farmers' homes, is the result of stolid +minds and plodding ways. A better manhood and womanhood will be +developed when we act upon the truth that varied and healthful +sustenance improves blood and brain, and therefore character. + +I was growing abstracted, when my wife remarked, "Robert, will you +deign to come back from a remote region of thought and take some rice +pudding?" + +"You may all fare the better for my thoughts," I replied. + +The children, however, were bolting their pudding at railroad speed, +and I perceived that the time demanded action. Winnie and Bobsey wished +me to light the fire at once, but I said: "No, not till mamma and +Mousie are ready to come out. You must stay and help them clear away +the things. When all is ready, you two shall start the blaze." + +Very soon we were all at the brush-pile, which towered above our heads, +and I said: "Merton, it will burn better if we climb over it and +trample it down a little. It is too loose now. While we do this, Winnie +and Bobsey can gather dry grass and weeds that will take fire quickly. +Now which way is the wind?" + +"There isn't any wind, papa," Merton replied. + +"Let us see. Put your forefingers in your mouths, all of you, then hold +them up and note which side feels the coolest." + +"This side!" cried one and another. + +"Yes; and this side is toward the west; therefore, Winnie, put the dry +grass here on the western side of the heap, and what air is stirring +will carry the blaze through the pile." + +Little hands that trembled with eagerness soon held lighted matches to +the dry grass; there was a yellow flicker in the sunshine, then a +blaze, a crackle, a devouring rush of flames that mounted higher and +higher until, with the surrounding column of smoke, there was a +conflagration which, at night, would have alarmed the country-side. The +children at first gazed with awe upon the scenes as they backed farther +away from the increasing heat. Our beacon-fire drew Junior, who came +bounding over the fences toward us; and soon he and Merton began to see +how near they could dash in toward the blaze without being scorched. I +soon stopped this. + +"Show your courage, Merton, when there is need of it," I said. "Rash +venturing is not bravery, but foolishness, and often costs people dear." + +When the pile sank down into glowing embers, I turned to Bobsey, and +added: "I have let you light a fire under my direction. Never think of +doing anything of the kind without my permission, for if you do, you +will certainly sit in a chair, facing the wall, all day long, with +nothing to cheer you but bread and water and a sound whipping. There is +one thing which you children must learn from the start, and that is, +you can't play with fire except under my eyes." + +At this direful threat Bobsey looked as grave as his round little face +permitted, and, with the memory of his peril in the creek fresh in +mind, was ready enough with the most solemn promises. A circle of +unburned brush was left around the embers. This I raked in on the hot +coals, and soon all was consumed. + +"Now I have a suggestion," cried my wife. "We'll have some roast +potatoes, for here are lots of hot coals and ashes." Away scampered +Winnie to the cellar for the tubers. Our bonfire ended in a feast, and +then the ashes were spread far and wide. When the exciting events were +past, Winnie and Bobsey amused themselves in other ways, Mousie +venturing to stay with them while the sun remained high. Merton and I +meanwhile put the horse to the cart and covered all the ground, +especially the upper and poorer portions, with a good dressing from the +barnyard. + +In the evening Junior gave Merton a good hint about angle-worms. +"Follow the plow," he said, "and pick 'em up and put 'em in a tight +box. Then sink the box in a damp place and nearly fill it with fine +earth, and you always have bait ready when you want to go a-fishing. +After a few more warm days the fish will begin to bite first-rate." + +Early the next morning Mr. Jones was on hand with his stout team, and, +going twice in every furrow, he sunk his plow to the beam. "When you +loosen the soil deep in this style," he said, "ye needn't be afraid of +dry weather unless it's an amazin' long spell. Why, bless you, Mr. +Durham, there's farmers around here who don't scratch their ground much +deeper than an old hen would, and they're always groanin' over +droughts. If I can get my plow down eighteen inches, and then find time +to stir the surface often in the growin' season, I ain't afraid of a +month of dry weather." + +We followed Mr. Jones for a few turns around the garden, I inhaling the +fresh wholesome odors of the soil with pleasure, and Merton and the two +younger children picking up angle-worms. + +Our neighbor soon paused and resumed: "I guess I'll give you a hint +that'll add bushels of pertaters to yer crop. After I've plowed the +garden, I'll furrow out deep a lot of rows, three feet apart. Let +Merton take a hoe and scrape up the fine old manure in the barnyard. +Don't use any other kind. Then sprinkle it thickly in the furrows, and +draw your hoe through 'em to mix the fertilizer well with the soil. +Drop your seed then, eight inches apart in the row, and cover with four +inches of dirt. One can't do this very handy by the acre, but I've +known such treatment to double the crop and size of the pertaters in a +garden or small patch." + +I took the hint at once, and set Merton at work, saying that Winnie and +Bobsey could gather all the worms he wanted. Then I went for a +half-bushel of early potatoes, and Mr. Jones showed me how to cut them +so as to leave at least two good "eyes" to each piece. Half an hour +later it occurred to me to see how Merton was getting on. I found him +perspiring, and almost panting with fatigue, and my conscience smote +me. "There, my boy," I said, "this is too hard work for you. Come with +me and I'll show you how to cut the potatoes. But first go into the +house, and cool off while you drink a glass of milk." + +"Well, papa," he replied, gratefully, "I wouldn't mind a change like +that. I didn't want you to think I was shirking, but, to tell the +truth, I was getting played out." + +"Worked out, you mean. It's not my wish that you should ever be either +played or worked out, nor will you if you take play and work in the +right degree. Remember," I added, seriously, "that you are a growing +boy, and it's not my intention to put you at anything beyond your +strength. If, in my inexperience, I do give you too hard work, tell me +at once. There's plenty to do that won't overtax you." + +So we exchanged labors, and by the time the garden was plowed and the +furrows were made I had scraped up enough fine material in the barnyard +to give my tubers a great start. I varied my labor with lessons in +plowing, for running in my head was an "old saw" to the effect that "he +who would thrive must both hold the plow and drive." + +The fine weather lasted long enough for us to plant our early potatoes +in the most approved fashion, and then came a series of cold, wet days +and frosty nights. Mr. Jones assured us that the vegetable seeds +already in the ground would receive no harm. At such times as were +suitable for work we finished trimming and tying up the hardy +raspberries, cleaning up the barnyard, and carting all the fertilizers +we could find to the land that we meant to cultivate. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +"NO BLIND DRIFTING" + + +One long, stormy day I prepared an account-book. On its left-hand pages +I entered the cost of the place and all expenses thus far incurred. The +right-hand pages were for records of income, as yet small indeed. They +consisted only of the proceeds from the sale of the calf, the eggs that +Winnie gathered, and the milk measured each day, all valued at the +market price. I was resolved that there should be no blind drifting +toward the breakers of failure--that at the end of the year we should +know whether we had made progress, stood still, or gone backward. My +system of keeping the accounts was so simple that I easily explained it +to my wife, Merton, and Mousie, for I believed that, if they followed +the effort at country living understandingly, they would be more +willing to practice the self-denial necessary for success. Indeed, I +had Merton write out most of the items, even though the record, as a +result, was not very neat. I stopped his worrying over blots and +errors, by saying, "You are of more account than the account-book, and +will learn by practice to be as accurate as any one." + +My wife and Mousie also started another book of household expenses, +that we might always know just where we stood and what our prospects +were. + +Weeks would elapse before our place would be food-producing to any +great extent. In the meantime we must draw chiefly on our capital in +order to live. Winifred and I resolved to meet this necessity in no +careless way, feeling that not a penny should be spent which might be +saved. The fact that I had only my family to support was greatly in our +favor. There was no kitchen cabinet, that ate much and wasted more, to +satisfy. Therefore, our revenue of eggs and milk went a long way toward +meeting the problem. We made out a list of cheap, yet wholesome, +articles of food, and found that we could buy oatmeal at four cents per +pound, Indian meal at two and a half cents, rice at eight cents, samp +at four, mackerel at nine, pork at twelve, and ham at fifteen cents. +The last two articles were used sparingly, and more as relishes and for +flavoring than as food. Flour happened to be cheap at the time, the +best costing but seven dollars a barrel; of vegetables, we had secured +abundance at slight cost; and the apples still added the wholesome +element of fruit. A butcher drove his wagon to our door three times a +week and, for cash, would give us, at very reasonable rates, certain +cuts of beef and mutton. These my wife conjured into appetizing dishes +and delicious soups. + +Thus it can be seen that we had a varied diet at a surprisingly small +outlay. Such details may appear to some very homely, yet our health and +success depended largely upon thoughtful attention to just such prosaic +matters. The children were growing plump and ruddy at an expense less +than would be incurred by one or two visits from a fashionable +physician in the city. + +In the matter of food, I also gave more thought to my wife's time and +strength than to the little people's wishes. While we had variety and +abundance, we did not have many dishes at any one meal. + +"We shall not permit mamma to be over the hot range any more than is +necessary," I said. "She and Mousie must give us, from day to day, what +costs little in time as well as money." + +Fortunately, plain, wholesome food does not require much time in +preparation. There would be better health in many homes if there was +more economy in labor. For instance, the children at first clamored for +griddle-cakes, but I said, "Isn't it nicer to have mamma sit down +quietly with us at breakfast than to see her running back and forth +from the hot stove?" and even Bobsey, though rather ruefully, voted +against cakes, except on rare occasions. + +The wash-tub I forbade utterly, and the services of a stout Irishwoman +were secured for one day in the week. Thus, by a little management, my +wife was not overtaxed. Indeed, she had so much leisure that she and +Mousie began giving Winnie and Bobsey daily lessons, for we had decided +that the children should not go to school until the coming autumn. +Early in April, therefore, our country life was passing into a quiet +routine, not burdensome, at least within doors; and I justly felt that +if all were well in the citadel of home, the chances of the outdoor +campaign were greatly improved. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OWLS AND ANTWERPS + + +Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with +his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he +was permitted to shoot. He had quite as serious and important an air as +if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes. For a time +he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot +harmless birds. He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a +mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects. One +evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound +startled us. At first it reminded me of the half-whining bark of a +young dog, but the deep, guttural trill that followed convinced me that +it was a screech-owl, for I remembered having heard these birds when a +boy. + +The moment I explained the sound, Merton darted for his gun, and my +wife exclaimed: "O dear! what trouble is coming now? Mother always said +that the hooting of an owl near a house was a bad omen." + +I did not share in the superstition, although I disliked the uncanny +sounds, and was under the impression that all owls, like hawks, should +be destroyed. Therefore, I followed Merton out, hoping that he would +get a successful shot at the night prowler. + +The moonlight illumined everything with a soft, mild radiance; and the +trees, with their tracery of bough and twig, stood out distinctly. +Before we could discover the creature, it flew with noiseless wing from +a maple near the door to another perch up the lane, and again uttered +its weird notes. + +Merton was away like a swift shadow, and, screening himself behind the +fence, stole upon his game. A moment later the report rang out in the +still night. It so happened that Merton had fired just as the bird was +about to fly, and had only broken a wing. The owl fell to the ground, +but led the boy a wild pursuit before he was captured. Merton's hands +were bleeding when he brought the creature in. Unless prevented, it +would strike savagely with its beak, and the motions of its head were +as quick as lightning. It was, indeed, a strange captive, and the +children looked at it in wondering and rather fearful curiosity. My +wife, usually tender-hearted, wished the creature, so ill-omened in her +eyes, to be killed at once, but I granted Merton's request that he +might put it in a box and keep it alive for a while. + +"In the morning," I said, "we will read all about it, and can examine +it more carefully." + +My wife yielded, and I am not sure but that she thought we might avert +misfortune by showing mercy. + +Among my purchases was a recent work on natural history. But our minds +had been engrossed with too many practical questions to give it much +attention. Next morning we consulted it, and found our captive +variously described as the little red, the mottled, or the screech owl. +Then followed an account of its character and habits. We learned that +we had made war upon a useful friend, instead of an ill-boding, harmful +creature. We were taught that this species is a destroyer of mice, +beetles, and vermin, thus rendering the agriculturist great services, +which, however are so little known that the bird is everywhere hunted +down without mercy or justice. + +"Surely, this is not true of all owls," I said, and by reading further +we learned that the barred, or hoot owl, and the great horned owl, were +deserving of a surer aim of Merton's gun. They prey not only upon +useful game, but also invade the poultry-yard, the horned species being +especially destructive. Instances were given in which these freebooters +had killed every chicken upon a farm. As they hunt only at night, they +are hard to capture. Their notes and natures are said to be in keeping +with their deeds of darkness; for their cry is wild, harsh, and +unearthly, while in temper they are cowardly, savage, and untamable, +showing no affection even for each other. A female has been known to +kill and eat the male. + +"The moral of this owl episode," I concluded, "is that we must learn to +know our neighbors, be they birds, beasts, or human beings, before we +judge them. This book is not only full of knowledge, but of information +that is practical and useful. I move that we read up about the +creatures in our vicinity. What do you say, Merton? wouldn't it be well +to learn what to shoot, as well as how to shoot?" + +Protecting his hands with buckskin gloves, the boy applied mutton suet +to our wounded owl's wing. It was eventually healed, and the bird was +given its liberty. It gradually became sprightly and tame, and sociable +in the evening, affording the children and Junior much amusement. + +By the 7th of April there was a prospect of warmer and more settled +weather, and Mr. Jones told us to lose no time in uncovering our +Antwerp raspberries. They had been bent down close to the ground the +previous winter and covered with earth. To remove this without breaking +the canes, required careful and skilful work. We soon acquired the +knack, however, of pushing and throwing aside the soil, then lifting +the canes gently through what remained, and shaking them clear. + +"Be careful to level the ground evenly," Mr. Jones warned us, "for it +won't do at all to leave hummocks of dirt around the hills;" and we +followed his instructions. + +The canes were left until a heavy shower of rain washed them clean; +then Winnie and Bobsey tied them up. We gave steady and careful +attention to the Antwerps, since they would be our main dependence for +income. I also raked in around the hills of one row a liberal dressing +of wood ashes, intending to note its effect. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A COUNTRY SUNDAY + + +Hitherto the Sabbaths had been stormy and the roads bad, and we had +given the days to rest and family sociability. But at last there came a +mild, sunny morning, and we resolved to find a church-home. I had heard +that Dr. Lyman, who preached in the nearest village had the faculty of +keeping young people awake. Therefore we harnessed the old bay-horse to +our market-wagon, donned our "go-ter-meetin's," as Junior called his +Sunday clothes, and started. Whatever might be the result of the +sermon, the drive promised to do us good. The tender young grass by the +roadside, and the swelling buds of trees, gave forth delicious odors; a +spring haze softened the outline of the mountains, and made them almost +as beautiful as if clothed with foliage; robins, song-sparrows, and +other birds were so tuneful that Mousie said she wished they might form +the choir at the church. Indeed, the glad spirit of Spring was abroad, +and it found its way into our hearts. We soon learned that it entered +largely also into Dr. Lyman's sermon. We were not treated as strangers +and intruders, but welcomed and shown to a pew in a way that made us +feel at home. I discovered that I, too, should be kept awake and given +much to think about. We remained until Sunday-school, which followed +the service, was over, and then went home, feeling that life both here +and hereafter was something to be thankful for. After dinner, without +even taking the precaution of locking the door, we all strolled down +the lane and the steeply sloping meadow to our wood lot and the banks +of the Moodna Creek. My wife had never seen this portion of our place +before, and she was delighted with its wild beauty and seclusion. She +shivered and turned a little pale, however, as she saw the stream, +still high and swift, that had carried Bobsey away. + +Junior joined us, and led the children to a sunny bank, from which soon +came shouts of joy over the first wildflowers of the season. I placed +my wife on a rock, and we sat quietly for a time, inhaling the fresh +woody odors, and listening to the murmurs of the creek and the song of +the birds. Then I asked: "Isn't this better than a city flat and a +noisy street? Are not these birds pleasanter neighbors than the +Daggetts and the Ricketts?" + +Her glad smile was more eloquent than words could have been. Mousie +came running to us, holding in her hand, which trembled from +excitement, a little bunch of liverworts and anemones. Tears of +happiness actually stood in her eyes, and she could only falter, "O +mamma! just look!" and then she hastened away to gather more. + +"That child belongs to nature," I said, "and would always be an exile +in the city. How greatly she has improved in health already!" + +The air grew damp and chill early, and we soon returned to the house. +Monday was again fair, and found us absorbed in our busy life, each one +having plenty to do. When it was safe to uncover the raspberries, +Merton and I had not lost a moment in the task. At the time of which I +write we put in stakes where they were missing, obtaining not a few of +them from the wood lot. We also made our second planting of potatoes +and other hardy vegetables in the garden. The plants in the kitchen +window were thriving, and during mild, still days we carried them to a +sheltered place without, that they might become inured to the open air. + +Winnie already had three hens sitting on their nests full of eggs, and +she was counting the days until the three weeks of incubation should +expire, and the little chicks break their shells. One of the hens +proved a fickle biddy, and left her nest, much to the child's anger and +disgust. But the others were faithful, and one morning Winnie came +bounding in, saying she had heard the first "peep." I told her to be +patient and leave the brood until the following day, since I had read +that the chicks were stronger for not being taken from the nest too +soon. She had treated the mother hens so kindly that they were tame, +and permitted her to throw out the empty shells, and exult over each +new-comer into a brief existence. + +Our radishes had come up nicely; but no sooner had the first green +leaves expanded than myriads of little flea-like beetles devoured them. +A timely article in my horticultural paper explained that if little +chickens were allowed to run in the garden they would soon destroy +these and other insects. Therefore I improvised a coop by laying down a +barrel near the radishes and driving stakes in front of it to confine +the hen, which otherwise, with the best intentions, would have +scratched up all my sprouting seeds. Hither we brought her the +following day, with her downy brood of twelve, and they soon began to +make themselves useful. Winnie fed them with Indian-meal and mashed +potatoes and watched over them with more than their mother's +solicitude, while Merton renewed his vigilance against hawks and other +enemies. + +With this new attraction, and wildflowers in the woods, the tying up of +raspberries became weary prose to Winnie and Bobsey; but I kept them at +it during most of the forenoon of every pleasant day and if they +performed their task carelessly, I made them do it over. I knew that +the time was coming when many kinds of work would cease to be play to +us all, and that we might as well face the fact first as last. After +the morning duties were over, and the afternoon lessons learned, there +was plenty of time for play, and the two little people enjoyed it all +the more. + +Merton, also, had two afternoons in the week and he and Junior began to +bring home strings of sweet little sunfish and winfish. Boys often +become disgusted with country life because it is made hard and +monotonous for them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +STRAWBERRY VISIONS AND "PERTATERS" + + +I had decided that I would not set out any more raspberries until I had +learned the comparative value of those already on the place. After I +had seen my varieties in bearing and marketed the crop, I should be +better able to make a wise selection, "Why not plant only the best and +most profitable?" I reasoned. At Mr. Jones's suggestion I had put up +notices at public resorts, and inserted a brief advertisement in a +local paper, stating that I had plants for sale. As a result, I sold, +at a low price, it is true, the greater part of the young plants that +had been trenched in, and the ready money they brought was very +acceptable. + +From the first, my mind had often turned toward strawberries as one of +our chief crops. They promised well for several reasons, the main one +being that they would afford a light and useful form of labor for all +the children. Even Bobsey could pick the fruit almost as well as any of +us, for he had no long back to ache in getting down to it. The crop, +also, could be gathered and sold before the raspberry season began, and +this was an important fact. We should also have another and earlier +source of income. I had read a great deal about the cultivation of the +strawberry, and I had visited a Maizeville neighbor who grew them on a +large scale, and had obtained his views. To make my knowledge more +complete I wrote to my Washington-Market friend, Mr. Bogart, and his +prompt letter in reply was encouraging. + +"Don't go into too many kinds," he advised, "and don't set too much +ground. A few crates of fine berries will pay you better than bushels +of small, soft, worthless trash. Steer clear of high-priced novelties +and fancy sorts, and begin with only those known to pay well in your +region. Try Wilson's (they're good to sell if not to eat) and Duchess +for early, and Sharpless and Champion for late. Set the last two kinds +out side by side, for the Champions won't bear alone. A customer of +mine runs on these four sorts. He gives them high culture, and gets big +crops and big berries, which pay big. When you want crates, I can +furnish them, and take my pay out of the sales of your fruit. Don't +spend much money for plants. Buy a few of each kind, and set 'em in +moist ground and let 'em run. By winter you'll have enough plants to +cover your farm." + +I found that I could buy these standard varieties in the vicinity; and +having made the lower part of the garden very rich, I procured, one +cloudy day, two hundred plants of each kind and set them in rows, six +feet apart, so that by a little watchfulness I could keep them +separate. I obtained my whole stock for five dollars; therefore, +counting our time and everything, the cost of entering on strawberry +culture was slight. A rainy night followed, and every plant started +vigorously. + +In spite of occasional frosts and cold rains, the days grew longer and +warmer. The cherry, peach, plum, and pear buds were almost ready to +burst into bloom, but Mr. Jones shook his head over the orchard. + +"This ain't apple year," he said. "Well, no matter. If you can make it +go this season, you will be sure of better luck next year." + +He had come over to aid me in choosing a two-acre plot of ground for +corn and potatoes. This we marked out from the upper and eastern slope +of a large meadow. The grass was running out and growing weedy. + +"It's time it was turned over," my neighbor remarked; "and by fall +it'll be in good condition for fruit." + +I proposed to extend my fruit area gradually, with good reason, fearing +that much hired help would leave small profits. + +That very afternoon Mr. Jones, with his sharp steel plow, began to turn +over clean, deep, even furrows; for we had selected the plot in view of +the fact that it was not stony, as was the case with other portions of +our little farm. + +When at last the ground was plowed, he said: "I wouldn't harrow the +part meant for corn till you are ready to plant it, say about the tenth +of next month. We'd better get the pertater ground ready and the rows +furrowed out right off. Early plantin' is the best. How much will ye +give to 'em?" + +"Half the plot," I said. + +"Why, Mr. Durham, that's a big plantin' for pertaters." + +"Well, I've a plan, and would like your opinion. If I put Early Rose +potatoes right in, when can I harvest them?" + +"Say the last of July or early August, accordin' to the season." + +"If we keep the ground clean and well worked the sod will then be +decayed, won't it?" + +"Yes, nigh enough. Ye want to grow turnips or fodder corn, I s'pose?" + +"No, I want to set out strawberries. I've read more about this fruit +than any other, and, if the books are right, I can set strong plants on +enriched ground early in August and get a good crop next June. Won't +this pay better than planting next spring and waiting over two years +from this time for a crop?" + +"Of course it will, if you're right. I ain't up on strawberries." + +"Well," I continued, "it looks reasonable. I shall have my young plants +growing right here in my own garden. Merton and I can take them up in +the cool of the evening and in wet weather, and they won't know they've +been moved. I propose to get these early potatoes out of the ground as +soon as possible, even if I have to sell part of them before they are +fully ripe; then have the ground plowed deep and marked out for +strawberries, put all the fertilizers I can scrape together in the rows +and set the plants as fast as possible. I've read again and again that +many growers regard this method as one of the best." + +"Well, you're comin' on for a beginner. I'm kind o' shy of book-plans, +though. But try it. I'll come over, as I used to when old man Jamison +was here, and sit on the fence and make remarks." + +Planting an acre of potatoes was no light task for us, even after the +ground was plowed and harrowed, and the furrows for the rows were +marked out. I also had to make a half-day's journey to the city of +Newtown to buy more seed, since the children's appetites had greatly +reduced the stock in the root-cellar. For a few days we worked like +beavers. Even Winnie helped Merton to drop the seed; and in the evening +we had regular potato-cutting "bees," Junior coming over to aid us, and +my wife and Mousie helping also. Songs and stories enlivened these +evening hours of labor. Indeed, my wife and Mousie performed, during +the day, a large part of this task, and they soon learned to cut the +tubers skilfully. I have since known this work to be done so carelessly +that some pieces were cut without a single eye upon them. Of course, in +such cases there is nothing to grow. + +One Saturday night, the last of April, we exulted over the fact that +our acre was planted and the seed well covered. + +Many of the trees about the house, meantime, had clothed themselves +with fragrant promises of fruit. All, especially Mousie, had been +observant of the beautiful changes, and, busy as we had been, she, +Winnie and Bobsey had been given time to keep our table well supplied +with wildflowers. Now that they had come in abundance, they seemed as +essential as our daily food. To a limited extent I permitted blooming +sprays to be taken from the fruit-trees, thinking, with Mousie, that +"cherry blossoms are almost as nice as cherries." Thus Nature graced +our frugal board, and suggested that, as she accompanied her useful +work with beauty and fragrance, so we also could lift our toilsome +lives above the coarse and sordid phase too common in country homes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +CORN, COLOR, AND MUSIC + + +In early May the grass was growing lush and strong, and Brindle was +driven down the lane to the meadow, full of thickets, which bordered on +the creek. Here she could supply herself with food and water until the +late autumn. + +With the first days of the month we planted, on a part of the garden +slope, where the soil was dry and warm, very early, dwarf sweet corn, a +second early variety, Burr's Mammoth, and Stowell's Evergreen. + +"These several kinds," I said, "will give us a succession of boiling +ears for weeks together. When this planting is up a few inches high, we +will make another, for, by so doing, my garden book says we may have +this delicious vegetable till frost comes." + +After reading and some inquiry during the winter I had decided to buy +only McLean's Gem peas for seed. This low-growing kind required no +brush and, therefore, far less labor. By putting in a row every ten +days till the last of June, we should enjoy green peas of the sweet, +wrinkled sort till tired, if that were possible. We also planted early +dwarf wax-beans, covering the seed, as directed, only two inches deep. +It was my ambition to raise a large crop of Lima beans, having read +that few vegetables yield more food to a small area than they. So, +armed with an axe and a hatchet, Merton and I went into some young +growth on the edge of our wood lot and cut thirty poles, lopping off +the branches so as to leave little crotches on which the vines could +rest for support. Having sharpened these poles we set them firmly in +the garden, four feet apart each way, then dug in some very fine and +decayed manure around each pole, and left the soil for a day or two to +grow warm and light. My book said that, if the earth was cold, wet, or +heavy the beans would decay instead of coming up. The 10th of the month +being fine and promising, I pressed the eye or germ side of the beans +into the soil and covered them only one inch deep. In the evening we +set out our cabbage and cauliflower plants where they should be allowed +to mature. The tomato plants, being more tender than their companions +started in the kitchen window, were set about four inches apart in a +sheltered place. We could thus cover them at night and protect them a +little from the midday sun for a week or two longer. + +Nor were Mousie's flowering plants forgotten. She had watched over them +from the seed with tireless care, and now we made a bed and helped the +happy child to put her little nurslings in the open ground where they +were to bloom. The apple-trees made the air fragrant, and some of the +delicate pink of their blossoms was in Mousie's cheeks. + +"Truly," I thought, as I looked into her sparkling eyes, "if we can but +barely live in the country, I am glad we came." + +The next morning Merton and I began our great undertaking--the planting +of the other acre of ground, next to the potatoes, with field corn. Mr. +Jones had harrowed it comparatively smooth, I had a light plow with +which to mark out the furrows four feet apart each way. At the +intersection of these furrows the seed was to be dropped. I found I +could not drive our old bay straight across the field to save my life, +and neighbor Jones laughed till his sides ached at the curves and +crooks I first left behind me. + +"Here, Merton," I cried, nothing daunted, "we must work together again. +Get a pole and stand it on the farther side of the plot four feet in +from the edge of the sod. That's right. Now come here; take old Bay by +the head, and, with your eyes fixed on the pole, lead him steadily +toward it." + +A furrow was now made of which Mr. Jones himself need not have been +ashamed; and he laughed as he said, at parting "You'll do. I see you've +got enough Yankee in you to try more ways than one." + +We kept at work manfully, although the day was warm, and by noon the +plot was furrowed one way. After dinner we took an hour's partial rest +in shelling our corn and then resumed our work, and in the same manner +began furrowing at right angles with the first rows. The hills were +thus about four feet apart each way. Merton dropped the corn after we +had run half a dozen furrows. + +"Drop five kernels," I said; for Mr. Jones had told us that four stalks +were enough and that three would do, but had added: "I plant five +kernels, for some don't come up, and the crows and other vermints take +others. If all of 'em grow, it's easier to pull up one stalk at the +first hoeing than to plant over again." + +We found that putting in the corn was a lighter task than planting the +potatoes even though we did our own furrowing; and by the middle of May +we were complacent over the fact that we had succeeded with our general +spring work far better than we had hoped, remembering that we were +novices who had to take so much counsel from books and from our kind, +practical neighbor. + +The foliage of the trees was now out in all its delicately shaded +greenery, and midday often gave us a foretaste of summer heat. The +slight blaze kindled in the old fireplace, after supper, was more for +the sake of good cheer than for needed warmth, and at last it was +dispensed with. Thrushes and other birds of richer and fuller song had +come, and morning and evening we left the door open that we might enjoy +the varied melody. + +Our first plantings of potatoes and early vegetables were now up and +looked promising. So a new phase of labor--that of cultivation--began. +New broods of chickens were coming off, and Winnie had many families to +look after. Nevertheless, although there was much to attend to, the +season was bringing a short breathing-spell, and I resolved to take +advantage of it. So I said one Friday evening: "If to-morrow is fair, +we'll take a vacation. What do you say to a day's fishing and sailing +on the river?" + +A jubilant shout greeted this proposal, and when it had subsided, +Mousie asked, "Can't Junior go with us?" + +"Certainly," I replied; "I'll go over right after supper, and make sure +that his father consents." + +Mr. Jones said, "Yes," and Merton and Junior were soon busy with their +preparations, which were continued until the long twilight deepened +into dusk. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +WE GO A-FISHING + + +The following day, happily, proved all that we could desire. The +children were up with the dawn, and Junior was not long in joining us. +By eight o'clock we had finished breakfast and the morning work, our +lunch-basket was packed, and the market-wagon stood at the door. Mr. +Jones had good-naturedly promised to take a look at the premises +occasionally to see that all was right. I had put but one seat in the +wagon for my wife and myself, since the young people decided that a +straw-ride to the river would be "more fun than a parlor-car." + +My wife entered into the spirit of this little outing with a zest which +gave me deep content. Her face indicated no regretful thoughts turning +toward the Egypt of the city; her mother love was so strong that she +was happy with the children. The robins, of which there seemed no end +about the house, gave us a tuneful and hilarious send-off; the grown +people and children whom we met smiled and cheered, following us with +envious eyes. Each of the children held a pole aloft, and Merton said +that "the wagon looked as if our Lima-bean patch was off on a visit." + +In the village we increased our stock of lines and hooks, and bought a +few corks for floats. We soon reached the mouth of the Moodna Creek, +where stood a weather-beaten boat-house, with a stable adjoining, in +which old Bay could enjoy himself in his quiet, prosaic way. A +good-sized boat was hired, and, as the tide was in, we at first decided +to go up the creek as far as possible and float down with the ebb. +This, to the children, was like a voyage of discovery, and there was a +general airing of geography, each little bay, point, and gulf receiving +some noted name. At last we reached a deep, shaded pool, which was +eventually dubbed "Bobsey's Luck;" for he nearly fell into it in his +eagerness to take off a minnow that had managed to fasten itself to his +hook. + +Merton and Junior, being more experienced anglers, went ashore to make +some casts on the ripples and rapids of the stream above, and secured +several fine "winfish." The rest of us were content to take it easy in +the shade and hook an occasional cat and sun fish. At last the younger +children wanted variety, so I permitted them to land on the wooded +bank, kindle a little fire, and roast some clams that we had bought at +the boat-house. The smoke and the tempting odors lured Merton and +Junior, who soon proved that boys' appetites can always be depended +upon. + +Time passed rapidly, and I at last noticed that the tide had fallen to +such a degree as to fill me with alarm. + +"Come, youngsters," I cried, "we must go back at once, or we shall have +to stay here till almost night." + +They scrambled on board, and we started down-stream, but soon came to +shallow water, as was proved by the swift current and the ripples. A +moment later we were hard aground. In vain we pushed with the oars; the +boat would not budge. Then Junior sat down and coolly began to take off +shoes and stockings. In a flash Merton followed his example. There was +no help for it, and we had no time to lose. Over they splashed, +lightening the boat, and taking the "painter," or tie-rope, at the bow, +they pulled manfully. Slowly at first, but with increasing progress, +the keel grated over the stones, and at last we were again afloat. A +round of applause greeted the boys as they sprung back into the boat, +and away we went, cautiously avoiding shoals and sand-bars, until we +reached Plum Point, where we expected to spend the remainder of the +day. Here, for a time, we had excellent sport, and pulled up sunfish +and white perch of a very fair size. Bobsey caught so large a specimen +of the former variety that he had provided himself with a supper equal +even to his capacity. + +The day ended in unalloyed pleasure, and never had the old farm-house +looked so like home as when it greeted us again in the evening glow of +the late spring sun. Merton and Junior divided the finny spoils to +their satisfaction, while Winnie and I visited the chicken-coops and +found that there had been no mishaps during our absence. I told my boy +that I would milk the cow while he cleaned the fish for supper, and +when at last we sat down we formed a tired, hilarious, and hungry +group. Surely, if fish were created to be eaten, our enjoyment of their +browned sweetness must have rounded out their existence completely. + +"O papa!" exclaimed Merton, at the breakfast table, on Monday morning; +"we haven't planted any musk and water melons!" + +"That is true," I replied. "I find that I overlooked melons in making +out my list of seeds. Indeed, I passed them over, I imagine, as a +luxury that we could dispense with the first year." + +"I'll take care of 'em if you will only let us have some," persisted +the boy; and the other children joined in his request. + +"But the garden is all filled up," I said, thoughtfully; "and I fear it +is too late to plant now." + +Looks of disappointment led me to think further and I got one of my +seed catalogues. + +"Here are some early kinds named and perhaps they would mature; but +where shall we put them?" + +"Seems to me we had better have a little less corn, if room can be made +for melons," was Merton's suggestion. + +"I'll tell you what we'll do," I continued. "We've had such good +fortune in accomplishing our early work, and you have helped so nicely, +that you shall try your hand at melons. Drive your mother and Mousie +down to the village this morning, and get some seeds of the nutmeg +musk-melon and Phinney's early watermelon. I'll take two rows in the +early corn on the warm garden slope, pull up every third hill, and +make, in their places, nice, warm, rich beds for the seed which we will +plant as soon as you come back. I don't believe the corn will shade the +melon vines too much; and as soon as we have taken off the green ears +we will cut away the stalks. Thus we shall get two crops from the same +ground." + +This plan was carried out, and the melon seed came up in a very +promising way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +WEEDS AND WORKING FOR DEAR LIFE + + +The beautiful transition period of spring passing into summer would +have filled us with delight had we not found a hostile army advancing +on us--annual weeds. When we planted the garden, the soil was brown and +clean. The early vegetables came up in well-defined green rows, the +weeds appearing with them, too few and scattered to cause anxiety. Now +all was changed. Weeds seemed created by magic in a night. The garden +was becoming evenly green throughout; and the vegetables, in some +cases, could scarcely be distinguished from the ranker growth of +crowding, unknown plants among and around them. I also saw that our +corn and potato field would soon become, if left alone, as verdant as +the meadow beyond. I began to fear that we could not cope with these +myriads of foes, little now, but growing while we slept, and stealing a +march on us in one part of the place while we destroyed them in another. + +With something like dismay I called Mr. Jones's attention to these +silent forces, invading, not only the garden and fields, but the +raspberries and, indeed, all the ground now devoted to fruit. + +He laughed and said: "The Philistines are on you, sure enough. I'm busy +whackin' them over myself, but I guess I'll have to come and give you a +lift, for you must get these weeds well under before hayin' and +raspberry-pickin'-time comes. It's warm to-day, and the ground's +middlin' dry. I'll show you what can be done in short metre. By the +way, I'll give you a little wrinkle worth knowin'. I've observed that +you didn't bring the children to the country to be like weeds--just ter +grow and run ter seed, ye know. It's 'stonishin' how soon weeds, +whether they're people or pusley, get seedy. Well, now, call the +children and come with me to the garden." + +We were all soon there, including my wife, who shared my solicitude. + +"You see," resumed Mr. Jones, "that these weakly little rows of +carrots, beets, and onions would soon be choked by these weeds, not an +inch high yet. The same is true of the corn and peas and other sags. +The pertaters are strong enough to take care of themselves for a time, +but not long. I see you and Merton have been tryin' to weed and hoe +them out at the same time. Well, you can't keep up with the work in +that way. Take now this bed of beets; the weeds are gettin' even all +over it, and they're thicker, if anywhere, right in the row, so that it +takes a good eye to see the beets. But here they are, and here they run +across the bed. Now look at me. One good showin' is worth all the +tellin' and readin' from now to Christmas. You see, I begin with my two +hands, and pull out all the weeds on each side of the little row, and I +pull 'em away from the young beets so as not to disturb them, but to +leave 'em standin' straight and saucy. Careless hands will half pull +out the vegetables at the same time with the weeds. I had to strap +Junior once before he learned that fact, and it was amazin' how I +helped his eyesight and trained his fingers through his back. Well, +now, you see, I've cleared out this row of beets half across the bed +and the ground for an inch or two on each side of it. I drop the weeds +right down in the spaces between the rows, for the sun will dry 'em up +before dinner-time. Now I'll take another row." + +By this time Merton and I were following his example, and in a few +moments a part of three more rows had been treated in the same way. + +"Now," continued Mr. Jones, "the weeds are all out of the rows that +we've done, and for a little space on each side of 'em. The beets have +a chance to grow unchoked, and to get ahead. These other little green +varmints in the ground, between the rows, are too small to do any harm +yet. Practically the beets are cleaned out, and will have all the +ground they need to themselves for three or four days; but these weeds +between the rows would soon swamp everything. Now, give me a hoe, and +I'll fix THEM." + +He drew the useful tool carefully and evenly through the spaces between +the rows, and our enemies were lying on their sides ready to wither +away in the morning sun. + +"You see after the rows are weeded out how quickly you can hoe the +spaces between 'em," my neighbor concluded. "Now the children can do +this weedin'. Your and Merton's time's too valyble. When weeds are +pulled from right in and around vegetables, the rest can stand without +harm for a while, till you can get around with the hoe and cultivator. +This weedin' out business is 'specially important in rainy weather, for +it only hurts ground to hoe or work it in wet, showery days, and the +weeds don't mind it a bit. Warm, sunny spells, when the soil's a little +dry, is the time to kill weeds. But you must be careful in weedin' +then, or you'll so disturb the young, tender sass that it'll dry up, +too. See, I'll pull some weeds carelessly. Now obsarve that the beets +are half jerked up also. Of course that won't answer. I'll come over +this afternoon with my cultivator, and we'll tackle the corn and +pertaters, and make such a swath among these green Philistines that +you'll sleep better to-night. But ye're goin' to come out right, mind, +I tell ye so; and I've seen mor'n one city squash come to the country +with the idee that they were goin' to beat us punkins all holler." + +And he left us laughing and hopeful. + +"Come, Winnie and Bobsey, begin here on each side of me. I'll show you +this morning and then I trust you can be left to do the weeding +carefully by yourselves to-morrow. Pressing as the work is, you shall +have your afternoons until the berries are ripe." + +"Can't I help, too?" asked Mousie. + +I looked into her eager, wistful face, but said, firmly: "Not now, +dear. The sun is too hot. Toward night, perhaps, I'll let you do a +little. By helping mamma in the house you are doing your part." + +We made good progress, and the two younger children speedily learned +the knack of working carefully, so as not to disturb the little +vegetables. I soon found that weeding was back-aching work for me, and +therefore "spelled" myself by hoeing out the spaces between the rows. +By the time the music of the dinner-bell sounded, hosts of our enemies +were slain. + +Mr. Jones, true to his promise, was on hand at one o'clock with his +cultivator, and began with the corn, which was now a few inches high. +Merton and I followed with hoes, uncovering the tender shoots on which +earth had been thrown, and dressing out the soil into clean flat hills. +As our neighbor had said, it was astonishing how much work the +horse-cultivator performed in a short time. I saw that it would be wise +for us, another year, to plant in a way that would permit the use of +horse-power. Even in the garden this method should be followed as far +as possible. + +Mr. Jones was not a man of half-way measures. He remained helping us, +till he had gone through the corn, once each way, twice between the +long rows of potatoes, then twice through all the raspberry rows, +giving us two full days of his time altogether. + +I handed him a dollar in addition to his charge, saying that I had +never paid out money with greater satisfaction. + +"Well," he said, with a short, dry laugh, "I'll take it this time, for +my work is sufferin' at home, but I didn't want you to get discouraged. +Now, keep the hoes flyin', and you're ahead once more. Junior's at it +early and late, I can tell ye." + +"So I supposed, for we've missed him." + +"Good reason. When I'm through with him he's ready enough to crawl into +his little bed." + +So were we for a few days, in our winning fight with the weeds. One hot +afternoon, about three o'clock, I saw that Merton was growing pale, and +beginning to lag, and I said, decidedly: "Do you see that tree there? +Go and lie down under it till I call you." + +"I guess I can stand it till night," he began, his pride a little +touched. + +"Obey orders! I am captain." + +In five minutes he was fast asleep. I threw my coat over him, and sat +down, proposing to have a half-hour's rest myself. My wife came out +with a pitcher of cool butter-milk and nodded her head approvingly at +us. + +"Well, my thoughtful Eve," I said, "I find that our modern Eden will +cost a great many back-aches." + +"If you will only be prudent like this, you may save me a heart-ache. +Robert, you are ambitious, and unused to this kind of work. Please +don't ever be so foolish as to forget the comparative value of +vegetables and yourselves. Honestly now" (with one of her saucy looks), +"I'd rather do with a few bushels less, than do without you and +Merton;" and she sat down and kept me idle for an hour. + +Then Merton got up, saying that he felt as "fresh as if he had had a +night's rest," and we accomplished more in the cool of the day than if +we had kept doggedly at work. + +I found that Winnie and Bobsey required rather different treatment. For +a while they got on very well, but one morning I set them at a bed of +parsnips about which I was particular. In the middle of the forenoon I +went to the garden to see how they were getting on. Shouts of laughter +made me fear that all was not well, and I soon discovered that they +were throwing lumps of earth at each other. So absorbed were they in +their untimely and mischievous fun that I was not noticed until I found +Bobsey sitting plump on the vegetables, and the rows behind both the +children very shabbily cleaned, not a few of the little plants having +been pulled up with the weeds. + +Without a word I marched them into the house, then said: "Under arrest +till night. Winnie, you go to your room. I shall strap Bobsey in his +chair, and put him in the parlor by himself." + +The exchange of the hot garden for the cool rooms seemed rather an +agreeable punishment at first, although Winnie felt the disgrace +somewhat. When, at dinner, nothing but a cup of water and a piece of +dry bread was taken to them, Bobsey began to howl, and Winnie to look +as if the affair was growing serious. Late in the afternoon, when she +found that she was not to gather the eggs or feed her beloved chickens, +she, too, broke down and sobbed that she "wouldn't do so any more." +Bobsey also pleaded so piteously for release, and promised such +saint-like behavior, that I said: "Well, I will remit the rest of your +punishment and put you on trial. You had no excuse for your mischief +this morning, for I allow you to play the greater part of every +afternoon, while Merton must stand by me the whole of the week." + +My touch of discipline brought up the morale of my little squad +effectually for a time. The next afternoon even the memory of trouble +was banished by the finding of the first wild strawberries. Exultation +and universal interest prevailed as clusters of green and red berries +were handed around to be smelled and examined. "Truly," my wife +remarked, "even roses can scarcely equal the fragrance of the wild +strawberry." + +From that day forward, for weeks, it seemed as if we entered on a diet +of strawberries and roses. The old-fashioned bushes of the latter, near +the house, had been well trimmed, and gave large, fine buds in +consequence, while Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey gleaned every wild berry +that could be found, beginning with the sunny upland slopes and +following the aromatic fruit down to the cool, moist borders of the +creek. + +"Another year," I said, "I think you will be tired even of +strawberries, for we shall have to pick early and late." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +NATURE SMILES AND HELPS + + +The Saturday evening which brought us almost to the middle of June was +welcomed indeed. The days preceding had been filled with hard, yet +successful labor, and the weeds had been slaughtered by the million. +The greater part of our crops had come up well and were growing nicely. +In hoeing the corn, we had planted over the few missing hills, and now, +like soldiers who had won the first great success of the campaign, we +were in a mood to enjoy a rest to the utmost. + +This rest seemed all the more delightful when we awoke on the following +morning, to the soft patter of rain. The preceding days had been +unusually dry and warm, so that the grass and tender vegetables were +beginning to suffer. I was worrying about the raspberries also, which +were passing out of blossom. The cultivator had been through them, and +Merton and I, only the evening before, had finished hoeing out the +sprouting weeds and surplus suckers. I had observed, with dread, that +just as the fruit was forming, the earth, especially around the hills, +was getting dry. + +Now, looking out, I saw that the needful watering was not coming from a +passing shower. The clouds were leaden from horizon to horizon; the +rain fell with a gentle steadiness of a quiet summer storm, and had +evidently been falling some hours already. The air was so fragrant that +I threw wide open the door and windows. It was a true June incense, +such as no art could distil, and when, at last, we all sat down to +breakfast, of which crisp radishes taken a few moments before from our +own garden formed a part, we felt that nature was carrying on our work +of the past week in a way that filled our hearts with gratitude. The +air was so warm that we did not fear the dampness. The door and windows +were left open that we might enjoy the delicious odors and listen to +the musical patter of the rain, which fell so softly that the birds +were quite as tuneful as on other days. + +The children joined me in the porch, and my wife came out laughing, and +put her hand on my shoulder as she said, "You are not through with July +and August yet." + +Mousie held her hands out in the warm rain, saying: "I feel as if it +would make me grow, too. Look at the green cherries up there, bobbing +as the drops hit them." + +"Rain isn't good for chickens," Winnie remarked, doubtfully. + +"It won't hurt them," I replied, "for I have fed them so well that they +needn't go out in the wet for food." + +The clouds gave us a more and more copious downfall as the day +advanced, and I sat on the porch, resting and observing with conscious +gratitude how beautifully nature was furthering all our labor, and +fulfilling our hopes. This rain would greatly increase the hay-crops +for the old horse and the cow; it would carry my vegetables rapidly +toward maturity; and, best of all, would soak the raspberry ground so +thoroughly that the fruit would be almost safe. What was true of our +little plot was equally so of neighbor Jones's farm, and thousands of +others. My wife sat with me much of the day, and I truly think that our +thoughts were acceptable worship. By four in the afternoon the western +horizon lightened, the clouds soon broke away, and the sun shone out +briefly in undiminished splendor, turning the countless raindrops on +foliage and grass into gems, literally, of the purest water. The +bird-songs seemed almost ecstatic, and the voices of the children, +permitted at last to go out of doors, vied with them in gladness. + +"Let July and August--yes, and bleak January--bring what they may," I +said to my wife, "nevertheless, this is Eden." + +In spite of the muddy walks, we picked our way around the garden, +exclaiming in pleased wonder at the growth made by our vegetable +nurslings in a few brief hours, while, across the field, the corn and +potato rows showed green, strong outlines. + +I found that Brindle in the pasture hadn't minded the rain, but only +appeared the sleeker for it. When at last I came in to supper, I gave +my wife a handful of berries, at which she and the children exclaimed. +I had permitted a dozen plants of each variety of my garden +strawberries to bear, that I might get some idea of the fruit. The +blossoms on the other plants had been picked off as soon as they +appeared, so that all the strength might go toward forming new plants. +I found that a few of the berries of the two early kinds were ripe, +also that the robins had been sampling them. In size, at least, they +seemed wonderful compared with the wild fruit from the field, and I +said: + +"There will be lively times for us when we must get a dozen bushels a +day, like these, off to Mr. Bogart." + +The children, then, thought it would be the greatest fun in the world. +By the time supper was over, Mr. Jones and Junior appeared, and my +neighbor said in hearty good-will: + +"You got your cultivatin' done in the nick of time, Mr. Durham. This +rain is a good hundred dollars in your pocket and mine, too." + +I soon perceived that our enemies, the weeds, had millions in reserve, +and on Monday--the day after the rain--with all the children helping, +even Mousie part of the time, we went at the garden again. To Mousie, +scarcely an invalid any longer, was given the pleasure of picking the +first green peas and shelling them for dinner. We had long been +enjoying the succulent lettuce and the radishes, and now I said to +Winnie: "To-morrow you can begin thinning out the beets, leaving the +plants three inches apart. What you pull up can be cooked as spinach, +or 'greens,' as country people say. Our garden will soon enable us to +live like princes." + +As the ground dried after the rain, a light crust formed on the +surface, and in the wetter portions it was even inclined to bake or +crack. I was surprised at the almost magical effect of breaking up the +crust and making the soil loose and mellow by cultivation. The letting +in of air and light caused the plants to grow with wonderful vigor. + +On Wednesday morning Merton came running in, exclaiming, "O papa! +there's a green worm eating all the leaves off the currant and +gooseberry bushes." + +I followed him hastily, and found that considerable mischief had +already been done, and I went to one of my fruit books in a hurry to +find out how to cope with this new enemy. + +As a result, I said: "Merton, mamma wishes to go to the village. You +drive her and Mousie down, and at the drug-store get two pounds of +white hellebore, also a pound of Paris green, for I find that the +potato bugs are getting too thick to be managed by hand. Remember that +these are poisons, the Paris green a deadly one. Have them carefully +wrapped up, and keep them from everything else. When you return I'll +take charge of them. Also, get a new large watering-can." + +That afternoon I mixed a heaping tablespoonful of the hellebore through +the contents of the watering-can, on which I had painted the word +"Poison." With this infusion I sprinkled thoroughly every bush on which +I could find a worm, and the next morning we had the pleasure of +finding most of these enemies dead. But some escaped or new ones were +hatched, and we found that we could save our currants only by constant +vigilance. Every evening, until the fruit was nearly ripe, we went over +the bushes, and gave the vile little pests a dose wherever we found +them. Our other can I also labelled "Poison," with dashes under it to +show that it was to be used for Paris green alone. A teaspoonful of +this deadly agent was enough, according to my book, for the amount of +water held by the ordinary wooden pail. I kept this poison out of +Bobsey's reach, and, indeed, where no one but myself could get at it, +and, by its aid, destroyed the potato beetles and their larvae also. +Whatever may be true in other parts of the world, in our region, +certainly, success can be secured only by prompt, intelligent effort. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +CHERRIES, BERRIES, AND BERRY-THIEVES + + +An evening or two after this we were taught that not even in our +retired nook had we escaped the dangers of city life. Winnie and +Bobsey, in their rambles after strawberries, had met two other +children, and, early in the acquaintance, fortunately brought them to +the house. The moment I saw the strange girl, I recognized a rural type +of Melissa Daggett, while the urchin of Bobsey's age did not scruple to +use vile language in my hearing. I doubt whether the poor little savage +had any better vernacular. I told them kindly but firmly that they must +not come on the place again without my permission. + +After supper I went over and asked Mr. Jones about these children, and +he replied, significantly, looking around first to make sure that no +one heard him: + +"Mr. Durham, steer clear of those people. You know there are certain +varmints on a farm to which we give a wide berth and kill 'em when we +can. Of course we can't kill off this family, although a good +contribution could be taken up any day to move 'em a hundred miles +away. Still about everybody gives 'em a wide berth, and is civil to +their faces. They'll rob you more or less, and you might as well make +up your mind to it, and let 'em alone." + +"Suppose I don't let them alone?" + +"Well--remember, now, this is wholly between ourselves--there's been +barns burned around here. Everybody's satisfied who sot 'em afire, but +nothin' can be proved. Your cow or horse, too, might suddenly die. +There's no tellin' what accidents would happen if you got their +ill-will." + +"I can't take the course you suggest toward this family," I said, after +a little thought. "It seems to me wrong on both sides. On one hand, +they are treated as outlaws, and that would go far to make them such; +on the other, they are permitted to levy a sort of blackmail and commit +crime with impunity. Of course I must keep my children away from them; +but, if the chance offers, I shall show the family kindness, and if +they molest me I shall try to give them the law to the utmost." + +"Well," concluded Mr. Jones, with a shrug, "I've warned you, if they +git down on yer, yer'll find 'em snakes in the grass." + +Returning home, I said nothing to Winnie and Bobsey against their +recent companions, but told them that if they went with them again, or +made the acquaintance of other strangers without permission, they would +be put on bread and water for an entire day--that all such action was +positively forbidden. + +It was evident, however, that the Melissa Daggett element was present +in the country, and in an aggravated form. That it was not next door, +or, rather, in the next room, was the redeeming feature. Residents in +the country are usually separated by wide spaces from evil association. + +It must not be thought that my wife and children had no society except +that afforded by Mr. Jones's family. They were gradually making +pleasant and useful acquaintances, especially among those whom we met +at church; but as these people have no material part in this simple +history, they are not mentioned. + +The most important activities of the season were now drawing very near. +The cherries were swelling fast; the currants were growing red, and +were already pronounced "nice for pies;" and one morning Merton came +rushing in with a red raspberry from the Highland Hardy variety. I was +glad the time was at hand when I should begin to receive something +besides advice from Mr. Bogart; for, careful as we had been, the drain +on my capital had been long and steady, and were eager for the turn of +the tide. + +I had bought a number of old Mr. Jamison's crates, had painted out his +name and replaced it with mine. I now wrote to Mr. Bogart for packages +best adapted to the shipping of cherries, currants, and raspberries. +For the first he sent me baskets that held about a peck. These baskets +were so cheap that they could be sold with the fruit. For currants, +crates containing twenty-four quart baskets were forwarded. These, he +wrote, would also do for black-caps this season, and for strawberries +next year. For the red raspberries he sent me quite different crates, +filled with little baskets holding only half a pint of fruit. Limited +supplies of these packages were sent, for he said that a telegram would +bring more the same day. + +The corn and potatoes were becoming weedy again. This time I made use +of a light plow, Merton leading old Bay as at first. Then, with our +hoes, we gave the rows a final dressing out. By the time we had +finished, some of our grass was fit to cut, the raspberries needed a +careful picking over, and the cherries on one tree were ready for +market. The children and robins had already feasted, but I was hungry +for a check from New York. + +I had long since decided not to attempt to carry on haying alone at +this critical season, but had hired a man, too aged to hold his own +among the harvesters on the neighboring farms. Mr. Jones had said of +him: "He's a careful, trusty old fellow, who can do a good day's work +yet if you don't hurry him. Most of your grass is in the meadow, some +parts fit to cut before the others. Let the old man begin and mow what +he can, every day. Then you won't have to cure and get in a great lot +of hay all at once, and perhaps, too, when your raspberries most need +pickin'." + +So, during the last days of June, old Mr. Jacox, who came at moderate +wages, put in his scythe on the uplands. I spread the grass and raked +it up when dry, and, with the aid of Merton and a rude, extemporized +rack on the market-wagon, got the hay gradually into the barn. This +labor took only part of the day; the rest of the time was employed in +the garden and in picking fruit. + +On the last day of June we gathered a crate of early raspberries and +eight baskets of cherries. In the cool of the afternoon, these were +placed in the wagon, and with my wife and the three younger children, I +drove to the Maizeville Landing with our first shipment to Mr. Bogart. + +"We are 'p'oducers,' at last, as Bobsey said," I cried, joyously. "And +I trust that this small beginning will end in such big loads as will +leave us no room for wife and children, but will eventually give them a +carriage to ride in." + +Merton remained on guard to watch our precious ripening fruit. + +After our departure he began a vigilant patrol of the place, feeling +much like a sentinel left on guard. About sun-down, he told me, as he +was passing through the raspberry field, he thought he caught a glimpse +of an old straw hat dodging down behind the bushes. He bounded toward +the spot, a moment later confronting three children with tin pails. The +two younger proved to be Winnie's objectionable acquaintances that I +had told to keep off the place. The eldest was a boy, not far from +Merton's age, and had justly won the name of being the worst boy in the +region. All were the children of the dangerous neighbor against whom +Mr. Jones had warned me. + +The boy at first regarded Merton with a sullen, defiant look, while his +brother and sister coolly continued to steal the fruit. + +"Clear out," cried Merton. "We'll have you put in jail if you come here +again." + +"You shut up and clear out yerself," said the boy, threateningly, "or +I'll break yer head. Yer pap's away, and we ain't afraid of you. What's +more, we're goin' ter have some cherries before--" + +Now Merton had a quick temper, and at this moment sprang at the fellow +who was adding insult to injury, so quickly that he got in a blow that +blackened one of the thief's eyes. + +Then they clinched, and, although his antagonist was the heavier, +Merton thinks he could have whipped him had not the two younger +marauders attacked him, tooth and nail, like cats. Finding himself +getting the worst of it, he instinctively sent out a cry for his stanch +friend Junior. + +Fortunately, this ally was coming along the road toward our house, and +he gave an answering halloo. + +The vagrants, apparently, had a wholesome fear of John Jones, junior, +for, on hearing his voice, they beat a hurried retreat; but knowing +that no one was at the house, and in the spirit of revengeful mischief, +they took their flight in that direction. Seeing Mousie's flower-bed, +they ran and jumped upon that, breaking down half the plants, then +dashed off through the coops, releasing the hens, and scattering the +broods of chickens. Merton and Junior, who for a few moments had lost +sight of the invaders in the thick raspberry bushes, were now in hot +pursuit, and would have caught them again, had they not seen a man +coming up the lane, accompanied by a big dog. Junior laid a hand on +headlong Merton, whose blood was now at boiling heat, and said, "Stop." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +GIVEN HIS CHOICE + + +Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his +impetuous and hostile advance. The man coming up the lane, with a +savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children. He had felt a +little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had +walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his +presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually. + +It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no +match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man +is worse than the dog." + +Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of +unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun. + +"See here, Merton," said Junior, firmly, "shoot the dog if they set him +on us, but never fire at a human being. You'd better give me the gun; I +am cooler than you are." + +They had no occasion to use the weapon, however. The man shook his fist +at them, while his children indulged in taunts and coarse derision. The +dog, sharing their spirit and not their discretion, started for the +boys, but was recalled, and our undesirable neighbors departed +leisurely. + +All this was related to me after nightfall, when I returned with my +wife and younger children from the Maizeville Landing. I confess that I +fully shared Merton's anger, although I listened quietly. + +"You grow white, Robert, when you are angry," said my wife. "I suppose +that's the most dangerous kind of heat--white-heat. Don't take the +matter so to heart. We can't risk getting the ill-will of these ugly +people. You know what Mr. Jones said about them." + +"This question shall be settled in twenty-four hours!" I replied. "That +man and his family are the pest of the neighborhood, and everyone lives +in a sort of abject dread of them. Now, the neighbors must say 'yes' or +'no' to the question whether we shall have decency, law, and order, or +not. Merton, unharness the horse. Junior, come with me; I'm going to +see your father." + +I found Mr. Jones sleepy and about to retire, but his blue eyes were +soon wide open, with an angry fire in them. + +"You take the matter very quietly, Mr. Durham;" he said; "more quietly +than I could." + +"I shall not fume about the affair a moment. I prefer to act. The only +question for you and the other neighbors to decide is, Will you act +with me? I am going to this man Bagley's house to-morrow, to give him +his choice. It's either decency and law-abiding on his part, now, or +prosecution before the law on mine. You say that you are sure that he +has burned barns, and made himself generally the terror of the region. +Now, I won't live in a neighborhood infested by people little better +than wild Indians. My feelings as a man will not permit me to submit to +insult and injury. What's more, it's time the people about here abated +this nuisance." + +"You are right, Robert Durham!" said Mr. Jones, springing up and giving +me his hand. "I've felt mean, and so have others, that we've allowed +ourselves to be run over by this rapscallion. If you go to-morrow, I'll +go with you, and so will Rollins. His hen-roost was robbed t'other +night, and he tracked the thieves straight toward Bagley's house. He +says his patience has given out. It only needs a leader to rouse the +neighborhood, but it ain't very creditable to us that we let a +new-comer like you face the thing first." + +"Very well," I said, "it's for you and your neighbors to show now how +much grit and manhood you have. I shall start for Bagley's house at +nine to-morrow. Of course I shall be glad to have company, and if he +sees that the people will not stand any more of his rascality, he'll be +more apt to behave himself or else clear out." + +"He'll have to do one or the other," said Mr. Jones, grimly. "I'll go +right down to Rolling's. Come, Junior, we may want you." + +At eight o'clock the next morning, a dozen men, including the +constable, were in our yard. My wife whispered, "Do be prudent, +Robert." She was much reassured, however, by the largeness of our force. + +We soon reached the dilapidated hovel, and were so fortunate as to find +Bagley and all his family at home. Although it was the busiest season, +he was idle. As I led my forces straight toward the door, it was +evident that he was surprised and disconcerted, in spite of his attempt +to maintain a sullen and defiant aspect. I saw his evil eye resting on +one and another of our group, as if he was storing up grudges to be +well paid on future dark nights. His eldest son stood with the dog at +the corner of the house, and as I approached, the cur, set on by the +boy, came toward me with a stealthy step. I carried a heavy cane, and +just as the brute was about to take me by the leg, I struck him a blow +on the head that sent him howling away. + +The man for a moment acted almost as if he had been struck himself. His +bloated visage became inflamed, and he sprang toward me. + +"Stop!" I thundered. My neighbors closed around me, and he +instinctively drew back. + +"Bagley," I cried, "look me in the eye." And he fixed upon me a gaze +full of impotent anger. "Now," I resumed, "I wish you and your family +to understand that you've come to the end of your rope. You must become +decent, law-abiding people, like the rest of us, or we shall put you +where you can't harm us. I, for one, am going to give you a last +chance. Your children were stealing my fruit last night, and acting +shamefully afterward. You also trespassed, and you threatened these two +boys; you are idle in the busiest time, and think you can live by +plunder. Now, you and yours must turn the sharpest corner you ever saw. +Your two eldest children can come and pick berries for me at the usual +wages, if they obey my orders and behave themselves. One of the +neighbors here says he'll give you work, if you try to do it well. If +you accept these terms, I'll let the past go. If you don't, I'll have +the constable arrest your boy at once, and I'll see that he gets the +heaviest sentence the law allows, while if you or your children make +any further trouble, I'll meet you promptly in every way the law +permits. But, little as you deserve it, I am going to give you and your +family one chance to reform, before proceeding against you. Only +understand one thing, I am not afraid of you. I've had my say." + +"I haven't had mine," said Rollins, stepping forward excitedly. "You, +or your scapegrace boy there, robbed my hen-roost the other night, and +you've robbed it before. There isn't a man in this region but believes +that it was you who burned the barns and hay-stacks. We won't stand +this nonsense another hour. You've got to come to my hay-fields and +work out the price of those chickens, and after that I'll give you fair +wages. But if there's any more trouble, we'll clean you out as we would +a family of weasels." + +"Yes, neighbor Bagley," added Mr. Jones, in his dry, caustic way, +"think soberly. I hope you are sober. I'm not one of the threatening +barkin' sort, but I've reached the p'int where I'll bite. The law will +protect us, an' the hull neighborhood has resolved, with Mr. Durham +here, that you and your children shall make no more trouble than he and +his children. See?" + +"Look-a-here," began the man, blusteringly, "you needn't come +threatenin' in this blood-and-thunder style. The law'll protect me as +well as--" + +Ominous murmurs were arising from all my neighbors, and Mr. Jones now +came out strong. + +"Neighbors," he said, "keep cool. The time to act hasn't come yet. See +here, Bagley, it's hayin' and harvest. Our time's vallyble, whether +yours is or not. You kin have just three minutes to decide whether +you'll take your oath to stop your maraudin' and that of your +children;" and he pulled out his watch. + +"Let me add my word," said a little man, stepping forward. "I own this +house, and the rent is long overdue. Follow neighbor Jones's advice or +we'll see that the sheriff puts your traps out in the middle of the +road." + +"Oh, of course," began Bagley. "What kin one feller do against a crowd?" + +"Sw'ar, as I told you," said Mr. Jones, sharply and emphatically. "What +do you mean by hangin' fire so? Do you s'pose this is child's play and +make-believe? Don't ye know that when quiet, peaceable neighbors git +riled up to our pitch, they mean what they say? Sw'ar, as I said, and +be mighty sudden about it." + +"Don't be a fool," added his wife, who stood trembling behind him. +"Can't you see?" + +"Very well, I sw'ar it," said the man, in some trepidation. + +"Now, Bagley," said Mr. Jones, putting back his watch, "we want to +convert you thoroughly this mornin'. The first bit of mischief that +takes place in this borough will bring the weight of the law on you;" +and, wheeling on his heel, he left the yard, followed by the others. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +GIVEN A CHANCE + + +"Come in, Mr. Bagley," I said, "and bring the children. I want to talk +with you all. Merton, you go home with Junior." + +"But, papa--" he objected. + +"Do as I bid you," I said, firmly, and I entered the squalid abode. + +The man and the children followed me wonderingly. I sat down and looked +the man steadily in the eye for a moment. + +"Let us settle one thing first," I began. "Do you think I am afraid of +you?" + +"S'pose not, with sich backin' as yer got," was the somewhat nervous +reply. + +"I told Mr. Jones after I came home last night that I should fight this +thing alone if no one stood by me. But you see that your neighbors have +reached the limit of forbearance. Now, Mr. Bagley, I didn't remain to +threaten you. There has been enough of that, and from very resolute, +angry men, too. I wish to give you and yours a chance. You've come to a +place where two roads branch; you must take one or the other. You can't +help yourself. You and your children won't be allowed to steal or prowl +about any more. That's settled. If you go away and begin the same +wretched life elsewhere, you'll soon reach the same result; you and +your son will be lodged in jail and put at hard labor. Would you not +better make up your mind to work for yourself and family, like an +honest man? Look at these children. How are you bringing them up?--Take +the road to the right. Do your level best, and I'll help you. I'll let +bygones be bygones, and aid you in becoming a respectable citizen." + +"Oh, Hank, do be a man, now that Mr. Durham gives you a chance," sobbed +his wife; "you know we've been living badly." + +"That's it, Bagley. These are the questions you must decide. If you'll +try to be a man, I'll give you my hand to stand by you. My religion, +such as it is, requires that I shall not let a man go wrong if I can +help it. If you'll take the road to the right and do your level best, +there's my hand." + +The man showed his emotion by a slight tremor only, and after a +moment's thoughtful hesitation he took my hand and said, in a hoarse, +choking voice: "You've got a claim on me now which all the rest +couldn't git, even if they put a rope around my neck. I s'pose I have +lived like a brute, but I've been treated like one, too." + +"If you'll do as I say, I'll guarantee that within six months you'll be +receiving all the kindness that a self-respecting man wants," I +answered. + +Then, turning to his wife, I asked, "What have you in the house to eat?" + +"Next to nothin'," she said, drying her eyes with her apron, and then +throwing open their bare cupboard. + +"Put on your coat, Bagley, and come with me," I said. + +He and his wife began to be profuse with thanks. + +"No, no!" I said, firmly. "I'm not going to give you a penny's worth of +anything while you are able to earn a living. You shall have food at +once; but I shall expect you to pay for it in work. I am going to treat +you like a man and a woman, and not like beggars." + +A few minutes later, some of the neighbors were much surprised to see +Bagley and myself going up the road together. + +My wife, Merton, and tender-hearted Mousie were at the head of the lane +watching for me. Reassured, as we approached, they returned wonderingly +to the house, and met us at the door. + +"This is Mrs. Durham," I said. "My dear, please give Mr. Bagley ten +pounds of flour and a piece of pork. After you're had your dinner, Mr. +Bagley, I shall expect you, as we've agreed. And if you'll chain up +that dog of yours, or, better still, knock it on the head with an axe, +Mrs. Durham will go down and see your wife about fixing up your +children." + +Winifred gave me a pleased, intelligent look, and said, "Come in, Mr. +Bagley;" while Merton and I hastened away to catch up with neglected +work. + +"Your husband's been good to me," said the man, abruptly. + +"That's because he believes you are going to be good to yourself and +your family," was her smiling reply. + +"Will you come and see my wife?" he asked. + +"Certainly, if I don't have to face your dog," replied Winifred. + +"I'll kill the critter soon's I go home," muttered Bagley. + +"It hardly pays to keep a big, useless dog," was my wife's practical +comment. + +In going to the cellar for the meat, she left him alone for a moment or +two with Mousie; and he, under his new impulses, said: "Little gal, ef +my children hurt your flowers agin, let me know, and I'll thrash 'em!" + +The child stole to his side and gave him her hand, as she replied, "Try +being kind to them." + +Bagley went home with some new ideas under his tattered old hat. At +half-past twelve he was on hand, ready for work. + +"That dog that tried to bite ye is dead and buried," he said, "and I +hope I buried some of my dog natur' with 'im." + +"You've shown your good sense. But I haven't time to talk now. The old +man has mown a good deal of grass. I want you to shake it out, and, as +soon as he says it's dry enough, to rake it up. Toward night I'll be +out with the wagon, and we'll stow all that's fit into the barn. +To-morrow I want your two eldest children to come and pick berries." + +"I'm in fer it, Mr. Durham. You've given me your hand, and I'll show +yer how that goes furder with me than all the blood-and-thunder talk in +Maizeville," said Bagley, with some feeling. + +"Then you'll show that you can be a man like the rest of us," I said, +as I hastened to our early dinner. + +My wife beamed and nodded at me. "I'm not going to say anything to set +you up too much," she said. "You are great on problems, and you are +solving one even better than I hoped." + +"It isn't solved yet," I replied. "We have only started Bagley and his +people on the right road. It will require much patience and good +management to keep them there. I rather think you'll have the hardest +part of the problem yet on your hands. I have little time for problems +now, however, except that of making the most of this season of rapid +growth and harvest. I declare I'm almost bewildered when I see how much +there is to be done on every side. Children, we must all act like +soldiers in the middle of a fight. Every stroke must tell. Now, we'll +hold a council of war, so as to make the most of the afternoon's work. +Merton, how are the raspberries?" + +"There are more ripe, papa, than I thought there would be." + +"Then, Winnie, you and Bobsey must leave the weeding in the garden and +help Merton pick berries this afternoon." + +"As soon as it gets cooler," said my wife, "Mousie and I are going to +pick, also." + +"Very well," I agreed. "You can give us raspberries and milk to-night, +and so you will be getting supper at the same time. Until the hay is +ready to come in, I shall keep on hoeing in the garden, the weeds grow +so rapidly. Tomorrow will be a regular fruit day all around, for there +are two more cherry-trees that need picking." + +Our short nooning over, we all went to our several tasks. The children +were made to feel that now was the chance to win our bread for months +to come, and that there must be no shirking. Mousie promised to clear +away the things while my wife, protected by a large sun-shade, walked +slowly down to the Bagley cottage. Having seen that Merton and his +little squad were filling the baskets with raspberries properly, I went +to the garden and slaughtered the weeds where they threatened to do the +most harm. + +At last I became so hot and wearied that I thought I would visit a +distant part of the upland meadow, and see how Bagley was progressing. +He was raking manfully, and had accomplished a fair amount of work, but +it was evident that he was almost exhausted. He was not accustomed to +hard work, and had rendered himself still more unfit for it by +dissipation. + +"See here, Bagley," I said, "you are doing well, but you will have to +break yourself into harness gradually. I don't wish to be hard upon +you. Lie down under this tree for half an hour, and by that time I +shall be out with the wagon." + +"Mr. Durham, you have the feelin's of a man for a feller," said Bagley, +gratefully. "I'll make up the time arter it gets cooler." + +Returning to the raspberry patch, I found Bobsey almost asleep, the +berries often falling from his nerveless hands. Merton, meanwhile, with +something of the spirit of a martinet, was spurring him to his task. I +remembered that the little fellow had been busy since breakfast, and +decided that he also, of my forces, should have a rest. He started up +when he saw me coming through the bushes, and tried to pick with vigor +again. As I took him up in my arms, he began, apprehensively, "Papa, I +will pick faster, but I'm so tired!" + +I reassured him with a kiss which left a decided raspberry flavor on my +lips, carried him into the barn, and, tossing him on a heap of hay, +said, "Sleep there, my little man, till you are rested." + +He was soon snoring blissfully, and when I reached the meadow with the +wagon, Bagley was ready to help with the loading. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, "a little breathin'-spell does do a feller +good on a hot day." + +"No doubt about it," I said. "So long as you are on the right road, it +does no harm to sit down a bit, because when you start again it's in +the right direction." + +After we had piled on as much of a load as the rude, extemporized rack +on my market wagon could hold, I added, "You needn't go to the barn +with me, for I can pitch the hay into the mow. Rake up another load, if +you feel able." + +"Oh, I'm all right now," he protested. + +By the time I had unloaded the hay, I found that my wife and Mousie +were among the raspberries, and that the number of full, fragrant +little baskets was increasing rapidly. + +"Winifred, isn't this work, with your walk to the Bagley cottage, too +much for you?" + +"Oh, no," she replied, lightly. "An afternoon in idleness in a stifling +city flat would have been more exhausting. It's growing cool now. What +wretched, shiftless people those Bagleys are! But I have hopes of them. +I'm glad Bobsey's having a nap." + +"You shall tell me about your visit to-night. We are making good +progress. Bagley is doing his best. Winnie," I called, "come here." + +She brought her basket, nearly filled, and I saw that her eyes were +heavy with weariness also. + +"You've done well to-day, my child. Now go and look after your +chickens, big and little. Then your day's work is done, and you can do +what you please;" and I started for the meadow again. + +By six o'clock, we had in the barn three loads of hay, and Merton had +packed four crates of berries ready for market. Bobsey was now running +about, as lively as a cricket, and Winnie, with a child's elasticity, +was nearly as sportive. Bagley, after making up his half-hour, came up +the lane with a rake, instead of his ugly dog as on the evening before. +A few moments later, he helped me lift the crates into the market +wagon; and then, after a little awkward hesitation, began: + +"I say, Mr. Durham, can't ye give a feller a job yerself? I declar' to +you, I want to brace up; but I know how it'll be down at Rollins's. +He'll be savage as a meat-axe to me, and his men will be a-gibin'. Give +me a job yerself, and I'll save enough out o' my wages to pay for his +chickens, or you kin keep 'nuff back to pay for 'em." + +I thought a moment, and then said, promptly: "I'll agree to this if +Rollins will. I'll see him to-night." + +"Did yer wife go to see my wife?" + +"Yes, and she says she has hopes of you all. You've earned your bread +to-day as honestly as I have, and you've more than paid for what my +wife gave you this morning. Here's a quarter to make the day square, +and here's a couple of baskets of raspberries left over. Take them to +the children." "Well, yer bring me right to the mark," he said, +emphasizing his words with a slap on his thigh. "I've got an uphill row +to hoe, and it's good ter have some human critters around that'll help +a feller a bit." + +I laughed as I clapped him on the shoulder, and said: "You're going to +win the fight, Bagley. I'll see Rollins at once, for I find I shall +need another man awhile." + +"Give me the job then," he said, eagerly, "and give me what you think +I'm wuth;" and he jogged off home with that leaven of all good in his +heart--the hope of better things. + + + + +Chapter XXXV + +"WE SHALL ALL EARN OUR SALT" + + +Raspberries and milk, with bread and butter and a cup of tea, made a +supper that we all relished, and then Merton and I started for the +boat-landing. I let the boy drive and deliver the crates to the freight +agent, for I wished him to relieve me of this task occasionally. On our +way to the landing I saw Rollins, who readily agreed to Bagley's wish, +on condition that I guaranteed payment for the chickens. Stopping at +the man's cottage further on, I told him this, and he, in his emphatic +way, declared: "I vow ter you, Mr. Durham, ye shan't lose a feather's +worth o' the chickens." + +Returning home, poor Merton was so tired and drowsy that he nearly fell +off the seat. Before long I took the reins from his hands, and he was +asleep with his head on my shoulder. Winifred was dozing in her chair, +but brightened up as we came in. A little judicious praise and a bowl +of bread and milk strengthened the boy wonderfully. He saw the need of +especial effort at this time, and also saw that he was not being driven +unfeelingly. + +As I sat alone with my wife, resting a few minutes before retiring, I +said: "Well, Winifred, it must be plain to you by this time that the +summer campaign will be a hard one. How are we going to stand it?" + +"I'll tell you next fall," she replied, with a laugh. "No problems +to-night, thank you." + +"I'm gathering a queer lot of helpers in my effort to live in the +country," I continued. "There's old Mr. Jacox, who is too aged to hold +his own in other harvest-fields. Bagley and his tribe--" + +"And a city wife and a lot of city children," she added. + +"And a city greenhorn of a man at the head of you all," I concluded. + +"Well," she replied, rising with an odd little blending of laugh and +yawn, "I'm not afraid but that we shall all earn our salt." + +Thus came to an end the long, eventful day, which prepared the way for +many others of similar character, and suggested many of the conditions +of our problem of country living. + +Bagley appeared bright and early the following morning with his two +elder children, and I was now confronted with the task of managing them +and making them useful. Upon one thing I was certainly resolved--there +should be no quixotic sentiment in our relations, and no companionship +between his children and mine. + +Therefore, I took him and his girl and boy aside, and said: "I'm going +to be simple and outspoken with you. Some of my neighbors think I'm a +fool because I give you work when I can get others. I shall prove that +I am not a fool, for the reason that I shall not permit any nonsense, +and you can show that I am not a fool by doing your work well and +quietly. Bagley, I want you to understand that your children do not +come here to play with mine. No matter whom I employed, I should keep +my children by themselves. Now, do you understand this?" + +They nodded affirmatively. + +"Are you all willing to take simple, straightforward directions, and do +your best? I'm not asking what is unreasonable, for I shall not be more +strict with you than with my own children." + +"No use o' beatin' around the bush, Mr. Durham," said Bagley, +good-naturedly; "we've come here to 'arn our livin', and to do as you +say." + +"I can get along with you, Bagley, but your children will find it hard +to follow my rules, because they are children, and are not used to +restraint. Yet they must do it, or there'll be trouble at once. They +must work quietly and steadily while they do work, and when I am +through with them, they must go straight home. They mustn't lounge +about the place. If they will obey, Mrs. Durham and I will be good +friends to them, and by fall we will fix them up so that they can go to +school." + +The little arabs looked askance at me and made me think of two wild +animals that had been caught, and were intelligent enough to understand +that they must be tamed. They were submissive, but made no false +pretences of enjoying the prospect. + +"I shall keep a gad handy," said their father, with a significant nod +at them. + +"Well, youngsters," I concluded, laughing, "perhaps you'll need it +occasionally. I hope not, however. I shall keep no gad, but I shall +have an eye on you when you least expect it; and if you go through the +picking-season well, I shall have a nice present for you both. Now, you +are to receive so much a basket, if the baskets are properly filled, +and therefore it will depend on yourselves how much you earn. You shall +be paid every day. So now for a good start toward becoming a man and a +woman." + +I led them to one side of the raspberry patch and put them under +Merton's charge saying, "You must pick exactly as he directs." + +Winnie and Bobsey were to pick in another part of the field, Mousie +aiding until the sun grew too warm for the delicate child. Bagley was +to divide his time between hoeing in the garden and spreading the grass +after the scythe of old Mr. Jacox. From my ladder against a +cherry-tree, I was able to keep a general outlook over my motley +forces, and we all made good progress till dinner, which, like the help +we employed, we now had at twelve o'clock. Bagley and his children sat +down to their lunch under the shade of an apple-tree at some distance, +yet in plain view through our open door. Their repast must have been +meagre, judging from the time in which it was despatched, and my wife +said, "Can't I send them something?" + +"Certainly; what have you to send?" + +"Well, I've made a cherry pudding; I don't suppose there is much more +than enough for us, though." + +"Children," I cried, "let's take a vote. Shall we share our cherry +pudding with the Bagleys?" + +"Yes," came the unanimous reply, although Bobsey's voice was rather +faint. + +Merton carried the delicacy to the group under the tree, and it was +gratefully and speedily devoured. + +"That is the way to the hearts of those children," said my wife, at the +same time slyly slipping her portion of the pudding upon Bobsey's plate. + +I appeared very blind, but asked her to get me something from the +kitchen. While she was gone, I exchanged my plate of pudding, untouched +as yet, for hers, and gave the children a wink. We all had a great +laugh over mamma's well-assumed surprise and perplexity. How a little +fun will freshen up children, especially when, from necessity, their +tasks are long and heavy! + +We were startled from the table by a low mutter of thunder. Hastening +out, I saw an ominous cloud in the west. My first thought was that all +should go to the raspberries and pick till the rain drove us in; but +Bagley now proved a useful friend, for he shambled up and said: "If I +was you, I'd have those cherries picked fust. You'll find that a +thunder-shower'll rot 'em in one night. The wet won't hurt the berries +much." + +His words reminded me of what I had seen when a boy--a tree full of +split, half-decayed cherries--and I told him to go to picking at once. +I also sent his eldest boy and Merton into the trees. Old Jacox was +told to get the grass he had cut into as good shape as possible before +the shower. My wife and Mousie left the table standing, and, hastening +to the raspberry field, helped Winnie and Bobsey and the other Bagley +child to pick the ripest berries. We all worked like beavers till the +vivid flashes and great drops drove us to shelter. + +Fortunately, the shower came up slowly, and we nearly stripped the +cherry-trees, carrying the fruit into the house, there to be arranged +for market in the neat peck-baskets with coarse bagging covers which +Mr. Bogart had sent me. The little baskets of raspberries almost +covered the barn floor by the time the rain began, but they were safe. +At first, the children were almost terrified by the vivid lightning, +but this phase of the storm soon passed, and the clouds seemed to +settle down for a steady rain. + +"'Tisn't goin' to let up," said Bagley, after a while. "We might as +well jog home now as any time." + +"But you'll get wet," I objected. + +"It won't be the fust time," answered Bagley. "The children don't mind +it any more'n ducks." + +"Well, let's settle, then," I said. "You need some money to buy food at +once." + +"I reckon I do," was the earnest reply. + +"There's a dollar for your day's work, and here is what your children +have earned. Are you satisfied?" I asked. + +"I be, and I thank you, sir. I'll go down to the store this evenin'," +he added. + +"And buy food only," I said, with a meaning look. + +"Flour and pork only, sir. I've given you my hand on't;" and away they +all jogged through the thick-falling drops. + +We packed our fruit for market, and looked vainly for clearing skies in +the west. + +"There's no help for it," I said. "The sooner I start for the landing +the better, so that I can return before it becomes very dark." + +My wife exclaimed against this, but I added: "Think a moment, my dear. +By good management we have here, safe and in good order, thirty +dollars' worth of fruit, at least. Shall I lose it because I am afraid +of a summer shower? Facing the weather is a part of my business; and +I'd face a storm any day in the year if I could make thirty dollars." + +Merton wished to go also, but I said, "No; there must be no risks of +illness that can possibly be avoided." + +I did not find it a dreary expedition, after all, for I solaced myself +with thoughts like these, "Thirty dollars, under my wife's good +management, will go far toward providing warm winter clothing, or +paying the interest, or something else." + +Then the rain was just what was needed to increase and prolong the +yield of the raspberry bushes, on which there were still myriads of +immature berries and even blossoms. Abundant moisture would perfect +these into plump fruit; and upon this crop rested our main hope. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +A THUNDERBOLT + + +From the experiences just related, it can be seen how largely the +stress and strain of the year centred in the month of July. Nearly all +our garden crops needed attention; the grass of the meadow had to be +cured into hay, the currants and cherries to be picked, and fall crops, +like winter cabbages, turnips, and celery, to be put in the ground. Of +the latter vegetable, I set out only a few short rows, regarding it as +a delicious luxury to which not very much time could be given. + +Mr. Jones and Junior, indeed all our neighbors, were working early and +late, like ourselves. Barns were being filled, conical hay-stacks were +rising in distant meadows, and every one was busy in gathering nature's +bounty. + +We were not able to make much of the Fourth of July. Bobsey and Winnie +had some firecrackers, and, in the evening, Merton and Junior set off a +few rockets, and we all said, "Ah!" appreciatively, as they sped their +brief fiery course; but the greater part of the day had to be spent in +gathering the ripening black-caps and raspberries. By some management, +however, I arranged that Merton and Junior should have a fine swim in +the creek, by Brittle Rock, while Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey waded in +sandy shallows, further down the stream. They all were promised +holidays after the fruit season was over, and they submitted to the +necessity of almost constant work with fairly good grace. + +The results of our labor were cheering. Our table was supplied with +delicious vegetables, which, in the main, it was Mousie's task to +gather and prepare. The children were as brown as little Indians, and +we daily thanked God for health. Checks from Mr. Bogart came regularly, +the fruit bringing a fair price under his good management. The outlook +for the future grew brighter with the beginning of each week; for on +Monday he made his returns and sent me the proceeds of the fruit +shipped previously. I was able to pay all outstanding accounts for what +had been bought to stock the place, and I also induced Mr. Jones to +receive the interest in advance on the mortgage he held. Then we began +to hoard for winter. + +The Bagleys did as well as we could expect, I suppose. The children did +need the "gad" occasionally and the father indulged in a few idle, +surly, drinking days; but, convinced that the man was honestly trying, +I found that a little tact and kindness always brought him around to +renewed endeavor. To expect immediate reform and unvaried well-doing +would be asking too much of such human nature as theirs. + +As July drew to a close, my wife and I felt that we were succeeding +better than we had had reason to expect. In the height of the season we +had to employ more children in gathering the raspberries, and I saw +that I could increase the yield in coming years, as I learned the +secrets of cultivation. I also decided to increase the area of this +fruit by a fall-planting of some varieties that ripened earlier and +later, thus extending the season and giving me a chance to ship to +market for weeks instead of days. My strawberry plants were sending out +a fine lot of new runners, and our hopes for the future were turning +largely toward the cultivation of this delicious fruit. + +Old Jacox had plodded faithfully over the meadow with his scythe, and +the barn was now so well filled that I felt our bay horse and brindle +cow were provided for during the months when fields are bare or snowy. + +Late one afternoon, he was helping me gather up almost the last load +down by the creek, when the heavy roll of thunder warned us to hasten. +As we came up to the high ground near the house, we were both impressed +by the ominous blackness of a cloud rising in the west. I felt that the +only thing to do was to act like the captain of a vessel before a +storm, and make everything "snug and tight." The load of hay was run in +upon the barn floor, and the old horse led with the harness on him to +the stall below. Bagley and the children, with old Jacox, were started +off so as to be at home before the shower, doors and windows were +fastened, and all was made as secure as possible. + +Then we gathered in our sitting-room, where Mousie and my wife had +prepared supper; but we all were too oppressed with awe of the coming +tempest to sit down quietly, as usual. There was a death-like stillness +in the sultry air, broken only at intervals by the heavy rumble of +thunder. The strange, dim twilight soon passed into the murkiest gloom, +and we had to light the lamp far earlier than our usual hour. I had +never seen the children so affected before. Winnie and Bobsey even +began to cry with fear, while Mousie was pale and trembling. Of course, +we laughed at them and tried to cheer them; but even my wife was +nervously apprehensive, and I admit that I felt a disquietude hard to +combat. + +Slowly and remorselessly the cloud approached, until it began to pass +over us. The thunder and lightning were simply terrific. Supper +remained untasted on the table, and I said: "Patience and courage! A +few moments more and the worst will be over!" + +But my words were scarcely heard, so violent was the gust that burst +upon us. For a few moments it seemed as if everything would go down +before it, but the old house only shook and rocked a little. + +"Hurrah!" I cried. "The bulk of the gust has gone by, and now we are +all right!" + +At that instant a blinding gleam and an instantaneous crash left us +stunned and bewildered. But as I recovered my senses, I saw flames +bursting from the roof of our barn. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +RALLYING FROM THE BLOW + + +Our house was far enough from the barn to prevent the shock of the +thunderbolt from disabling us beyond a moment or two. Merton had fallen +off his chair, but was on his feet almost instantly; the other children +were soon sobbing and clinging to my wife and myself. + +In tones that I sought to render firm and quiet, I said: "No more of +this foolish fear. We are in God's hands, and He will take care of us. +Winifred, you must rally and soothe the children, while Merton and I go +out and save what we can. All danger to the house is now over, for the +worst of the storm has passed." + +In a moment my wife, although very pale, was reassuring the younger +children, and Merton and I rushed forth. + +"Lead the horse out of the barn basement, Merton," I cried, "and tie +him securely behind the house. If he won't go readily, throw a blanket +over his eyes." + +I spoke these words as we ran through the torrents of rain precipitated +by the tremendous concussion which the lightning had produced. + +I opened the barn doors and saw that the hay was on fire. There was not +a second to lose, and excitement doubled my strength. The load of hay +on the wagon had not yet caught. Although nearly stifled with +sulphurous smoke, I seized the shafts and backed the wagon with its +burden out into the rain. Then, seizing a fork, I pushed and tossed off +the load so that I could draw our useful market vehicle to a safe +distance. There were a number of crates and baskets in the barn, also +some tools, etc. These I had to let go. Hastening to the basement, I +found that Merton had succeeded in getting the horse away. There was +still time to smash the window of the poultry-room and toss the +chickens out of doors. Our cow, fortunately, was in the meadow. + +By this time Mr. Jones and Junior were on the ground, and they were +soon followed by Rollins, Bagley, and others. There was nothing to do +now, however, but to stand aloof and witness the swift destruction. +After the first great gust had passed, there was fortunately but little +wind, and the heavy downpour prevented the flames from spreading. In +this we stood, scarcely heeding it in the excitement of the hour. After +a few moments I hastened to assure my trembling wife and crying +children that the rain made the house perfectly safe, and that they +were in no danger at all. Then I called to the neighbors to come and +stand under the porch-roof. + +From this point we could see the great pyramid of fire and smoke +ascending into the black sky. The rain-drops glittered like fiery hail +in the intense light and the still vivid flashes from the clouds. + +"This is hard luck, neighbor Durham," said Mr. Jones, with a long +breath. + +"My wife and children are safe," I replied, quietly. + +Then we heard the horse neighing and tugging at his halter. Bagley had +the good sense and will to jerk off his coat, tie it around the +animal's eyes, and lead him to a distance from the fatal fascination of +the flames. + +In a very brief space of time the whole structure, with my summer crop +of hay, gathered with so much labor, sunk down into glowing, hissing +embers. I was glad to have the ordeal over, and to be relieved from +fear that the wind would rise again. Now I was assured of the extent of +our loss, as well as of its certainty. + +"Well, well," said the warm-hearted and impulsive Rollins, "when you +are ready to build again, your neighbors will give you a lift. By +converting Bagley into a decent fellow, you've made all our barns +safer, and we owe you a good turn. He was worse than lightning." + +I expressed my thanks, adding, "This isn't as bad as you think; I'm +insured." + +"Well, now, that's sensible," said Mr. Jones. "I'll sleep better for +that fact, and so will you, Robert Durham. You'll make a go of it here +yet." + +"I'm not in the least discouraged," I answered; "far worse things might +have happened. I've noticed in my paper that a good many barns have +been struck this summer, so my experience is not unusual. The only +thing to do is to meet such things patiently and make the best of them. +As long as the family is safe and well, outside matters can be +remedied. Thank you, Bagley," I continued, addressing him, as he now +led forward the horse. "You had your wits about you. Old Bay will have +to stand under the shed to-night." + +"Well, Mr. Durham, the harness is still on him, all 'cept the +head-stall; and he's quiet now." + +"Yes," I replied, "in our haste we didn't throw off the harness before +the shower, and it has turned out very well." + +"Tell ye what it is, neighbors," said practical Mr. Jones; "'tisn't too +late for Mr. Durham to sow a big lot of fodder corn, and that's about +as good as hay. We'll turn to and help him get some in." + +This was agreed to heartily, and one after another they wrung my hand +and departed, Bagley jogging in a companionable way down the road with +Rollins, whose chickens he had stolen, but had already paid for. + +I looked after them and thought: "Thank Heaven I have not lost my barn +as some thought I might at one time! As Rollins suggested, I'd rather +take my chances with the lightning than with a vicious neighbor. Bagley +acted the part of a good friend to-night." + +Then, seeing that we could do nothing more, Merton and I entered the +house. + +I clapped the boy on the shoulder as I said: "You acted like a man in +the emergency, and I'm proud of you. The bringing out a young fellow +strong is almost worth the cost of a barn." + +My wife came and put her arm around my neck and said: + +"You bear up bravely, Robert, but I fear you are discouraged at heart. +To think of such a loss, just as we were getting started!" and there +were tears in her eyes. + +"Yes," I replied, "it will be a heavy loss for us, and a great +inconvenience, but it might have been so much worse! All sit down and +I'll tell you something. You see my training in business led me to +think of the importance of insurance, and to know the best companies. +As soon as the property became yours, Winifred, I insured the buildings +for nearly all they were worth. The hay and the things in the barn at +the time will prove a total loss; but it is a loss that we can stand +and make good largely before winter. I tell you honestly that we have +no reason to be discouraged. We shall soon have a better barn than the +one lost; for, by good planning, a better one can be built for the +money that I shall receive. So we will thank God that we are all safe +ourselves, and go quietly to sleep." + +With the passing of the storm, the children had become quiet, and soon +we lost in slumber all thought of danger and loss. + +In the morning the absence of the barn made a great gap in our familiar +outlook, and brought many and serious thoughts; but with the light came +renewed hopefulness. All the scene was flooded with glorious sunlight, +and only the blackened ruins made the frightful storm of the previous +evening seem possible. Nearly all the chickens came at Winnie's call, +looking draggled and forlorn indeed, but practically unharmed, and +ready to resume their wonted cheerfulness after an hour in the +sunshine. We fitted up for them the old coop in the orchard, and a part +of the ancient and dilapidated barn which was to have been used for +corn-stalks only. The drenching rain had saved this and the adjoining +shed from destruction, and now in our great emergency they proved +useful indeed. + +The trees around the site of the barn were blackened, and their foliage +was burned to a crisp. Within the stone foundations the smoke from the +still smouldering debris rose sluggishly. + +I turned away from it all, saying: "Let us worry no more over that +spilled milk. Fortunately the greater part of our crates and baskets +were under the shed. Take the children, Merton, and pick over the +raspberry patches carefully once more, while I go to work in the +garden. That has been helped rather than injured by the storm, and, if +we will take care of it, will give us plenty of food for winter. Work +there will revive my spirits." + +The ground was too wet for the use of the hoe, but there was plenty of +weeding to be done, while I answered the questions of neighbors who +came to offer their sympathy. I also looked around to see what could be +sold, feeling the need of securing every dollar possible. I found much +that was hopeful and promising. The Lima-bean vines had covered the +poles, and toward their base the pods were filling out. The ears on our +early corn were fit to pull; the beets and onions had attained a good +size; the early peas had given place to turnips, winter cabbages, and +celery; there were plenty of green melons on the vines, and more +cucumbers than we could use. The remaining pods on the first planting +of bush-beans were too mature for use, and I resolved to let them stand +till sufficiently dry to be gathered and spread in the attic. All that +we had planted had done, or was doing, fairly well, for the season had +been moist enough to ensure a good growth. We had been using new +potatoes since the first of the month, and now the vines were so yellow +that all in the garden could be dug at once and sold. They would bring +in some ready money, and I learned from my garden book that +strap-leaved turnips, sown on the cleared spaces, would have time to +mature. + +After all, my strawberry beds gave me the most hope. There were +hundreds of young plants already rooted, and still more lying loosely +on the ground; so I spent the greater part of the morning in weeding +these out and pressing the young plants on the ends of the runners into +the moist soil, having learned that with such treatment they form roots +and become established in a very few days. + +After dinner Mr. Jones appeared with his team and heavy plow, and we +selected an acre of upland meadow where the sod was light and thin. + +"This will give a fair growth of young corn-leaves," he said, "by the +middle of September. By that time you'll have a new barn up, I s'pose; +and after you have cut and dried the corn, you can put a little of it +into the mows in place of the hay. The greater part will keep better if +stacked out-doors. A horse will thrive on such fodder almost as well as +a cow, 'specially if ye cut it up and mix a little bran-meal with it. +We'll sow the corn in drills a foot apart, and you can spread a little +manure over the top of the ground after the seed is in. This ground is +a trifle thin; a top-dressin' will help it 'mazin'ly." + +Merton succeeded in getting several crates of raspberries, but said +that two or three more pickings would finish them. Since the time we +had begun to go daily to the landing, we had sent the surplus of our +vegetables to a village store, with the understanding that we would +trade out the proceeds. We thus had accumulated a little balance in our +favor, which we could draw against in groceries, etc. + +On the evening of this day I took the crates to the landing, and found +a purchaser for my garden potatoes, at a dollar a bushel. I also made +arrangements at a summer boarding-house, whose proprietor agreed to +take the largest of our spring chickens, our sweet corn, tomatoes, and +some other vegetables, as we had them to spare. Now that our income +from raspberries was about to cease, it was essential to make the most +of everything else on the place that would bring money, even if we had +to deny ourselves. It would not do for us to say, "We can use this or +that ourselves." The question to be decided was, whether, if such a +thing were sold, the proceeds would not go further toward our support +than the things themselves. If this should be true of sweet corn, +Lima-beans, and even the melons on which the children had set their +hearts, we must be chary of consuming them ourselves. This I explained +in such a way that all except Bobsey saw the wisdom of it, or, rather, +the necessity. As yet, Bobsey's tendencies were those of a consumer, +and not of a producer or saver. + +Rollins and one or two others came the next day, and with Bagley's help +the corn was soon in the ground. + +Then I set Bagley to work with the cart spreading upon the soil the +barn-yard compost that had accumulated since spring. There was not +enough to cover all the ground, but that I could not help. The large +pile of compost that I had made near the poultry-house door could not +be spared for this purpose, since it was destined for my August +planting of strawberries. + +Perhaps I may as well explain about these compost heaps now as at any +other time. I had watched their rapid growth with great satisfaction. +Some may dislike such homely details, but since the success of the farm +and garden depend on them I shall not pass them over, leaving the +fastidious reader to do this for himself. + +It will be remembered that I had sought to prepare myself for country +life by much reading and study during the previous winter. I had early +been impressed with the importance of obtaining and saving everything +that would enrich the soil, and had been shown that increasing the +manure-pile was the surest way to add to one's bank account. Therefore +all rakings of leaves had been saved. At odd times Merton and I had +gone down to the creek with the cart and dug a quantity of rich black +earth from near its bank. One pile of this material had been placed +near the stable door, and another at the entrance to the poultry-room +in the basement of our vanished barn. The cleanings of the horse-stable +had been spread over a layer of this black soil. When the layer of such +cleanings was about a foot thick, spread evenly, another layer of earth +covered all from sun and rain. Thus I had secured a pile of compost +which nearly top-dressed an acre for fodder corn. + +In the poultry-room we managed in this fashion. A foot of raked-up +leaves and rich earth was placed under the perches of the fowls. Every +two or three weeks this layer was shovelled out and mixed thoroughly, +and was replaced by a new layer. As a result I had, by the 1st of +August, a large heap of fertilizer almost as good as guano, and much +safer to use, for I had read that unless the latter was carefully +managed it would burn vegetation like fire. I believe that this +compost-heap by the poultry-room window would give my young strawberry +plantation a fine start, and, as has been shown, we were making great +calculations on the future fruit. + +I also resolved that the burning of the barn should add to our success +in this direction. All the books said that there was nothing better for +strawberries than wood ashes, and of these there was a great heap +within the foundations of the destroyed building. At one time I +proposed to shovel out these ashes and mix them with the compost, but +fortunately I first consulted my book on fertilizers, and read there +that this would not do at all--that they should be used separately. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +AUGUST WORK AND PLAY + + +I was now eager to begin the setting of the strawberry plants in the +field where we had put potatoes, but the recent heavy shower had kept +the latter still green and growing. During the first week in August, +however, I found that the tubers had attained a good size, and I began +to dig long rows on the upper side of the patch, selling in the village +three or four barrels of potatoes a week for immediate use. By this +course I soon had space enough cleared for ten rows of strawberries; +and on the 6th of August Mr. Jones came and plowed the land deeply, +going twice in a furrow. Then I harrowed the ground, and, with a +corn-plow, marked out the space with shallow furrows three feet apart. +Through five of these furrows Merton sprinkled a good dressing of the +poultry compost, and in the remaining five drills we scattered wood +ashes. Thus we should learn the comparative value of these fertilizers. +Then I made a rude tray with two handles, so that it could be carried +between Merton and myself. When the sun declined, we went to the +strawberry bed, and having selected the Duchess variety to set out +first, soaked with water a certain portion of the ground that was thick +with plants. Half an hour later, we could dig up these plants with a +ball of earth attached to their roots. These were carried carefully on +the tray to the field, and set out in the furrows. We levelled the +ground first, so that the crown of the plant should be even with the +surrounding surface. We set the plants a foot apart in the rows, and by +dusk had three rows out. Early the next morning we gave these plants a +good soaking in their new starting place, and, although the weather was +now dry and warm, not a leaf withered, and all began to grow as if they +had not been moved. It seemed slow work, but I believed it would pay in +the end, especially as Merton, Winnie, and I performed nearly all the +labor. + +We had now dispensed with Bagley's services, a good word from me having +secured him work elsewhere. I found that I could not make arrangements +for rebuilding the barn before the last of August, and we now began to +take a little much-needed rest. Our noonings were two or three hours +long. Merton and Junior had time for a good swim every day, while the +younger children were never weary of wading in the shallows. I +insisted, however, that they should not remain long in the water on any +one occasion, and now and then we each took a grain or two of quinine +to fortify our systems against any malarial influences that might be +lurking around at this season. + +The children were also permitted to make expeditions to mountain-sides +for huckleberries and blackberries. As a result, we often had these +wholesome fruits on the table, while my wife canned the surplus for +winter use. A harvest apple tree also began to be one of the most +popular resorts, and delicious pies made the dinner-hour more welcome +than ever. The greater part of the apples were sold, however, and this +was true also of the Lima-beans, sweet corn, and melons. We all voted +that the smaller ears and melons tasted just as good as if we had +picked out the best of everything, and my account-book showed that our +income was still running well ahead of our expenses. + +Bobsey and Winnie had to receive another touch of discipline and learn +another lesson from experience. I had marked with my eye a very large, +perfect musk-melon, and had decided that it should be kept for seed. +They, too, had marked it; and one morning, when they thought themselves +unobserved, they carried it off to the seclusion of the raspberry +bushes, proposing a selfish feast by themselves. + +Merton caught a glimpse of the little marauders, and followed them. +They cut the melon in two, and found it green and tasteless as a +pumpkin. He made me laugh as he described their dismay and disgust, +then their fears and forebodings. The latter were soon realized; for +seeing me in the distance, he beckoned. As I approached, the children +stole out of the bushes, looking very guilty. + +Merton explained, and I said: "Very well, you shall have your melon for +dinner, and little else. I intend you shall enjoy this melon fully. So +sit down under that tree and each of you hold half the melon till I +release you. You have already learned that you can feast your eyes +only." + +There they were kept, hour after hour, each holding half of the green +melon. The dinner-bell rang, and they knew that we had ripe melons and +green corn; while nothing was given them but bread and water. Bobsey +howled, and Winnie sobbed, but my wife and I agreed that such +tendencies toward dishonesty and selfishness merited a lasting lesson. +At supper the two culprits were as hungry as little wolves; and when I +explained that the big melon had been kept for seed, and that if it had +been left to ripen they should have had their share, they felt that +they had cheated themselves completely. + +"Don't you see, children," I concluded, "that acting on the square is +not only right, but that it is always best for us in the end?" + +Then I asked, "Merton, what have the Bagley children been doing since +they stopped picking raspberries for us?" + +"I'm told they've been gathering blackberries and huckleberries in the +mountains, and selling them." + +"That's promising. Now I want you to pick out a good-sized water-melon +and half a dozen musk-melons, and I'll leave them at Bagley's cottage +to-morrow night as I go down to the village. In old times they would +have stolen our crop; now they shall share in it." + +When I carried the present on the following evening, the children +indulged in uncouth cries and gambols over the gift, and Bagley himself +was touched. + +"I'll own up ter yer," he said, "that yer melon patch was sore temptin' +to the young uns, but I tole 'em that I'd thrash 'em if they teched +one. Now yer see, youngsters, ye've got a man of feelin' ter deal with, +and yer've got some melons arter all, and got 'em squar', too." + +"I hear good accounts of you and your children," I said, "and I'm glad +of it. Save the seeds of these melons and plant a lot for yourself. See +here, Bagley, we'll plow your garden for you this fall, and you can put +a better fence around it. If you'll do this, I'll share my garden seeds +with you next spring, and you can raise enough on that patch of ground +to half feed your family." + +"I'll take yer up," cried the man, "and there's my hand on it ag'in." + +"God bless you and Mrs. Durham!" added his wife "We're now beginning to +live like human critters." + +I resumed my journey to the village, feeling that never before had +melons been better invested. + +The Moodna Creek had now become very low, and not more than half its +stony bed was covered with water. At many points, light, active feet +could find their way across and not be wet. Junior now had a project on +hand, of which he and Merton had often spoken lately. A holiday was +given to the boys and they went to work to construct an eel weir and +trap. With trousers well rolled up, they selected a point on one side +of the creek where the water was deepest, and here they left an open +passage-way for the current. On each side of this they began to roll +large stones, and on these placed smaller ones, raising two long +obstructions to the natural flow. These continuous obstructions ran +obliquely up-stream, directing the main current to the open passage, +which was only about two feet wide, with a post on either side, +narrowing it still more. In this they placed the trap, a long box made +of lath, sufficiently open to let the water run through it, and having +a peculiar opening at the upper end where the current began to rush +down the narrow passage-way. The box rested closely on the gravelly +bottom, and was fastened to the posts. Short, close-fitting slats from +the bottom and top of the box, at its upper end, sloped inward, till +they made a narrow opening. All its other parts were eel-tight. The +eels coming down with the current which had been directed toward the +entrance of the box, as has been explained, passed into it, and there +they would remain. They never had the wit to find the narrow aperture +by which they had entered. This turned out to be useful sport, for +every morning the boys lifted their trap and took out a goodly number +of eels; and when the squirmers were nicely dressed and browned, they +proved delicious morsels. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +A TRIP TO THE SEASHORE + + +In the comparative leisure which the children enjoyed during August, +they felt amply repaid for the toil of the previous months. We also +managed to secure two great gala-days. The first was spent in a trip to +the seashore; and this was a momentous event, marred by only one slight +drawback. The "Mary Powell," a swift steamer, touched every morning at +the Maizeville Landing. I learned that, from its wharf, in New York, +another steamer started for Coney Island, and came back in time for us +to return on the "Powell" at 3.30 P.M. Thus we could secure a +delightful sail down the river and bay, and also have several hours on +the beach. My wife and I talked over this little outing, and found that +if we took our lunch with us, it would be inexpensive. I saw Mr. Jones, +and induced him and his wife, with Junior, to join us. Then the +children were told of our plan, and their hurrahs made the old house +ring. Now that we were in for it, we proposed no half-way measures. +Four plump spring chickens were killed and roasted, and to these were +added so many ham sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs, that I declared that +we were provisioned for a week. My wife nodded at Bobsey, and said, +"Wait and see!" + +Whom do you think we employed to mount guard during our absence? No +other than Bagley. Mr. Jones said that it was like asking a wolf to +guard the flock, for his prejudices yielded slowly; but I felt sure +that this proof of trust would do the man more good than a dozen +sermons. + +Indeed, he did seem wonderfully pleased with his task, and said, "Ye'll +find I've 'arned my dollar when ye git back." + +The children scarcely slept in their glad anticipation, and were up +with the sun. Mr. and Mrs. Jones drove down in their light wagon, while +Junior joined our children in another straw-ride, packed in between the +lunch-baskets. We had ample time after reaching the landing to put our +horses and vehicles in a safe place, and then we watched for the +"Powell." Soon we saw her approaching Newtown, four miles above, then +speeding toward the wharf, and rounding into it, with the ease and +grace of a swan. We scrambled aboard, smiled at by all. I suppose we +did not form, with our lunch-baskets, a very stylish group, but that +was the least of our troubles. I am satisfied that none of the elegant +people we brushed against were half so happy as we were. + +We stowed away our baskets and then gave ourselves up to the enjoyment +of the lovely Highland scenery, and to watching the various kinds of +craft that we were constantly passing. Winnie and Bobsey had been +placed under bonds for good behavior, and were given to understand that +they must exercise the grace of keeping moderately still. The sail down +the river and bay was a long, grateful rest to us older people, and I +saw with pleasure that my wife was enjoying every moment, and that the +fresh salt breeze was fanning color into her cheeks. Plump Mrs. Jones +dozed and smiled, and wondered at the objects we passed, for she had +never been much of a traveller; while her husband's shrewd eyes took in +everything, and he often made us laugh by his quaint remarks. Junior +and Merton were as alert as hawks. They early made the acquaintance of +deck-hands who good-naturedly answered their numerous questions. I took +the younger children on occasional exploring expeditions, but never +allowed them to go beyond my reach, for I soon learned that Bobsey's +promises sat lightly on his conscience. + +At last we reached the great Iron Pier at Coney Island, which we all +traversed with wondering eyes. + +We established ourselves in a large pavilion, fitted up for just such +picnic parties as ours. Beneath us stretched the sandy beach. We +elderly people were glad enough to sit down and rest, but the children +forgot even the lunch-baskets, so eager were they to run upon the sand +in search of shells. + +All went well until an unusually high wave came rolling in. The +children scrambled out of its way, with the exception of Bobsey, who +was caught and tumbled over, and lay kicking in the white foam. In a +moment I sprang down the steps, picked him up, and bore him to his +mother. + +He was wet through; and now what was to be done? + +After inquiry and consultation, I found that I could procure for him a +little bathing-dress which would answer during the heat of the day, and +an old colored woman promised to have his clothing dry in an hour. So +the one cloud on our pleasure proved to have a very bright lining, for +Bobsey, since he was no longer afraid of the water, could roll in the +sand and the gentle surf to his heart's content. + +Having devoured a few sandwiches to keep up our courage, we all +procured bathing-dresses, even Mrs. Jones having been laughingly +compelled by her husband to follow the general example. When we all +gathered in the passage-way leading to the water, we were convulsed +with laughter at our ridiculous appearance; but there were so many +others in like plight that we were scarcely noticed. Mrs. Jones's dress +was a trifle small, and her husband's immensely large. He remarked that +if we could now take a stroll through Maizeville, there wouldn't be a +crow left in town. + +Mrs. Jones could not be induced to go beyond a point where the water +was a foot or two deep, and the waves rolled her around like an amiable +porpoise. Merton and Junior were soon swimming fearlessly, the latter +wondering, meanwhile, at the buoyant quality of the salt water. My +wife, Mousie, and Winnie allowed me to take them beyond the breakers, +and soon grew confident. In fifteen minutes I sounded recall, and we +all emerged, lank Mr. Jones now making, in very truth, an ideal +scarecrow. Bobsey's dry garments were brought, and half an hour later +we were all clothed, and, as Mr. Jones remarked, "For a wonder, in our +right minds." + +The onslaught then made on the lunch-baskets was never surpassed, even +at that place of hungry excursionists. In due time we reached home, +tired, sleepy, yet content with the fact that we had filled one day +with enjoyment and added to our stock of health. + +The next morning proved that Bagley had kept his word. Everything was +in order, and the amount of work accomplished in the garden showed that +he had been on his mettle. Hungry as we had been, we had not emptied +our lunch-baskets, and my wife made up a nice little present from what +remained, to which was added a package of candy, and all was carried to +the Bagley cottage. + +Juvenile experiences had not exactly taught the Bagley children that +"the way of the transgressor is hard,"--they had not gone far enough +for that,--and it certainly was our duty to add such flowers as we +could to the paths of virtue. + +The month of August was now well advanced. We had been steadily digging +the potatoes in the field and selling them in their unripened +condition, until half the acre had been cleared. The vines in the lower +half of the patch were now growing very yellow, and I decided to leave +them, until the tubers should thoroughly ripen, for winter use. By the +20th of the month we had all the space that had been cleared, that is, +half an acre, filled with Duchess and Wilson strawberries; and the +plants first set were green and vigorous, with renewed running +tendencies. But the runners were promptly cut off, so that the plants +might grow strong enough to give a good crop of fruit in the following +June. + +I now began to tighten the reins on the children, and we all devoted +more hours to work. + +During the month we gathered a few bushels of plums on the place. My +wife preserved some, and the rest were sold at the boarding-houses and +village stores, for Mr. Bogart had written that when I could find a +home market for small quantities of produce, it would pay me better +than to send them to the city. I kept myself informed as to city +prices, and found that he had given me good and disinterested advice. +Therefore, we managed to dispose of our small crop of early pears and +peaches as we had done with the plums. Every day convinced me of the +wisdom of buying a place already stocked with fruit; for, although the +first cost was greater, we had immediately secured an income which +promised to leave a margin of profit after meeting all expenses. + +During the last week of August the potatoes were fully ripe, and +Merton, Winnie, Bobsey, and I worked manfully, sorting the large from +the small, as they were gathered. The crop turned out very well, +especially on the lower side of the field, where the ground had been +rather richer and moister than in the upper portion. + +I did not permit Merton to dig continuously, as it was hard work for +him; but he seemed to enjoy throwing out the great, smooth, +white-coated fellows, and they made a pretty sight as they lay in thick +rows behind us, drying, for a brief time, in the sun. They were picked +up, put into barrels, drawn to the dry, cool shed, and well covered +from the light. Mr. Jones had told me that as soon as potatoes had +dried off after digging, they ought to be kept in the dark, since too +much light makes them tough and bitter. Now that they were ripe, it was +important that they should be dug promptly, for I had read that a warm +rain is apt to start the new potatoes to growing, and this spoils them +for table use. + +So I said: "We will stick to this task until it is finished, and then +we shall have another outing. I am almost ready to begin rebuilding the +barn; but before I do so, I wish to visit Houghton Farm, and shall take +you all with me. I may obtain some ideas which will be useful, even in +my small outlay of money." + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM + + +Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about +one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in +comparison with anything I could erect. They had been constructed, +however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a +visit might suggest to me some useful points. Sound principles might be +applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within +my means. At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest +and pleasure. So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in +gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored. As they +were only fifty cents a bushel, I resolved to keep them until the +following winter and spring, when I might need money more than at +present, and also get better prices. + +Then, one bright day toward the end of August, we all started, after an +early dinner, for the farm, Junior going with us as usual. We had been +told that the large-minded and liberal owner of this model farm +welcomed visitors, and so we had no doubts as to our reception. Nor +were we disappointed when, having skirted broad, rich fields for some +distance, we turned to the right down a long, wide lane, bordered by +beautiful shrubbery, and leading to the great buildings, which were +numbered conspicuously. We were courteously met by Major Alvord, the +agent in charge of the entire estate. I explained the object of my +visit, and he kindly gave us a few moments, showing us through the +different barns and stables. Our eyes grew large with wonder as we saw +the complete appliances for carrying on an immense stock-farm. The +summer crops had been gathered, and we exclaimed at the hundreds of +tons of hay, fodder, and straw stored in the mows. + +"We use a ton of hay daily, after the pasture season is over," remarked +our guide. + +When we came to look at the sleek Jersey cows and calves, with their +fawn-like faces, our admiration knew no bounds. We examined the stalls +in which could stand thirty-four cows. Over each was the name of the +occupant, all blood animals of the purest breed, with a pedigree which +might put to shame many newly rich people displaying coats-of-arms. The +children went into ecstasies over the pretty, innocent faces of the +Jersey calves, and Mousie said they were "nice enough to kiss." Then we +were shown the great, thick-necked, black-headed Jersey bull, and could +scarcely believe our ears when told that he, his mother, and six +brothers represented values amounting to about a hundred thousand +dollars. + +We next visited a great Norman mare, as big as two ordinary horses, and +the large, clumsy colt at her side; then admired beautiful stallions +with fiery eyes and arching necks; also the superb carriage-horses, and +the sleek, strong work animals. Their stalls were finely finished in +Georgia pine. Soon afterward, Bobsey went wild over the fat little +Essex pigs, black as coals, but making the whitest and sweetest of pork. + +"Possess your soul in patience, Bobsey," I said. "With our barn, I am +going to make a sty, and then we will have some pigs." + +I had had no good place for them thus far, and felt that we had +attempted enough for beginners. Moreover, I could not endure to keep +pigs in the muddy pens in ordinary use, feeling that we could never eat +the pork produced under such conditions. + +The milk-house and dairy were examined, and we thought of the oceans of +milk that had passed through them. + +A visit to "Crusoe Island" entertained the children more than anything +else. A mountain stream had been dammed so as to make an island. On the +surrounding waters were fleets of water-fowl, ducks and geese of +various breeds, and, chief in interest, a flock of Canada wild-geese, +domesticated. Here we could look closely at these great wild migrants +that, spring and fall, pass and repass high up in the sky, in flocks, +flying in the form of a harrow or the two sides of a triangle, +meanwhile sending out cries that, in the distance, sound strange and +weird. + +Leaving my wife and children admiring these birds and their rustic +houses on the island, I went with Major Alvord to his offices, and saw +the fine scientific appliances for carrying on agricultural experiments +designed to extend the range of accurate and practical knowledge. Not +only was the great farm planted and reaped, blood stock grown and +improved by careful breeding, but, accompanying all this labor, was +maintained a careful system of experiments tending to develop and +establish that supreme science--the successful culture of the soil. +Major Alvord evidently deserved his reputation for doing the work +thoroughly and intelligently, and I was glad to think that there were +men in the land, like the proprietor of Houghton Farm, who are willing +to spend thousands annually in enriching the rural classes by bringing +within their reach the knowledge that is power. + +After a visit to the sheep and poultry departments, each occupying a +large farm by itself, we felt that we had seen much to think and talk +over. + +It was hard to get Winnie away from the poultry-houses and yards, where +each celebrated breed was kept scrupulously by itself. There were a +thousand hens, besides innumerable young chickens. We were also shown +incubators, which, in spring, hatch little chickens by hundreds. + +"Think of fifteen hundred eggs at a sitting, Winnie!" I cried; "that's +quite a contrast to the number that you put under one of your biddies +at home." + +"I don't care," replied the child; "we've raised over a hundred +chickens since we began." + +"Yes, indeed," I said. "That for you--for you have seen to it all +chiefly--is a greater success than anything here." + +I was thoughtful as we drove home, and at last my wife held out a penny. + +"No," I said, laughing; "my thoughts shall not cost you even that. What +I have seen to-day has made clearer what I have believed before. There +are two distinct ways of securing success in outdoor work. One is ours, +and the other is after the plan of Houghton Farm. Ours is the only one +possible for us--that of working a small place and performing the +labor, as far as possible, ourselves. If I had played 'boss,' as Bagley +sometimes calls me, and hired the labor which we have done ourselves, +the children meanwhile idle, we should soon come to a disastrous end in +our country experiment. The fact that we have all worked hard, and +wisely, too, in the main, and have employed extra help only when there +was more than we could do, will explain our account-book; that is, the +balance in our favor. I believe that one of the chief causes of failure +on the part of people in our circumstances is, that they employ help to +do what they should have done themselves, and that it doesn't and can't +pay small farmers and fruit-growers to attempt much beyond what they +can take care of, most of the year, with their own hands. Then there's +the other method--that of large capital carrying things on as we have +seen to-day. The farm then becomes like a great factory or mercantile +house. There must be at the head of everything a large organizing brain +capable of introducing and enforcing thorough system, and of skilfully +directing labor and investment, so as to secure the most from the least +outlay. A farm such as we have just seen would be like a bottomless pit +for money in bungling, careless hands." + +"I'm content with our own little place and modest ways," said my wife. +"I never wish our affairs to grow so large that we can't talk them over +every night, if so inclined." + +"Well," I replied, "I feel as you do. I never should have made a great +merchant in town, and I am content to be a small farmer in the country, +sailing close to shore in snug canvas, with no danger of sudden wreck +keeping me awake nights. The insurance money will be available in a few +days, and we shall begin building at once." + +The next day Merton and I cleared away the rest of the debris in and +around the foundations of the barn, and before night the first load of +lumber arrived from the carpenter who had taken the contract. + +This forerunner of bustling workmen, and all the mystery of fashioning +crude material into something looking like the plan over which we had +all pored so often, was more interesting to the children than the +construction of Solomon's temple. + +"To-morrow the stone-masons come," I said at supper, "and by October we +are promised a new barn." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +HOARDING FOR WINTER + + +As was stated early in this simple history the original barn was built +on a hillside, the rear facing the southeast; and since the foundations +were still in a fair condition, and the site was convenient, I +determined to build on the same spot, somewhat modifying the old plan. +I had read of the importance of keeping manure under cover, and now +arranged that by a trap door the cleanings of the horse and cow stable +should be thrown into the basement, which, by a solid brick partition, +should be so divided as to leave ample room for a dark cellar in which +to store roots and apples. Through this trap door in the stable rich +earth and muck from the banks of the creek could be thrown down also, +covering the manure, and all could be worked over and mixed on rainy +days. By this method I could make the most of my fertilizers, which may +be regarded as the driving-wheel of the farm. + +I had decided that the poultry-house and pigsty should form an +extension to the barn, and that both should be built in the side of the +bank also. They would thus have an exposure to the south, and at the +same time, being formed in part by an excavation, would be cool in +summer. The floor of the sty should have a slight downward slope, and +be cemented. Therefore it could be kept perfectly clean. This residence +of Bobsey's future pets should be at the extreme end of the extension, +and above it should be a room in which I could store picked-up apples, +corn, and other food adapted to their needs, also a conduit by which +swill could be poured into the trough below without the necessity of +entering the pen. I proposed to keep only two or three pigs at a time, +buying them when young from neighboring farmers, and fattening them for +our own use according to my own ideas. + +The poultry-house, between the barn and sty, was to be built so that +its side, facing the south, should be chiefly of glass. It was so +constructed as to secure the greatest amount of light and warmth. Eggs +in winter form the most profitable item in poultry keeping, and these +depend on warmth, food, shelter, and cleanliness, with the essential +condition that the hens are young. All the pullets of Winnie's early +broods therefore had been kept, and only the young cockerels eaten or +sold. We had the prospect of wintering about fifty laying hens; and the +small potatoes we had saved would form a large portion of their food. +Indeed, for some weeks back, such small tubers, boiled and mashed with +meal, had formed the main feed of our growing chickens. + +I learned that Bagley was out of work, and employed him to excavate the +bank for these new buildings. We saved the surface earth carefully for +compost purposes, and then struck some clean, nice gravel, which was +carted away to a convenient place for our roads and walks. On a +hillside near the creek were large stones and rocks in great quantity, +and some of these were broken up for the foundations. Along the edge of +the creek we also found some excellent sand, and therefore were saved +not a little expense in starting our improvements. + +It did not take the masons long to point up and strengthen the old +foundations, and early in September everything was under full headway, +the sound of hammer, saw, and plane resounding all day long. It was +Winnie's and Bobsey's task to gather up the shavings and refuse bits of +lumber, and carry them to the woodhouse. + +"The ease and quickness with which we can build fires next winter," I +said, "is a pleasant thing to think of." + +Meanwhile the garden was not neglected. The early flight of +summer-boarders had greatly reduced the demand for vegetables, and now +we began to hoard them for our own use. The Lima-beans were allowed to +dry on the vines; the matured pods of the bush-beans were spread in the +attic; thither also the ripened onions were brought and placed in +shallow boxes. As far as possible we had saved our own seed, and I had +had a box made and covered with tin, so as to be mouse-proof, and in +this we placed the different varieties, carefully labelled. Although it +was not "apple year," a number of our trees were in bearing. The best +of the windfalls were picked up, and, with the tomatoes and such other +vegetables as were in demand, sent to the village twice a week. As fast +as crops matured, the ground was cleared, and the refuse, such as +contained no injurious seeds, was saved as a winter covering for the +strawberry plants. + +Our main labor, however, after digging the rest of the potatoes, was +the setting of the remaining half-acre in the later varieties of the +strawberry. Although the early part of September was very dry and warm, +we managed to set out, in the manner I have described, two or three +rows nearly every afternoon. The nights had now grown so long and cool +that one thorough watering seemed to establish the plants. This was due +chiefly to the fact that nearly every plant had a ball of earth +attached to the roots, and had never been allowed to wilt at all in the +transition. About the middle of the month there came a fine rain, and +we filled the remainder of the ground in one day, all the children +aiding me in the task. The plants first set out were now strong and +flourishing. Each had a bunch of foliage six inches in diameter. + +Thus, with helping on the new barn and other work, September saw a +renewal of our early-summer activity. + +"The winds in the trees are whispering of winter," I said to the +children, "and all thrifty creatures--ants, bees, and squirrels--are +laying up their stores. So must we." + +I had watched our maturing corn with great satisfaction. For a long +time Merton had been able to walk through it without his straw hat +being seen above the nodding tassels. One day, about the 20th of the +month, Mr. Jones came over with some bundles of long rye straw in his +wagon, and said, "Yer can't guess what these are fer." + +"Some useful purpose, or you wouldn't have brought them," I replied. + +"We'll see. Come with me to the corn patch." + +As we started he took a bundle under his arm, and I saw that he had in +his hand a tool called a corn-knife. Going through the rows he +occasionally stripped down the husks from an ear. + +Finally he said: "Yes, it's ready. Don't yer see that the kernels are +plump and glazed? Junior and I are going to tackle our corn ter-morrow, +and says I to myself, 'If ourn is ready to cut, so is neighbor +Durham's,' The sooner it's cut after it's ready, the better. The stalks +are worth more for fodder, and you run no risk from an early frost, +which would spile it all. You and Merton pitch in as yer allers do, and +this is the way ter do it." + +With his left hand gathering the stalks of a hill together above the +ears, he cut them all olf with one blow of the corn-knife within six +inches of the ground, and then leaned them against the stalks of an +uncut hill. This he continued to do until he had made what he called a +"stout," or a bunch of stalks as large as he could conveniently reach +around, the uncut hill of stalks forming a support in the centre. Then +he took a wisp of the rye-straw, divided it evenly, and putting the +ends together, twisted it speedily into a sort of rope. With this he +bound the stout tightly above the ears by a simple method which one +showing made plain to me. + +"Well, you are a good neighbor!" I exclaimed. + +"Pshaw! What does this amount to? If a man can't do a good turn when it +costs as little as this, he's a mighty mean feller. You forget that +I've sold you a lot of rye-straw, and so have the best of yer after +all." + +"I don't forget anything, Mr. Jones. As you say, I believe we shall +'make a go' of it here, but we always remember how much we owe to you +and Junior. You've taken my money in a way that saved my self-respect, +and made me feel that I could go to you as often as I wished; but you +have never taken advantage of me, and you have kept smart people from +doing it. Do you know, Mr. Jones, that in every country village there +are keen, weasel-like people who encourage new-comers by bleeding their +pocket-books at every chance? In securing you as a neighbor our battle +was half won, for no one needs a good practical friend more than a city +man beginning life in the country." + +"Jerusalem! how you talk! I'm goin' right home and tell my wife to call +me Saint Jones. Then I'll get a tin halo and wear it, for my straw hat +is about played out;" and away he went, chuckling over his odd +conceits, but pleased, as all men are, when their goodwill is +appreciated. If there is one kind of meanness that disgusts average +human-nature more than another it is a selfish, unthankful reception of +kindness, a swinish return for pearls. + +After an early supper I drove to the village with what I had to sell, +and returned with two corn-hooks. At dusk of the following day, Bagley +and I had the corn cut and tied up, my helper remarking more than once, +"Tell you what it is, Mr. Durham, there hain't a better eared-out patch +o' corn in Maizeville." + +On the following day I helped Bagley sharpen one of the hooks, and we +began to cut the fodder-corn which now stood, green and succulent, +averaging two feet in height throughout the field. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +AUTUMN WORK AND SPORT + + +The barn was now up, and the carpenters were roofing it in, while two +days more of work would complete the sty and poultry-house. Every +stroke of the hammer told rapidly now, and we all exulted over our new +and better appliances for carrying out our plan of country life. Since +the work was being done by contract, I contented myself with seeing +that it was done thoroughly. Meanwhile Merton was busy with the cart, +drawing rich earth from the banks of the creek. I determined that the +making of great piles of compost should form no small part of my fall +and winter labor. The proper use of fertilizers during the present +season had given such a marked increase to our crops that it became +clear that our best prospect of growing rich was in making the land +rich. + +During the last week of September the nights were so cool as to suggest +frost, and I said to Mousie: "I think we had better take up your +geraniums and other window plants, and put them in pots or boxes. We +can then stand them under a tree which would shelter them from a slight +frost. Should there be serious danger it would take us only a few +minutes to bring them into the house. You have taken such good care of +them all summer that I do not intend that you shall lose them now. Take +your flower book and read what kind of soil they grow best in during +the winter, and then Merton can help you get it." + +The child was all solicitude about her pets, and after dinner she and +Merton, the latter trundling a wheelbarrow, went down to the creek and +obtained a lot of fine sand and some leaf-mould from under the trees in +the woods. These ingredients we carefully mixed with rich soil from the +flower-bed and put the compound in the pots and boxes around the roots +of as many plants as there was room for on the table by the sunny +kitchen window. Having watered them thoroughly, we stood them under a +tree, there to remain until a certain sharpness in the air should warn +us to carry them to their winter quarters. + +The Lima-beans, as fast as the pods grew dry, or even yellow, were +picked and spread in the attic. They could be shelled at our leisure on +stormy winter days. + +Early in September my wife had begun to give Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey +their lessons again. Since we were at some distance from a schoolhouse +we decided to continue this arrangement for the winter with the three +younger children. I felt that Merton should go to school as soon as +possible, but he pleaded hard for a reprieve until the last of October, +saying that he did not wish to begin before Junior. As we still had a +great deal to do, and as the boy had set his heart on some fall +shooting, I yielded, he promising to study all the harder when he began. + +I added, however: "The evenings have grown so long that you can write +for half an hour after supper, and then we will review your arithmetic +together. It will do me good as well as you." + +During the ensuing weeks we carried out this plan partially, but after +a busy day in the open air we were apt to nod over our tasks. We were +both taught the soundness of the principle that brain work should +precede physical exercise. + +The 1st day of October was bright, clear, and mild, and we welcomed the +true beginning of fall in our latitude most gladly. This month competes +with May in its fitness for ideal country life. The children voted it +superior to all other months, feeling that a vista of unalloyed +delights was opening before them. Already the butternuts were falling +from several large trees on the place, and the burrs on the chestnuts +were plump with their well-shielded treasures. Winnie and Bobsey began +to gather these burrs from the lower limbs of an immense tree, eighteen +feet in circumference, and to stamp out the half-brown nuts within. + +"One or two frosts will ripen them and open the burrs," I said, and +then the children began to long for the frost which I dreaded. + +While I still kept the younger children busy for a few hours every +clear morning in the garden, and especially at clipping the runners +from the strawberry plants in the field, they were given ample time to +gather their winter hoards of nuts. This pursuit afforded them endless +items for talk, Bobsey modestly assuring us that he alone would gather +about a million bushels of butternuts, and almost as many chestnuts and +walnuts. "What will the squirrels do then?" I asked. + +"They must do as I do," he cried; "pick up and carry off as fast as +they can. They'll have a better chance than me, too, for they can work +all day long. The little scamps are already taking the nuts off the +trees--I've seen 'em, and I wish Merton would shoot 'em all." + +"Well, Merton," said I, laughing, "I suppose that squirrels are proper +game for you; but I hope that you and Junior won't shoot robins. They +are too useful a bird to kill, and I feel grateful for all the music +they've given us during the past summer. I know the law permits you to +shoot them now, but you and Junior should be more civilized than such a +law." + +"If we don't get 'em, everybody else will, and we might as well have +our share," he replied. + +I knew that there was no use in drawing the reins too tight, and so I +said: "I have a proposition to make to you and Junior. I'd like you +both to promise not to shoot robins except on the wing. That will teach +you to be expert and quick-eyed. A true sportsman is not one who tries +to kill as much game as possible, but to kill scientifically, +skilfully. There is more pleasure in giving your game a chance, and in +bringing it down with a fine long shot, than in slaughtering the poor +creatures like chickens in a coop. Anybody can shoot a robin, sitting +on a bough a few yards off, but to bring one down when in rapid flight +is the work of a sportsman. Never allow yourself to be known as a mere +'pot-hunter.' For my part, I had rather live on pork than on robins or +any useful birds." + +He readily agreed not to fire at robins except when flying, and to +induce Junior to do likewise. I was satisfied that not many of my +little favorites would suffer. + +"Very well," I said, "I'll coax Mr. Jones to let Junior off to-morrow, +and you can have the entire day to get your hands in. This evening you +can go down to the village and buy a stock of ammunition." + +The boy went to his work happy and contented. + +"Papa, where can we dry our butternuts?" Winnie asked. + +"I'll fix a place on the roof of the shed right away," I said. "Its +slope is very gradual, and if I nail some slats on the lower side you +can spread the millions of bushels that you and Bobsey will gather." + +Now Bobsey had a little wagon, and, having finished his morning stint +of work, he, with Mousie and Winnie, started off to the nearest +butternut-tree; and during the remainder of the day, with the exception +of the time devoted to lessons, loads came often to the shed, against +which I had left a ladder. By night they had at least one of the +million bushels spread and drying. + +As they brought in their last load about five o'clock in the afternoon +I said to them, "Come and see what I've got." + +I led the way to the sty, and there were grunting three half-grown +pigs. Now that the pen was ready I had waited no longer, and, having +learned from Rollins that he was willing to sell some of his stock, had +bought three sufficiently large to make good pork by the 1st of +December. + +The children welcomed the new-comers with shouts; but I said: "That +won't do. You'll frighten them so that they'll try to jump out of the +pen. Run now and pick up a load of apples in your wagon and throw them +to the pigs. They'll understand and like such a welcoming better;" and +so it proved. + +At supper I said: "Children, picking up apples, which was such fun this +evening, will hereafter be part of your morning work, for a while. In +the room over the sty is a bin which must be filled with the fallen +apples before any nuts can be gathered." + +Even Bobsey laughed at the idea that this was work; but I knew that it +would soon become so. Then Mousie exclaimed, "Papa, do you know that +the red squirrels are helping us to gather nuts?" + +"If so, certainly without meaning it. How?" + +"Well, as we were coming near one of the trees we saw a squirrel among +the branches, and we hid behind a bush to watch him. We soon found that +he was tumbling down the nuts, for he would go to the end of a limb and +bite cluster after cluster. The thought that we would get the nuts so +tickled Bobsey that he began to laugh aloud, and then the squirrel ran +barking away." + +"You needn't crow so loud, Bobsey," I said. "The squirrel will fill +many a hole in hollow trees before winter, in spite of you." + +"I'll settle his business before he steals many more of our nuts," +spoke up Merton. + +"You know the squirrel wasn't stealing, my boy. The nuts grew for him +as truly as for you youngsters. At the same time I suppose he will form +part of a pot-pie before long." + +"I hate to think that such pretty little creatures should be killed," +said Mousie. + +"I feel much the same," I admitted; "and yet Merton will say we cannot +indulge in too much sentiment. You know that we read that red squirrels +are mischievous in the main. They tumble little birds out of their +nests, carry off corn, and I have seen them gnawing apples for the sake +of the seeds. It wouldn't do for them to become too plentiful. +Moreover, game should have its proper place as food, and as a means of +recreation. We raise chickens and kill them. Under wise laws, well +enforced, nature would fill the woods, fields, and mountains with +partridges, quail, rabbits, and other wholesome food. Remember what an +old and thickly settled land England is, yet the country is alive with +game. There it is protected on great estates, but here the people must +agree to protect it for themselves." + +"Junior says," Merton explained, "that the partridges and rabbits in +the mountains are killed off by foxes and wild-cats and wood-choppers +who catch them in traps and snares." + +"I fancy the wood-choppers do the most harm. If I had my way, there +would be a big bounty for the destruction of foxes, and a heavy fine +for all trappers of game. The country would be tenfold more interesting +if it were full of wild, harmless, useful creatures. I hope the time +will come when our streams will be again thoroughly stocked with fish, +and our wild lands with game. If hawks, foxes, trappers, and other +nuisances could be abolished, there would be space on yonder mountains +for partridges to flourish by the million. I hope, as the country grows +older, that the people will intelligently co-work with nature in +preserving and increasing all useful wild life. Every stream, lake, and +pond could be crowded with fish, and every grove and forest afford a +shelter and feeding-ground for game. There should be a wise +guardianship of wild life, such as we maintain over our poultry-yards, +and skill exercised in increasing it. Then nature would supplement our +labors, and furnish a large amount of delicious food at little cost." + +"Well, papa, I fear I shall be gray before your fine ideas are carried +out. From what Junior says, I guess that Bagley and his children, and +others like them, will get more game this winter than we will, and +without firing a shot. They are almost as wild as the game itself, and +know just where to set their snares for it. I can't afford to wait +until it's all killed off, or till that good time comes of which you +speak, either. I hope to shoot enough for a pot-pie at least to-morrow, +and to have very good sport while about it." + +"I have good news about the Bagley children," said my wife. "I was down +there to-day, and all the children begin school next Monday. Between +clothes which our children have outgrown, and what Mrs. Bagley has been +able to buy and make, all three of the young Bagleys make a very +respectable appearance. I took it upon myself to tell the children that +if they went to school regularly we would make them nice Christmas +presents." + +"And I confirm the bargain heartily," I cried. "Merton, look out for +yourself, or the Bagley boy will get ahead of you at school." + +He laughed and, with Junior, started for the village, to get their +powder and shot. + +The next morning after preparing a good lot of cartridges before +breakfast, the two boys started, and, having all day before them, took +their lunches with the intention of exploring Schunemunk Mountain. The +squirrels, birds, and rabbits near home were reserved for odd times +when the lads could slip away for a few hours only. + +Our new barn, now about completed, gave my wife and me as much pleasure +as the nuts and game afforded the children. I went through it, adding +here and there some finishing touches and little conveniences, a +painter meanwhile giving it a final coat of dark, cheap wash. + +Our poultry-house was now ready for use, and I said to Winnie, +"To-night we will catch the chickens and put them in it." + +The old horse had already been established in the stable, and I +resolved that the cow should come in from this time. In the afternoon I +began turning over the fodder corn, and saw that a very tew more days +would cure it. Although I decided not to begin the main husking until +after the middle of the month, I gathered enough ears to start the pigs +on the fattening process. Toward night I examined the apples, and +determined to adopt old Mr. Jarmson's plan of picking the largest and +ripest at once, leaving the smaller and greener fruit to mature until +the last of the month. The dark cellar was already half filled with +potatoes, but the space left for such apples as we should pick was +ready. From time to time when returning from the village I had brought +up empty barrels; and in some of these, earlier kinds, like tall +pippins and greenings, had been packed and shipped to Mr. Bogart. By +his advice I had resolved to store the later varieties and those which +would keep well, disposing of them gradually to the best advantage. I +made up my mind that the morrow should see the beginning of our chief +labor in the orchard. I had sold a number of barrels of windfalls, but +they brought a price that barely repaid us. My examination of the trees +now convinced me that there should be no more delay in taking off the +large and fine-looking fruit. + +With the setting sun Merton and Junior arrived, scarcely able to drag +their weary feet down the lane. Nevertheless their fatigue was caused +by efforts entirely after their own hearts, and they declared that they +had had a "splendid time." Then they emptied their game-bags. Each of +the boys had a partridge, Merton one rabbit, and Junior two. Merton +kept up his prestige by showing two gray squirrels to Junior's one. Bed +squirrels abounded, and a few robins, brought down on the wing as the +boys had promised. + +I was most interested in the rattles of the deadly snake which Junior +had nearly stepped on and then shot. + +"Schunemunk is full of rattlers," Junior said. + +"Please don't hunt there any more then," I replied. + +"No, we'll go into the main Highlands to the east'ard next time." + +Merton had also brought down a chicken hawk; and the game, spread out +on the kitchen table, suggested much interesting wild life, about which +I said we should read during the coming winter, adding: "Well, boys, +you have more than earned your salt in your sport to-day, for each of +you has supplied two game dinners. We shall live like aldermen now, I +suppose." + +"Yes," cried Merton, "whether you call me 'pot-hunter' or not, I mean +my gun to pay its way." + +"I've no objections to that," was my laughing answer, "as long as you +shoot like a sportsman, and not like a butcher. Your guns, boys, will +pay best, however, in making you strong, and in giving you some +well-deserved fun after your busy summer. I feel that you have both +earned the right to a good deal of play this month, and that you will +study all the harder for it by and by." + +"I hope you'll talk father into that doctrine," said Junior, as he sat +down to supper with us. + +The boys were drowsy as soon as they had satisfied their keen +appetites, and Mousie laughed at them, saying that she had been reading +how the boa-constrictor gorged himself and then went to sleep, and that +they reminded her of the snake. + +"I guess I'll go home after that," said Junior. + +"Now you know I was only poking a little fun," said Mousie, ruefully, +as she ran into the kitchen and gathered up his game for him, looking +into his face so archly and coaxingly that he burst out: "You beat all +the game in the country. I'll shoot a blue jay, and give you its wings +for your hat, see if I don't;" and with this compliment and promise he +left the child happy. + +Merton was allowed to sleep late the next morning, and was then set to +work in the orchard, I dividing my time between aiding in picking the +apples and turning over the fodder corn. + +"You can climb like a squirrel, Merton, and I must depend on you +chiefly for gathering the apples. Handle them like eggs, so as not to +bruise them, and then they will keep better. After we have gone over +the trees once and have stacked the fodder corn you shall have a good +time with your gun." + +For the next few days we worked hard, and nearly finished the first +picking of the apples, also getting into shocks the greater part of the +corn. Then came a storm of wind and rain, and the best of the apples on +one tree, which, we had neglected, were soon lying on the ground, +bruised and unfit for winter keeping. + +"You see, Merton," I said, "that we must manage to attend to the trees +earlier next year. Live and learn." + +The wind came out of the north the day after the storm, and Mr. Jones +shouted, as he passed down the road, "Hard frost to-night!" + +Then indeed we bustled around. Mousie's flowers were carried in, the +Lima-bean poles, still hanging full of green pods more or less filled +out, were pulled up and stacked together under a tree, some +tomato-vines, with their green and partially ripe fruit, were taken up +by the roots and hung under the shed, while over some other vines a +covering was thrown toward night. + +"We may thus keep a supply of this wholesome vegetable some weeks +longer," I said. + +Everything that we could protect was looked after; but our main task +was the gathering of all the grapes except those hanging against the +sides of the house. These I believed would be so sheltered as to escape +injury. We had been enjoying this delicious fruit for some time, +carrying out our plan, however, of reserving the best for the market. +The berries on the small clusters were just as sweet and luscious, and +the children were content. + +Sure enough, on the following morning white hoar-frost covered the +grass and leaves. + +"No matter," cried Winnie, at the breakfast-table; "the chestnut burrs +are opening." + +By frequent stirring the rest of the corn-fodder was soon dried again, +and was stacked like the rest. Then we took up the beets and carrots, +and stored them also in the root cellar. + +We had frost now nearly every night, and many trees were gorgeous in +their various hues, while others, like the butternuts, were already +losing their foliage. + +The days were filled with delight for the children. The younger ones +were up with the sun to gather the nuts that had fallen during the +night, Merton accompanying them with his gun, bringing in squirrels +daily, and now and then a robin shot while flying. His chief exploit +however was the bagging of half a dozen quails that unwarily chose the +lower part of our meadow as a resort. Then he and Junior took several +long outings in the Highlands, with fair success; for the boys had +become decidedly expert. + +"If we only had a dog," said Merton, "we could do wonders." + +"Both of you save your money next summer, and buy one," I replied; +"I'll give you a chance, Merton." + +By the middle of the month the weather became dry and warm, and the +mountains were almost hidden in an Indian summer haze. + +"Now for the corn-husking," I said, "and the planting of the ground in +raspberries, and then we shall be through with our chief labors for the +year." + +Merton helped me at the husking, but I allowed him to keep his gun +near, and he obtained an occasional shot which enlivened his toil. Two +great bins over the sty and poultry-house received the yellow ears, the +longest and fairest being stored in one, and in the other the +"nubbin's," speedily to be transformed into pork. Part of the stalks +were tied up and put in the old "corn-stalk barn," as we called it, and +the remainder were stacked near. Our cow certainly was provided for. + +Brindle now gave too little milk for our purpose, whereas a farmer with +plenty of fodder could keep her over the winter to advantage. I traded +her off to a neighboring farmer for a new milch cow, and paid twenty +dollars to boot. We were all great milk-topers, while the cream nearly +supplied us with butter. + +Having removed the corn, Mr. Jones plowed the field deeply, and then +Merton and I set out the varieties of raspberries which promised best +in our locality, making the hills four feet apart in the row, and the +rows five feet from one another. I followed the instructions of my +fruit book closely, and cut back the canes of the plants to six inches, +and sunk the roots so deep as to leave about four inches of soil above +them, putting two or three plants in the hill. Then over and about the +hills we put on the surface of the ground two shovelfuls of compost, +finally covering the plants beneath a slight mound of earth. This would +protect them from the severe frost of winter. + +These labors and the final picking of the apples brought us to the last +week of the month. Of the smaller fruit, kept clean and sound for the +purpose, we reserved enough to make two barrels of cider, of which one +should go into vinegar, and the other be kept sweet, for our +nut-crackings around the winter fire. Bobsey's dream of "millions of +bushels" of nuts had not been realized, yet enough had been dried and +stored away to satisfy even his eyes. Not far away an old cider-mill +was running steadily, and we soon had the barrels of russet nectar in +our cellar. Then came Saturday, and Merton and Junior were given one +more day's outing in the mountains with their guns. On the following +Monday they trudged off to the nearest public school, feeling that they +had been treated liberally, and that brain-work must now begin in +earnest. Indeed from this time forth, for months to come, school and +lessons took precedence of everything else, and the proper growing of +boys and girls was the uppermost thought. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +THANKSGIVING DAY + + +November weather was occasionally so blustering and stormy that I +turned schoolmaster in part, to relieve my wife. During the month, +however, were bright, genial days, and others softened by a smoky haze, +which gave me opportunity to gather and store a large crop of turnips, +to trench in my celery on a dry knoll, and to bury, with their heads +downward, all the cabbages for which I could not find a good market. +The children still gave me some assistance, but, lessons over, they +were usually permitted to amuse themselves in their own way. Winnie, +however, did not lose her interest in the poultry, and Merton regularly +aided in the care of the stock and in looking after the evening supply +of fire-wood. I also spent a part of my time in the wood lot, but the +main labor there was reserved for December. The chief task of the month +was the laying down and covering of the tender raspberries; and in this +labor Bagley again gave me his aid. + +Thanksgiving Day was celebrated with due observance. In the morning we +all heard Dr. Lyman preach, and came home with the feeling that we and +the country at large were prosperous. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, with Junior, +dined with us in great state, and we had our first four-course dinner +since arriving in Maizeville, and at the fashionable hour of six in the +evening. I had protested against my wife's purpose of staying at home +in the morning, saying we would "browse around during the day and get +up appetites, while in the afternoon we could all turn cooks and help +her." Merton was excepted, and, after devouring a hasty cold lunch, he +and Junior were off with their guns. As for Bobsey, he appeared to +browse steadily after church, but seemed in no wise to have exhausted +his capacity when at last he attacked his soup, turkey drum-stick, and +the climax of a pudding. Our feast was a very informal affair, seasoned +with mirth and sauced with hunger. The viands, however, under my wife's +skill, would compare with any eaten in the great city, which we never +once had regretted leaving. Winifred looked after the transfers from +the kitchen at critical moments, while Mousie and Winnie were our +waitresses. A royal blaze crackled in the open fireplace, and seemed to +share in the sparkle of our rustic wit and unforced mirth, which kept +plump Mrs. Jones in a perpetual quiver, like a form of jelly. + +Her husband came out strong in his comical resume of the past year's +experience, concluding: "Well, we owe you and Mrs. Durham a vote of +thanks for reforming the Bagley tribe. That appears to me an orthodox +case of convarsion. First we gave him the terrors of the law. Tell yer +what it is, we was a-smokin' in wrath around him that mornin', like +Mount Sinai, and you had the sense to bring, in the nick of time, the +gospel of givin' a feller a chance. It's the best gospel there is, I +reckon." + +"Well," I replied, becoming thoughtful for a moment with boyish +memories, "my good old mother taught me that it was God's plan to give +us a chance, and help us make the most of it." + +"I remembered the Bagleys to-day," Mrs. Jones remarked, nodding to my +wife. "We felt they ought to be encouraged." + +"So did we," my wife replied, sotto voce. + +We afterward learned that the Bagleys had been provisioned for nearly a +month by the good-will of neighbors, who, a short time since, had been +ready to take up arms against them. + +By eight o'clock everything was cleared away, Mrs. Jones assisting my +wife, and showing that she would be hurt if not permitted to do so. +Then we all gathered around the glowing hearth, Junior's +rat-a-tat-snap! proving that our final course of nuts and cider would +be provided in the usual way. + +How homely it all was! how free from any attempt at display of style! +yet equally free from any trace of vulgarity or ill-natured gossip. +Mousie had added grace to the banquet with her blooming plants and +dried grasses; and, although the dishes had been set on the table by my +wife's and children's hands, they were daintily ornamented and +inviting. All had been within our means and accomplished by ourselves; +and the following morning brought no regretful thoughts. Our helpful +friends went home, feeling that they had not bestowed their kindness on +unthankful people whose scheme of life was to get and take, but not to +return. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +WE CAN MAKE A LIVING IN EDEN + + +Well, our first year was drawing to a close. The 1st of December was +celebrated by an event no less momentous than the killing of our pigs, +to Winnie's and Bobsey's intense excitement. In this affair my wife and +I were almost helpless, but Mr. Jones and Bagley were on hand, and +proved themselves veterans, while Mrs. Jones stood by my wife until the +dressed animals were transformed into souse, head-cheese, sausage, and +well-salted pork. The children feasted and exulted through all the +processes, especially enjoying some sweet spareribs. + +I next gave all my attention, when the weather permitted, to the proper +winter covering of all the strawberries, and to the cutting and carting +home of old and dying trees from the wood lot. + +The increasing cold brought new and welcome pleasures to the children. +There was ice on the neighboring ponds, and skates were bought as +premature Christmas presents. The same was true of sleds after the +first fall of snow. This white covering of the earth enabled Merton and +Junior to track some rabbits in the vicinity, which thus far had eluded +their search. + +By the middle of the month we realized that winter had begun in all its +rather stern reality; but we were sheltered and provided for. We had so +far imitated the ants that we had abundant stores until the earth +should again yield its bounty. + +Christmas brought us more than its wonted joy, and a better fulfilment +of the hopes and anticipations which we had cherished on the same day +of the previous year. We were far from regretting our flight to the +country, although it had involved us in hard toil and many anxieties. +My wife was greatly pleased by my many hours of rest at the fireside in +her companionship, caused by days too cold and wintry for outdoor work; +but our deepest and most abiding content was expressed one evening as +we sat alone after the children were asleep. + +"You have solved the problem, Robert, that was worrying you. There is +space here for the children to grow, and the Daggetts and the Ricketts +and all their kind are not so near as to make them grow wrong, almost +in spite of us. A year ago we felt that we were virtually being driven +to the country. I now feel as if we had been led by a kindly and divine +hand." I had given much attention to my account-book of late, and had +said, "On New Year's morning I will tell you all the result of our +first year's effort." + +At breakfast, after our greetings and good wishes for the New Year, all +looked expectantly at me as I opened our financial record. Carefully +and clearly as possible, so that even Winnie might understand in part, +I went over the different items, and the expense and proceeds of the +different crops, so far as I was able to separate them. Bobsey's +attention soon wandered, for he had an abiding faith that breakfast, +dinner, and supper would follow the sun, and that was enough for him. +But the other children were pleased with my confidence, and tried to +understand me. + +"To sum up everything," I said, finally, "we have done, by working all +together, what I alone should probably have accomplished in the +city--we have made our living. I have also taken an inventory or an +account of stock on hand and paid for; that is, I have here a list on +which are named the horse, wagon, harness, cow, crates and baskets, +tools, poultry, and pigs. These things are paid for, and we are so much +ahead. Now, children, which is better, a living in the city, I earning +it for you all? or a living in the country toward which even Bobsey can +do his share?" + +"A living in the country," was the prompt chorus. "There is something +here for a fellow to do without being nagged by a policeman," Merton +added. + +"Well, children, mamma and I agree with you. What's more, there wasn't +much chance for me to get ahead in the city, or earn a large salary. +Here, by pulling all together, there is almost a certainty of our +earning more than a bare living, and of laying up something for a rainy +day. The chief item of profit from our farm, however, is not down in my +account-book, but we see it in your sturdier forms and in Mousie's red +cheeks. More than all, we believe that you are better and healthier at +heart than you were a year ago. + +"Now for the New Year. Let us make the best and most of it, and ask God +to help us." + +And so my simple history ends in glad content and hope. + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Driven Back to Eden, by E. P. Roe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN *** + +***** This file should be named 5269.txt or 5269.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/6/5269/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/5269.zip b/5269.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..35396dd --- /dev/null +++ b/5269.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..086e91e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #5269 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5269) diff --git a/old/drvbk10.txt b/old/drvbk10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2595217 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/drvbk10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7866 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Driven Back to Eden, by E. P. Roe +#3 in our series by E. P. Roe + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Driven Back to Eden + +Author: E. P. Roe + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5269] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on June 23, 2002] +[Date last updated: February 27, 2005] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN + + +BY + + +E. P. ROE + + + + +THIS VOLUME + +IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO + +"JOHNNIE" + + + + +PREFACE + +Months since, with much doubt and diffidence, I began this simple +story. I had never before written expressly for young people, and I +knew that the honest little critics could not be beguiled with words +which did not tell an interesting story. How far I have succeeded, +the readers of this volume, and of the "St. Nicholas" magazine, +wherein the tale appeared as a serial, alone can answer. + +I have portrayed no actual experience, but have sought to present +one which might be verified in real life. I have tried to avoid all +that would be impossible or even improbable. The labors performed by +the children in the story were not unknown to my own hands, in +childhood, nor would they form tasks too severe for many little +hands now idle in the cities. + +The characters are all imaginary; the scenes, in the main, are real: +and I would gladly lure other families from tenement flats into +green pastures. + +E. P. R. + +CORNWALL-ON-THE-HUDSON, + +August 10, 1885. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I +A PROBLEM + +CHAPTER II +I STATE THE CASE + +CHAPTER III +NEW PROSPECTS + +CHAPTER IV +A MOMENTOUS EXPEDITION + +CHAPTER V +A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT + +CHAPTER VI +A BLUFF FRIEND + +CHAPTER VII +MR. JONES SHOWS ME THE PLACE + +CHAPTER VIII +TELLING ABOUT EDEN + +CHAPTER IX +"BREAKING CAMP" + +CHAPTER X +SCENES ON THE WHARF + +CHAPTER XI +A VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON + +CHAPTER XII +A MARCH EVENING IN EDEN + +CHAPTER XIII +RESCUED AND AT HOME + +CHAPTER XIV +SELF-DENIAL AND ITS REWARD + +CHAPTER XV +OUR SUNNY KITCHEN + +CHAPTER XVI +MAKING A PLACE FOR CHICKENS + +CHAPTER XVII +GOOD BARGAINS IN MAPLE SUGAR + +CHAPTER XVIII +BUTTERNUTS AND BOBSEY'S PERIL + +CHAPTER XIX +JOHN JONES, JUN + +CHAPTER XX +RASPBERRY LESSONS + +CHAPTER XXI +THE "VANDOO" + +CHAPTER XXII +EARLY APRIL GARDENING + +CHAPTER XXIII +A BONFIRE AND A FEAST + +CHAPTER XXIV +"NO BLIND DRIFTING" + +CHAPTER XXV +OWLS AND ANTWERPS + +CHAPTER XXVI +A COUNTRY SUNDAY + +CHAPTER XXVII +STRAWBERRY VISIONS AND "PERTATERS" + +CHAPTER XXVIII +CORN, COLOR, AND MUSIC + +CHAPTER XXIX +WE GO A-FISHING + +CHAPTER XXX +WEEDS AND WORKING FOR DEAR LIFE + +CHAPTER XXXI +NATURE SMILES AND HELPS + +CHAPTER XXXII +CHERRIES, BERRIES, AND BERRY-THIEVES + +CHAPTER XXXIII +GIVEN HIS CHOICE + +CHAPTER XXXIV +GIVEN A CHANCE + +CHAPTER XXXV +"WE SHALL ALL EARN OUR SALT" + +CHAPTER XXXVI +A THUNDERBOLT + +CHAPTER XXXVII +RALLYING FROM THE BLOW + +CHAPTER XXXVIII +AUGUST WORK AND PLAY + +CHAPTER XXXIX +A TRIP TO THE SEASHORE + +CHAPTER XL +A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM + +CHAPTER XLI +HOARDING FOR WINTER + +CHAPTER XLII +AUTUMN WORK AND SPORT + +CHAPTER XLIII +THANKSGIVING DAY + +CHAPTER XLIV +WE CAN MAKE A LIVING IN EDEN + + + + +DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A PROBLEM + + +"Where are the children?" + +"They can't be far away," replied my wife, looking up from her +preparations for supper. "Bobsey was here a moment ago. As soon as +my back's turned he's out and away. I haven't seen Merton since he +brought his books from school, and I suppose Winnie is upstairs with +the Daggetts." + +"I wish, my dear, you could keep the children at home more," I said, +a little petulantly. + +"I wish you would go and find them for me now, and to-morrow take my +place--for just one day." + +"Well, well," I said, with a laugh that had no mirth in it; "only +one of your wishes stands much chance of being carried out. I'll +find the children now if I can without the aid of the police. +Mousie, do you feel stronger to-night?" + +These words were spoken to a pale girl of fourteen, who appeared to +be scarcely more than twelve, so diminutive was her frame. + +"Yes, papa," she replied, a faint smile flitting like a ray of light +across her features. She always said she was better, but never got +well. Her quiet ways and tones had led to the household name of +"Mousie." + +As I was descending the narrow stairway I was almost overthrown by a +torrent of children pouring down from the flats above. In the dim +light of a gas-burner I saw that Bobsey was one of the reckless +atoms. He had not heard my voice in the uproar, and before I could +reach him, he with the others had burst out at the street door and +gone tearing toward the nearest corner. It seemed that he had +slipped away in order to take part in a race, and I found him +"squaring off" at a bigger boy who had tripped him up. Without a +word I carried him home, followed by the jeers and laughter of the +racers, the girls making their presence known in the early December +twilight by the shrillness of their voices and by manners no gentler +than those of the boys. + +I put down the child--he was only seven years of age--in the middle +of our general living-room, and looked at him. His little coat was +split out in the back; one of his stockings, already well-darned at +the knees, was past remedy; his hands were black, and one was +bleeding; his whole little body was throbbing with excitement, +anger, and violent exercise. As I looked at him quietly the defiant +expression in his eyes began to give place to tears. + +"There is no use in punishing him now," said my wife. "Please leave +him to me and find the others." + +"I wasn't going to punish him," I said. + +"What are you going to do? What makes you look at him so?" + +"He's a problem I can't solve--with the given conditions." + +"O Robert, you drive me half wild. If the house was on fire you'd +stop to follow out some train of thought about it all. I'm tired to +death. Do bring the children home. When we've put them to bed you +can figure on your problem, and I can sit down." + +As I went up to the Daggetts' flat I was dimly conscious of another +problem. My wife was growing fretful and nervous. Our rooms would +not have satisfied a Dutch housewife, but if "order is heaven's +first law" a little of Paradise was in them as compared to the +Daggetts' apartments. "Yes," I was told, in response to my +inquiries; "Winnie is in the bed-room with Melissy." + +The door was locked, and after some hesitation the girls opened it. +As we were going downstairs I caught a glimpse of a newspaper in my +girl's pocket. She gave it to me reluctantly, and said "Melissy" had +lent it to her. I told her to help her mother prepare supper while I +went to find Merton. Opening the paper under a street lamp, I found +it to be a cheap, vile journal, full of flashy pictures that so +often offend the eye on news-stands. With a chill of fear I thought, +"Another problem." The Daggett children had had the scarlet fever a +few months before. "But here's a worse infection," I reflected. +"Thank heaven, Winnie is only a child, and can't understand these +pictures;" and I tore the paper up and thrust it into its proper +place, the gutter. + +"Now," I muttered, "I've only to find Merton in mischief to make the +evening's experience complete." + +In mischief I did find him--a very harmful kind of mischief, it +appeared to me. Merton was little over fifteen, and he and two or +three other lads were smoking cigarettes which, to judge by their +odor, must certainly have been made from the sweepings of the +manufacturer's floor. + +"Can't you find anything better than that to do after school?" I +asked, severely. + +"Well, sir," was the sullen reply, "I'd like to know what there is +for a boy to do in this street." + +During the walk home I tried to think of an answer to his implied +question. What would I do if I were in Merton's place? I confess +that I was puzzled. After sitting in school all day he must do +something that the police would permit. There certainly seemed very +little range of action for a growing boy. Should I take him out of +school and put him into a shop or an office? If I did this his +education would be sadly limited. Moreover he was tall and slender +for his age, and upon his face there was a pallor which I dislike to +see in a boy. Long hours of business would be very hard upon him, +even if he could endure the strain at all. The problem which had +been pressing on me for months--almost years--grew urgent. + +With clouded brows we sat down to our modest little supper. +Winifred, my wife, was hot and flushed from too near acquaintance +with the stove, and wearied by a long day of toil in a room that +would be the better for a gale of wind. Bobsey, as we called my +little namesake, was absorbed--now that he was relieved from the +fear of punishment--by the wish to "punch" the boy who had tripped +him up. Winnie was watching me furtively, and wondering what had +become of the paper, and what I thought of it. Merton was somewhat +sullen, and a little ashamed of himself. I felt that my problem was +to give these children something to do that would not harm them, for +do SOMETHING they certainly would. They were rapidly attaining that +age when the shelter of a narrow city flat would not answer, when +the influence of a crowded house and of the street might be greater +than any we could bring to bear upon them. + +I looked around upon the little group for whom I was responsible. My +will was still law to them. While my little wife had positive ways +of her own, she would agree to any decided course that I resolved +upon. The children were yet under entire control, so that I sat at +the head of the table, commander-in-chief of the little band. We +called the narrow flat we lived in "home." The idea! with the +Daggetts above and the Ricketts on the floor beneath. It was not a +home, and was scarcely a fit camping-ground for such a family squad +as ours. Yet we had stayed on for years in this long, narrow line of +rooms, reaching from a crowded street to a little back-yard full of +noisy children by day, and noisier cats by night. I had often +thought of moving, but had failed to find a better shelter that was +within my very limited means. The neighborhood was respectable, so +far as a densely populated region can be. It was not very distant +from my place of business, and my work often kept me so late at the +office that we could not live in the suburb. The rent was moderate +for New York, and left me some money, after food and clothing were +provided, for occasional little outings and pleasures, which I +believe to be needed by both body and mind. While the children were +little--so long as they would "stay put" in the cradle or on the +floor--we did not have much trouble. Fortunately I had good health, +and, as my wife said, was "handy with children." Therefore I could +help her in the care of them at night, and she had kept much of her +youthful bloom. Heaven had blessed us. We had met with no serious +misfortunes, nor had any of our number been often prostrated by +prolonged and dangerous illness. But during the last year my wife +had been growing thin, and occasionally her voice had a sharpness +which was new. Every month Bobsey became more hard to manage. Our +living-room was to him like a cage to a wild bird, and slip away he +would, to his mother's alarm; for he was almost certain to get into +mischief or trouble. The effort to perform her household tasks and +watch over him was more wearing than it had been to rock him through +long hours at night when he was a teething baby. These details seem +very homely no doubt, yet such as these largely make up our lives. +Comfort or discomfort, happiness or unhappiness, springs from them. +There is no crop in the country so important as that of boys and +girls. How could I manage my little home-garden in a flat? + +I looked thoughtfully from one to another, as with children's +appetites they became absorbed in one of the chief events of the +day. + +"Well," said my wife, querulously, "how are you getting on with your +problem?" + +"Take this extra bit of steak and I'll tell you after the children +are asleep," I said. + +"I can't eat another mouthful," she exclaimed, pushing back her +almost untasted supper. "Broiling the steak was enough for me." + +"You are quite tired out, dear," I said, very gently. + +Her face softened immediately at my tone and tears came into her +eyes. + +"I don't know what is the matter with me," she faltered. "I am so +nervous some days that I feel as if I should fly to pieces. I do try +to be patient, but I know I'm growing cross!" + +"Oh now, mamma," spoke up warm-hearted Merton; "the idea of your +being cross." + +"She IS cross," Bobsey cried; "she boxed my ears this very day." + +"And you deserved it," was Merton's retort. "It's a pity they are +not boxed oftener." + +"Yes, Robert, I did," continued my wife, sorrowfully. "Bobsey ran +away four times, and vexed me beyond endurance, that is, such +endurance as I have left, which doesn't seem to be very much." + +"I understand, dear," I said. "You are a part of my problem, and you +must help me solve it." Then I changed the subject decidedly, and +soon brought sunshine to our clouded household. Children's minds are +easily diverted; and my wife, whom a few sharp words would have +greatly irritated, was soothed, and her curiosity awakened as to the +subject of my thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +I STATE THE CASE + + +I pondered deeply while my wife and Winnie cleared away the dishes +and put Bobsey into his little crib. I felt that the time for a +decided change had come, and that it should be made before the evils +of our lot brought sharp and real trouble. + +How should I care for my household? If I had been living on a far +frontier among hostile Indians I should have known better how to +protect them. I could build a house of heavy logs and keep my wife +and children always near me while at work. But it seemed to me that +Melissa Daggett and her kin with their flashy papers, and the +influence of the street for Merton and Bobsey, involved more danger +to my little band than all the scalping Modocs that ever whooped. +The children could not step outside the door without danger of +meeting some one who would do them harm. It is the curse of crowded +city life that there is so little of a natural and attractive sort +for a child to do, and so much of evil close at hand. + +My wife asked me humorously for the news. She saw that I was not +reading my paper, and my frowning brow and firm lips proved my +problem was not of a trifling nature. She suspected nothing more, +however, than that I was thinking of taking rooms in some better +locality, and she was wondering how I could do it, for she knew that +my income now left but a small surplus above expenses. + +At last Winnie too was ready to go to bed, and I said to her, +gravely: "Here is money to pay Melissa for that paper. It was only +fit for the gutter, and into the gutter I put it. I wish you to +promise me never to look at such pictures again, or you can never +hope to grow up to be a lady like mamma." + +The child flushed deeply, and went tearful and penitent to bed. +Mousie also retired with a wistful look upon her face, for she saw +that something of grave importance occupied my mind. + +No matter how tired my wife might be, she was never satisfied to sit +down until the room had been put in order, a green cloth spread upon +the supper-table and the student lamp placed in its centre. + +Merton brought his school-books, and my wife took up her mending, +and we three sat down within the circle of light. + +"Don't do any more work to-night," I said, looking into my wife's +face, and noting for a few moments that it was losing its rounded +lines. + +Her hands dropped wearily into her lap, and she began gratefully: +"I'm glad you speak so kindly to-night, Robert, for I am so nervous +and out of sorts that I couldn't have stood one bit of fault- +finding--I should have said things, and then have been sorry all day +to-morrow. Dear knows, each day brings enough without carrying +anything over. Come, read the paper to me, or tell me what you have +been thinking about so deeply, if you don't mind Merton's hearing +you. I wish to forget myself, and work, and everything that worries +me, for a little while." + +"I'll read the paper first, and then, after Merton has learned his +lessons, I will tell you my thoughts--my purpose, I may almost say. +Merton shall know about it soon, for he is becoming old enough to +understand the 'why' of things. I hope, my boy, that your teacher +lays a good deal of stress on the WHY in all your studies." + +"Oh, yes, after a fashion." + +"Well, so far as I am your teacher, Merton, I wish you always to +think why you should do a thing or why you shouldn't, and to try not +to be satisfied with any reason but a good one." + +Then I gleaned from the paper such items as I thought would interest +my wife. At last we were alone, with no sound in the room but the +low roar of the city, a roar so deep as to make one think that the +tides of life were breaking waves. + +I was doing some figuring in a note-book when my wife asked: +"Robert, what is your problem to-night? And what part have I in it?" + +"So important a part that I couldn't solve it without you," I +replied, smiling at her. + +"Oh, come now," she said, laughing slightly for the first time in +the evening; "you always begin to flatter a little when you want to +carry a point." + +"Well, then, you are on your guard against my wiles. But believe me, +Winifred, the problem on my mind is not like one of my ordinary +brown studies; in those I often try to get back to the wherefore of +things which people usually accept and don't bother about. The +question I am considering comes right home to us, and we must meet +it. I have felt for some time that we could not put off action much +longer, and to-night I am convinced of it." + +Then I told her how I had found three of the children engaged that +evening, concluding: "The circumstances of their lot are more to +blame than they themselves. And why should I find fault with you +because you are nervous? You could no more help being nervous and a +little impatient than you could prevent the heat of the lamp from +burning you, should you place your finger over it. I know the cause +of it all. As for Mousie, she is growing paler and thinner every +day. You know what my income is; we could not change things much for +the better by taking other rooms and moving to another part of the +city, and we might find that we had changed for the worse. I propose +that we go to the country and get our living out of the soil." + +"Why, Robert! what do you know about farming or gardening?" + +"Not very much, but I am not yet too old to learn; and there would +be something for the children to do at once, pure air for them to +breathe, and space for them to grow healthfully in body, mind, and +soul. You know I have but little money laid by, and am not one of +those smart men who can push their way. I don't know much besides +bookkeeping, and my employers think I am not remarkably quick at +that. I can't seem to acquire the lightning speed with which things +are done nowadays; and while I try to make up by long hours and +honesty, I don't believe I could ever earn much more than I am +getting now, and you know it doesn't leave much of a margin for +sickness or misfortune of any kind. After all, what does my salary +give us but food and clothing and shelter, such as it is, with a +little to spare in some years? It sends a cold chill to my heart to +think what should become of you and the children if I should be sick +or anything should happen to me. Still, it is the present welfare of +the children that weighs most on my mind, Winifred. They are no +longer little things that you can keep in these rooms and watch +over; there is danger for them just outside that door. It wouldn't +be so if beyond the door lay a garden and fields and woods. You, my +overtaxed wife, wouldn't worry about them the moment they were out +of sight, and my work, instead of being away from them all day, +could be with them. And all could do something, even down to pale +Mousie and little Bobsey. Outdoor life and pure air, instead of that +breathed over and over, would bring quiet to your nerves and the +roses back to your cheeks. The children would grow sturdy and +strong; much of their work would be like play to them; they wouldn't +be always in contact with other children that we know nothing about. +I am aware that the country isn't Eden, as we have imagined it--for +I lived there as a boy--but it seems like Eden compared to this +place and its surroundings; and I feel as if I were being driven +back to it by circumstances I can't control." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NEW PROSPECTS + + +There is no need of dwelling further on the reasons for or against +the step we proposed. We thought a great deal and talked it over +several times. Finally my wife agreed that the change would be wise +and best for all. Then the children were taken into our confidence, +and they became more delighted every day as the prospect grew +clearer to them. + +"We'll all be good soon, won't we?" said my youngest, who had a +rather vivid sense of his own shortcomings, and kept them in the +minds of others as well. + +"Why so, Bobsey?" + +"'Cause mamma says that God put the first people in a garden and +they was very good, better'n any folks afterwards. God oughter know +the best place for people." + +Thus Bobsey gave a kind of divine sanction to our project. Of course +we had not taken so important a step without asking the Great Father +of all to guide us; for we felt that in the mystery of life we too +were but little children who knew not what should be on the morrow, +or how best to provide for it with any certainty. To our sanguine +minds there was in Bobsey's words a hint of something more than +permission to go up out of Egypt. + +So it was settled that we should leave our narrow suite of rooms, +the Daggetts and the Ricketts, and go to the country. To me +naturally fell the task of finding the land flowing with milk and +honey to which we should journey in the spring. Meantime we were +already emigrants at heart, full of the bustle and excitement of +mental preparation. + +I prided myself somewhat on my knowledge of human nature, which, in +regard to children, conformed to comparatively simple laws. I knew +that the change would involve plenty of hard work, self-denial and +careful managing, which nothing could redeem from prose; but I aimed +to add to our exodus, so far as possible, the elements of adventure +and mystery so dear to the hearts of children. The question where we +should go was the cause of much discussion, the studying of maps, +and the learning of not a little geography. + +Merton's counsel was that we should seek a region abounding in +Indians, bears, and "such big game." His advice made clear the +nature of some of his recent reading. He proved, however, that he +was not wanting in sense by his readiness to give up these +attractive features in the choice of locality. + +Mousie's soft black eyes always lighted up at the prospect of a +flower-garden that should be as big as our sitting-room. Even in our +city apartments, poisoned by gas and devoid of sunlight, she usually +managed to keep a little house-plant in bloom, and the thought of +placing seeds in the open ground, where, as she said, "the roots +could go down to China if they wanted to," brought the first color I +had seen in her face for many a day. + +Winnie was our strongest child, and also the one who gave me the +most anxiety. Impulsive, warm-hearted, restless, she always made me +think of an overfull fountain. Her alert black eyes were as eager to +see as was her inquisitive mind to pry into everything. She was +sturdily built for a girl, and one of the severest punishments we +could inflict was to place her in a chair and tell her not to move +for an hour. We were beginning to learn that we could no more keep +her in our sitting-room than we could restrain a mountain brook that +foams into a rocky basin only to foam out again. Melissa Daggett was +of a very different type--I could never see her without the word +"sly" coming into my mind--and her small mysteries awakened Winnie's +curiosity. Now that the latter was promised chickens, and rambles in +the woods, Melissa and her secrets became insignificant, and the +ready promise to keep aloof from her was given. + +As for Bobsey, he should have a pig which he could name and call his +own, and for which he might pull weeds and pick up apples. We soon +found that he was communing with that phantom pig in his dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A MOMENTOUS EXPEDITION + + +By the time Christmas week began we all had agreed to do without +candy, toys, and knick-knacks, and to buy books that would tell us +how to live in the country. One happy evening we had an early supper +and all went to a well-known agricultural store and publishing-house +on Broadway, each child almost awed by the fact that I had fifteen +dollars in my pocket which should be spent that very night in the +purchase of books and papers. To the children the shop seemed like a +place where tickets direct to Eden were obtained, while the colored +pictures of fruits and vegetables could portray the products of Eden +only, so different were they in size and beauty from the specimens +appearing in our market stalls. Stuffed birds and animals were also +on the shelves, and no epicure ever enjoyed the gamy flavor as we +did. But when we came to examine the books, their plates exhibiting +almost every phase of country work and production, we felt like a +long vista leading toward our unknown home was opening before us, +illumined by alluring pictures. To Winnie was given a book on +poultry, and the cuts representing the various birds were even more +to her taste than cuts from the fowls themselves at a Christmas +dinner. The Nimrod instincts of the race were awakened in Merton, +and I soon found that he had set his heart on a book that gave an +account of game, fish, birds, and mammals. It was a natural and +wholesome longing. I myself had felt it keenly when a boy. Such +country sport would bring sturdiness to his limbs and the right kind +of color into his face. + +"All right, Merton," I said: "you shall have the book and a breech- +loading shot-gun also. As for fishing-tackle, you can get along with +a pole cut from the woods until you have earned money enough +yourself to buy what you need." + +The boy was almost overwhelmed. He came to me, and took my hand in +both his own. + +"O papa," he faltered, and his eyes were moist, "did you say a gun?" + +"Yes, a breech-loading shot-gun on one condition--that you'll not +smoke till after you are twenty-one. A growing boy can't smoke in +safety." + +He gave my hand a quick, strong pressure, and was immediately at the +farther end of the store, blowing his nose suspiciously. I chuckled +to myself: "I want no better promise. A gun will cure him of +cigarettes better than a tract would." + +Mousie was quiet, as usual; but there was again a faint color in her +cheeks, a soft lustre in her eyes. I kept near my invalid child most +of the time, for fear that she would go beyond her strength. I made +her sit by a table, and brought the books that would interest her +most. Her sweet, thin face was a study, and I felt that she was +already enjoying the healing caresses of Mother Nature. When we +started homeward she carried a book about flowers next to her heart. + +Bobsey taxed his mother's patience and agility, for he seemed all +over the store at the same moment, and wanted everything in it, +being sure that fifteen dollars would buy all and leave a handsome +margin; but at last he was content with a book illustrated from +beginning to end with pigs. + +What pleased me most was to see how my wife enjoyed our little +outing. Wrapped up in the children, she reflected their joy in her +face, and looked almost girlish in her happiness. I whispered in her +ear, "Your present shall be the home itself, for I shall have the +deed made out in your name, and then you can turn me out-of-doors as +often as you please." + +"Which will be every pleasant day after breakfast," she said, +laughing. "You know you are very safe in giving things to me." + +"Yes, Winifred," I replied, pressing her hand on the sly; "I have +been finding that out ever since I gave myself to you." + +I bought Henderson's "Gardening for Profit" and some other practical +books. I also subscribed for a journal devoted to rural interests +and giving simple directions for the work of each month. At last we +returned. Never did a jollier little procession march up Broadway. +People were going to the opera and evening companies, and carriages +rolled by, filled with elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen; but +my wife remarked, "None of those people are so happy as we are, +trudging in this roundabout way to our country home." + +Her words suggested our course of action during the months which +must intervene before it would be safe or wise for us to leave the +city. Our thoughts, words, and actions were all a roundabout means +to our cherished end, and yet the most direct way that we could take +under the circumstances. Field and garden were covered with snow, +the ground was granite-like from frost, and winter's cold breath +chilled our impatience to be gone; but so far as possible we lived +in a country atmosphere, and amused ourselves by trying to conform +to country ways in a city flat. Even Winnie declared she heard the +cocks crowing at dawn, while Bobsey had a different kind of grunt or +squeal for every pig in his book. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT + + +On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged +them on a table. Merton was almost wild when he found a bright +single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner. Even +Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of +flower-seeds on her plate. To Winnie were given half a dozen china +eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests +easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd +imitation. Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they +all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard. In +the number of domestic animals he swallowed that day he equalled the +little boy in Hawthorne's story of "The House of the Seven Gables," +who devoured a ginger-bread caravan of camels and elephants +purchased at Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon's shop. + +Our Christmas dinner consisted almost wholly of such vegetables as +we proposed to raise in the coming summer. Never before were such +connoisseurs of carrots, beets, onions, parsnips, and so on through +almost the entire list of such winter stock as was to be obtained at +our nearest green-grocery. We celebrated the day by nearly a dozen +dishes which the children aided my wife in preparing. Then I had +Merton figure the cost of each, and we were surprised at the +cheapness of much of country fare, even when retailed in very small +quantities. + +This brought up another phase of the problem. In many respects I was +like the children, having almost as much to learn as they--with the +advantage, however, of being able to correct impressions by +experience. In other words, I had more judgment; and while I should +certainly make mistakes, not many of them would be absurd or often +repeated. I was aware that most of the homely kitchen vegetables +cost comparatively little, even though (having in our flat no good +place for storage) we had found it better to buy what we needed from +day to day. It was therefore certain that, at wholesale in the +country, they would often be exceedingly cheap. This fact would work +both ways: little money would purchase much food of certain kinds, +and if we produced these articles of food they would bring us little +money. + +I will pass briefly over the period that elapsed before it was time +for us to depart, assured that the little people who are following +this simple history are as eager to get away from the dusty city +flat to the sunlight, breezy fields, brooks, and woods as were the +children in my story. It is enough to say that, during all my waking +hours not devoted to business, I read, thought, and studied on the +problem of supporting my family in the country. I haunted Washington +Market in the gray dawn and learned from much inquiry what products +found a ready and certain sale at some price, and what appeared to +yield to the grower the best profits. There was much conflict of +opinion, but I noted down and averaged the statements made to me. +Many of the market-men had hobbies, and told me how to make a +fortune out of one or two articles; more gave careless, random, or +ignorant answers; but here and there was a plain, honest, sensible +fellow who showed me from his books what plain, honest, sensible +producers in the country were doing. In a few weeks I dismissed +finally the tendency to one blunder. A novice hears or reads of an +acre of cabbages or strawberries producing so much. Then he figures, +"if one acre yields so much, two acres will give twice as much," and +so on. The experience of others showed me the utter folly of all +this; and I came to the conclusion that I could give my family +shelter, plain food, pure air, wholesome work and play in plenty, +and that not very soon could I provide much else with certainty. I +tried to stick closely to common-sense; and the humble circumstances +of the vast majority living from the soil proved that there was in +these pursuits no easy or speedy road to fortune. Therefore we must +part reluctantly with every penny, and let a dollar go for only the +essentials to the modest success now accepted as all we could +naturally expect. We had explored the settled States, and even the +Territories, in fancy; we had talked over nearly every industry from +cotton and sugarcane planting to a sheep-ranch. I encouraged all +this, for it was so much education out of school-hours; yet all, +even Merton, eventually agreed with me that we had better not go far +away, but seek a place near schools, markets, churches, and well +inside of civilization. + +"See here, youngsters, you forget the most important crop of all +that I must cultivate," I said one evening. + +"What is that?" they cried in chorus. + +"A crop of boys and girls. You may think that my mind is chiefly on +corn and potatoes. Not at all. It is chiefly on you; and for your +sakes mamma and I decided to go to the country." + +At last, in reply to my inquiries and my answers to advertisements, +I received the following letter:-- + +Maizeville, N.Y. March 1st, '83 + +Robert Durham, Esq. + +Dear Sir + +I have a place that will suit you I think. It can be bought at about +the figure you name. Come to see it. I shan't crack it up, but want +you to judge for yourself. + +Resp'y John Jones + +I had been to see two or three places that had been "cracked up" so +highly that my wife thought it better to close the bargain at once +before some one else secured the prize--and I had come back +disgusted in each instance. + +"The soul of wit" was in John Jones's letter. There was also a +downright directness which hit the mark, and I wrote that I would go +to Maizeville in the course of the following week. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A BLUFF FRIEND + + +The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of +the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right. +Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our +hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies. We +were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight +northward. + +My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured +tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should +leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the +problem of country living and to preparations for departure. I +obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and +we pored over them every evening. At first they bewildered us with +their long lists of varieties, while the glowing descriptions of new +kinds of vegetables just being introduced awakened in us something +of a gambling spirit. + +"How fortunate it is," exclaimed my wife, "that we are going to the +country just as the vegetable marvels were discovered! Why, Robert, +if half of what is said is true, we shall make our fortunes." + +With us, hitherto, a beet had been a beet, and a cabbage a cabbage; +but here were accounts of beets which, as Merton said, "beat all +creation," and pictures of prodigious cabbage heads which well-nigh +turned our own. With a blending of hope and distrust I carried two +of the catalogues to a shrewd old fellow in Washington Market. He +was a dealer in country produce who had done business so long at the +same stand that among his fellows he was looked upon as a kind of +patriarch. During a former interview he had replied to my questions +with a blunt honesty that had inspired confidence. The day was +somewhat mild, and I found him in his shirt-sleeves, smoking his +pipe among his piled-up barrels, boxes, and crates, after his eleven +o'clock dinner. His day's work was practically over; and well it +might be, for, like others of his calling, he had begun it long +before dawn. Now his old felt hat was pushed well back on his bald +head, and his red face, fringed with a grizzled beard, expressed a +sort of heavy, placid content. His small gray eyes twinkled as +shrewdly as ever. With his pipe he indicated a box on which I might +sit while we talked. + +"See here, Mr. Bogart," I began, showing him the seed catalogues, +"how is a man to choose wisely what vegetables he will raise from a +list as long as your arm? Perhaps I shouldn't take any of those old- +fashioned kinds, but go into these wonderful novelties which promise +a new era in horticulture." + +The old man gave a contemptuous grunt; then, removing his pipe, he +blew out a cloud of smoke that half obscured us both as he remarked, +gruffly, "'A fool and his money are soon parted.'" + +This was about as rough as March weather; but I knew my man, and +perhaps proved that I wasn't a fool by not parting with him then and +there. + +"Come now, neighbor," I said, brusquely, "I know some things that +you don't, and there are affairs in which I could prove you to be as +green as I am in this matter. If you came to me I'd give you the +best advice that I could, and be civil about it into the bargain. +I've come to you because I believe you to be honest and to know what +I don't. When I tell you that I have a little family dependent on +me, and that I mean if possible to get a living for them out of the +soil, I believe you are man enough both to fall in with my plan and +to show a little friendly interest. If you are not, I'll go farther +and fare better." + +As I fired this broadside he looked at me askance, with the pipe in +the corner of his mouth, then reached out his great brown paw, and +said,-- + +"Shake." + +I knew it was all right now--that the giving of his hand meant not +only a treaty of peace but also a friendly alliance. The old fellow +discoursed vegetable wisdom so steadily for half an hour that his +pipe went out. + +"You jest let that new-fangled truck alone," he said, "till you get +more forehanded in cash and experience. Then you may learn how to +make something out of them novelties, as they call 'em, if they are +worth growing at all. Now and then a good penny is turned on a new +fruit or vegetable; but how to do it will be one of the last tricks +that you'll learn in your new trade. Hand me one of them misleadin' +books, and I'll mark a few solid kinds such as produce ninety-nine +hundredths of all that's used or sold. Then you go to What-you-call- +'em's store, and take a line from me, and you'll git the genuine +article at market-gardeners' prices." + +"Now, Mr. Bogart, you are treating me like a man and a brother." + +"Oh thunder! I'm treating you like one who, p'raps, may deal with +me. Do as you please about it, but if you want to take along a lot +of my business cards and fasten 'em to anything you have to sell, +I'll give you all they bring, less my commission." + +"I've no doubt you will, and that's more than I can believe of a +good many in your line, if all's true that I hear. You have thrown a +broad streak of daylight into my future. So you see the fool didn't +part with his money, or with you either, until he got a good deal +more than he expected." + +"Well, well, Mr. Durham, you'll have to get used to my rough ways. +When I've anything to say, I don't beat about the bush. But you'll +always find my checks good for their face." + +"Yes, and the face back of them is that of a friend to me now. We'll +shake again. Good-by;" and I went home feeling as if I had solid +ground under my feet. At supper I went over the whole scene, taking +off the man in humorous pantomime, not ridicule, and even my wife +grew hilarious over her disappointed hopes of the "new-fangled +truck." I managed, however, that the children should not lose the +lesson that a rough diamond is better than a smooth paste stone, and +that people often do themselves an injury when they take offence too +easily. + +"I see it all, papa," chuckled Merton; "if you had gone off mad when +he the same as called you a fool, you would have lost all his good +advice." + +"I should have lost much more than that, my boy, I should have lost +the services of a good friend and an honest man to whom we can send +for its full worth whatever we can't sell to better advantage at +home. But don't mistake me, Merton, toadyism never pays, no matter +what you may gain by it; for you give manhood for such gain, and +that's a kind of property that one can never part with and make a +good bargain. You see the old man didn't mean to be insolent. As he +said, it was only his rough, blunt way of saying what was uppermost +in his mind." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +MR. JONES SHOWS ME THE PLACE + + +The next day, according to appointment, I went to Maizeville. John +Jones met me at the station, and drove me in his box-sleigh to see +the farm he had written of in his laconic note. I looked at him +curiously as we jogged along over the melting snow. The day was +unclouded for a wonder, and the sun proved its increasing power by +turning the sleigh-tracks in the road into gleaming rills. The +visage of my new acquaintance formed a decided contrast to the +rubicund face of the beef-eating marketman. He was sandy even to his +eyebrows and complexion. His scraggy beard suggested poverty of soil +on his lantern jaws. His frame was as gaunt as that of a scare-crow, +and his hands and feet were enormous. He had one redeeming feature, +however--a pair of blue eyes that looked straight at you and made +you feel that there was no "crookedness" behind them. His brief +letter had led me to expect a man of few words, but I soon found +that John Jones was a talker and a good-natured gossip. He knew +every one we met, and was usually greeted with a rising inflection, +like this, "How are you, John?" + +We drove inland for two or three miles. + +"No, I didn't crack up the place, and I ain't a-goin' to," said my +real-estate agent. "As I wrote you, you can see for yourself when we +get there, and I'll answer all questions square. I've got the +sellin' of the property, and I mean it shall be a good bargain, good +for me and good for him who buys. I don't intend havin' any +neighbors around blamin' me for a fraud;" and that is all he would +say about it. + +On we went, over hills and down dales, surrounded by scenery that +seemed to me beautiful beyond all words, even in its wintry aspect. + +"What mountain is that standing off by itself?" I asked. + +"Schunemunk," he said. "Your place--well, I guess it will be yours +before plantin'-time comes--faces that mountain and looks up the +valley between it and the main highlands on the left. Yonder's the +house, on the slope of this big round hill, that'll shelter you from +the north winds." + +I shall not describe the place very fully now, preferring that it +should be seen through the eyes of my wife and children, as well as +my own. + +"The dwelling appears old," I said. + +"Yes; part of it's a good deal more'n a hundred years old. It's been +added to at both ends. But there's timbers in it that will stand +another hundred years. I had a fire made in the livin'-room this +mornin', to take off the chill, and we'll go in and sit down after +we've looked the place over. Then you must come and take pot-luck +with us." + +At first I was not at all enthusiastic, but the more I examined the +place, and thought it over, the more it grew on my fancy. When I +entered the main room of the cottage, and saw the wide, old- +fashioned fireplace, with its crackling blaze, I thawed so rapidly +that John Jones chuckled. "You're amazin' refreshin' for a city +chap. I guess I'll crack on another hundred to the price." + +"I thought you were not going to crack up the place at all." + +"Neither be I. Take that old arm-chair, and I'll tell you all about +it. The place looks rather run down, as you have seen. Old Mr. and +Mrs. Jamison lived here till lately. Last January the old man died, +and a good old man he was. His wife has gone to live with a +daughter. By the will I was app'inted executor and trustee. I've +fixed on a fair price for the property, and I'm goin' to hold on +till I get it. There's twenty acres of plowable land and orchard, +and a five-acre wood-lot, as I told you. The best part of the +property is this. Mr. Jamison was a natural fruit-grower. He had a +heap of good fruit here and wouldn't grow nothin' but the best. He +was always a-speerin' round, and when he come across something extra +he'd get a graft, or a root or two. So he gradually came to have the +best there was a-goin' in these parts. Now I tell you what it is, +Mr. Durham, you can buy plenty of new, bare places, but your hair +would be gray before you'd have the fruit that old man Jamison +planted and tended into bearing condition; and you can buy places +with fine shade trees and all that, and a good show of a garden and +orchard, but Jamison used to say that an apple or cherry was a +pretty enough shade tree for him, and he used to say too that a tree +that bore the biggest and best apples didn't take any more room than +one that yielded what was fit only for the cider press. Now the +p'int's just here. You don't come to the country to amuse yourself +by developin' a property, like most city chaps do, but to make a +livin'. Well, don't you see? This farm is like a mill. When the +sun's another month higher it will start all the machinery in the +apple, cherry, and pear trees and the small fruits, and it will turn +out a crop the first year you're here that will put money in your +pocket." + +Then he named the price, half down and the rest on mortgage, if I so +preferred. It was within the limit that my means permitted. + +I got up and went all over the house, which was still plainly +furnished in part. A large wood-house near the back door had been +well filled by the provident old man. There was ample cellar room, +which was also a safeguard against dampness. Then I went out and +walked around the house. It was all so quaint and homely as to make +me feel that it would soon become home-like to us. There was nothing +smart to be seen, nothing new except a barn that had recently been +built near one of the oldest and grayest structures of the kind I +had ever seen. The snow-clad mountains lifted themselves about me in +a way that promised a glimpse of beauty every time I should raise my +eyes from work. Yet after all my gaze lingered longest on the +orchard and fruit-trees that surrounded the dwelling. + +"That's sensible," remarked Mr. Jones, who followed me with no trace +of anxiety or impatience. "Paint, putty, and pine will make a house +in a few weeks, but it takes a good slice out of a century to build +up an orchard like that." + +"That was just what I was thinking, Mr. Jones." + +"Oh, I knowed that. Well, I've got just two more things to say, then +I'm done and you can take it or leave it. Don't you see? The house +is on a slope facing the south-east. You get the morning sun and the +southern breeze. Some people don't know what they're worth, but I, +who've lived here all my life, know they're worth payin' for. Again, +you see the ground slopes off to the crick yonder. That means good +drainage. We don't have any malary here, and that fact is worth as +much as the farm, for I wouldn't take a section of the garden of +Eden if there was malary around." + +"On your honor now, Mr. Jones, how far is the corner around which +they have the malaria?" + +"Mr. Durham, it ain't a mile away." + +I laughed as I said, "I shall have one neighbor, it seems, to whom I +can lend an umbrella." + +"Then you'll take the place?" + +"Yes, if my wife is as well satisfied as I am. I want you to give me +the refusal of it for one week at the price you named." + +"Agreed, and I'll put it in black and white." + +"Now, Mr. Jones," I began with an apologetic little laugh, "you grow +one thing up here in all seasons, I fancy--an appetite. As I feel +now, your pot-luck means good luck, no matter what is in it." + +"Now you talk sense. I was a-hankerin' myself. I take stock right +off in a man or a critter with an appetite. They're always +improvin'. Yes, sir; Maizeville is the place to grow an appetite, +and what's more we can grow plenty to satisfy it." + +Mrs. Jones made a striking contrast to her husband, for she first +impressed me as being short, red, and round; but her friendly, +bustling ways and hearty welcome soon added other and very pleasant +impressions; and when she placed a great dish of fricasseed chicken +on the table she won a good-will which her neighborly kindness has +steadily increased. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +TELLING ABOUT EDEN + + +Never was a traveller from a remote foreign clime listened to with +more breathless interest than I as I related my adventures at our +late supper after my return. Mousie looked almost feverish in her +excitement, and Winnie and Bobsey exploded with merriment over the +name of the mountain that would be one of our nearest neighbors. +They dubbed the place "Schunemunks" at once. Merton put on serious +and sportsman-like airs as he questioned me, and it was evident that +he expected to add largely to our income from the game he should +kill. I did not take much pains to dispel his illusions, knowing +that one day's tramp would do this, and that he would bring back +increased health and strength if nothing else. + +No fairy tale had ever absorbed the children like the description of +that old house and its surroundings; and when at last they were +induced to retire I said to my wife, after explaining more in +practical detail the pros and cons to be considered: "It all depends +on you. If you wish I will take you up the first pleasant day, so +that you can see for yourself before we decide." + +She laughed as she said, "I decided two minutes after you arrived." + +"How is that?" + +"I saw you had the place in your eyes. La, Robert! I can read you +like a book. You give in to me in little things, and that pleases a +woman, you know. You must decide a question like this, for it is a +question of support for us all, and you can do better on a place +that suits you than on one never quite to your mind. It has grown +more and more clear to me all the evening that you have fallen in +love with the old place, and that settles it." + +"Well, you women have a way of your own of deciding a question." + +My wife was too shrewd not to make a point in her favor, and she +remarked, with a complacent nod, "I have a way of my own, but there +are women in the world who would have insisted on a smart new +house." + +"Little wife," I said, laughing, "there was another girl that I was +a little sweet on before I met you. I'm glad you are not the other +girl." + +She put her head a little to one side with the old roguish look +which used to be so distracting when the question of questions with +me was whether pretty Winnie Barlow would give half a dozen young +fellows the go-by for my sake, and she said, "Perhaps the other girl +is glad too." + +"I've no doubt she is," I sighed, "for her husband is getting rich. +I don't care how glad she is if my girl is not sorry." + +"You do amuse me so, Robert! You'd like to pass for something of a +philosopher, with your brown studies into the hidden causes and +reasons for things, yet you don't half know yet that when a woman +sets her heart on something, she hasn't much left with which to long +for anything else. That is, if she has a heart, which seems to be +left out of some women." + +"I think it is, and others get a double allowance. I should be +content, for I was rich the moment I won yours." + +"I've been more than content; I've been happy--happy all these years +in city flats. Even in my tantrums and bad days I knew I was happy, +deep in my heart." + +"I only hope you will remain as blind about your plodding old +husband who couldn't make a fortune in the city." + +"I've seen men who made fortunes, and I've seen their wives too." + +I thanked God for the look on her face--a look which had been there +when she was a bride, and which had survived many straitened years. + +So we chose our country home. The small patrimony to which we had +added but little--(indeed we had often denied ourselves in order not +to diminish it)--was nearly all to be invested in the farm, and a +debt to be incurred, besides. While yielding to my fancy, I believed +that I had at the same time chosen wisely, for, as John Jones said, +the mature fruit trees of the place would begin to bring returns +very soon. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"BREAKING CAMP" + + +We were now all eager to get away, and the weather favored our +wishes. A warm rain with a high south wind set in, and the ice +disappeared from the river like magic. I learned that the afternoon +boat which touched at Maizeville would begin its trips in the +following week. + +I told my wife about the furniture which still remained in the +house, and the prices which John Jones put upon it. We therefore +found that we could dispose of a number of bulky articles in our +city apartments, and save a goodly sum in cartage and freight. Like +soldiers short of ammunition, we had to make every dollar tell, and +when by thought and management we could save a little it was talked +over as a triumph to be proud of. + +The children entered into the spirit of the thing with great zest. +They were all going to be hardy pioneers. One evening I described +the landing of the "Mayflower," and some of the New-England winters +that followed, and they wished to come down to Indian meal at once +as a steady diet. Indeed, toward the last, we did come down to +rather plain fare, for in packing up one thing after another we at +last reached the cooking utensils. + +On the morning of the day preceding the one of our departure I began +to use military figures of speech. + +"Now we must get into marching order," I said, "and prepare to break +camp. Soldiers, you know, when about to move, dispose of all their +heavy baggage, cook several days' provisions, pack up and load on +wagons what they mean to take with them, and start. It is a trying +time--one that requires the exercise of good soldierly qualities, +such as prompt obedience, indifference to hardship and discomfort, +and especially courage in meeting whatever happens." + +Thus the children's imaginations were kindled, and our prosaic +breaking up was a time of grand excitement. With grim satisfaction +they looked upon the dismantling of the rooms, and with sighs of +relief saw carts take away such heavy articles as I had sold. + +Winnie and Bobsey were inclined to take the children of neighbors +into their confidence, and to have them around, but I said that this +would not do at all--that when soldiers were breaking camp the great +point was to do everything as secretly and rapidly as possible. +Thenceforward an air of mystery pervaded all our movements. + +Bobsey, however, at last overstepped the bounds of our patience and +became unmanageable. The very spirit of mischief seemed to have +entered his excited little brain. He untied bundles, placed things +where they were in the way, and pestered the busy mother with so +many questions, that I hit upon a decided measure to keep him quiet. +I told him about a great commander who, in an important fight, was +strapped to a mast, so that he could oversee everything. Then I tied +the little fellow into a chair. At first he was much elated, and +chattered like a magpie, but when he found he was not to be released +after a few moments he began to howl for freedom. I then carried +him, chair and all, to one of the back rooms. Soon his cries ceased, +and tender-hearted Mousie stole after him. Returning she said, with +her low laugh, "He'll be good now for a while; he's sound asleep." + +And so passed the last day in our city rooms. Except as wife and +children were there, they had never appeared very homelike to me, +and now they looked bare and comfortless indeed. The children +gloated over their appearance, for it meant novelty to them. "The +old camp is about broken up," Merton remarked, with the air of a +veteran. But my wife sighed more than once. + +"What troubles you, Winifred?" + +"Robert, the children were born here, and here I've watched over +them in sickness and health so many days and nights." + +"Well, my dear, the prospects are that in our new home you will not +have to watch over them in sickness very much. Better still, you +will not have to be so constantly on your guard against contagions +that harm the soul as well as the body. I was told that there are +rattle-snakes on Schunemunk, but greater dangers for Winnie and +Merton lurk in this street--yes, in this very house;" and I exulted +over the thought that we were about to bid Melissa Daggett a final +good-by. + +"Oh, I know. I'm glad; but then--" + +"But then a woman's heart takes root in any place where she has +loved and suffered. That tendency makes it all the more certain that +you'll love your new home." + +"Yes; we may as well face the truth, Robert. We shall suffer in the +new home as surely as in the old. There may be stronger sunshine, +but that means deeper shadow." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SCENES ON THE WHARF + + +The last night in the city flat was in truth like camping out, the +fatigues of the day brought us sound sleep, and we looked and felt +like emigrants. But in the morning we rose with the dawn, from our +shakedowns on the floor, to begin eagerly and hopefully our final +preparations for departure. In response to my letters John Jones had +promised to meet us at the Maizeville Landing with his strong +covered rockaway, and to have a fire in the old farmhouse. Load +after load was despatched to the boat, for I preferred to deal with +one trusty truckman. When all had been taken away, we said good-by +to our neighbors and took the horse-car to the boat, making our +quiet exit in the least costly way. I knew the boat would be warm +and comfortable, and proposed that we should eat our lunch there. + +The prospect, however, of seeing the wharves, the boats, and the +river destroyed even the children's appetites. We soon reached the +crowded dock. The great steamer appeared to be a part of it, lying +along its length with several gangways, over which boxes, barrels, +and packages were being hustled on board with perpetual din. The +younger children were a little awed at first by the noise and +apparent confusion. Mousie kept close to my side, and even Bobsey +clung to his mother's hand. The extended upper cabin had state-rooms +opening along its sides, and was as comfortable as a floating parlor +with its arm and rocking chairs. Here, not far from the great +heater, I established our headquarters. I made the children locate +the spot carefully, and said: "From this point we'll make +excursions. In the first place, Merton, you come with me and see +that all our household effects are together and in good order. You +must learn to travel and look after things like a man." + +We spent a little time in arranging our goods so that they would be +safer and more compact. Then we went to the captain and laughingly +told him we were emigrants to Maizeville, and hoped before long to +send a good deal of produce by his boat. We therefore wished him to +"lump" us, goods, children, and all, and deliver us safely at the +Maizeville wharf for as small a sum as possible. + +He good-naturedly agreed, and I found that the chief stage of our +journey would involve less outlay than I had expected. + +Thus far all had gone so well that I began to fear that a change +must take place soon, in order that our experience should be more +like the common lot of humanity. When at last I took all the +children out on the afterdeck, to remove the first edge of their +curiosity, I saw that there was at least an ominous change in the +weather. The morning had been mild, with a lull in the usual March +winds. Now a scud of clouds was drifting swiftly in from the +eastward, and chilly, fitful gusts began to moan and sigh about us. +A storm was evidently coming, and my hope was that we might reach +our haven before it began. I kept my fears to myself, and we watched +the long lines of carts converging toward the gang-planks of our own +and other steamboats. + +"See, youngsters," I cried, "all this means commerce. These loads +and loads of things will soon be at stores and homes up the river, +supplying the various needs of the people. Tomorrow the residents +along the river will bring what they have to sell to this same boat, +and by daylight next morning carts will be carrying country produce +and manufactured articles all over the city. Thus you see commerce +is made by people supplying themselves and each other with what they +need. Just as soon as we can bring down a crate of berries and send +it to Mr. Bogart we shall be adding to the commerce of the world in +the best way. We shall become what are called the 'producers,' and +but for this class the world would soon come to an end." + +"'Rah!" cried Bobsey, "I'm goin' to be a p'oducer." + +He promised, however, to be a consumer for a long time to come, +especially of patience. His native fearlessness soon asserted +itself, and he wanted to go everywhere and see everything, asking +questions about machinery, navigation, river craft, the contents of +every box, bale, or barrel we saw, till I felt that I was being used +like a town pump. I pulled him back to the cabin, resolving to stop +his mouth for a time at least with the contents of our lunch basket. + +Winnie was almost as bad, or as good, perhaps I should say; for, +however great the drain and strain on me might be, I knew that these +active little brains were expanding to receive a host of new ideas. + +Mousie was quiet as usual, and made no trouble, but I saw with +renewed hope that this excursion into the world awakened in her a +keen and natural interest. Ever since the project of country life +had been decided upon, her listless, weary look had been giving +place to one of greater animation. The hope of flowers and a garden +had fed her life like a deep, hidden spring. + +To Merton I had given larger liberty, and had said: "It is not +necessary for you to stay with me all the time. Come and go on the +boat and wharf as you wish. Pick up what knowledge you can. All I +ask is that you will use good sense in keeping out of trouble and +danger." + +I soon observed that he was making acquaintances here and there, and +asking questions which would go far to make good his loss of +schooling for a time. Finding out about what one sees is, in my +belief, one of the best ways of getting an education. The trouble +with most of us is that we accept what we see, without inquiry or +knowledge. + +The children were much interested in scenes witnessed from the side +of the boat farthest from the wharf. Here in the enclosed water- +space were several kinds of craft, but the most curious in their +eyes was a group of canal boats--"queer travelling houses" Mousie +called them; for it was evident that each one had a family on board, +and the little entrance to the hidden cabin resembled a hole from +which men, women, and children came like rabbits out of a burrow. +Tough, hardy, barefooted children were everywhere. While we were +looking, one frowsy-headed little girl popped up from her burrow in +the boat, and, with legs and feet as red as a boiled lobster, ran +along the guards like a squirrel along a fence. + +"O dear!" sighed Mousie, "I'd rather live in a city flat than in +such a house." + +"I think it would be splendid," protested Winnie, "to live in a +travelling house. You could go all over and still stay at home." + +I was glad on our return to find my wife dozing in her chair. She +was determined to spend in rest the hours on the boat, and had said +that Mousie also must be quiet much of the afternoon. + +Between three and four the crush on the wharf became very great. +Horses and drays were so mixed up that to inexperienced eyes it +looked as if they could never be untangled. People of every +description, loaded down with parcels, were hurrying on board, and +it would seem from our point of view that American women shared with +their French sisters an aptness for trade, for among the passengers +were not a few substantial, matronly persons who appeared as if they +could look the world in the face and get the better of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON + + +As four P.M. approached, I took the children to a great glass window +in the cabin, through which we could see the massive machinery. + +"Now," said I, "watch the steel giant; he is motionless, but in a +moment or two he will move." + +True enough, he appeared to take a long breath of steam, and then +slowly lifted his polished arms, or levers, and the boat that had +been like a part of the wharf began to act as if it were alive and +were waking up. + +"Now," I asked, "shall we go to the after-deck and take our last +look at the city, or forward and see the river and whither we are +going?" + +"Forward! forward!" cried all in chorus. + +"That's the difference between youth and age," I thought. "With the +young it is always 'forward.'" But we found that we could not go out +on the forward deck, for the wind would have carried away my light, +frail Mousie, like a feather. Indeed it was whistling a wild tune as +we stood in a small room with glass windows all round. The waves +were crowned with foaming white-caps, and the small craft that had +to be out in the gale were bobbing up and down, as if possessed. On +the river was a strange and lurid light, which seemed to come more +from the dashing water than from the sky, so dark was the latter +with skurrying clouds. + +Mousie clung timidly to my side, but I reassured her by saying: "See +how steadily, how evenly and boldly, our great craft goes out on the +wide river. In the same way we must go forward, and never be afraid. +These boats run every day after the ice disappears, and they are +managed by men who know what to do in all sorts of weather." + +She smiled, but whispered, "I think I'll go back and stay with +mamma;" but she soon found much amusement in looking at passing +scenes from the windows of the warm after-cabin--scenes that were +like pictures set in oval frames. + +The other children appeared fascinated by the scene, especially +Winnie, whose bold black eyes flashed with excitement. + +"I want to see everything and know everything," she said. + +"I wish you to see and know about things like these," I replied, +"but not such things as Melissa Daggett would show you." + +"Melissy Daggett, indeed!" cried Winnie. "This beats all her +stories. She tried to tell me the other day about a theatre at which +a woman killed a man--" + +"Horrid! I hope you didn't listen?" + +"Only long enough to know the man came to life again, and danced in +the next--" + +"That will do. I'm not interested in Melissa's vulgar stories. As +you say, this, and all like this, is much better, and will never +prevent you from becoming a lady like mamma." + +Winnie's ambition to become a lady promised to be one of my strong +levers in uplifting her character. + +I confess that I did not like the looks of the sky or of the snow- +flakes that began to whirl in the air, but the strong steamer plowed +her way rapidly past the city and the villa-crowned shores beyond. +The gloom of the storm and of early coming night was over all, and +from the distant western shores the Palisades frowned dimly through +the obscurity. + +My wife came, and after a brief glance shivered and was turning +away, when I said, "You don't like your first glimpse of the +country, Winifred?" + +"It will look different next June. The children will take cold here. +Let them come and watch the machinery." + +This we all did for a time, and then I took them on excursions about +the enclosed parts of the boat. The lamps were already lighted, and +the piled-up freight stood out in grotesque light and shadow. + +Before very long we were standing by one of the furnace rooms, and +the sooty-visaged man threw open the iron doors of the furnace. In +the glare of light that rushed forth everything near stood out +almost as vividly as it would have done in a steady gleam of +lightning. The fireman instantly became a startling silhouette, and +the coal that he shovelled into what was like a flaming mouth of a +cavern seemed sparkling black diamonds. The snow-flakes glimmered as +the wind swept them by the wide-open window, and in the distance +were seen the lights and the dim outline of another boat rushing +toward the city. Clang! the iron doors are shut, and all is obscure +again. + +"Now the boat has had its supper," said Bobsey. "O dear! I wish I +could have a big hot supper." + +The smoking-room door stood open, and we lingered near it for some +moments, attracted first by a picture of a great fat ox, that +suggested grassy meadows, plowing, juicy steaks, and other pleasant +things. Then our attention was drawn to a man, evidently a cattle- +dealer, who was holding forth to others more or less akin to him in +their pursuits. + +"Yes," he was saying, "people in the country eat a mighty lot of +cow-beef, poor and old at that. I was buying calves out near +Shawangunk Mountains last week, and stopped at a small tavern. They +brought me a steak and I tried to put my knife in it--thought the +knife might be dull, but knew my grinders weren't. Jerusalem! I +might have chawed on that steak till now and made no impression. I +called the landlord, and said, 'See here, stranger, if you serve me +old boot-leather for steak again I'll blow on your house.'--'I vow,' +he said, 'it's the best I kin get in these diggin's. You fellers +from the city buy up every likely critter that's for sale, and we +have to take what you leave.' You see, he hit me right between the +horns, for it's about so. Bless your soul, if I'd took in a lot of +cow-beef like that to Steers and Pinkham, Washington Market, they'd +'a taken my hide off and hung me up 'longside of my beef." + +"Grantin' all that," said another man, "folks in the country would +be a sight better off if they'd eat more cow-beef and less pork. You +know the sayin' about 'out of the frying-pan into the fire'? Well, +in some parts I've travelled they had better get out of the fryin'- +pan, no matter where they fetch up." + +We went away laughing, and I said: "Don't you be troubled, Mousie; +we won't go to the frying-pan altogether to find roses for your +cheeks. We'll paint them red with strawberries and raspberries, the +color put on from the inside." + +As time passed, the storm increased, and the air became so thick +with driving snow that the boat's speed was slackened. Occasionally +we "slowed up" for some moments. The passengers shook their heads +and remarked, dolefully, "There's no telling when we'll arrive." + +I made up my mind that it would be good economy for us all to have a +hearty hot supper, as Bobsey had suggested; and when, at last, the +gong resounded through the boat, we trooped down with the others to +the lower cabin, where there were several long tables, with colored +waiters in attendance. We had not been in these lower regions +before, and the eyes of the children soon wandered from their plates +to the berths, or sleeping-bunks, which lined the sides of the +cabin. + +"Yes," I replied, in answer to their questions; "it is a big supper- +room now, but by and by it will be a big bedroom, and people will be +tucked away in these berths, just as if they were laid on shelves, +one over the other." + +The abundant and delicious supper, in which steaks, not from cow- +beef, were the chief feature, gave each one of us solid comfort and +satisfaction. Bobsey ate until the passengers around him were +laughing, but he, with superb indifference, attended strictly to +business. + +My wife whispered, "You must all eat enough to last a week, for I +sha'n't have time to cook anything;" and I was much pleased at the +good example which she and Mousie set us. + +Both before and after supper I conducted Bobsey to the wash-room, +and he made the people laugh as he stood on a chair and washed his +face. But he was a sturdy little fellow, and only laughed back when +a man said he looked as though he was going to dive into the basin. + +Mousie at last began to show signs of fatigue; and learning that it +would be several hours still before we could hope to arrive, so +severe was the storm, I procured the use of a state-room, and soon +Bobsey was snoring in the upper berth, and my invalid girl smiling +and talking in soft tones to her mother in the lower couch. Winnie, +Merton, and I prowled around, spending the time as best we could. +Occasionally we looked through the windows at the bow, and wondered +how the pilot could find his way through the tempest. I confess I +had fears lest he might not do this, and felt that I should be +grateful indeed when my little band was safe on shore. The people in +charge of the boat, however, knew their business. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A MARCH EVENING IN EDEN + + +At length we were fast at the Maizeville Landing, although long +after the usual hour of arrival. I was anxious indeed to learn +whether John Jones would meet us, or whether, believing that we +would not come in such a storm, and tired of waiting, he had gone +home and left us to find such shelter as we could. + +But there he was, looking in the light of the lanterns as grizzled +as old Time himself, with his eyebrows and beard full of snow- +flakes. He and I hastily carried the three younger children ashore +through the driving snow, and put them in a corner of the +storehouse, while Merton followed with his mother. + +"Mr. Jones," I exclaimed, "you are a neighbor to be proud of +already. Why didn't you go home and leave us to our fate?" + +"Well," he replied, laughing, "'twouldn't take you long to get +snowed under to-night. No, no; when I catch fish I mean to land 'em. +Didn't know but what in such a buster of a storm you might be +inclined to stay on the boat and go back to the city. Then where +would my bargain be?" + +"No fear of that. We're in for it now--have enlisted for the war. +What shall we do?" + +"Well, I vow I hardly know. One thing first, anyhow--we must get +Mrs. Durham and the kids into the warm waiting-room, and then look +after your traps." + +The room was already crowded, but we squeezed them in, white from +scarcely more than a moment's exposure to the storm. Then we took +hold and gave the deck-hands a lift with my baggage, Merton showing +much manly spirit in his readiness to face the weather and the work. +My effects were soon piled up by themselves, and then we held a +council. + +"Mrs. Durham'll hardly want to face this storm with the children," +began Mr. Jones. + +"Are you going home?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir. I'd rather travel all night for the sake of being home in +the morning." + +"To tell the truth I feel the same way," I continued, "but reason +must hold the reins. Do you think you could protect Mrs. Durham and +the children from the storm?" + +"Yes, I think we could tuck 'em in so they'd scarcely know it was +snowin', and then we could sled your things up in the mornin'. +'Commodations on the landin' to-night will be pretty crowded." + +"We'll let her decide, then." + +When I explained how things were and what Mr. Jones had said, she +exclaimed, "Oh, let us go home." + +How my heart jumped at her use of the word "home" in regard to a +place that she had never seen. "But, Winifred," I urged, "do you +realize how bad a night it is? Do you think it would be safe for +Mousie?" + +"It isn't so very cold if one is not exposed to the wind and snow," +she replied, "and Mr. Jones says we needn't be exposed. I don't +believe we'd run as much risk as in going to a little hotel, the +best rooms of which are already taken. Since we can do it, it will +be so much nicer to go to a place that we feel is our own!" + +"I must say that your wishes accord with mine." + +"Oh, I knew that," she replied, laughing. "Mr. Jones," she added, +sociably, "this man has a way of telling you what he wishes by his +looks before asking your opinion." + +"I found that out the day he came up to see the place," chuckled my +neighbor, "and I was half a mind to stick him for another hundred +for being so honest. He don't know how to make a bargain any more +than one of the children there. Well, I'll go to the shed and get +the hosses, and we'll make a pull for home. I don't believe you'll +be sorry when you get there." + +Mr. Jones came around to the very door with the rockaway, and we +tucked my wife and children under the buffalo robes and blankets +till they could hardly breathe. Then we started out into the white, +spectral world, for the wind had coated everything with the soft, +wet snow. On we went at a slow walk, for the snow and mud were both +deep, and the wheeling was very heavy. Even John Jones's loquacity +was checked, for every time he opened his mouth the wind half filled +it with snow. Some one ahead of us, with a lantern, guided our +course for a mile or so through the dense obscurity, and then he +turned off on another road. At first I hailed one and another in the +black cavern of the rockaway behind me, and their muffled voices +would answer, "All right." But one after another they ceased to +answer me until all were fast asleep except my wife. She insisted +that she was only very drowsy, but I knew that she was also very, +very tired. Indeed, I felt myself, in a way that frightened me, the +strange desire to sleep that overcomes those long exposed to cold +and wind. + +I must have been nodding and swaying around rather loosely, when I +felt myself going heels over head into the snow. As I picked myself +up I heard my wife and children screaming, and John Jones shouting +to his horses, "Git up," while at the same time he lashed them with +his whip. My face was so plastered with snow that I could see only a +dark object which was evidently being dragged violently out of a +ditch, for when the level road was reached, Mr. Jones shouted, +"Whoa!" + +"Robert, are you hurt?" cried my wife. + +"No, are you?" + +"Not a bit, but I'm frightened to death." + +Then John Jones gave a hearty guffaw and said: + +"I bet you our old shanghai rooster that you don't die." + +"Take you up," answered my wife, half laughing and half crying. + +"Where are we?" I asked. + +"I'm here. Haven't the remotest idea where you be," replied Mr. +Jones. + +"You are a philosopher," I said, groping my way through the storm +toward his voice. + +"I believe I was a big fool for tryin' to get home such a night as +this; but now that we've set about it, we'd better get there. That's +right. Scramble in and take the reins. Here's my mittens." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"I'm going to 'light and smell out the road. This is equal to any +blizzard I've read of out West." + +"How far have we to go now?" + +"Half a mile, as nigh as I can make out;" and we jogged on again. + +"Are you sure you are not hurt?" Mousie asked me. + +"Sure; it was like tumbling into a feather bed." + +"Stop a bit," cried Mr. Jones. "There's a turn in the road here. Let +me go on a little and lay out your course." + +"Oh, I wish we had stayed anywhere under shelter," said my wife. + +"Courage," I cried. "When we get home, we'll laugh over this." + +"Now," shouted Mr. Jones, "veer gradually off to the left toward my +voice--all right;" and we jogged on again, stopping from time to +time to let our invisible guide explore the road. + +Once more he cried, "Stop a minute." + +The wind roared and shrieked around us, and it was growing colder. +With a chill of fear I thought, "Could John Jones have mistaken the +road?" and I remembered how four people and a pair of horses had +been frozen within a few yards of a house in a Western snow-storm. + +"Are you cold, children?" I asked. + +"Yes, I'm freezing," sobbed Winnie. "I don't like the country one +bit." + +"This is different from the Eden of which we have been dreaming," I +thought grimly. Then I shouted, "How much farther, Mr. Jones?" + +The howling of the wind was my only answer. I shouted again. The +increasing violence of the tempest was the only response. + +"Robert," cried my wife, "I don't hear Mr. Jones's voice." + +"He has only gone on a little to explore," I replied, although my +teeth chattered with cold and fear. + +"Halloo--oo!" I shouted. The answering shriek of the wind in the +trees overhead chilled my very heart. + +"What has become of Mr. Jones?" asked my wife, and there was almost +anguish in her tone, while Winnie and Bobsey were actually crying +aloud. + +"Well, my dear," I tried to say, reassuringly, "even if he were very +near to us we could neither see nor hear him." + +Moments passed which seemed like ages, and I scarcely knew what to +do. The absence of all signs of Mr. Jones filled me with a nameless +and unspeakable dread. Could anything have happened to him? Could he +have lost his way and fallen into some hole or over some steep bank? +If I drove on, we might tumble after him and perish, maimed and +frozen, in the wreck of the wagon. One imagines all sorts of +horrible things when alone and helpless at night. + +"Papa," cried Merton, "I'll get out and look for Mr. Jones." + +"You are a good, brave boy," I replied. "No; you hold the reins, and +I'll look for him and see what is just before us." + +At that moment there was a glimmer of light off to the left of us. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +RESCUED AND AT HOME + + +All that the poets from the beginning of time have written about +light could not express my joy as I saw that glimmer approaching on +the left. Before it appeared I had been awed by the tempest, +benumbed with cold, shivering in my wet clothes, and a prey to many +terrible fears and surmises; but now I cried, "Cheer up; here comes +a light." + +Then in my gladness I shouted the greeting that met Mr. Jones +everywhere, "How are YOU, JOHN?" + +A great guffaw of laughter mingled with the howl of the storm, and +my neighbor's voice followed from the obscurity: "That's famous-- +keepin' up your courage like a soldier." + +"Oh, I won't brag about keeping up my courage." + +"Guess you didn't know what had become of me?" + +"You're right and we didn't know what was to become of us. Now +aren't we nearly home? For we are all half frozen." + +"Just let me spy a bit with the lantern, and I'll soon tell you +everything." He bobbed back and forth for a moment or two like a +will-o'-the-wisp. "Now turn sharp to the left, and follow the +light." + +A great hope sprung up in my heart, and I hushed Winnie's and +Bobsey's crying by saying, "Listen, and you'll soon hear some good +news." + +Our wheels crunched through the deep snow for a few moments, and +soon I saw a ruddy light shining from the window of a dwelling, and +then Mr. Jones shouted, "Whoa! 'Light down, neighbors; you're at +your own door." + +There was a chorus of delighted cries. Merton half tumbled over me +in his eagerness to get down. A door opened, and out poured a +cheerful glow. Oh the delicious sense of safety and warmth given by +it already! + +I seized Mousie, floundered through the snow up to my knees, and +placed her in a big rocking-chair. Mr. Jones followed with Winnie, +and Merton came in with Bobsey on his back. The little fellow was +under such headway in crying that he couldn't stop at once, although +his tears were rapidly giving place to laughter. I rushed back and +carried in my wife, and then said, in a voice a little unsteady from +deep feeling, "Welcome home, one and all." + +Never did the word mean more to a half-frozen and badly frightened +family. At first safety, warmth, and comfort were the uppermost in +our thoughts, but as wraps were taken off, and my wife and children +thawed out, eager-eyed curiosity began to make explorations. Taking +Mousie on my lap, and chafing her hands, I answered questions and +enjoyed to the full the exclamations of pleasure. + +Mr. Jones lingered for a few moments, then gave one of his big +guffaws by way of preface, and said: "Well, you do look as if you +was at home and meant to stay. This 'ere scene kinder makes me +homesick; so I'll say good-night, and I'll be over in the mornin'. +There's some lunch on the table that my wife fixed up for you. I +must go, for I hear John junior hollerin' for me." + +His only response to our profuse thanks was another laugh, which the +wind swept away. + +"Who is John junior?" asked Merton. + +"Mr. Jones's son, a boy of about your age. He was here waiting for +us, and keeping the fire up. When we arrived he came out and took +the horses, and so you didn't see him. He'll make a good playmate +for you. To use his father's own words, 'He's a fairish boy as boys +go,' and that from John Jones means that he's a good fellow." + +Oh, what a happy group we were, as we gathered around the great, +open fire, on which I piled more wood! + +"Do you wish to go and look around a little?" I asked my wife. + +"No," she replied, leaning back in her rocking-chair: "let me take +this in first. O Robert, I have such a sense of rest, quiet, +comfort, and hominess that I just want to sit still and enjoy it +all. The howling of the storm only makes this place seem more like a +refuge, and I'd rather hear it than the Daggetts tramping overhead +and the Ricketts children crying down-stairs. Oh, isn't it nice to +be by ourselves in this quaint old room? Turn the lamp down, Robert, +so we can see the firelight flicker over everything. Isn't it +splendid?--just like a picture in a book." + +"No picture in a book, Winifred--no artist could paint a picture +that would have the charm of this one for me," I replied, leaning my +elbow on the end of the mantel-piece, and looking fondly down on the +little group. My wife's face looked girlish in the ruddy light. +Mousie gazed into the fire with unspeakable content, and declared +she was "too happy to think of taking cold." Winnie and Bobsey were +sitting, Turk-fashion, on the floor, their eyelids drooping. The +long cold ride had quenched even their spirit, for after running +around for a few moments they began to yield to drowsiness. Merton, +with a boy's appetite, was casting wistful glances at the lunch on +the table, the chief feature of which was a roast chicken. + +There seemed to be no occasion for haste. I wished to let the +picture sink deep into my heart. At last my wife sprang up and +said:-- + +"I've been sentimental long enough. You're not of much account in +the house, Robert"--with one of her saucy looks--"and I must see to +things, or Winnie and Bobsey will be asleep on the floor. I feel as +if I could sit here till morning, but I'll come back after the +children are in bed. Come, show me my home, or at least enough of it +to let me see where we are to sleep." + +"We shall have to camp again to-night. Mrs. Jones has made up the +one bed left in the house, and you and Mousie shall have that. We'll +fix Winnie and Bobsey on the lounge; and, youngsters, you can sleep +in your clothes, just as soldiers do on the ground. Merton and I +will doze in these chairs before the fire. To-morrow night we can +all be very comfortable." + +I took the lamp and led the way--my wife, Mousie, and Merton +following--first across a little hall, from which one stairway led +to the upper chambers and another to the cellar. Opening a door +opposite the living-room, I showed Winifred her parlor. Cosey and +comfortable it looked, even now, through Mr. and Mrs. Jones's kind +offices. A Morning Glory stove gave out abundant warmth and a rich +light which blended genially with the red colors of the carpet. + +"Oh, how pretty I can make this room look!" exclaimed my wife. + +"Of course you can: you've only to enter it." + +"You hurt your head when you fell out of the wagon, Robert, and are +a little daft. There's no place to sleep here." + +"Come to the room over this, warmed by a pipe from this stove." + +"Ah, this is capital," she cried, looking around an apartment which +Mrs. Jones had made comfortable. "Wasn't I wise when I decided to +come home? It's just as warm as toast. Now let the wind blow--Why, I +don't hear it any more." + +"No, the gale has blown itself out. Finding that we had escaped, it +got discouraged and gave up. Connected with this room is another for +Mousie and Winnie. By leaving the door open much of the time it will +be warm enough for them. So you see this end of the house can be +heated with but little trouble and expense. The open fire in the +living-room is a luxury that we can afford, since there is plenty of +wood on the place. On the other side of the hall there is a room for +Merton. Now do me a favor: don't look, or talk, or think, any more +to-night. It has been a long, hard day. Indeed"--looking at my +watch--"it is already to-morrow morning, and you know how much we +shall have to do. Let us go back and get a little supper, and then +take all the rest we can." + +Winifred yielded, and Bobsey and Winnie waked up for a time at the +word "supper." Then we knelt around our hearth, and made it an altar +to God, for I wished the children never to forget our need of His +fatherly care and help. + +"I will now take the children upstairs and put them to bed, and then +come back, for I can not leave this wood fire just yet," remarked my +wife. + +I burst out laughing and said, "You have never been at home until +this night, when you are camping in an old house you never saw +before, and I can prove it by one question--When have you taken the +children UPSTAIRS to bed before?" + +"Why--why--never." + +"Of course you haven't--city flats all your life. But your nature is +not perverted. In natural homes for generations mothers have taken +their children upstairs to bed, and, forgetting the habit of your +life, you speak according to the inherited instinct of the mother- +heart." + +"O Robert, you have so many fine-spun theories! Yet it is a little +queer. It seemed just as natural for me to say upstairs as--" + +"As it was for your mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother." + +"Very well. We are in such an old house that I suppose I shall begin +to look and act like my great-grandmother. But no more theories to- +night--nothing but rest and the wood fire." + +She soon joined me at the hearth again. Merton meanwhile had +stretched himself on the rag-carpet, with his overcoat for a pillow, +and was in dreamless sleep. My wife's eyes were full of languor. She +did not sit down, but stood beside me for a moment. Then, laying her +head on my shoulder, she said, softly, "I haven't brains enough for +theories and such things, but I will try to make you all happy +here." + +"Dear little wife!" I laughed; "when has woman hit upon a higher or +better wisdom than that of making all happy in her own home? and you +half asleep, too." + +"Then I'll bid you good-night at once, before I say something +awfully stupid." + +Soon the old house was quiet. The wind had utterly ceased. I opened +the door a moment, and looked on the white, still world without. The +stars glittered frostily through the rifts in the clouds. Schunemunk +Mountain was a shadow along the western horizon, and the eastern +highlands banked up and blended with the clouds. Nature has its +restless moods, its storms and passions, like human life; but there +are times of tranquillity and peace, even in March. How different +was this scene from the aspect of our city street when I had taken +my farewell look at a late hour the previous night! No grand +sweeping outlines there, no deep quiet and peace, soothing and at +the same time uplifting the mind. Even at midnight there is an +uneasy fretting in city life--some one not at rest, and disturbing +the repose of others. + +I stole silently through the house. Here, too, all seemed in accord +with nature. The life of a good old man had quietly ceased in this +home; new, hopeful life was beginning. Evil is everywhere in the +world, but it seemed to me that we had as safe a nook as could be +found. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SELF-DENIAL AND ITS REWARD + + +I remember little that followed until I was startled out of my chair +by a loud knocking. The sunlight was streaming in at the window and +John Jones's voice was at the door. + +"I think we have all overslept," I said, as I admitted him. + +"Not a bit of it. Every wink you've had after such a day as +yesterday is like money put in the bank. But the sleighing is better +now than it will be later in the day. The sun'll be pretty powerful +by noon, and the snow'll soon be slush. Now's your chance to get +your traps up in a hurry. I can have a two-hoss sled ready in half +an hour, and if you say so I can hire a big sleigh of a neighbor, +and we'll have everything here by dinner-time. After you get things +snug, you won't care if the bottom does fall out of the roads for a +time. Well, you HAVE had to rough it. Merton might have come and +stayed with us." + +"Oh, I'm all right," said the boy, rubbing his eyes open as he rose +from the floor, at the same time learning from stiff joints that a +carpet is not a mattress. + +"Nothing would suit me better, Mr. Jones, than your plan of prompt +action, and I'm the luckiest man in the world in having such a long- +headed, fore-handed neighbor to start with. I know you'll make a +good bargain for the other team, and before I sleep to-night I wish +to square up for everything. I mean at least to begin business in +this way at Maizeville." + +"Oh, go slow, go slow!" said Mr. Jones. "The town will mob you if +they find you've got ready money in March. John junior will be over +with a pot of coffee and a jug of milk in a few minutes, and we'll +be off sharp." + +There was a patter of feet overhead, and soon Bobsey came tearing +down, half wild with excitement over the novelty of everything. He +started for the door as if he were going head first into the snow. + +I caught him, and said: "Do you see that chair? Well, we all have a +busy day before us. You can help a good deal, and play a little, but +you can't hinder and pester according to your own sweet will one +bit. You must either obey orders or else be put under arrest and +tied in the chair." + +To go into the chair to-day would be torture indeed, and the little +fellow was sobered at once. + +The others soon joined us, eager to see everything by the broad +light of day, and to enter upon the task of getting settled. We had +scarcely come together before John junior appeared with the chief +features of our breakfast. The children scanned this probable +playmate very curiously, and some of us could hardly repress a smile +at his appearance. He was even more sandy than his father. Indeed +his hair and eyebrows were nearly white, but out of his red and +almost full-moon face his mother's black eyes twinkled shrewdly. +They now expressed only good-will and bashfulness. Every one of us +shook hands with him so cordially that his boy's heart was evidently +won. + +Merton, to break the ice more fully, offered to show him his gun, +which he had kept within reach ever since we left the boat. It made +him feel more like a pioneer, no doubt. As he took it from its stout +cloth cover I saw John junior's eyes sparkle. Evidently a deep chord +was touched. He said, excitedly: "To-day's your time to try it. A +rabbit can't stir without leaving his tracks, and the snow is so +deep and soft that he can't get away. There's rabbits on your own +place." + +"O papa," cried my boy, fairly trembling with eagerness, "can't I +go?" + +"I need you very much this morning." + +"But, papa, others will be out before me, and I may lose my chance;" +and he was half ready to cry. + +"Yes," I said; "there is a risk of that. Well, YOU shall decide in +this case," I added, after a moment, seeing a chance to do a little +character-building. "It is rarely best to put pleasure before +business or prudence. If you go out into the snow with those boots, +you will spoil them, and very probably take a severe cold. Yet you +may go if you will. If you help me we can be back by ten o'clock, +and I will get you a pair of rubber boots as we return." + +"Will there be any chance after ten o'clock?" he asked, quickly. + +"Well," said John junior, in his matter-of-fact way, "that depends. +As your pa says, there's a risk." + +The temptation was too strong for the moment. "O dear!" exclaimed +Merton, "I may never have so good a chance again. The snow will soon +melt, and there won't be any more till next winter. I'll tie my +trousers down about my boots, and I'll help all the rest of the day +after I get back." + +"Very well," I said quietly: and he began eating his breakfast--the +abundant remains of our last night's lunch--very rapidly, while John +junior started off to get his gun. + +I saw that Merton was ill at ease, but I made a sign to his mother +not to interfere. More and more slowly he finished his breakfast, +then took his gun and went to the room that would be his, to load +and prepare. At last he came down and went out by another door, +evidently not wishing to encounter me. John junior met him, and the +boys were starting, when John senior drove into the yard and +shouted, "John junior, step here a moment." + +The boy returned slowly, Merton following. "You ain't said nothin' +to me about goin' off with that gun," continued Mr. Jones, severely. + +"Well, Merton's pa said he might go if he wanted to, and I had to go +along to show him." + +"That first shot wasn't exactly straight, my young friend John. I +told Merton that it wasn't best to put pleasure before business, but +that he could go if he would. I wished to let him choose to do +right, instead of making him do right." + +"Oho, that's how the land lays. Well, John junior, you can have your +choice, too. You may go right on with your gun, but you know the +length and weight of that strap at home. Now, will you help me? or +go after rabbits?" + +The boy grinned pleasantly, and replied, "If you had said I couldn't +go, I wouldn't; but if it's choosin' between shootin' rabbits and a +strappin' afterward--come along, Merton." + +"Well, go along then," chuckled his father; "you've made your +bargain square, and I'll keep my part of it." + +"Oh, hang the rabbits! You shan't have any strapping on my account," +cried Merton; and he carried his gun resolutely to his room and +locked the door on it. + +John junior quietly went to the old barn, and hid his gun. + +"Guess I'll go with you, pa," he said, joining us. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Mr. Jones. "It was a good bargain to back out +of. Come now, let's all be off as quick as we can. Neighbor Rollins +down the road will join us as we go along." + +"Merton," I said, "see if there isn't a barrel of apples in the +cellar. If you find one, you can fill your pockets." + +He soon returned with bulging pockets and a smiling face, feeling +that such virtue as he had shown had soon brought reward. My wife +said that while we were gone she and the children would explore the +house and plan how to arrange everything. We started in good +spirits. + +"Here's where you thought you was cast away last night," Mr. Jones +remarked, as we passed out of the lane. + +The contrast made by a few short hours was indeed wonderful. Then, +in dense obscurity, a tempest had howled and shrieked about us; now, +in the unclouded sunshine, a gemmed and sparkling world revealed +beauty everywhere. + +For a long distance our sleighs made the first tracks, and it seemed +almost a pity to sully the purity of the white, drift-covered road. + +"What a lot of mud's hid under this snow!" was John Jones's prose +over the opening vistas. "What's more, it will show itself before +night. We can beat all creation at mud in Maizeville, when once we +set about it." + +Merton laughed, and munched his apples, but I saw that he was +impressed by winter scenery such as he had never looked upon before. +Soon, however, he and John junior were deep in the game question, +and I noted that the latter kept a sharp lookout along the roadside. +Before long, while passing a thicket, he shouted, "There's tracks," +and floundered out into the snow, Merton following. + +"Oh, come back," growled his father. + +"Let the boys have a few moments," I said. "They gave up this +morning about as well as you could expect of boys. Would Junior have +gone and taken a strapping if Merton hadn't returned?" + +"Yes, indeed he would, and he knows my strappin's are no make- +believe. That boy has no sly, mean tricks to speak of, but he's as +tough and obstinate as a mule sometimes, especially about shooting +and fishing. See him now a-p'intin' for that rabbit, like a hound." + +True enough, the boy was showing good woodcraft. Restraining Merton, +he cautiously approached the tracks, which by reason of the +lightness and depth of the snow were not very distinct. + +"He can't be far away," said Junior, excitedly. "Don't go too fast +till I see which way he was a-p'intin'. We don't want to follow the +tracks back, but for'ard. See, he came out of that old wall there, +he went to these bushes and nibbled some twigs, and here he goes-- +here he went--here--here--yes, he went into the wall again just +here. Now, Merton, watch this hole while I jump over the other side +of the fence and see if he comes out again. If he makes a start, +grab him." + +John Jones and I were now almost as excited as the boys, and Mr. +Rollins, the neighbor who was following us, was standing up in his +sleigh to see the sport. It came quickly. As if by some instinct the +rabbit believed Junior to be the more dangerous, and made a break +from the wall almost at Merton's feet, with such swiftness and power +as to dash by him like a shot. The first force of its bound over, it +was caught by nature's trap--snow too deep and soft to admit of +rapid running. + +John Jones soon proved that Junior came honestly by his passion for +hunting. In a moment he was floundering through the bushes with his +son and Merton. In such pursuit of game my boy had the advantage, +for he was as agile as a cat. But a moment or two elapsed before he +caught up with the rabbit, and threw himself upon it, then rose, +white as a snow-man, shouting triumphantly and holding the little +creature aloft by its ears. + +"Never rate Junior for hunting again," I said, laughingly, to Mr. +Jones. "He's a chip of the old block." + +"I rather guess he is," my neighbor acknowledged, with a grin. "I +own up I used to be pretty hot on such larkin'. We all keep +forgettin' we was boys once." + +As we rode on, Merton was a picture of exultation, and Junior was on +the sharp lookout again. His father turned on him and said: "Now +look a' here, enough's as good as a feast. I'll blindfold you if you +don't let the tracks alone. Mrs. Durham wants her things, so she can +begin to live. Get up there;" and a crack of the whip ended all +further hopes on the part of the boys. But they felt well repaid for +coming, and Merton assured Junior that he deserved half the credit, +for only he knew how to manage the hunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OUR SUNNY KITCHEN + + +Before we reached the landing I had invested a goodly sum in four +pairs of rubber boots, for I knew how hopeless it would be to try to +keep Winnie and Bobsey indoors. As for Mousie, she would have to be +prudent until the ground should become dry and warm. + +There is no need of dwelling long on the bringing home of our +effects and the getting to rights. We were back soon after ten, and +found that Winnie and Bobsey, having exhausted the resources of the +house, had been permitted to start at the front door, and, with an +old fire-shovel and a piece of board, had well-nigh completed a path +to the well, piling up the snow as they advanced, so that their +overshoes were a sufficient protection. + +After we had carried in the things I interceded with Mr. Jones and +then told the boys that they could take their guns and be absent two +or three hours if they would promise to help faithfully the rest of +the day. + +I had bought at Maizeville Landing such provisions, tools, etc., as +I should need immediately. Therefore I did not worry because the +fickle March sky was clouding up again with the promise of rain. A +heavy downpour now with snow upon the ground would cause almost a +flood, but I felt that we could shut the door and find the old house +a very comfortable ark. + +"A smart warm rain would be the best thing that could happen to +yer," said Mr. Jones, as he helped me carry in furniture and put up +beds; "it would take the snow off. Nat'rally you want to get out on +the bare ground, for there's allus a lot of clearin' up to be done +in the spring and old man Jamison was poorly last year and didn't +keep things up to the mark." + +"Yes," I replied, "I am as eager to get to work outdoors as the boys +were to go after rabbits. I believe I shall like the work, but that +is not the question. I did not come to the country to amuse myself, +like so many city people. I don't blame them; I wish I could afford +farming for fun. I came to earn a living for my wife and children, +and I am anxious to be about it. I won't ask you for anything except +advice. I've only had a city training, and my theories about farming +would perhaps make you smile. But I've seen enough of you already to +feel that you are inclined to be kind and neighborly, and the best +way to show this will be in helping me to good, sound, practical, +common-sense advice. But you mustn't put on airs, or be impatient +with me. Shrewd as you are, I could show you some things in the +city." + +"Oh, I'd be a sight queerer there than you here. I see your p'int, +and if you'll come to me I won't let you make no blunders I wouldn't +make myself. Perhaps that ain't saying a great deal, though." + +By this time everything had been brought in and either put in place +or stowed out of the way, until my wife could decide where and how +she would arrange things. + +"Now," I said, when we had finished, "carry out our agreement." + +Mr. Jones gave me a wink and drove away. + +Our agreement was this--first, that he and Mr. Rollins, the owner of +the other team, should be paid in full before night; and second, +that Mrs. Jones should furnish us our dinner, in which the chief +dish should be a pot-pie from the rabbit caught by Merton, and that +Mr. Jones should bring everything over at one o'clock. + +My wife was so absorbed in unpacking her china, kitchen-utensils, +and groceries that she was unaware of the flight of time, but at +last she suddenly exclaimed, "I declare it's dinner-time!" + +"Not quite yet," I said; "dinner will be ready at one." + +"It will? Oh, indeed! Since we are in the country we are to pick up +what we can, like the birds. You intend to invite us all down to the +apple barrel, perhaps." + +"Certainly, whenever you wish to go; but we'll have a hot dinner at +one o'clock, and a game dinner into the bargain." + +"I've heard the boys' guns occasionally, but I haven't seen the +game, and it's after twelve now." + +"Papa has a secret--a surprise for us," cried Mousie; "I can see it +in his eyes." + +"Now, Robert, I know what you've been doing. You have asked Mrs. +Jones to furnish a dinner. You are extravagant, for I could have +picked up something that would have answered." + +"No; I've been very prudent in saving your time and strength, and +saving these is sometimes the best economy in the world. Mousie is +nearer right. The dinner is a secret, and it has been furnished +chiefly by one of the family." + +"Well, I'm too busy to guess riddles to-day; but if my appetite is a +guide, it is nearly time we had your secret." + +"You would not feel like that after half an hour over a hot stove. +Now you will be interrupted, in getting to rights, only long enough +to eat your dinner. Then Mousie and Merton and Winnie will clear up +everything, and be fore night you will feel settled enough to take +things easy till to-morrow." + +"I know your thoughtfulness for me, if not your secret," she said, +gratefully, and was again putting things where, from housewifely +experience, she knew they would be handy. + +Mr. and Mrs. Jamison had clung to their old-fashioned ways, and had +done their cooking over the open fire, using the swinging crane +which is now employed chiefly in pictures. This, for the sake of the +picture it made, we proposed to keep as it had been left, although +at times it might answer some more prosaic purpose. + +At the eastern end of the house was a single room, added unknown +years ago, and designed to be a bed-chamber. Of late it had been +used as a general storage and lumber room, and when I first +inspected the house, I had found little in this apartment of service +to us. So I had asked Mr. Jones to remove all that I did not care +for, and to have the room cleansed, satisfied that it would just +suit my wife as a kitchen. It was large, having windows facing the +east and south, and therefore it would be light and cheerful, as a +kitchen ever should be, especially when the mistress of the house is +cook. There Mr. Jones and I set up the excellent stove that I had +brought from New York--one to which my wife was accustomed, and from +which she could conjure a rare good dinner when she gave her mind to +it. Now as she moved back and forth, in such sunlight as the +clouding sky permitted, she appeared the picture of pleased content. + +"It cheers one up to enter a kitchen like this," she said. + +"It is to be your garden for a time also," I exclaimed to Mousie. "I +shall soon have by this east window a table with shallow boxes of +earth, and in them you can plant some of your flower-seeds. I only +ask that I may have two of the boxes for early cabbages, lettuce, +tomatoes, etc. You and your plants can take a sun-bath every morning +until it is warm, enough to go out of doors, and you'll find the +plants won't die here as they did in the dark, gas-poisoned city +flat." + +"I feel as if I were going to grow faster and stronger than the +plants," cried the happy child. + +Junior and Merton now appeared, each carrying a rabbit. My boy's +face, however, was clouded, and he said, a little despondently, "I +can't shoot straight--missed every time; and Junior shot 'em after I +had fired and missed." + +"Pshaw!" cried Junior; "Merton's got to learn to take a quick steady +sight, like every one else. He gets too excited." + +"That's just it, my boy," I said. "You shall go down by the creek +and fire at a mark a few times every day, and you'll soon hit it +every time. Junior's head is too level to think that anything can be +done well without practice. Now, Junior," I added, "run over home +and help your father bring us our dinner, and then you stay and help +us eat it." + +Father and son soon appeared, well laden. Winnie and Bobsey came in +ravenous from their path-making, and all agreed that we had already +grown one vigorous rampant Maizeville crop--an appetite. + +The pot-pie was exulted over, and the secret of its existence +explained. Even Junior laughed till the tears came as I described +him, his father, and Merton, floundering through the deep snow after +the rabbit, and we all congratulated Merton as the one who had +provided our first country dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MAKING A PLACE FOR CHICKENS + + +Before the meal was over, I said, seriously, "Now, boys, there must +be no more hunting until I find out about the game-laws. They should +be obeyed, especially by sportsmen. I don't think that we are +forbidden to kill rabbits on our own place, particularly when they +threaten to be troublesome; and the hunt this morning was so +unexpected that I did not think of the law, which might be used to +make us trouble. You killed the other rabbits on this place, +Junior?" + +"Yes, sir, both of 'em." + +"Well, hereafter you must look after hawks, and other enemies of +poultry. Especially do I hope you will never fire at our useful +song-birds. If boys throughout the country would band together to +protect game when out of season, they would soon have fine sport in +the autumn." + +In the afternoon we let Winnie and Bobsey expend their energy in +making paths and lanes in every direction through the snow, which +was melting rapidly in the south wind. By three o'clock the rain +began to fall, and when darkness set in there was a gurgling sound +of water on every side. Our crackling fire made the warmth and +comfort within seem tenfold more cheery. + +A hearty supper, prepared in our own kitchen, made us feel that our +home machinery had fairly started, and we knew that it would run +more and more smoothly. March was keeping up its bad name for storm +and change. The wind was again roaring, but laden now with rain, and +in gusty sheets the heavy drops dashed against the windows. But our +old house kept us dry and safe, although it rocked a little in the +blasts. They soon proved a lullaby for our second night at home. + +After breakfast the following morning, with Merton, Winnie, and +Bobsey, I started out to see if any damage had been done. The sky +was still clouded, but the rain had ceased. Our rubber boots served +us well, for the earth was like an over-full sponge, while down +every little incline and hollow a stream was murmuring. + +The old barn showed the need of a good many nails to be driven here +and there, and a deal of mending. Then it would answer for corn- +stalks and other coarse fodder. The new barn had been fairly built, +and the interior was dry. It still contained as much hay as would be +needed for the keeping of a horse and cow until the new crop should +be harvested. + +"Papa," cried Winnie, "where is the chicken place?" + +"That is one of the questions we must settle at once," I replied. +"As we were coming out I saw an old coop in the orchard. We'll go +and look at it." + +It was indeed old and leaky, and had poultry been there the previous +night they would have been half drowned on their perches. "This +might do for a summer cottage for your chickens, Winnie," I +continued, "but never for a winter house. Let us go back to the +barn, for I think I remember a place that will just suit, with some +changes." + +Now the new barn had been built on a hillside, and had an ample +basement, from which a room extending well into the bank had been +partitioned, thus promising all one could desire as a cellar for +apples and roots. The entrance to this basement faced the east, and +on each side of it was a window. To the right of the entrance were +two cow-stalls, and to the left was an open space half full of +mouldy corn-stalks and other rubbish. + +"See here, Winnie and Merton," I said, after a little examination, +"I think we could clear out this space on the left, partition it +off, make a door, and keep the chickens here. After that window is +washed, a good deal of sunlight can come in. I've read that in cold +weather poultry need warmth and light, and must be kept dry. Here we +can secure all these conditions. Having a home for ourselves, +suppose we set to work to make a home for the chickens." + +This idea delighted Winnie, and pleased Merton almost as much as +hunting rabbits. "Now," I resumed, "we will go to the house and get +what we need for the work." + +"Winifred," I said to my wife, "can you let Winnie have a small pail +of hot water and some old rags?" + +"What are you up to now?" + +"You know all about cleaning house; we are going to clean barn, and +make a place for Winnie's chickens. There is a window in their +future bedroom--roost-room I suppose I should call it--that looks as +if it had never been washed, and to get off the dust of years will +be Winnie's task, while Merton, Bobsey, and I create an interior +that should satisfy a knowing hen. We'll make nests, too, children, +that will suggest to the biddies that they should proceed at once to +business." + +"But where are the chickens to come from?" my wife asked, as she +gave the pan to Merton to carry for his sister. + +"Oh, John Jones will put me in the way of getting them soon;" and we +started out to our morning's work. Mousie looked after us wistfully, +but her mother soon found light tasks for her, and she too felt that +she was helping. "Remember, Mousie," I said, in parting, "that I +have three helpers, and surely mamma needs one;" and she was +content. + +Merton at first was for pitching all the old corn-stalks out into +the yard, but I said: "That won't do. We shall need a cow as well as +chickens, and these stalks must be kept dry for her bedding. We'll +pile them up in the inner empty stall. You can help at that, +Bobsey;" and we set to work. + +Under Winnie's quick hands more and more light came through the +window. With a fork I lifted and shook up the stalks, and the boys +carried them to the empty stall. At last we came to rubbish that was +so damp and decayed that it would be of no service indoors, so we +placed it on a barrow and I wheeled it out to one corner of the +yard. At last we came down to a hard earth floor, and with a hoe +this was cleared and made smooth. + +"Merton," I said, "I saw an old broom upstairs. Run and get it, and +we'll brush down the cobwebs and sweep out, and then we shall be +ready to see about the partition." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GOOD BARGAINS IN MAPLE SUGAR + + +By eleven o'clock we had all the basement cleaned except the one +cow-stall that was filled to the ceiling with litter; and Winnie had +washed the windows. Then John Jones's lank figure darkened the +doorway, and he cried, "Hello, neighbor, what ye drivin' at?" + +"Look around and see, and then tell us where to get a lot of +chickens." + +"Well, I declare! How you've slicked things up! You're not goin' to +scrub the dirt floor, are you? Well, well, this looks like business-- +just the place for chickens. Wonder old man Jamison didn't keep 'em +here; but he didn't care for fowls. Now I think of it, there's to be +a vandoo the first of the week, and there was a lot o' chickens +printed on the poster." + +I smiled. + +"Oh, I don't mean that the chickens themselves was on the poster, +but a statement that a lot would be sold at auction. I'll bid 'em in +for you if they're a good lot. If you, a city chap, was to bid, some +straw-bidder would raise 'em agin you. I know what they're wuth, and +everybody there'll know I do, and they'll try no sharp games with +me." + +"That will suit me exactly, Mr. Jones. I don't want any game-fowls +of that kind." + +"Ha, ha! I see the p'int. Have you looked into the root-cellar?" + +"Yes; we opened the door and looked, but it was dark as a pocket." + +"Well, I don't b'lieve in matches around a barn, but I'll show you +something;" and he opened the door, struck a match, and, holding it +aloft, revealed a heap of turnips, another of carrots, five barrels +of potatoes, and three of apples. The children pounced upon the last +with appetites sharpened by their morning's work. + +"You see," resumed Mr. Jones, "these were here when old man Jamison +died. If I hadn't sold the place I should have taken them out before +long, and got rid of what I didn't want. Now you can have the lot at +a low figure," which he named. + +"I'll take them," I said, promptly. + +"The carrots make it look like a gold-mine," cried Merton. + +"Well, you're wise," resumed Mr. Jones. "You'll have to get a cow +and a horse, and here's fodder for 'em handy. Perhaps I can pick 'em +out for you, too, at the vandoo. You can go along, and if anything +strikes your fancy I'll bid on it." + +"O papa," cried the children, in chorus, "can we go with you to the +vandoo?" + +"Yes, I think so. When does the sale take place?" + +"Next Tuesday. That's a good breed of potatoes. Jamison allus had +the best of everything. They'll furnish you with seed, and supply +your table till new ones come. I guess you could sell a barrel or so +of apples at a rise." + +"I've found a market for them already. Look at these children; and +I'm good for half a barrel myself if they don't decay too soon. +Where could we find better or cheaper food? All the books say that +apples are fattening." + +"That's true of man and beast, if the books do say it. They'll keep +in this cool, dark cellar longer than you'd think--longer than +you'll let 'em, from the way they're disappearin'. I guess I'll try +one." + +"Certainly, a dozen, just as if they were still yours." + +"They wasn't mine--they belonged to the Jamison estate. I'll help +myself now quicker'n I would before. I might come it over a live +man, you know, but not a dead one." + +"I'd trust you with either." + +While I was laughing at this phase of honesty, he resumed: "This is +the kind of place to keep apples--cool, dry, dark, even temperature. +Why, they're as crisp and juicy as if just off the trees. I came +over to make a suggestion. There's a lot of sugar-maple trees on +your place, down by the brook. Why not tap 'em, and set a couple of +pots b'ilin' over your open fire? You'd kill two birds with one +stone; the fire'd keep you warm, and make a lot of sugar in the +bargain. I opinion, too, the children would like the fun." + +They were already shouting over the idea, but I said dubiously, "How +about the pails to catch the sap?" + +"Well," said Mr. Jones, "I've thought of that. We've a lot of spare +milk-pails and pans, that we're not usin'. Junior understands the +business; and, as we're not very busy, he can help you and take his +pay in sugar." + +The subject of poultry was forgotten; and the children scampered off +to the house to tell of this new project. + +Before Mr. Jones and I left the basement, he said: "You don't want +any partition here at present, only a few perches for the fowls. +There's a fairish shed, you remember, in the upper barnyard, and +when 'tain't very cold or stormy the cow will do well enough there +from this out. The weather'll be growin' milder 'most every day, and +in rough spells you can put her in here. Chickens won't do her any +harm. Law sakes! when the main conditions is right, what's the use +of havin' everything jes' so? It's more important to save your time +and strength and money. You'll find enough to do without one stroke +that ain't needful." Thus John Jones fulfilled his office of mentor. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +BUTTERNUTS AND BOBSEY'S PERIL + + +I restrained the children until after dinner, which my wife +hastened. By that time Junior was on hand with a small wagon-load of +pails and pans. + +"Oh, dear, I wanted you to help me this afternoon," my wife had +said, but, seeing the dismayed look on the children's faces, had +added, "Well, there's no hurry, I suppose. We are comfortable, and +we shall have stormy days when you can't be out." + +I told her that she was wiser than the queen of Sheba and did not +need to go to Solomon. + +The horse was put in the barn, for he would have mired in the long +spongy lane and the meadow which we must cross. So we decided to run +the light wagon down by hand. + +Junior had the auger with which to bore holes in the trees. "I +tapped 'em last year, as old Mr. Jamison didn't care about doin' +it," said the boy, "an' I b'iled the pot of sap down in the grove; +but that was slow, cold work. I saved the little wooden troughs I +used last year, and they are in one of the pails. I brought over a +big kittle, too, which mother let me have, and if we can keep this +and yours a-goin', we'll soon have some sugar." + +Away we went, down the lane, Junior and Merton in the shafts, +playing horses. I pushed in some places, and held back in others, +while Winnie and Bobsey picked their way between puddles and +quagmires. The snow was so nearly gone that it lay only on the +northern slopes. We had heard the deep roar of the Moodna Creek all +the morning, and had meant to go and see it right after breakfast; +but providing a chickenhome had proved a greater attraction to the +children, and a better investment of time for me. Now from the top +of the last hillside we saw a great flood rushing by with a hoarse, +surging noise. + +"Winnie, Bobsey, if you go near the water without me you march +straight home," I cried. + +They promised never to go, but I thought Bobsey protested a little +too much. Away we went down the hill, skirting what was now a good- +sized brook. I knew the trees, from a previous visit; and the maple, +when once known, can be picked out anywhere, so genial, mellow, and +generous an aspect has it, even when leafless. + +The roar of the creek and the gurgle of the brook made genuine March +music, and the children looked and acted as if there were nothing +left to be desired. When Junior showed them a tree that appeared to +be growing directly out of a flat rock, they expressed a wonder +which no museum could have excited. + +But scenery, and even rural marvels, could not keep their attention +long. All were intent on sap and sugar, and Junior was speedily at +work. The moment he broke the brittle, juicy bark, the tree's life- +blood began to flow. + +"See," he cried, "they are like cows wanting to be milked." + +As fast as he inserted his little wooden troughs into the trees, we +placed pails and pans under them, and began harvesting the first +crop from our farm. + +This was rather slow work, and to keep Winnie and Bobsey busy I told +them they could gather sticks and leaves, pile them up at the foot +of a rock on a dry hillside, and we would have a fire. I meanwhile +picked up the dead branches that strewed the ground, and with my axe +trimmed them for use in summer, when only a quick blaze would be +needed to boil the supper kettle. To city-bred eyes wood seemed a +rare luxury, and although there was enough lying about to supply us +for a year, I could not get over the feeling that it must all be +cared for. + +To children there are few greater delights than that of building a +fire in the woods, and on that cloudy, chilly day our blaze against +the rock brought solid comfort to us all, even though the smoke did +get into our eyes. Winnie and Bobsey, little bundles of energy that +they were, seemed unwearied in feeding the flames, while Merton +sought to hide his excitement by imitating Junior's stolid, +business-like ways. + +Finding him alone once, I said: "Merton, don't you remember saying +to me once, 'I'd like to know what there is for a boy to do in this +street'? Don't you think there's something for a boy to do on this +farm?" + +"O papa!" he cried, "I'm just trying to hold in. So much has +happened, and I've had such a good time, that it seems as if I had +been here a month; then again the hours pass like minutes. See, the +sun is low already." + +"It's all new and exciting now, Merton, but there will be long +hours--yes, days and weeks--when you'll have to act like a man, and +to do work because it ought to be done and must be done." + +"The same would be true if we stayed in town," he said. + +Soon I decided that it was time for the younger children to return, +for I meant to give my wife all the help I could before bedtime. We +first hauled the wagon back, and then Merton said he would bring +what sap had been caught. Junior had to go home for a time to do his +evening "chores," but he promised to return before dark to help +carry in the sap. + +"There'll be frost to-night, and we'll get the biggest run in the +morning," was his encouraging remark, as he made ready to depart. + +Mrs. Jones had been over to see my wife, and they promised to become +good friends. I set to work putting things in better shape, and +bringing in a good pile of wood. Merton soon appeared with a +brimming pail. A kettle was hung on the crane, but before the sap +was placed over the fire all must taste it, just as it had been +distilled by nature. And all were quickly satisfied. Even Mousie +said it was "too watery," and Winnie made a face as she exclaimed, +"I declare, Merton, I believe you filled the pails from the brook!" + +"Patience, youngsters; sap, as well as some other things, is better +for boiling down." + +"Oh what a remarkable truth!" said my wife, who never lost a chance +to give me a little dig. + +I laughed, and then stood still in the middle of the floor, lost in +thought. + +"A brown study! What theory have you struck now, Robert?" + +"I was thinking how some women kept their husbands in love with them +by being saucy. It's an odd way, and yet it seems effective." + +"It depends upon the kind of sauce, Robert," she said with a knowing +glance and a nod. + +By the time it was dark, we had both the kettles boiling and +bubbling over the fire, and fine music they made. With Junior for +guest, we enjoyed our supper, which consisted principally of baked +apples and milk. + +"'Bubble, bubble,' 'Toil' and no 'trouble'--" + +"Yet, worth speaking of," said my wife; "but it must come, I +suppose." + +"We won't go half-way to meet it, Winifred." + +When the meal was over, Junior went out on the porch and returned +with a mysterious sack. + +"Butternuts!" he ejaculated. + +Junior was winning his way truly, and in the children's eyes was +already a good genius, as his father was in mine. + +"O papa!" was the general cry, "can't we crack them on the hearth?" + +"But you'll singe your very eyebrows off," I said. + +"Mine's so white 'twouldn't matter," said Junior; "nobody'd miss +'em. Give me a hammer, and I'll keep you goin'." + +And he did, on one of the stones of the hearth, with such a lively +rat-tat-snap! that it seemed a regular rhythm. + +"Cracked in my life well-nigh on to fifty bushel, I guess," he +explained, in answer to our wonder at his skill. + +And so the evening passed, around the genial old fireplace; and +before the children retired they smacked their lips over sirup sweet +enough to satisfy them. + +The following morning--Saturday--I vibrated between the sugar-camp +and the barn and other out-buildings, giving, however, most of the +time to the help of my wife in getting the house more to her mind, +and in planning some work that would require a brief visit from a +carpenter; for I felt that I must soon bestow nearly all my +attention on the outdoor work. I managed to keep Bobsey under my eye +for the most part, and in the afternoon I left him for only a few +moments at the sugar-bush while I carried up some sap. A man called +to see me on business, and I was detained. Knowing the little +fellow's proneness to mischief, and forgetfulness of all commands, I +at last hastened back with a half guilty and worried feeling. + +I reached the brow of the hill just in time to see him throw a stick +into the creek, lose his balance, and fall in. + +With an exclamation of terror, his own cry forming a faint echo, I +sprang forward frantically, but the swift current caught and bore +him away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JOHN JONES, JUN + + +My agonized shout as I saw Bobsey swept away by the swollen current +of the Moodna Creek was no more prompt than his own shrill scream. +It so happened, or else a kind Providence so ordered it, that Junior +was further down the stream, tapping a maple that had been +overlooked the previous day. He sprang to his feet, whirled around +in the direction of the little boy's cry, with the quickness of +thought rushed to the bank and plunged in with a headlong leap like +a Newfoundland dog. I paused, spellbound, to watch him, knowing that +I was much too far away to be of aid, and that all now depended on +the hardy country lad. He disappeared for a second beneath the tide, +and then his swift strokes proved that he was a good swimmer. In a +moment or two he caught up with Bobsey, for the current was too +swift to permit the child to sink. Then, with a wisdom resulting +from experience, he let the torrent carry him in a long slant toward +the shore, for it would have been hopeless to try to stem the tide. +Running as I never ran before, I followed, reached the bank where +there was an eddy in the stream, sprang in up to my waist, seized +them both as they approached and dragged them to solid ground. +Merton and Winnie meanwhile stood near with white, scared faces. + +Bobsey was conscious, although he had swallowed some water, and I +was soon able to restore him, so that he could stand on his feet and +cry: "I--I--I w-won't d-do so any--any more." + +Instead of punishing him, which he evidently expected, I clasped him +to my heart with a nervous force that almost made him cry out with +pain. + +Junior, meanwhile, had coolly seated himself on a rock, emptied the +water out of his shoes, and was tying them on again, at the same +time striving with all his might to maintain a stolid composure +under Winnie's grateful embraces and Merton's interrupting hand- +shakings. But when, having become assured of Bobsey's safety, I +rushed forward and embraced Junior in a transport of gratitude, his +lip began to quiver and two great tears mingled with the water that +was dripping from his hair. Suddenly he broke away, took to his +heels, and ran toward his home, as if he had been caught in some +mischief and the constable were after him. I believe that he would +rather have had at once all the strappings his father had ever given +him than to have cried in our presence. + +I carried Bobsey home, and his mother, with many questionings and +exclamations of thanksgiving, undressed the little fellow, wrapped +him in flannel, and put him to bed, where he was soon sleeping as +quietly as if nothing had happened. + +Mrs. Jones came over, and we made her rubicund face beam and grow +more round, if possible, as we all praised her boy. I returned with +her, for I felt that I wished to thank Junior again and again. But +he saw me coming, and slipped out at the back door. Indeed, the +brave, bashful boy was shy of us for several days. When at last my +wife got hold of him, and spoke to him in a manner natural to +mothers, he pooh-poohed the whole affair. + +"I've swum in that crick so often that it was nothin' to me. I only +had to keep cool, and that was easy enough in snow water, and the +swift current would keep us both up. I wish you wouldn't say +anything more about it. It kinder makes me feel--I don't know how-- +all over, you know." + +But Junior soon learned that we had adopted him into our inmost +hearts, although he compelled us to show our good-will after his own +off-hand fashion. + +Sunday was ushered in with another storm, and we spent a long, +quiet, restful day, our hearts full of thankfulness that the great +sorrow, which might have darkened the beginning of our country life, +had been so happily averted. + +On Sunday night the wind veered around to the north, and on Monday +morning the sky had a clear metallic hue and the ground was frozen +hard. Bobsey had not taken cold, and was his former self, except +that he was somewhat chastened in spirit and his bump of caution was +larger. I was resolved that the day should witness a good beginning +of our spring work, and told Winnie and Bobsey that they could help +me. Junior, although he yet avoided the house, was ready enough to +help Merton with the sap. Therefore soon after breakfast we all were +busy. + +Around old country places, especially where there has been some +degree of neglect, much litter gathers. This was true of our new +home and its surroundings. All through the garden were dry, +unsightly weeds, about the house was shrubbery that had become +tangled masses of unpruned growth, in the orchard the ground was +strewn with fallen branches, and I could see dead limbs on many of +the trees. + +Therefore I said to my two little helpers: "Here in this open space +in the garden we will begin our brush-pile, and we will bring to it +all the refuse that we wish to burn. You see that we can make an +immense heap, for the place is so far away from any buildings that, +when the wind goes down, we can set the pile on fire in safety, and +the ashes will do the garden good." + +During the whole forenoon I pruned the shrubbery, and raked up the +rubbish which the children carried by armfuls to our prospective +bonfire. They soon wished to see the blaze, but I told them that the +wind was too high, and that I did not propose to apply the match +until we had a heap half as big as the house; that it might be +several days before we should be ready, for I intended to have a +tremendous fire. + +Thus with the lesson of restraint was given the hope of something +wonderful. For a long time they were pleased with the novelty of the +work, and then they wanted to do something else, but I said: "No, +no; you are gardeners now, and I'm head gardener. You must both help +me till dinner-time. After that you can do something else, or play +if you choose; but each day, even Bobsey must do some steady work to +earn his dinner. We didn't come to the country on a picnic, I can +tell you. All must do their best to help make a living;" and so +without scruple I kept my little squad busy, for the work was light, +although it had become monotonous. + +Mousie sometimes aided her mother, and again watched us from the +window with great interest. I rigged upon the barrow a rack, in +which I wheeled the rubbish gathered at a distance; and by the time +my wife's mellow voice called, "Come to dinner"--how sweet her voice +and summons were after long hours in the keen March wind!--we had a +pile much higher than my head, and the place began to wear a tidy +aspect. + +Such appetites, such red cheeks and rosy noses as the outdoor +workers brought to that plain meal! Mousie was much pleased with the +promise that the bonfire should not be lighted until some still, +mild day when she could go out and stand with me beside it. + +Merton admitted that gathering the sap did not keep him busy more +than half the time; so after dinner I gave him a hatchet, and told +him to go on with the trimming out of the fallen branches in our +wood lot--a task that I had begun--and to carry all wood heavy +enough for our fireplace to a spot where it could be put into a +wagon. + +"Your next work, Merton, will be to collect all your refuse +trimmings, and the brush lying about, into a few great heaps; and by +and by we'll burn these, too, and gather up the ashes carefully, for +I've read and heard all my life that there is nothing better for +fruit then wood-ashes. Some day, I hope, we can begin to put money +in the bank; for I intend to give all a chance to earn money for +themselves, after they have done their share toward our general +effort to live and thrive. The next best thing to putting money in +the bank is the gathering and saving of everything that will make +the ground richer. In fact, all the papers and books that I've read +this winter agree that as the farmer's land grows rich he grows +rich." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +RASPBERRY LESSONS + + +It must be remembered that I had spent all my leisure during the +winter in reading and studying the problem of our country life. +Therefore I knew that March was the best month for pruning trees, +and I had gained a fairly correct idea how to do this work. Until +within the last two or three years of his life, old Mr. Jamison had +attended to this task quite thoroughly; and thus little was left for +me beyond sawing away the boughs that had recently died, and cutting +out the useless sprouts on the larger limbs. Before leaving the city +I had provided myself with such tools as I was sure I should need; +and finding a ladder under a shed, I attacked the trees vigorously. +The wind had almost died out, and I knew I must make the most of all +still days in this gusty month. After playing around for a time, +Winnie and Bobsey concluded that gathering and piling up my prunings +would be as good fun as anything else; and so I had helpers again. + +By the middle of the afternoon Mr. Jones appeared, and I was glad to +see him, for there were some kinds of work about which I wanted his +advice. At one end of the garden were several rows of blackcap +raspberry bushes, which had grown into an awful snarl. The old canes +that had borne fruit the previous season were still standing, ragged +and unsightly; the new stalks that would bear the coming season +sprawled in every direction; and I had found that many tips of the +branches had grown fast in the ground. I took my neighbor to see +this briery wilderness, and asked his advice. + +"Have you got a pair of pruning-nippers?" he asked. + +Before going to the house to get them, I blew a shrill whistle to +summon Merton, for I wished him also to hear all that Mr. Jones +might say. I carried a little metallic whistle one blast on which +was for Merton, two for Winnie, and three for Bobsey. When they +heard this call they were to come as fast as their feet could carry +them. + +Taking the nippers, Mr. Jones snipped off from one-third to one-half +the length of the branches from one of the bushes and cut out the +old dead cane. + +"I raise these berries myself for home use," he said; "and I can +tell you they go nice with milk for a July supper. You see, after +taking off so much from these long branches the canes stand straight +up, and will be self-supporting, no matter how many berries they +bear; but here and there's a bush that has grown slant-wise, or is +broken off. Now, if I was you, I'd take a crow-bar 'n' make a hole +'longside these weakly and slantin' fellers, put in a stake, and tie +'em up strong. Then, soon as the frost yields, if you'll get out the +grass and weeds that's started among 'em, you'll have a dozen bushel +or more of marketable berries from this 'ere wilderness, as you call +it. Give Merton a pair of old gloves, and he can do most of the job. +Every tip that's fast in the ground is a new plant. If you want to +set out another patch, I'll show you how later on." + +"I think I know pretty nearly how to do that." + +"Yes, yes, I know. Books are a help, I s'pose, but after you've seen +one plant set out right, you'll know more than if you'd 'a' read a +month." + +"Well, now that you're here, Mr. Jones, I'm going to make the most +of you. How about those other raspberries off to the southeast of +the house?" + +"Those are red ones. Let's take a look at 'em." + +Having reached the patch, we found almost as bad a tangle as in the +blackcap patch, except that the canes were more upright in their +growth and less full of spines or briers. + +"It's plain enough," continued Mr. Jones, "that old man Jamison was +too poorly to take much care of things last year. You see, these red +raspberries grow different from those black ones yonder. Those +increase by the tips of the branches takin' root; these by suckers. +All these young shoots comin' up between the rows are suckers, and +they ought to be dug out. As I said before, you can set them out +somewhere else if you want to. Dig 'em up, you know; make a trench +in some out-of-the-way place, and bury the roots till you want 'em. +Like enough the neighbors will buy some if they know you have 'em to +spare. Only be sure to cut these long canes back to within six +inches of the ground." + +"Yes," I said, "that's all just as I have read in the books." + +"So much the better for the books, then. I haven't lived in this +fruit-growin' region all my life without gettin' some ideas as to +what's what. I give my mind to farmin'; but Jamison and I were great +cronies, and I used to be over here every day or two, and so it's +natural to keep comin'." + +"That's my good luck." + +"Well, p'raps it'll turn out so. Now Merton's just the right age to +help you in all this work. Jamison, you see, grew these raspberries +in a continuous bushy row; that is, say, three good strong canes +every eighteen inches apart in the row, and the rows five feet +apart, so he could run a horse-cultivator between. Are you catchin' +on, Merton?" + +"Yes, sir," said the boy, with much interest. + +"Well, all these suckers and extra plants that are swampin' the +ground are just as bad as weeds. Dig 'em all out, only don't disturb +the roots of the bearin' canes you leave in the rows much." + +"How about trimming these?" I asked. + +"Well, that depends. If you want early fruit, you'll let 'em stand +as they be; if you want big berries, you'll cut 'em back one-third. +Let me see. Here's five rows of Highland Hardy; miserable poor- +tastin' kind; but they come so early that they often pay the best. +Let them stand with their whole length of cane, and if you can +scatter a good top-dressin' of fine manure scraped up from the +barnyard, you'll make the berries larger. Those other rows of +Cuthbert, Reliance, and Turner, cut back the canes one-third, and +you'll get a great deal more fruit than if you left more wood on +'em. Cuttin' back'll make the berries big; and so they'll bring as +much, p'raps, as if they were early." + +"Well, Merton, this all accords with what I've read, only Mr. Jones +makes it much clearer. I think we know how to go to work now, and +surely there's plenty to do." + +"Yes, indeed," resumed Mr. Jones; "and you'll soon find the work +crowdin' you. Now come to the big raspberry patch back of the barn, +the patch where the canes are all laid down, as I told you. These +are Hudson River Antwerps. Most people have gone out of 'em, but +Jamison held on, and he was makin' money on 'em. So may you. They +are what we call tender, you see, and in November they must be bent +down close to the ground and covered with earth, or else every cane +would be dead from frost by spring. About the first week in April, +if the weather's mild, you must uncover 'em, and tie 'em to stakes +durin' the month." + +"Now, Mr. Jones, one other good turn and we won't bother you any +more to-day. All the front of the house is covered by two big grape- +vines that have not been trimmed, and there are a great many other +vines on the place. I've read and read on the subject, but I declare +I'm afraid to touch them." + +"Now, you're beyond my depth. I've got a lot of vines home, and I +trim 'em in my rough way, but I know I ain't scientific, and we have +pretty poor, scraggly bunches. They taste just as good, though, and +I don't raise any to sell. There's a clever man down near the +landin' who has a big vineyard, and he's trimmed it as your vines +ought to have been long ago. I'd advise you to go and see him, and +he can show you all the latest wrinkles in prunin'. Now, I'll tell +you what I come for, in the first place. You'll remember that I said +there'd be a vandoo to-morrow. I've been over and looked at the +stock offered. There's a lot of chickens, as I told you; a likely- +looking cow with a calf at her side; a fairish and quiet old horse +that ought to go cheap, but he'd answer well the first year. Do you +think you'll get more'n one horse to start with?" + +"No; you said I could hire such heavy plowing as was needed at a +moderate sum, and I think we can get along with one horse for a +time. My plan is to go slow, and, I hope, sure." + +"That's the best way, only it ain't common. I'll be around in the +mornin' for you and such of the children as you'll take." + +"On one condition, Mr. Jones. You must let me pay you for your time +and trouble. Unless you'll do this in giving me my start, I'll have +to paddle my own canoe, even if I sink it." + +"Oh, I've no grudge against an honest penny turned in any way that +comes handy. You and I can keep square as we go along. You can give +me what you think is right, and if I ain't satisfied, I'll say so." + +I soon learned that my neighbor had no foolish sensitiveness. I +could pay him what I thought the value of his services, and he +pocketed the money without a word. Of course, I could not pay him +what his advice was really worth, for his hard common-sense stood me +in good stead in many ways. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE "VANDOO" + + +The next morning at about eight o'clock Mr. Jones arrived in a long +farm-wagon on springs, with one seat in it; but Junior had half +filled its body with straw, and he said to Merton, "I thought that +p'raps, if you and the children could go, you'd like a straw-ride." + +The solemnity with which Winnie and Bobsey promised to obey orders +gave some hope of performance; so I tossed them into the straw, and +we drove away, a merry party, leaving Mousie consoled with the hope +of receiving something from the vendue. + +"There's allers changes and breakin's up in the spring," said Mr. +Jones, as we drove along; "and this family's goin' out West. +Everything is to be sold, in doors and out." + +The farmhouse in question was about two miles away. By the time we +arrived, all sorts of vehicles were converging to it on the muddy +roads, for the weather had become mild again. Stylish-looking people +drove up in top-buggies, and there were many heavy, springless +wagons driven by rusty-looking countrymen, whose trousers were +thrust into the top of their cowhide boots. I strolled through the +house before the sale began, thinking that I might find something +there which would please Mousie and my wife. The rooms were already +half filled with the housewives from the vicinity; red-faced Irish +women, who stalked about and examined everything with great freedom; +placid, peach-cheeked dames in Quaker bonnets, who softly cooed +together, and took every chance they could to say pleasant words to +the flurried, nervous family that was being thrust out into the +world, as it were, while still at their own hearth. + +I marked with my eye a low, easy sewing-chair for my wife, and a +rose geranium, full of bloom, for Mousie, purposing to bid on them. +I also observed that Junior was examining several pots of flowers +that stood in the large south window. Then giving Merton charge of +the children, with directions not to lose sight of them a moment, I +went to the barn-yard and stable, feeling that the day was a +critical one in our fortunes. True enough, among the other stock +there was a nice-looking cow with a calf, and Mr. Jones said she had +Jersey blood in her veins. This meant rich, creamy milk. I thought +the animal had a rather ugly eye, but this might be caused by +anxiety for her calf, with so many strangers about. We also examined +the old bay horse and a market wagon and harness. Then Mr. Jones and +I drew apart and agreed upon the limit of his bids, for I proposed +to act solely through him. Every one knew him and was aware that he +would not go a cent beyond what a thing was worth. He had a word and +a jest for all, and "How ARE YOU, JOHN?" greeted him wherever he +went. + +At ten o'clock the sale began. The auctioneer was a rustic humorist, +who knew the practical value of a joke in his business. Aware of the +foibles and characteristics of the people who flocked around and +after him, he provoked many a ripple and roar of laughter by his +telling hits and droll speeches. I found that my neighbor, Mr. +Jones, came in for his full share, but he always sent back as good +as he received. The sale, in fact, had the aspect of a country +merrymaking, at which all sorts and conditions of people met on +common ground, Pat bidding against the best of the landed gentry, +while boys and dogs innumerable played around and sometimes verged +on serious quarrels. + +Junior, I observed, left his mark before the day was over. He was +standing, watching the sale with his usual impassive expression, +when a big, hulking fellow leered into his face and cried. + +"Tow head, white-head, Thick-head, go to bed." + +The last word was scarcely out of his mouth before Junior's fist was +between his eyes, and down he went. + +"Want any more?" Junior coolly asked, as the fellow got up. + +Evidently he didn't, for he slunk off, followed by jeers and +laughter. + +At noon there was an immense pot of coffee with crackers and cheese, +placed on a table near the kitchen door, and we had a free lunch. To +this Bobsey paid his respects so industriously that a great, gawky +mountaineer looked down at him and said, with a grin, "I say, young +'un, you're gettin' outside of more fodder than any critter of your +size I ever knowed." + +"'Tain't your fodder," replied Bobsey, who had learned, in the +streets, to be a little pert. + +The day came to an end at last, and the cow and calf, the old bay +horse, the wagon, and the harness were mine. On the whole, Mr. Jones +had bought them at reasonable rates. He also bid in for me, at one +dollar per pair, two cocks and twenty hens that looked fairly well +in their coop. + +For my part, I had secured the chair and blooming geranium. To my +surprise, when the rest of the flowers were sold, Junior took part +in the bidding for the first time, and, as a result, carried out to +the wagon several other pots of house-plants. + +"Why, Junior," I said, "I didn't know you had such an eye for +beauty." + +He blushed, but made no reply. + +The chickens and the harness were put into Mr. Jones's conveyance, +the wagon I had bought was tied on behind, and we jogged homeward, +the children exulting over our new possessions. When I took in the +geranium bush and put it on the table by the sunny kitchen window, +Junior followed with an armful of his plants. + +"They're for Mousie," he said; and before the delighted child could +thank him, he darted out. + +Indeed, it soon became evident that Mousie was Junior's favorite. +She never said much to him, but she looked a great deal. To the +little invalid girl he seemed the embodiment of strength and +cleverness, and, perhaps because he was so strong, his sympathies +went out toward the feeble child. + +The coop of chickens was carried to the basement that we had made +ready, and Winnie declared that she meant to "hear the first crow +and get the first egg." + +The next day the horse and the cow and calf were brought over, and +we felt that we were fairly launched in our country life. + +"You have a bigger family to look after outdoors than I have +indoors," my wife said, laughingly. + +I was not long in learning that some of my outdoor family were +anything but amiable. The two cocks fought and fought until Junior, +who had run over before night, showed Merton that by ducking their +heads in cold water their belligerent spirit could be partially +quenched. Then he proceeded to give me a lesson in milking. The calf +was shut up away from the cow, which was driven into a corner, where +she stood with signs of impatience while Junior, seated on a three- +legged stool, essayed to obtain the nectar we all so dearly loved. +At first he did not succeed very well. + +"She won't let it down--she's keepin' it for the calf," said the +boy. But at last she relented, and the white streams flowed. "Now," +said Junior to me, "you see how I do it. You try." + +As I took his place, I noticed that Brindle turned on me a vicious +look. No doubt I was awkward and hurt her a little, also; for the +first thing I knew the pail was in the air, I on my back, and +Brindle bellowing around the yard, switching her tail, Junior and +Merton meanwhile roaring with laughter. I got up in no amiable mood +and said, roughly, to the boys, "Quit that nonsense." + +But they couldn't obey, and at last I had to join in the laugh. + +"Why, she's ugly as sin," said Junior. "I'll tell you what to do. +Let her go with her calf now, and in the morning we'll drive her +down to one of the stalls in the basement of the barn and fasten her +by the head. Then we can milk her without risk. After her calf is +gone she'll be a great deal tamer." + +This plan was carried out, and it worked pretty well, although it +was evident that, from some cause, the cow was wild and vicious. One +of my theories is, that all animals can be subdued by kindness. Mr. +Jones advised me to dispose of Brindle, but I determined to test my +theory first. Several times a day I would go to the barn-yard and +give her a carrot or a whisp of hay from my hand, and she gradually +became accustomed to me, and would come at my call. A week later I +sold her calf to a butcher, and for a few days she lowed and mourned +deeply, to Mousie's great distress. But carrots consoled her, and +within three weeks she would let me stroke her, and both Merton and +I could milk her without trouble. I believe she had been treated +harshly by her former owners. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +EARLY APRIL GARDENING + + +Spring was coming on apace, and we all made the most of every +pleasant hour. The second day after the auction proved a fine one; +and leaving Winnie and Merton in charge of the house, I took my +wife, with Bobsey and Mousie, who was well bundled up, to see the +scientific grape-grower, and to do some shopping. At the same time +we assured ourselves that we were having a pleasure-drive; and it +did me good to see how the mother and daughter, who had been kept +indoors so long, enjoyed themselves. Mr. Jones was right. I received +better and clearer ideas of vine-pruning in half an hour from +studying work that had been properly done, and by asking questions +of a practical man, than I could ever have obtained by reading. We +found that the old bay horse jogged along, at as good a gait as we +could expect, over the muddy road, and I was satisfied that he was +quiet enough for my wife to drive him after she had learned how, and +gained a little confidence. She held the reins as we drove home, +and, in our own yard, I gave her some lessons in turning around, +backing, etc. + +"Some day," I said, "you shall have a carriage and a gay young +horse." When we sat down to supper, I was glad to see that a little +color was dawning in Mousie's face. + +The bundles we brought home supplemented our stores of needful +articles, and our life began to take on a regular routine. The +carpenter came and put up the shelves, and made such changes as my +wife desired; then he aided me in repairing the out-buildings. I +finished pruning the trees, while Merton worked manfully at the +raspberries, for we saw that this was a far more pressing task than +gathering wood, which could be done to better advantage in the late +autumn. Every morning Winnie and Bobsey were kept steadily busy in +carrying our trimmings to the brush heap, which now began to assume +vast proportions, especially as the refuse from the grape-vine and +raspberry bushes was added to it. As the ground became settled after +the frost was out, I began to set the stakes by the side of such +raspberry canes as needed tying up; and here was a new light task +for the two younger children. Bobsey's little arms could go around +the canes and hold them close to the stake, while Winnie, a sturdy +child, quickly tied them with a coarse, cheap string that I had +bought for the purpose. Even my wife came out occasionally and +helped us at this work. By the end of the last week in March I had +all the fruit-trees fairly pruned and the grape-vines trimmed and +tied up, and had given Merton much help among the raspberries. In +shallow boxes of earth on the kitchen table, cabbage, lettuce, and +tomato seeds were sprouting beside Mousie's plants. The little girl +hailed with delight every yellowish green germ that appeared above +the soil. + +The hens had spent their first few days in inspecting their quarters +and becoming familiar with them; but one morning there was a noisy +cackle, and Winnie soon came rushing in with three fresh-laid eggs. +A week later we had all we could use, and my wife began to put some +by for the first brooding biddies to sit upon. + +The first day of April promised to be unusually dry and warm, and I +said at the breakfast table: "This is to be a great day. We'll prove +that we are not April-fools by beginning our garden. I was satisfied +yesterday that a certain warm slope was dry enough to dig and plant +with hardy vegetables, and I've read and studied over and over again +which to plant first, and how to plant them. I suppose I shall make +mistakes, but I wish you all to see how I do it, and then by next +spring we shall have learned from experience how to do better. No +doubt, some things might have been planted before, but we've all +been too busy. Now, Merton, you go and harness old Bay to the cart I +bought with the place, and I'll get out my treasure of seeds. +Mousie, by ten o'clock, if the sun keeps out of the clouds, you can +put on your rubbers and join us." + +Soon all was bustle and excitement. Among my seeds were two quarts +of red and two of white onion sets, or little bits of onions, which +I had kept in a cool place, so that they should not sprout before +their time. These I took out first. Then with Merton I went to the +barn-yard and loaded up the cart with the finest and most decayed +manure we could find, and this was dumped on the highest part of the +slope that I meant to plant. + +"Now, Merton, I guess you can get another load, while I spread this +heap and begin to dig;" and he went off with the horse and cart, +having an increased idea of his importance. I marked a long strip of +the sunny slope, fifteen feet wide, and spread the manure evenly and +thickly, for I had read, and my own sense confirmed the view, that a +little ground well enriched would yield more than a good deal of +poor land. I then dug till my back ached; and I found that it began +to ache pretty soon, for I was not accustomed to such toil. + +"After the first seeds are in," I muttered, "I'll have the rest of +the garden plowed." + +When I had dug down about four feet of the strip, I concluded to +rest myself by a change of labor; so I took the rake and smoothed +off the ground, stretched a garden line across it, and, with a +sharp-pointed hoe, made a shallow trench, or drill. + +"Now, Winnie and Bobsey," I said, "it is time for you to do your +part. Just stick these little onions in the trench about four inches +apart;" and I gave each of them a little stick of the right length +to measure the distance; for they had vague ideas of four inches. +"Be sure," I continued, "that you get the bottom of the onion down. +This is the top, and this is the bottom. Press the onion in the soil +just enough to make it stand firm, so. That's right. Oh, you're +learning fast. Now I can rest, you see, while you do the planting." + +In a few moments they had stuck the fifteen feet of shallow trench, +or drill, full of onions, which I covered with earth, packing it +lightly with my hoe. I then moved the line fourteen inches further +down and made another shallow drill. In this way we soon had all the +onion sets in the ground. Merton came back with his load in time to +see how it was done, and nodded his head approvingly. I now felt +rested enough to dig awhile, and Merton started off to the barn-yard +again. We next sowed, in even shallower drills, the little onion +seed that looked like gunpowder, for my garden book said that the +earlier this was planted the better. We had completed only a few +rows when Mr. Jones appeared, and said: "Plantin' onions here? Why, +neighbor, this ground is too dry and light for onions." + +"Is it? Well, I knew I'd make mistakes. I haven't used near all my +onion seed yet, however." + +"Oh, well, no great harm's done. You've made the ground rich, and, +if we have a moist season, like enough they'll do well. P'raps it's +the best thing, after all, 'specially if you've put in the seed +thick, as most people do. Let 'em all grow, and you'll have a lot of +little onions, or sets, of your own raisin' to plant early next +spring. Save the rest of your seed until you have some rich, strong, +deep soil ready. I came over to say that if this weather holds a day +or two longer I'll plow the garden; and I thought I'd tell you, so +that you might get ready for me. The sooner you get your early +pertaters in the better." + +"Your words almost take the ache out of my back," I said. "I fear we +shouldn't have much of a garden if I had to dig it all, but I +thought I'd make a beginning with a few early vegetables." + +"That's well enough, but a plow beats a fork all hollow. You'll know +what I mean when you see my plow going down to the beam and +loosenin' the ground from fifteen to twenty inches. So burn your big +brush-pile, and get out what manure you're goin' to put in the +garden, and I'll be ready when you are." + +"All right. Thank you. I'll just plant some radishes, peas, and +beans." + +"Not beans yet, Mr. Durham. Don't put those in till the last of the +month, and plant them very shallow when you do." + +"How one forgets when there's not much experience to fall back upon! +I now remember that my book said that beans, in this latitude, +should not be planted until about the 1st of May." + +"And lima beans not till the 10th of May," added Mr. Jones. "You +might put in a few early beets here, although the ground is rather +light for 'em. You could put your main crop somewhere else. Well, +let me know when you're ready. Junior and me are drivin' things, +too, this mornin';" and he stalked away, whistling a hymn-tune in +rather lively time. + +I said: "Youngsters, I think I'll get my garden book and be sure I'm +right about sowing the radish and beet seed and the peas. Mr. Jones +has rather shaken my confidence." + +When Merton came with the next load I told him that he could put the +horse in the stable and help us. As a result, we soon had several +rows of radishes and beets sown, fourteen inches apart. We planted +the seed only an inch deep, and packed the ground lightly over it. +Mousie, to her great delight, was allowed to drop a few of the +seeds. Merton was ambitious to take the fork, but I soon stopped +him, and said: "Digging is too heavy work for you, my boy. There is +enough that you can do without overtaxing yourself. We must all act +like good soldiers. The campaign of work is just opening, and it +would be very foolish for any of us to disable ourselves at the +start. We'll plant only half a dozen rows of these dwarf peas this +morning, and then this afternoon we'll have the bonfire and get +ready for Mr. Jones's plow." + +At the prospect of the bonfire the younger children set up shouts of +exultation, which cheered me on as I turned over the soil with the +fork, although often stopping to rest. My back ached, but my heart +was light. In my daily work now I had all my children about me, and +their smaller hands were helping in the most practical way. Their +voices were as joyous as the notes of the robins, song-sparrows, and +bluebirds that were singing all about us. A soft haze half obscured +the mountains, and mellowed the sunshine. From the springing grass +and fresh-turned soil came odors sweet as those which made Eden +fragrant after "a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole +face of the ground." + +All the children helped to plant the peas, which we placed carefully +and evenly, an inch apart, in the row, and covered with two inches +of soil, the rows being two feet distant one from another. I had +decided to plant chiefly McLean's Little Gem, because they needed no +stakes or brush for support. We were almost through our task when, +happening to look toward the house, I saw my wife standing in the +doorway, a framed picture. + +"Dinner," she called, in a voice as sweet to me as that of the robin +singing in the cherry-tree over her head. + +The children stampeded for the house, Winnie crying: "Hurry up, +mamma, for right after dinner papa will set the great brush-pile on +fire, and we're going to dance round it like Indians. You must come +out, too." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A BONFIRE AND A FEAST + + +It amused and interested me to see upon the children's faces such an +eager expectancy as they hurried through our midday meal. Nothing +greater than a bonfire was in prospect, yet few costly pleasures +could have afforded them such excitement. I found myself sharing in +their anticipation to a degree that surprised me, and was led to ask +myself why it is that outdoor pursuits often take so strong a hold +upon the fancy. I recalled traits shown by one of my former +employers. He was a gray-headed man, possessing great wealth and an +elegant city home, while his mind was occupied by a vast and +complicated business. When he learned that I was going to the +country, he would often come to me, and, with kindling eyes and +animated tones, talk of his chickens, cows, fruit-trees and crops. +He proved that the best product of his farm was the zest it brought +him into his life--a zest that was failing in his other occupations +and interests. What was true of him I knew to be equally so of many +others to whom wealth brings no greater luxury than the ability to +indulge in expensive farming. A lifetime in the city does not +destroy the primal instinct which leads men to the soil nor does a +handsome dividend from stocks give the unalloyed pleasure awakened +by a basket of fresh eggs or fruit. This love of the earth is not +earthiness, but has been the characteristic of the best and greatest +minds. Washington would turn from the anxieties of a campaign and +the burdens of state to read, with absorbing interest, the reports +of the agent who managed his plantation, and to write out the +minutest details for the overseer's guidance. + +In my limited way and sphere I was under the influence of the same +impulses; and, as I looked around the table at those so dear to me, +I felt that I had far more at stake. I had not come back to Nature +merely to amuse myself or to gratify a taste, but to co-work with +her in fulfilling the most sacred duties. With the crops of the +coming years these children must be nourished and fitted for their +part in life, and I felt that all my faculties must be employed to +produce the best results from my open-air toil. + +Therefore, why should not I also be interested in the prospective +bonfire? It would transmute the unsightly rubbish of the place into +fertilizing ashes, and clear the ground for the plow. The mellow +soil would produce that which would give brain and muscle--life to +those whose lives were dear. + +He who spreads his table with food secured by his own hands direct +from nature should feel a strong incentive to do his best. The +coarse, unvaried diet, common to many farmers' homes, is the result +of stolid minds and plodding ways. A better manhood and womanhood +will be developed when we act upon the truth that varied and +healthful sustenance improves blood and brain, and therefore +character. + +I was growing abstracted, when my wife remarked, "Robert, will you +deign to come back from a remote region of thought and take some +rice pudding?" + +"You may all fare the better for my thoughts," I replied. + +The children, however, were bolting their pudding at railroad speed, +and I perceived that the time demanded action. Winnie and Bobsey +wished me to light the fire at once, but I said: "No, not till mamma +and Mousie are ready to come out. You must stay and help them clear +away the things. When all is ready, you two shall start the blaze." + +Very soon we were all at the brush-pile, which towered above our +heads, and I said: "Merton, it will burn better if we climb over it +and trample it down a little. It is too loose now. While we do this, +Winnie and Bobsey can gather dry grass and weeds that will take fire +quickly. Now which way is the wind?" + +"There isn't any wind, papa," Merton replied. + +"Let us see. Put your forefingers in your mouths, all of you, then +hold them up and note which side feels the coolest." + +"This side!" cried one and another. + +"Yes; and this side is toward the west; therefore, Winnie, put the +dry grass here on the western side of the heap, and what air is +stirring will carry the blaze through the pile." + +Little hands that trembled with eagerness soon held lighted matches +to the dry grass; there was a yellow flicker in the sunshine, then a +blaze, a crackle, a devouring rush of flames that mounted higher and +higher until, with the surrounding column of smoke, there was a +conflagration which, at night, would have alarmed the country-side. +The children at first gazed with awe upon the scenes as they backed +farther away from the increasing heat. Our beacon-fire drew Junior, +who came bounding over the fences toward us; and soon he and Merton +began to see how near they could dash in toward the blaze without +being scorched. I soon stopped this. + +"Show your courage, Merton, when there is need of it," I said. "Rash +venturing is not bravery, but foolishness, and often costs people +dear." + +When the pile sank down into glowing embers, I turned to Bobsey, and +added: "I have let you light a fire under my direction. Never think +of doing anything of the kind without my permission, for if you do, +you will certainly sit in a chair, facing the wall, all day long, +with nothing to cheer you but bread and water and a sound whipping. +There is one thing which you children must learn from the start, and +that is, you can't play with fire except under my eyes." + +At this direful threat Bobsey looked as grave as his round little +face permitted, and, with the memory of his peril in the creek fresh +in mind, was ready enough with the most solemn promises. A circle of +unburned brush was left around the embers. This I raked in on the +hot coals, and soon all was consumed. + +"Now I have a suggestion," cried my wife. "We'll have some roast +potatoes, for here are lots of hot coals and ashes." Away scampered +Winnie to the cellar for the tubers. Our bonfire ended in a feast, +and then the ashes were spread far and wide. When the exciting +events were past, Winnie and Bobsey amused themselves in other ways, +Mousie venturing to stay with them while the sun remained high. +Merton and I meanwhile put the horse to the cart and covered all the +ground, especially the upper and poorer portions, with a good +dressing from the barnyard. + +In the evening Junior gave Merton a good hint about angle-worms. +"Follow the plow," he said, "and pick 'em up and put 'em in a tight +box. Then sink the box in a damp place and nearly fill it with fine +earth, and you always have bait ready when you want to go a-fishing. +After a few more warm days the fish will begin to bite first-rate." + +Early the next morning Mr. Jones was on hand with his stout team, +and, going twice in every furrow, he sunk his plow to the beam. +"When you loosen the soil deep in this style," he said, "ye needn't +be afraid of dry weather unless it's an amazin' long spell. Why, +bless you, Mr. Durham, there's farmers around here who don't scratch +their ground much deeper than an old hen would, and they're always +groanin' over droughts. If I can get my plow down eighteen inches, +and then find time to stir the surface often in the growin' season, +I ain't afraid of a month of dry weather." + +We followed Mr. Jones for a few turns around the garden, I inhaling +the fresh wholesome odors of the soil with pleasure, and Merton and +the two younger children picking up angle-worms. + +Our neighbor soon paused and resumed: "I guess I'll give you a hint +that'll add bushels of pertaters to yer crop. After I've plowed the +garden, I'll furrow out deep a lot of rows, three feet apart. Let +Merton take a hoe and scrape up the fine old manure in the barnyard. +Don't use any other kind. Then sprinkle it thickly in the furrows, +and draw your hoe through 'em to mix the fertilizer well with the +soil. Drop your seed then, eight inches apart in the row, and cover +with four inches of dirt. One can't do this very handy by the acre, +but I've known such treatment to double the crop and size of the +pertaters in a garden or small patch." + +I took the hint at once, and set Merton at work, saying that Winnie +and Bobsey could gather all the worms he wanted. Then I went for a +half-bushel of early potatoes, and Mr. Jones showed me how to cut +them so as to leave at least two good "eyes" to each piece. Half an +hour later it occurred to me to see how Merton was getting on. I +found him perspiring, and almost panting with fatigue, and my +conscience smote me. "There, my boy," I said, "this is too hard work +for you. Come with me and I'll show you how to cut the potatoes. But +first go into the house, and cool off while you drink a glass of +milk." + +"Well, papa," he replied, gratefully, "I wouldn't mind a change like +that. I didn't want you to think I was shirking, but, to tell the +truth, I was getting played out." + +"Worked out, you mean. It's not my wish that you should ever be +either played or worked out, nor will you if you take play and work +in the right degree. Remember," I added, seriously, "that you are a +growing boy, and it's not my intention to put you at anything beyond +your strength. If, in my inexperience, I do give you too hard work, +tell me at once. There's plenty to do that won't overtax you." + +So we exchanged labors, and by the time the garden was plowed and +the furrows were made I had scraped up enough fine material in the +barnyard to give my tubers a great start. I varied my labor with +lessons in plowing, for running in my head was an "old saw" to the +effect that "he who would thrive must both hold the plow and drive." + +The fine weather lasted long enough for us to plant our early +potatoes in the most approved fashion, and then came a series of +cold, wet days and frosty nights. Mr. Jones assured us that the +vegetable seeds already in the ground would receive no harm. At such +times as were suitable for work we finished trimming and tying up +the hardy raspberries, cleaning up the barnyard, and carting all the +fertilizers we could find to the land that we meant to cultivate. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +"NO BLIND DRIFTING" + + +One long, stormy day I prepared an account-book. On its left-hand +pages I entered the cost of the place and all expenses thus far +incurred. The right-hand pages were for records of income, as yet +small indeed. They consisted only of the proceeds from the sale of +the calf, the eggs that Winnie gathered, and the milk measured each +day, all valued at the market price. I was resolved that there +should be no blind drifting toward the breakers of failure--that at +the end of the year we should know whether we had made progress, +stood still, or gone backward. My system of keeping the accounts was +so simple that I easily explained it to my wife, Merton, and Mousie, +for I believed that, if they followed the effort at country living +understandingly, they would be more willing to practice the self- +denial necessary for success. Indeed, I had Merton write out most of +the items, even though the record, as a result, was not very neat. I +stopped his worrying over blots and errors, by saying, "You are of +more account than the account-book, and will learn by practice to be +as accurate as any one." + +My wife and Mousie also started another book of household expenses, +that we might always know just where we stood and what our prospects +were. + +Weeks would elapse before our place would be food-producing to any +great extent. In the meantime we must draw chiefly on our capital in +order to live. Winifred and I resolved to meet this necessity in no +careless way, feeling that not a penny should be spent which might +be saved. The fact that I had only my family to support was greatly +in our favor. There was no kitchen cabinet, that ate much and wasted +more, to satisfy. Therefore, our revenue of eggs and milk went a +long way toward meeting the problem. We made out a list of cheap, +yet wholesome, articles of food, and found that we could buy oatmeal +at four cents per pound, Indian meal at two and a half cents, rice +at eight cents, samp at four, mackerel at nine, pork at twelve, and +ham at fifteen cents. The last two articles were used sparingly, and +more as relishes and for flavoring than as food. Flour happened to +be cheap at the time, the best costing but seven dollars a barrel; +of vegetables, we had secured abundance at slight cost; and the +apples still added the wholesome element of fruit. A butcher drove +his wagon to our door three times a week and, for cash, would give +us, at very reasonable rates, certain cuts of beef and mutton. These +my wife conjured into appetizing dishes and delicious soups. + +Thus it can be seen that we had a varied diet at a surprisingly +small outlay. Such details may appear to some very homely, yet our +health and success depended largely upon thoughtful attention to +just such prosaic matters. The children were growing plump and ruddy +at an expense less than would be incurred by one or two visits from +a fashionable physician in the city. + +In the matter of food, I also gave more thought to my wife's time +and strength than to the little people's wishes. While we had +variety and abundance, we did not have many dishes at any one meal. + +"We shall not permit mamma to be over the hot range any more than is +necessary," I said. "She and Mousie must give us, from day to day, +what costs little in time as well as money." + +Fortunately, plain, wholesome food does not require much time in +preparation. There would be better health in many homes if there was +more economy in labor. For instance, the children at first clamored +for griddle-cakes, but I said, "Isn't it nicer to have mamma sit +down quietly with us at breakfast than to see her running back and +forth from the hot stove?" and even Bobsey, though rather ruefully, +voted against cakes, except on rare occasions. + +The wash-tub I forbade utterly, and the services of a stout +Irishwoman were secured for one day in the week. Thus, by a little +management, my wife was not overtaxed. Indeed, she had so much +leisure that she and Mousie began giving Winnie and Bobsey daily +lessons, for we had decided that the children should not go to +school until the coming autumn. Early in April, therefore, our +country life was passing into a quiet routine, not burdensome, at +least within doors; and I justly felt that if all were well in the +citadel of home, the chances of the outdoor campaign were greatly +improved. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OWLS AND ANTWERPS + + +Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place +with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this +season he was permitted to shoot. He had quite as serious and +important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from +deadlier foes. For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had +promised me not to shoot harmless birds. He always indulged himself, +however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at +stationary objects. One evening, however, when we were almost ready +to retire, a strange sound startled us. At first it reminded me of +the half-whining bark of a young dog, but the deep, guttural trill +that followed convinced me that it was a screech-owl, for I +remembered having heard these birds when a boy. + +The moment I explained the sound, Merton darted for his gun, and my +wife exclaimed: "O dear! what trouble is coming now? Mother always +said that the hooting of an owl near a house was a bad omen." + +I did not share in the superstition, although I disliked the uncanny +sounds, and was under the impression that all owls, like hawks, +should be destroyed. Therefore, I followed Merton out, hoping that +he would get a successful shot at the night prowler. + +The moonlight illumined everything with a soft, mild radiance; and +the trees, with their tracery of bough and twig, stood out +distinctly. Before we could discover the creature, it flew with +noiseless wing from a maple near the door to another perch up the +lane, and again uttered its weird notes. + +Merton was away like a swift shadow, and, screening himself behind +the fence, stole upon his game. A moment later the report rang out +in the still night. It so happened that Merton had fired just as the +bird was about to fly, and had only broken a wing. The owl fell to +the ground, but led the boy a wild pursuit before he was captured. +Merton's hands were bleeding when he brought the creature in. Unless +prevented, it would strike savagely with its beak, and the motions +of its head were as quick as lightning. It was, indeed, a strange +captive, and the children looked at it in wondering and rather +fearful curiosity. My wife, usually tender-hearted, wished the +creature, so ill-omened in her eyes, to be killed at once, but I +granted Merton's request that he might put it in a box and keep it +alive for a while. + +"In the morning," I said, "we will read all about it, and can +examine it more carefully." + +My wife yielded, and I am not sure but that she thought we might +avert misfortune by showing mercy. + +Among my purchases was a recent work on natural history. But our +minds had been engrossed with too many practical questions to give +it much attention. Next morning we consulted it, and found our +captive variously described as the little red, the mottled, or the +screech owl. Then followed an account of its character and habits. +We learned that we had made war upon a useful friend, instead of an +ill-boding, harmful creature. We were taught that this species is a +destroyer of mice, beetles, and vermin, thus rendering the +agriculturist great services, which, however are so little known +that the bird is everywhere hunted down without mercy or justice. + +"Surely, this is not true of all owls," I said, and by reading +further we learned that the barred, or hoot owl, and the great +horned owl, were deserving of a surer aim of Merton's gun. They prey +not only upon useful game, but also invade the poultry-yard, the +horned species being especially destructive. Instances were given in +which these freebooters had killed every chicken upon a farm. As +they hunt only at night, they are hard to capture. Their notes and +natures are said to be in keeping with their deeds of darkness; for +their cry is wild, harsh, and unearthly, while in temper they are +cowardly, savage, and untamable, showing no affection even for each +other. A female has been known to kill and eat the male. + +"The moral of this owl episode," I concluded, "is that we must learn +to know our neighbors, be they birds, beasts, or human beings, +before we judge them. This book is not only full of knowledge, but +of information that is practical and useful. I move that we read up +about the creatures in our vicinity. What do you say, Merton? +wouldn't it be well to learn what to shoot, as well as how to +shoot?" + +Protecting his hands with buckskin gloves, the boy applied mutton +suet to our wounded owl's wing. It was eventually healed, and the +bird was given its liberty. It gradually became sprightly and tame, +and sociable in the evening, affording the children and Junior much +amusement. + +By the 7th of April there was a prospect of warmer and more settled +weather, and Mr. Jones told us to lose no time in uncovering our +Antwerp raspberries. They had been bent down close to the ground the +previous winter and covered with earth. To remove this without +breaking the canes, required careful and skilful work. We soon +acquired the knack, however, of pushing and throwing aside the soil, +then lifting the canes gently through what remained, and shaking +them clear. + +"Be careful to level the ground evenly," Mr. Jones warned us, "for +it won't do at all to leave hummocks of dirt around the hills;" and +we followed his instructions. + +The canes were left until a heavy shower of rain washed them clean; +then Winnie and Bobsey tied them up. We gave steady and careful +attention to the Antwerps, since they would be our main dependence +for income. I also raked in around the hills of one row a liberal +dressing of wood ashes, intending to note its effect. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A COUNTRY SUNDAY + + +Hitherto the Sabbaths had been stormy and the roads bad, and we had +given the days to rest and family sociability. But at last there +came a mild, sunny morning, and we resolved to find a church-home. I +had heard that Dr. Lyman, who preached in the nearest village had +the faculty of keeping young people awake. Therefore we harnessed +the old bay-horse to our market-wagon, donned our "go-ter-meetin's," +as Junior called his Sunday clothes, and started. Whatever might be +the result of the sermon, the drive promised to do us good. The +tender young grass by the roadside, and the swelling buds of trees, +gave forth delicious odors; a spring haze softened the outline of +the mountains, and made them almost as beautiful as if clothed with +foliage; robins, song-sparrows, and other birds were so tuneful that +Mousie said she wished they might form the choir at the church. +Indeed, the glad spirit of Spring was abroad, and it found its way +into our hearts. We soon learned that it entered largely also into +Dr. Lyman's sermon. We were not treated as strangers and intruders, +but welcomed and shown to a pew in a way that made us feel at home. +I discovered that I, too, should be kept awake and given much to +think about. We remained until Sunday-school, which followed the +service, was over, and then went home, feeling that life both here +and hereafter was something to be thankful for. After dinner, +without even taking the precaution of locking the door, we all +strolled down the lane and the steeply sloping meadow to our wood +lot and the banks of the Moodna Creek. My wife had never seen this +portion of our place before, and she was delighted with its wild +beauty and seclusion. She shivered and turned a little pale, +however, as she saw the stream, still high and swift, that had +carried Bobsey away. + +Junior joined us, and led the children to a sunny bank, from which +soon came shouts of joy over the first wildflowers of the season. I +placed my wife on a rock, and we sat quietly for a time, inhaling +the fresh woody odors, and listening to the murmurs of the creek and +the song of the birds. Then I asked: "Isn't this better than a city +flat and a noisy street? Are not these birds pleasanter neighbors +than the Daggetts and the Ricketts?" + +Her glad smile was more eloquent than words could have been. Mousie +came running to us, holding in her hand, which trembled from +excitement, a little bunch of liverworts and anemones. Tears of +happiness actually stood in her eyes, and she could only falter, "O +mamma! just look!" and then she hastened away to gather more. + +"That child belongs to nature," I said, "and would always be an +exile in the city. How greatly she has improved in health already!" + +The air grew damp and chill early, and we soon returned to the +house. Monday was again fair, and found us absorbed in our busy +life, each one having plenty to do. When it was safe to uncover the +raspberries, Merton and I had not lost a moment in the task. At the +time of which I write we put in stakes where they were missing, +obtaining not a few of them from the wood lot. We also made our +second planting of potatoes and other hardy vegetables in the +garden. The plants in the kitchen window were thriving, and during +mild, still days we carried them to a sheltered place without, that +they might become inured to the open air. + +Winnie already had three hens sitting on their nests full of eggs, +and she was counting the days until the three weeks of incubation +should expire, and the little chicks break their shells. One of the +hens proved a fickle biddy, and left her nest, much to the child's +anger and disgust. But the others were faithful, and one morning +Winnie came bounding in, saying she had heard the first "peep." I +told her to be patient and leave the brood until the following day, +since I had read that the chicks were stronger for not being taken +from the nest too soon. She had treated the mother hens so kindly +that they were tame, and permitted her to throw out the empty +shells, and exult over each new-comer into a brief existence. + +Our radishes had come up nicely; but no sooner had the first green +leaves expanded than myriads of little flea-like beetles devoured +them. A timely article in my horticultural paper explained that if +little chickens were allowed to run in the garden they would soon +destroy these and other insects. Therefore I improvised a coop by +laying down a barrel near the radishes and driving stakes in front +of it to confine the hen, which otherwise, with the best intentions, +would have scratched up all my sprouting seeds. Hither we brought +her the following day, with her downy brood of twelve, and they soon +began to make themselves useful. Winnie fed them with Indian-meal +and mashed potatoes and watched over them with more than their +mother's solicitude, while Merton renewed his vigilance against +hawks and other enemies. + +With this new attraction, and wildflowers in the woods, the tying up +of raspberries became weary prose to Winnie and Bobsey; but I kept +them at it during most of the forenoon of every pleasant day and if +they performed their task carelessly, I made them do it over. I knew +that the time was coming when many kinds of work would cease to be +play to us all, and that we might as well face the fact first as +last. After the morning duties were over, and the afternoon lessons +learned, there was plenty of time for play, and the two little +people enjoyed it all the more. + +Merton, also, had two afternoons in the week and he and Junior began +to bring home strings of sweet little sunfish and winfish. Boys +often become disgusted with country life because it is made hard and +monotonous for them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +STRAWBERRY VISIONS AND "PERTATERS" + + +I had decided that I would not set out any more raspberries until I +had learned the comparative value of those already on the place. +After I had seen my varieties in bearing and marketed the crop, I +should be better able to make a wise selection, "Why not plant only +the best and most profitable?" I reasoned. At Mr. Jones's suggestion +I had put up notices at public resorts, and inserted a brief +advertisement in a local paper, stating that I had plants for sale. +As a result, I sold, at a low price, it is true, the greater part of +the young plants that had been trenched in, and the ready money they +brought was very acceptable. + +From the first, my mind had often turned toward strawberries as one +of our chief crops. They promised well for several reasons, the main +one being that they would afford a light and useful form of labor +for all the children. Even Bobsey could pick the fruit almost as +well as any of us, for he had no long back to ache in getting down +to it. The crop, also, could be gathered and sold before the +raspberry season began, and this was an important fact. We should +also have another and earlier source of income. I had read a great +deal about the cultivation of the strawberry, and I had visited a +Maizeville neighbor who grew them on a large scale, and had obtained +his views. To make my knowledge more complete I wrote to my +Washington-Market friend, Mr. Bogart, and his prompt letter in reply +was encouraging. + +"Don't go into too many kinds," he advised, "and don't set too much +ground. A few crates of fine berries will pay you better than +bushels of small, soft, worthless trash. Steer clear of high-priced +novelties and fancy sorts, and begin with only those known to pay +well in your region. Try Wilson's (they're good to sell if not to +eat) and Duchess for early, and Sharpless and Champion for late. Set +the last two kinds out side by side, for the Champions won't bear +alone. A customer of mine runs on these four sorts. He gives them +high culture, and gets big crops and big berries, which pay big. +When you want crates, I can furnish them, and take my pay out of the +sales of your fruit. Don't spend much money for plants. Buy a few of +each kind, and set 'em in moist ground and let 'em run. By winter +you'll have enough plants to cover your farm." + +I found that I could buy these standard varieties in the vicinity; +and having made the lower part of the garden very rich, I procured, +one cloudy day, two hundred plants of each kind and set them in +rows, six feet apart, so that by a little watchfulness I could keep +them separate. I obtained my whole stock for five dollars; +therefore, counting our time and everything, the cost of entering on +strawberry culture was slight. A rainy night followed, and every +plant started vigorously. + +In spite of occasional frosts and cold rains, the days grew longer +and warmer. The cherry, peach, plum, and pear buds were almost ready +to burst into bloom, but Mr. Jones shook his head over the orchard. + +"This ain't apple year," he said. "Well, no matter. If you can make +it go this season, you will be sure of better luck next year." + +He had come over to aid me in choosing a two-acre plot of ground for +corn and potatoes. This we marked out from the upper and eastern +slope of a large meadow. The grass was running out and growing +weedy. + +"It's time it was turned over," my neighbor remarked; "and by fall +it'll be in good condition for fruit." + +I proposed to extend my fruit area gradually, with good reason, +fearing that much hired help would leave small profits. + +That very afternoon Mr. Jones, with his sharp steel plow, began to +turn over clean, deep, even furrows; for we had selected the plot in +view of the fact that it was not stony, as was the case with other +portions of our little farm. + +When at last the ground was plowed, he said: "I wouldn't harrow the +part meant for corn till you are ready to plant it, say about the +tenth of next month. We'd better get the pertater ground ready and +the rows furrowed out right off. Early plantin' is the best. How +much will ye give to 'em?" + +"Half the plot," I said. + +"Why, Mr. Durham, that's a big plantin' for pertaters." + +"Well, I've a plan, and would like your opinion. If I put Early Rose +potatoes right in, when can I harvest them?" + +"Say the last of July or early August, accordin' to the season." + +"If we keep the ground clean and well worked the sod will then be +decayed, won't it?" + +"Yes, nigh enough. Ye want to grow turnips or fodder corn, I +s'pose?" + +"No, I want to set out strawberries. I've read more about this fruit +than any other, and, if the books are right, I can set strong plants +on enriched ground early in August and get a good crop next June. +Won't this pay better than planting next spring and waiting over two +years from this time for a crop?" + +"Of course it will, if you're right. I ain't up on strawberries." + +"Well," I continued, "it looks reasonable. I shall have my young +plants growing right here in my own garden. Merton and I can take +them up in the cool of the evening and in wet weather, and they +won't know they've been moved. I propose to get these early potatoes +out of the ground as soon as possible, even if I have to sell part +of them before they are fully ripe; then have the ground plowed deep +and marked out for strawberries, put all the fertilizers I can +scrape together in the rows and set the plants as fast as possible. +I've read again and again that many growers regard this method as +one of the best." + +"Well, you're comin' on for a beginner. I'm kind o' shy of book- +plans, though. But try it. I'll come over, as I used to when old man +Jamison was here, and sit on the fence and make remarks." + +Planting an acre of potatoes was no light task for us, even after +the ground was plowed and harrowed, and the furrows for the rows +were marked out. I also had to make a half-day's journey to the city +of Newtown to buy more seed, since the children's appetites had +greatly reduced the stock in the root-cellar. For a few days we +worked like beavers. Even Winnie helped Merton to drop the seed; and +in the evening we had regular potato-cutting "bees," Junior coming +over to aid us, and my wife and Mousie helping also. Songs and +stories enlivened these evening hours of labor. Indeed, my wife and +Mousie performed, during the day, a large part of this task, and +they soon learned to cut the tubers skilfully. I have since known +this work to be done so carelessly that some pieces were cut without +a single eye upon them. Of course, in such cases there is nothing to +grow. + +One Saturday night, the last of April, we exulted over the fact that +our acre was planted and the seed well covered. + +Many of the trees about the house, meantime, had clothed themselves +with fragrant promises of fruit. All, especially Mousie, had been +observant of the beautiful changes, and, busy as we had been, she, +Winnie and Bobsey had been given time to keep our table well +supplied with wildflowers. Now that they had come in abundance, they +seemed as essential as our daily food. To a limited extent I +permitted blooming sprays to be taken from the fruit-trees, +thinking, with Mousie, that "cherry blossoms are almost as nice as +cherries." Thus Nature graced our frugal board, and suggested that, +as she accompanied her useful work with beauty and fragrance, so we +also could lift our toilsome lives above the coarse and sordid phase +too common in country homes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +CORN, COLOR, AND MUSIC + + +In early May the grass was growing lush and strong, and Brindle was +driven down the lane to the meadow, full of thickets, which bordered +on the creek. Here she could supply herself with food and water +until the late autumn. + +With the first days of the month we planted, on a part of the garden +slope, where the soil was dry and warm, very early, dwarf sweet +corn, a second early variety, Burr's Mammoth, and Stowell's +Evergreen. + +"These several kinds," I said, "will give us a succession of boiling +ears for weeks together. When this planting is up a few inches high, +we will make another, for, by so doing, my garden book says we may +have this delicious vegetable till frost comes." + +After reading and some inquiry during the winter I had decided to +buy only McLean's Gem peas for seed. This low-growing kind required +no brush and, therefore, far less labor. By putting in a row every +ten days till the last of June, we should enjoy green peas of the +sweet, wrinkled sort till tired, if that were possible. We also +planted early dwarf wax-beans, covering the seed, as directed, only +two inches deep. It was my ambition to raise a large crop of Lima +beans, having read that few vegetables yield more food to a small +area than they. So, armed with an axe and a hatchet, Merton and I +went into some young growth on the edge of our wood lot and cut +thirty poles, lopping off the branches so as to leave little +crotches on which the vines could rest for support. Having sharpened +these poles we set them firmly in the garden, four feet apart each +way, then dug in some very fine and decayed manure around each pole, +and left the soil for a day or two to grow warm and light. My book +said that, if the earth was cold, wet, or heavy the beans would +decay instead of coming up. The 10th of the month being fine and +promising, I pressed the eye or germ side of the beans into the soil +and covered them only one inch deep. In the evening we set out our +cabbage and cauliflower plants where they should be allowed to +mature. The tomato plants, being more tender than their companions +started in the kitchen window, were set about four inches apart in a +sheltered place. We could thus cover them at night and protect them +a little from the midday sun for a week or two longer. + +Nor were Mousie's flowering plants forgotten. She had watched over +them from the seed with tireless care, and now we made a bed and +helped the happy child to put her little nurslings in the open +ground where they were to bloom. The apple-trees made the air +fragrant, and some of the delicate pink of their blossoms was in +Mousie's cheeks. + +"Truly," I thought, as I looked into her sparkling eyes, "if we can +but barely live in the country, I am glad we came." + +The next morning Merton and I began our great undertaking--the +planting of the other acre of ground, next to the potatoes, with +field corn. Mr. Jones had harrowed it comparatively smooth, I had a +light plow with which to mark out the furrows four feet apart each +way. At the intersection of these furrows the seed was to be +dropped. I found I could not drive our old bay straight across the +field to save my life, and neighbor Jones laughed till his sides +ached at the curves and crooks I first left behind me. + +"Here, Merton," I cried, nothing daunted, "we must work together +again. Get a pole and stand it on the farther side of the plot four +feet in from the edge of the sod. That's right. Now come here; take +old Bay by the head, and, with your eyes fixed on the pole, lead him +steadily toward it." + +A furrow was now made of which Mr. Jones himself need not have been +ashamed; and he laughed as he said, at parting "You'll do. I see +you've got enough Yankee in you to try more ways than one." + +We kept at work manfully, although the day was warm, and by noon the +plot was furrowed one way. After dinner we took an hour's partial +rest in shelling our corn and then resumed our work, and in the same +manner began furrowing at right angles with the first rows. The +hills were thus about four feet apart each way. Merton dropped the +corn after we had run half a dozen furrows. + +"Drop five kernels," I said; for Mr. Jones had told us that four +stalks were enough and that three would do, but had added: "I plant +five kernels, for some don't come up, and the crows and other +vermints take others. If all of 'em grow, it's easier to pull up one +stalk at the first hoeing than to plant over again." + +We found that putting in the corn was a lighter task than planting +the potatoes even though we did our own furrowing; and by the middle +of May we were complacent over the fact that we had succeeded with +our general spring work far better than we had hoped, remembering +that we were novices who had to take so much counsel from books and +from our kind, practical neighbor. + +The foliage of the trees was now out in all its delicately shaded +greenery, and midday often gave us a foretaste of summer heat. The +slight blaze kindled in the old fireplace, after supper, was more +for the sake of good cheer than for needed warmth, and at last it +was dispensed with. Thrushes and other birds of richer and fuller +song had come, and morning and evening we left the door open that we +might enjoy the varied melody. + +Our first plantings of potatoes and early vegetables were now up and +looked promising. So a new phase of labor--that of cultivation-- +began. New broods of chickens were coming off, and Winnie had many +families to look after. Nevertheless, although there was much to +attend to, the season was bringing a short breathing-spell, and I +resolved to take advantage of it. So I said one Friday evening: "If +to-morrow is fair, we'll take a vacation. What do you say to a day's +fishing and sailing on the river?" + +A jubilant shout greeted this proposal, and when it had subsided, +Mousie asked, "Can't Junior go with us?" + +"Certainly," I replied; "I'll go over right after supper, and make +sure that his father consents." + +Mr. Jones said, "Yes," and Merton and Junior were soon busy with +their preparations, which were continued until the long twilight +deepened into dusk. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +WE GO A-FISHING + + +The following day, happily, proved all that we could desire. The +children were up with the dawn, and Junior was not long in joining +us. By eight o'clock we had finished breakfast and the morning work, +our lunch-basket was packed, and the market-wagon stood at the door. +Mr. Jones had good-naturedly promised to take a look at the premises +occasionally to see that all was right. I had put but one seat in +the wagon for my wife and myself, since the young people decided +that a straw-ride to the river would be "more fun than a parlor- +car." + +My wife entered into the spirit of this little outing with a zest +which gave me deep content. Her face indicated no regretful thoughts +turning toward the Egypt of the city; her mother love was so strong +that she was happy with the children. The robins, of which there +seemed no end about the house, gave us a tuneful and hilarious send- +off; the grown people and children whom we met smiled and cheered, +following us with envious eyes. Each of the children held a pole +aloft, and Merton said that "the wagon looked as if our Lima-bean +patch was off on a visit." + +In the village we increased our stock of lines and hooks, and bought +a few corks for floats. We soon reached the mouth of the Moodna +Creek, where stood a weather-beaten boat-house, with a stable +adjoining, in which old Bay could enjoy himself in his quiet, +prosaic way. A good-sized boat was hired, and, as the tide was in, +we at first decided to go up the creek as far as possible and float +down with the ebb. This, to the children, was like a voyage of +discovery, and there was a general airing of geography, each little +bay, point, and gulf receiving some noted name. At last we reached a +deep, shaded pool, which was eventually dubbed "Bobsey's Luck;" for +he nearly fell into it in his eagerness to take off a minnow that +had managed to fasten itself to his hook. + +Merton and Junior, being more experienced anglers, went ashore to +make some casts on the ripples and rapids of the stream above, and +secured several fine "winfish." The rest of us were content to take +it easy in the shade and hook an occasional cat and sun fish. At +last the younger children wanted variety, so I permitted them to +land on the wooded bank, kindle a little fire, and roast some clams +that we had bought at the boat-house. The smoke and the tempting +odors lured Merton and Junior, who soon proved that boys' appetites +can always be depended upon. + +Time passed rapidly, and I at last noticed that the tide had fallen +to such a degree as to fill me with alarm. + +"Come, youngsters," I cried, "we must go back at once, or we shall +have to stay here till almost night." + +They scrambled on board, and we started down-stream, but soon came +to shallow water, as was proved by the swift current and the +ripples. A moment later we were hard aground. In vain we pushed with +the oars; the boat would not budge. Then Junior sat down and coolly +began to take off shoes and stockings. In a flash Merton followed +his example. There was no help for it, and we had no time to lose. +Over they splashed, lightening the boat, and taking the "painter," +or tie-rope, at the bow, they pulled manfully. Slowly at first, but +with increasing progress, the keel grated over the stones, and at +last we were again afloat. A round of applause greeted the boys as +they sprung back into the boat, and away we went, cautiously +avoiding shoals and sand-bars, until we reached Plum Point, where we +expected to spend the remainder of the day. Here, for a time, we had +excellent sport, and pulled up sunfish and white perch of a very +fair size. Bobsey caught so large a specimen of the former variety +that he had provided himself with a supper equal even to his +capacity. + +The day ended in unalloyed pleasure, and never had the old farm- +house looked so like home as when it greeted us again in the evening +glow of the late spring sun. Merton and Junior divided the finny +spoils to their satisfaction, while Winnie and I visited the +chicken-coops and found that there had been no mishaps during our +absence. I told my boy that I would milk the cow while he cleaned +the fish for supper, and when at last we sat down we formed a tired, +hilarious, and hungry group. Surely, if fish were created to be +eaten, our enjoyment of their browned sweetness must have rounded +out their existence completely. + +"O papa!" exclaimed Merton, at the breakfast table, on Monday +morning; "we haven't planted any musk and water melons!" + +"That is true," I replied. "I find that I overlooked melons in +making out my list of seeds. Indeed, I passed them over, I imagine, +as a luxury that we could dispense with the first year." + +"I'll take care of 'em if you will only let us have some," persisted +the boy; and the other children joined in his request. + +"But the garden is all filled up," I said, thoughtfully; "and I fear +it is too late to plant now." + +Looks of disappointment led me to think further and I got one of my +seed catalogues. + +"Here are some early kinds named and perhaps they would mature; but +where shall we put them?" + +"Seems to me we had better have a little less corn, if room can be +made for melons," was Merton's suggestion. + +"I'll tell you what we'll do," I continued. "We've had such good +fortune in accomplishing our early work, and you have helped so +nicely, that you shall try your hand at melons. Drive your mother +and Mousie down to the village this morning, and get some seeds of +the nutmeg musk-melon and Phinney's early watermelon. I'll take two +rows in the early corn on the warm garden slope, pull up every third +hill, and make, in their places, nice, warm, rich beds for the seed +which we will plant as soon as you come back. I don't believe the +corn will shade the melon vines too much; and as soon as we have +taken off the green ears we will cut away the stalks. Thus we shall +get two crops from the same ground." + +This plan was carried out, and the melon seed came up in a very +promising way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +WEEDS AND WORKING FOR DEAR LIFE + + +The beautiful transition period of spring passing into summer would +have filled us with delight had we not found a hostile army +advancing on us--annual weeds. When we planted the garden, the soil +was brown and clean. The early vegetables came up in well-defined +green rows, the weeds appearing with them, too few and scattered to +cause anxiety. Now all was changed. Weeds seemed created by magic in +a night. The garden was becoming evenly green throughout; and the +vegetables, in some cases, could scarcely be distinguished from the +ranker growth of crowding, unknown plants among and around them. I +also saw that our corn and potato field would soon become, if left +alone, as verdant as the meadow beyond. I began to fear that we +could not cope with these myriads of foes, little now, but growing +while we slept, and stealing a march on us in one part of the place +while we destroyed them in another. + +With something like dismay I called Mr. Jones's attention to these +silent forces, invading, not only the garden and fields, but the +raspberries and, indeed, all the ground now devoted to fruit. + +He laughed and said: "The Philistines are on you, sure enough. I'm +busy whackin' them over myself, but I guess I'll have to come and +give you a lift, for you must get these weeds well under before +hayin' and raspberry-pickin'-time comes. It's warm to-day, and the +ground's middlin' dry. I'll show you what can be done in short +metre. By the way, I'll give you a little wrinkle worth knowin'. +I've observed that you didn't bring the children to the country to +be like weeds--just ter grow and run ter seed, ye know. It's +'stonishin' how soon weeds, whether they're people or pusley, get +seedy. Well, now, call the children and come with me to the garden." + +We were all soon there, including my wife, who shared my solicitude. + +"You see," resumed Mr. Jones, "that these weakly little rows of +carrots, beets, and onions would soon be choked by these weeds, not +an inch high yet. The same is true of the corn and peas and other +sags. The pertaters are strong enough to take care of themselves for +a time, but not long. I see you and Merton have been tryin' to weed +and hoe them out at the same time. Well, you can't keep up with the +work in that way. Take now this bed of beets; the weeds are gettin' +even all over it, and they're thicker, if anywhere, right in the +row, so that it takes a good eye to see the beets. But here they +are, and here they run across the bed. Now look at me. One good +showin' is worth all the tellin' and readin' from now to Christmas. +You see, I begin with my two hands, and pull out all the weeds on +each side of the little row, and I pull 'em away from the young +beets so as not to disturb them, but to leave 'em standin' straight +and saucy. Careless hands will half pull out the vegetables at the +same time with the weeds. I had to strap Junior once before he +learned that fact, and it was amazin' how I helped his eyesight and +trained his fingers through his back. Well, now, you see, I've +cleared out this row of beets half across the bed and the ground for +an inch or two on each side of it. I drop the weeds right down in +the spaces between the rows, for the sun will dry 'em up before +dinner-time. Now I'll take another row." + +By this time Merton and I were following his example, and in a few +moments a part of three more rows had been treated in the same way. + +"Now," continued Mr. Jones, "the weeds are all out of the rows that +we've done, and for a little space on each side of 'em. The beets +have a chance to grow unchoked, and to get ahead. These other little +green varmints in the ground, between the rows, are too small to do +any harm yet. Practically the beets are cleaned out, and will have +all the ground they need to themselves for three or four days; but +these weeds between the rows would soon swamp everything. Now, give +me a hoe, and I'll fix THEM." + +He drew the useful tool carefully and evenly through the spaces +between the rows, and our enemies were lying on their sides ready to +wither away in the morning sun. + +"You see after the rows are weeded out how quickly you can hoe the +spaces between 'em," my neighbor concluded. "Now the children can do +this weedin'. Your and Merton's time's too valyble. When weeds are +pulled from right in and around vegetables, the rest can stand +without harm for a while, till you can get around with the hoe and +cultivator. This weedin' out business is 'specially important in +rainy weather, for it only hurts ground to hoe or work it in wet, +showery days, and the weeds don't mind it a bit. Warm, sunny spells, +when the soil's a little dry, is the time to kill weeds. But you +must be careful in weedin' then, or you'll so disturb the young, +tender sass that it'll dry up, too. See, I'll pull some weeds +carelessly. Now obsarve that the beets are half jerked up also. Of +course that won't answer. I'll come over this afternoon with my +cultivator, and we'll tackle the corn and pertaters, and make such a +swath among these green Philistines that you'll sleep better to- +night. But ye're goin' to come out right, mind, I tell ye so; and +I've seen mor'n one city squash come to the country with the idee +that they were goin' to beat us punkins all holler." + +And he left us laughing and hopeful. + +"Come, Winnie and Bobsey, begin here on each side of me. I'll show +you this morning and then I trust you can be left to do the weeding +carefully by yourselves to-morrow. Pressing as the work is, you +shall have your afternoons until the berries are ripe." + +"Can't I help, too?" asked Mousie. + +I looked into her eager, wistful face, but said, firmly: "Not now, +dear. The sun is too hot. Toward night, perhaps, I'll let you do a +little. By helping mamma in the house you are doing your part." + +We made good progress, and the two younger children speedily learned +the knack of working carefully, so as not to disturb the little +vegetables. I soon found that weeding was back-aching work for me, +and therefore "spelled" myself by hoeing out the spaces between the +rows. By the time the music of the dinner-bell sounded, hosts of our +enemies were slain. + +Mr. Jones, true to his promise, was on hand at one o'clock with his +cultivator, and began with the corn, which was now a few inches +high. Merton and I followed with hoes, uncovering the tender shoots +on which earth had been thrown, and dressing out the soil into clean +flat hills. As our neighbor had said, it was astonishing how much +work the horse-cultivator performed in a short time. I saw that it +would be wise for us, another year, to plant in a way that would +permit the use of horse-power. Even in the garden this method should +be followed as far as possible. + +Mr. Jones was not a man of half-way measures. He remained helping +us, till he had gone through the corn, once each way, twice between +the long rows of potatoes, then twice through all the raspberry +rows, giving us two full days of his time altogether. + +I handed him a dollar in addition to his charge, saying that I had +never paid out money with greater satisfaction. + +"Well," he said, with a short, dry laugh, "I'll take it this time, +for my work is sufferin' at home, but I didn't want you to get +discouraged. Now, keep the hoes flyin', and you're ahead once more. +Junior's at it early and late, I can tell ye." + +"So I supposed, for we've missed him." + +"Good reason. When I'm through with him he's ready enough to crawl +into his little bed." + +So were we for a few days, in our winning fight with the weeds. One +hot afternoon, about three o'clock, I saw that Merton was growing +pale, and beginning to lag, and I said, decidedly: "Do you see that +tree there? Go and lie down under it till I call you." + +"I guess I can stand it till night," he began, his pride a little +touched. + +"Obey orders! I am captain." + +In five minutes he was fast asleep. I threw my coat over him, and +sat down, proposing to have a half-hour's rest myself. My wife came +out with a pitcher of cool butter-milk and nodded her head +approvingly at us. + +"Well, my thoughtful Eve," I said, "I find that our modern Eden will +cost a great many back-aches." + +"If you will only be prudent like this, you may save me a heart- +ache. Robert, you are ambitious, and unused to this kind of work. +Please don't ever be so foolish as to forget the comparative value +of vegetables and yourselves. Honestly now" (with one of her saucy +looks), "I'd rather do with a few bushels less, than do without you +and Merton;" and she sat down and kept me idle for an hour. + +Then Merton got up, saying that he felt as "fresh as if he had had a +night's rest," and we accomplished more in the cool of the day than +if we had kept doggedly at work. + +I found that Winnie and Bobsey required rather different treatment. +For a while they got on very well, but one morning I set them at a +bed of parsnips about which I was particular. In the middle of the +forenoon I went to the garden to see how they were getting on. +Shouts of laughter made me fear that all was not well, and I soon +discovered that they were throwing lumps of earth at each other. So +absorbed were they in their untimely and mischievous fun that I was +not noticed until I found Bobsey sitting plump on the vegetables, +and the rows behind both the children very shabbily cleaned, not a +few of the little plants having been pulled up with the weeds. + +Without a word I marched them into the house, then said: "Under +arrest till night. Winnie, you go to your room. I shall strap Bobsey +in his chair, and put him in the parlor by himself." + +The exchange of the hot garden for the cool rooms seemed rather an +agreeable punishment at first, although Winnie felt the disgrace +somewhat. When, at dinner, nothing but a cup of water and a piece of +dry bread was taken to them, Bobsey began to howl, and Winnie to +look as if the affair was growing serious. Late in the afternoon, +when she found that she was not to gather the eggs or feed her +beloved chickens, she, too, broke down and sobbed that she "wouldn't +do so any more." Bobsey also pleaded so piteously for release, and +promised such saint-like behavior, that I said: "Well, I will remit +the rest of your punishment and put you on trial. You had no excuse +for your mischief this morning, for I allow you to play the greater +part of every afternoon, while Merton must stand by me the whole of +the week." + +My touch of discipline brought up the morale of my little squad +effectually for a time. The next afternoon even the memory of +trouble was banished by the finding of the first wild strawberries. +Exultation and universal interest prevailed as clusters of green and +red berries were handed around to be smelled and examined. "Truly," +my wife remarked, "even roses can scarcely equal the fragrance of +the wild strawberry." + +From that day forward, for weeks, it seemed as if we entered on a +diet of strawberries and roses. The old-fashioned bushes of the +latter, near the house, had been well trimmed, and gave large, fine +buds in consequence, while Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey gleaned every +wild berry that could be found, beginning with the sunny upland +slopes and following the aromatic fruit down to the cool, moist +borders of the creek. + +"Another year," I said, "I think you will be tired even of +strawberries, for we shall have to pick early and late." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +NATURE SMILES AND HELPS + + +The Saturday evening which brought us almost to the middle of June +was welcomed indeed. The days preceding had been filled with hard, +yet successful labor, and the weeds had been slaughtered by the +million. The greater part of our crops had come up well and were +growing nicely. In hoeing the corn, we had planted over the few +missing hills, and now, like soldiers who had won the first great +success of the campaign, we were in a mood to enjoy a rest to the +utmost. + +This rest seemed all the more delightful when we awoke on the +following morning, to the soft patter of rain. The preceding days +had been unusually dry and warm, so that the grass and tender +vegetables were beginning to suffer. I was worrying about the +raspberries also, which were passing out of blossom. The cultivator +had been through them, and Merton and I, only the evening before, +had finished hoeing out the sprouting weeds and surplus suckers. I +had observed, with dread, that just as the fruit was forming, the +earth, especially around the hills, was getting dry. + +Now, looking out, I saw that the needful watering was not coming +from a passing shower. The clouds were leaden from horizon to +horizon; the rain fell with a gentle steadiness of a quiet summer +storm, and had evidently been falling some hours already. The air +was so fragrant that I threw wide open the door and windows. It was +a true June incense, such as no art could distil, and when, at last, +we all sat down to breakfast, of which crisp radishes taken a few +moments before from our own garden formed a part, we felt that +nature was carrying on our work of the past week in a way that +filled our hearts with gratitude. The air was so warm that we did +not fear the dampness. The door and windows were left open that we +might enjoy the delicious odors and listen to the musical patter of +the rain, which fell so softly that the birds were quite as tuneful +as on other days. + +The children joined me in the porch, and my wife came out laughing, +and put her hand on my shoulder as she said, "You are not through +with July and August yet." + +Mousie held her hands out in the warm rain, saying: "I feel as if it +would make me grow, too. Look at the green cherries up there, +bobbing as the drops hit them." + +"Rain isn't good for chickens," Winnie remarked, doubtfully. + +"It won't hurt them," I replied, "for I have fed them so well that +they needn't go out in the wet for food." + +The clouds gave us a more and more copious downfall as the day +advanced, and I sat on the porch, resting and observing with +conscious gratitude how beautifully nature was furthering all our +labor, and fulfilling our hopes. This rain would greatly increase +the hay-crops for the old horse and the cow; it would carry my +vegetables rapidly toward maturity; and, best of all, would soak the +raspberry ground so thoroughly that the fruit would be almost safe. +What was true of our little plot was equally so of neighbor Jones's +farm, and thousands of others. My wife sat with me much of the day, +and I truly think that our thoughts were acceptable worship. By four +in the afternoon the western horizon lightened, the clouds soon +broke away, and the sun shone out briefly in undiminished splendor, +turning the countless raindrops on foliage and grass into gems, +literally, of the purest water. The bird-songs seemed almost +ecstatic, and the voices of the children, permitted at last to go +out of doors, vied with them in gladness. + +"Let July and August--yes, and bleak January--bring what they may," +I said to my wife, "nevertheless, this is Eden." + +In spite of the muddy walks, we picked our way around the garden, +exclaiming in pleased wonder at the growth made by our vegetable +nurslings in a few brief hours, while, across the field, the corn +and potato rows showed green, strong outlines. + +I found that Brindle in the pasture hadn't minded the rain, but only +appeared the sleeker for it. When at last I came in to supper, I +gave my wife a handful of berries, at which she and the children +exclaimed. I had permitted a dozen plants of each variety of my +garden strawberries to bear, that I might get some idea of the +fruit. The blossoms on the other plants had been picked off as soon +as they appeared, so that all the strength might go toward forming +new plants. I found that a few of the berries of the two early kinds +were ripe, also that the robins had been sampling them. In size, at +least, they seemed wonderful compared with the wild fruit from the +field, and I said: + +"There will be lively times for us when we must get a dozen bushels +a day, like these, off to Mr. Bogart." + +The children, then, thought it would be the greatest fun in the +world. By the time supper was over, Mr. Jones and Junior appeared, +and my neighbor said in hearty good-will: + +"You got your cultivatin' done in the nick of time, Mr. Durham. This +rain is a good hundred dollars in your pocket and mine, too." + +I soon perceived that our enemies, the weeds, had millions in +reserve, and on Monday--the day after the rain--with all the +children helping, even Mousie part of the time, we went at the +garden again. To Mousie, scarcely an invalid any longer, was given +the pleasure of picking the first green peas and shelling them for +dinner. We had long been enjoying the succulent lettuce and the +radishes, and now I said to Winnie: "To-morrow you can begin +thinning out the beets, leaving the plants three inches apart. What +you pull up can be cooked as spinach, or 'greens,' as country people +say. Our garden will soon enable us to live like princes." + +As the ground dried after the rain, a light crust formed on the +surface, and in the wetter portions it was even inclined to bake or +crack. I was surprised at the almost magical effect of breaking up +the crust and making the soil loose and mellow by cultivation. The +letting in of air and light caused the plants to grow with wonderful +vigor. + +On Wednesday morning Merton came running in, exclaiming, "O papa! +there's a green worm eating all the leaves off the currant and +gooseberry bushes." + +I followed him hastily, and found that considerable mischief had +already been done, and I went to one of my fruit books in a hurry to +find out how to cope with this new enemy. + +As a result, I said: "Merton, mamma wishes to go to the village. You +drive her and Mousie down, and at the drug-store get two pounds of +white hellebore, also a pound of Paris green, for I find that the +potato bugs are getting too thick to be managed by hand. Remember +that these are poisons, the Paris green a deadly one. Have them +carefully wrapped up, and keep them from everything else. When you +return I'll take charge of them. Also, get a new large watering- +can." + +That afternoon I mixed a heaping tablespoonful of the hellebore +through the contents of the watering-can, on which I had painted the +word "Poison." With this infusion I sprinkled thoroughly every bush +on which I could find a worm, and the next morning we had the +pleasure of finding most of these enemies dead. But some escaped or +new ones were hatched, and we found that we could save our currants +only by constant vigilance. Every evening, until the fruit was +nearly ripe, we went over the bushes, and gave the vile little pests +a dose wherever we found them. Our other can I also labelled +"Poison," with dashes under it to show that it was to be used for +Paris green alone. A teaspoonful of this deadly agent was enough, +according to my book, for the amount of water held by the ordinary +wooden pail. I kept this poison out of Bobsey's reach, and, indeed, +where no one but myself could get at it, and, by its aid, destroyed +the potato beetles and their larvae also. Whatever may be true in +other parts of the world, in our region, certainly, success can be +secured only by prompt, intelligent effort. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +CHERRIES, BERRIES, AND BERRY-THIEVES + + +An evening or two after this we were taught that not even in our +retired nook had we escaped the dangers of city life. Winnie and +Bobsey, in their rambles after strawberries, had met two other +children, and, early in the acquaintance, fortunately brought them +to the house. The moment I saw the strange girl, I recognized a +rural type of Melissa Daggett, while the urchin of Bobsey's age did +not scruple to use vile language in my hearing. I doubt whether the +poor little savage had any better vernacular. I told them kindly but +firmly that they must not come on the place again without my +permission. + +After supper I went over and asked Mr. Jones about these children, +and he replied, significantly, looking around first to make sure +that no one heard him: + +"Mr. Durham, steer clear of those people. You know there are certain +varmints on a farm to which we give a wide berth and kill 'em when +we can. Of course we can't kill off this family, although a good +contribution could be taken up any day to move 'em a hundred miles +away. Still about everybody gives 'em a wide berth, and is civil to +their faces. They'll rob you more or less, and you might as well +make up your mind to it, and let 'em alone." + +"Suppose I don't let them alone?" + +"Well--remember, now, this is wholly between ourselves--there's been +barns burned around here. Everybody's satisfied who sot 'em afire, +but nothin' can be proved. Your cow or horse, too, might suddenly +die. There's no tellin' what accidents would happen if you got their +ill-will." + +"I can't take the course you suggest toward this family," I said, +after a little thought. "It seems to me wrong on both sides. On one +hand, they are treated as outlaws, and that would go far to make +them such; on the other, they are permitted to levy a sort of +blackmail and commit crime with impunity. Of course I must keep my +children away from them; but, if the chance offers, I shall show the +family kindness, and if they molest me I shall try to give them the +law to the utmost." + +"Well," concluded Mr. Jones, with a shrug, "I've warned you, if they +git down on yer, yer'll find 'em snakes in the grass." + +Returning home, I said nothing to Winnie and Bobsey against their +recent companions, but told them that if they went with them again, +or made the acquaintance of other strangers without permission, they +would be put on bread and water for an entire day--that all such +action was positively forbidden. + +It was evident, however, that the Melissa Daggett element was +present in the country, and in an aggravated form. That it was not +next door, or, rather, in the next room, was the redeeming feature. +Residents in the country are usually separated by wide spaces from +evil association. + +It must not be thought that my wife and children had no society +except that afforded by Mr. Jones's family. They were gradually +making pleasant and useful acquaintances, especially among those +whom we met at church; but as these people have no material part in +this simple history, they are not mentioned. + +The most important activities of the season were now drawing very +near. The cherries were swelling fast; the currants were growing +red, and were already pronounced "nice for pies;" and one morning +Merton came rushing in with a red raspberry from the Highland Hardy +variety. I was glad the time was at hand when I should begin to +receive something besides advice from Mr. Bogart; for, careful as we +had been, the drain on my capital had been long and steady, and were +eager for the turn of the tide. + +I had bought a number of old Mr. Jamison's crates, had painted out +his name and replaced it with mine. I now wrote to Mr. Bogart for +packages best adapted to the shipping of cherries, currants, and +raspberries. For the first he sent me baskets that held about a +peck. These baskets were so cheap that they could be sold with the +fruit. For currants, crates containing twenty-four quart baskets +were forwarded. These, he wrote, would also do for black-caps this +season, and for strawberries next year. For the red raspberries he +sent me quite different crates, filled with little baskets holding +only half a pint of fruit. Limited supplies of these packages were +sent, for he said that a telegram would bring more the same day. + +The corn and potatoes were becoming weedy again. This time I made +use of a light plow, Merton leading old Bay as at first. Then, with +our hoes, we gave the rows a final dressing out. By the time we had +finished, some of our grass was fit to cut, the raspberries needed a +careful picking over, and the cherries on one tree were ready for +market. The children and robins had already feasted, but I was +hungry for a check from New York. + +I had long since decided not to attempt to carry on haying alone at +this critical season, but had hired a man, too aged to hold his own +among the harvesters on the neighboring farms. Mr. Jones had said of +him: "He's a careful, trusty old fellow, who can do a good day's +work yet if you don't hurry him. Most of your grass is in the +meadow, some parts fit to cut before the others. Let the old man +begin and mow what he can, every day. Then you won't have to cure +and get in a great lot of hay all at once, and perhaps, too, when +your raspberries most need pickin'." + +So, during the last days of June, old Mr. Jacox, who came at +moderate wages, put in his scythe on the uplands. I spread the grass +and raked it up when dry, and, with the aid of Merton and a rude, +extemporized rack on the market-wagon, got the hay gradually into +the barn. This labor took only part of the day; the rest of the time +was employed in the garden and in picking fruit. + +On the last day of June we gathered a crate of early raspberries and +eight baskets of cherries. In the cool of the afternoon, these were +placed in the wagon, and with my wife and the three younger +children, I drove to the Maizeville Landing with our first shipment +to Mr. Bogart. + +"We are 'p'oducers,' at last, as Bobsey said," I cried, joyously. +"And I trust that this small beginning will end in such big loads as +will leave us no room for wife and children, but will eventually +give them a carriage to ride in." + +Merton remained on guard to watch our precious ripening fruit. + +After our departure he began a vigilant patrol of the place, feeling +much like a sentinel left on guard. About sun-down, he told me, as +he was passing through the raspberry field, he thought he caught a +glimpse of an old straw hat dodging down behind the bushes. He +bounded toward the spot, a moment later confronting three children +with tin pails. The two younger proved to be Winnie's objectionable +acquaintances that I had told to keep off the place. The eldest was +a boy, not far from Merton's age, and had justly won the name of +being the worst boy in the region. All were the children of the +dangerous neighbor against whom Mr. Jones had warned me. + +The boy at first regarded Merton with a sullen, defiant look, while +his brother and sister coolly continued to steal the fruit. + +"Clear out," cried Merton. "We'll have you put in jail if you come +here again." + +"You shut up and clear out yerself," said the boy, threateningly, +"or I'll break yer head. Yer pap's away, and we ain't afraid of you. +What's more, we're goin' ter have some cherries before--" + +Now Merton had a quick temper, and at this moment sprang at the +fellow who was adding insult to injury, so quickly that he got in a +blow that blackened one of the thief's eyes. + +Then they clinched, and, although his antagonist was the heavier, +Merton thinks he could have whipped him had not the two younger +marauders attacked him, tooth and nail, like cats. Finding himself +getting the worst of it, he instinctively sent out a cry for his +stanch friend Junior. + +Fortunately, this ally was coming along the road toward our house, +and he gave an answering halloo. + +The vagrants, apparently, had a wholesome fear of John Jones, +junior, for, on hearing his voice, they beat a hurried retreat; but +knowing that no one was at the house, and in the spirit of +revengeful mischief, they took their flight in that direction. +Seeing Mousie's flower-bed, they ran and jumped upon that, breaking +down half the plants, then dashed off through the coops, releasing +the hens, and scattering the broods of chickens. Merton and Junior, +who for a few moments had lost sight of the invaders in the thick +raspberry bushes, were now in hot pursuit, and would have caught +them again, had they not seen a man coming up the lane, accompanied +by a big dog. Junior laid a hand on headlong Merton, whose blood was +now at boiling heat, and said, "Stop." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +GIVEN HIS CHOICE + + +Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his +impetuous and hostile advance. The man coming up the lane, with a +savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children. He had felt +a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and +had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his +presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually. + +It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no +match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The +man is worse than the dog." + +Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of +unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun. + +"See here, Merton," said Junior, firmly, "shoot the dog if they set +him on us, but never fire at a human being. You'd better give me the +gun; I am cooler than you are." + +They had no occasion to use the weapon, however. The man shook his +fist at them, while his children indulged in taunts and coarse +derision. The dog, sharing their spirit and not their discretion, +started for the boys, but was recalled, and our undesirable +neighbors departed leisurely. + +All this was related to me after nightfall, when I returned with my +wife and younger children from the Maizeville Landing. I confess +that I fully shared Merton's anger, although I listened quietly. + +"You grow white, Robert, when you are angry," said my wife. "I +suppose that's the most dangerous kind of heat--white-heat. Don't +take the matter so to heart. We can't risk getting the ill-will of +these ugly people. You know what Mr. Jones said about them." + +"This question shall be settled in twenty-four hours!" I replied. +"That man and his family are the pest of the neighborhood, and +everyone lives in a sort of abject dread of them. Now, the neighbors +must say 'yes' or 'no' to the question whether we shall have +decency, law, and order, or not. Merton, unharness the horse. +Junior, come with me; I'm going to see your father." + +I found Mr. Jones sleepy and about to retire, but his blue eyes were +soon wide open, with an angry fire in them. + +"You take the matter very quietly, Mr. Durham;" he said; "more +quietly than I could." + +"I shall not fume about the affair a moment. I prefer to act. The +only question for you and the other neighbors to decide is, Will you +act with me? I am going to this man Bagley's house to-morrow, to +give him his choice. It's either decency and law-abiding on his +part, now, or prosecution before the law on mine. You say that you +are sure that he has burned barns, and made himself generally the +terror of the region. Now, I won't live in a neighborhood infested +by people little better than wild Indians. My feelings as a man will +not permit me to submit to insult and injury. What's more, it's time +the people about here abated this nuisance." + +"You are right, Robert Durham!" said Mr. Jones, springing up and +giving me his hand. "I've felt mean, and so have others, that we've +allowed ourselves to be run over by this rapscallion. If you go to- +morrow, I'll go with you, and so will Rollins. His hen-roost was +robbed t'other night, and he tracked the thieves straight toward +Bagley's house. He says his patience has given out. It only needs a +leader to rouse the neighborhood, but it ain't very creditable to us +that we let a new-comer like you face the thing first." + +"Very well," I said, "it's for you and your neighbors to show now +how much grit and manhood you have. I shall start for Bagley's house +at nine to-morrow. Of course I shall be glad to have company, and if +he sees that the people will not stand any more of his rascality, +he'll be more apt to behave himself or else clear out." + +"He'll have to do one or the other," said Mr. Jones, grimly. "I'll +go right down to Rolling's. Come, Junior, we may want you." + +At eight o'clock the next morning, a dozen men, including the +constable, were in our yard. My wife whispered, "Do be prudent, +Robert." She was much reassured, however, by the largeness of our +force. + +We soon reached the dilapidated hovel, and were so fortunate as to +find Bagley and all his family at home. Although it was the busiest +season, he was idle. As I led my forces straight toward the door, it +was evident that he was surprised and disconcerted, in spite of his +attempt to maintain a sullen and defiant aspect. I saw his evil eye +resting on one and another of our group, as if he was storing up +grudges to be well paid on future dark nights. His eldest son stood +with the dog at the corner of the house, and as I approached, the +cur, set on by the boy, came toward me with a stealthy step. I +carried a heavy cane, and just as the brute was about to take me by +the leg, I struck him a blow on the head that sent him howling away. + +The man for a moment acted almost as if he had been struck himself. +His bloated visage became inflamed, and he sprang toward me. + +"Stop!" I thundered. My neighbors closed around me, and he +instinctively drew back. + +"Bagley," I cried, "look me in the eye." And he fixed upon me a gaze +full of impotent anger. "Now," I resumed, "I wish you and your +family to understand that you've come to the end of your rope. You +must become decent, law-abiding people, like the rest of us, or we +shall put you where you can't harm us. I, for one, am going to give +you a last chance. Your children were stealing my fruit last night, +and acting shamefully afterward. You also trespassed, and you +threatened these two boys; you are idle in the busiest time, and +think you can live by plunder. Now, you and yours must turn the +sharpest corner you ever saw. Your two eldest children can come and +pick berries for me at the usual wages, if they obey my orders and +behave themselves. One of the neighbors here says he'll give you +work, if you try to do it well. If you accept these terms, I'll let +the past go. If you don't, I'll have the constable arrest your boy +at once, and I'll see that he gets the heaviest sentence the law +allows, while if you or your children make any further trouble, I'll +meet you promptly in every way the law permits. But, little as you +deserve it, I am going to give you and your family one chance to +reform, before proceeding against you. Only understand one thing, I +am not afraid of you. I've had my say." + +"I haven't had mine," said Rollins, stepping forward excitedly. +"You, or your scapegrace boy there, robbed my hen-roost the other +night, and you've robbed it before. There isn't a man in this region +but believes that it was you who burned the barns and hay-stacks. We +won't stand this nonsense another hour. You've got to come to my +hay-fields and work out the price of those chickens, and after that +I'll give you fair wages. But if there's any more trouble, we'll +clean you out as we would a family of weasels." + +"Yes, neighbor Bagley," added Mr. Jones, in his dry, caustic way, +"think soberly. I hope you are sober. I'm not one of the threatening +barkin' sort, but I've reached the p'int where I'll bite. The law +will protect us, an' the hull neighborhood has resolved, with Mr. +Durham here, that you and your children shall make no more trouble +than he and his children. See?" + +"Look-a-here," began the man, blusteringly, "you needn't come +threatenin' in this blood-and-thunder style. The law'll protect me +as well as--" + +Ominous murmurs were arising from all my neighbors, and Mr. Jones +now came out strong. + +"Neighbors," he said, "keep cool. The time to act hasn't come yet. +See here, Bagley, it's hayin' and harvest. Our time's vallyble, +whether yours is or not. You kin have just three minutes to decide +whether you'll take your oath to stop your maraudin' and that of +your children;" and he pulled out his watch. + +"Let me add my word," said a little man, stepping forward. "I own +this house, and the rent is long overdue. Follow neighbor Jones's +advice or we'll see that the sheriff puts your traps out in the +middle of the road." + +"Oh, of course," began Bagley. "What kin one feller do against a +crowd?" + +"Sw'ar, as I told you," said Mr. Jones, sharply and emphatically. +"What do you mean by hangin' fire so? Do you s'pose this is child's +play and make-believe? Don't ye know that when quiet, peaceable +neighbors git riled up to our pitch, they mean what they say? Sw'ar, +as I said, and be mighty sudden about it." + +"Don't be a fool," added his wife, who stood trembling behind him. +"Can't you see?" + +"Very well, I sw'ar it," said the man, in some trepidation. + +"Now, Bagley," said Mr. Jones, putting back his watch, "we want to +convert you thoroughly this mornin'. The first bit of mischief that +takes place in this borough will bring the weight of the law on +you;" and, wheeling on his heel, he left the yard, followed by the +others. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +GIVEN A CHANCE + + +"Come in, Mr. Bagley," I said, "and bring the children. I want to +talk with you all. Merton, you go home with Junior." + +But, papa--" he objected. + +"Do as I bid you," I said, firmly, and I entered the squalid abode. + +The man and the children followed me wonderingly. I sat down and +looked the man steadily in the eye for a moment. + +"Let us settle one thing first," I began. "Do you think I am afraid +of you?" + +"S'pose not, with sich backin' as yer got," was the somewhat nervous +reply. + +"I told Mr. Jones after I came home last night that I should fight +this thing alone if no one stood by me. But you see that your +neighbors have reached the limit of forbearance. Now, Mr. Bagley, I +didn't remain to threaten you. There has been enough of that, and +from very resolute, angry men, too. I wish to give you and yours a +chance. You've come to a place where two roads branch; you must take +one or the other. You can't help yourself. You and your children +won't be allowed to steal or prowl about any more. That's settled. +If you go away and begin the same wretched life elsewhere, you'll +soon reach the same result; you and your son will be lodged in jail +and put at hard labor. Would you not better make up your mind to +work for yourself and family, like an honest man? Look at these +children. How are you bringing them up?--Take the road to the right. +Do your level best, and I'll help you. I'll let bygones be bygones, +and aid you in becoming a respectable citizen." + +"Oh, Hank, do be a man, now that Mr. Durham gives you a chance," +sobbed his wife; "you know we've been living badly." + +"That's it, Bagley. These are the questions you must decide. If +you'll try to be a man, I'll give you my hand to stand by you. My +religion, such as it is, requires that I shall not let a man go +wrong if I can help it. If you'll take the road to the right and do +your level best, there's my hand." + +The man showed his emotion by a slight tremor only, and after a +moment's thoughtful hesitation he took my hand and said, in a +hoarse, choking voice: "You've got a claim on me now which all the +rest couldn't git, even if they put a rope around my neck. I s'pose +I have lived like a brute, but I've been treated like one, too." + +"If you'll do as I say, I'll guarantee that within six months you'll +be receiving all the kindness that a self-respecting man wants," I +answered. + +Then, turning to his wife, I asked, "What have you in the house to +eat?" + +"Next to nothin'," she said, drying her eyes with her apron, and +then throwing open their bare cupboard. + +"Put on your coat, Bagley, and come with me," I said. + +He and his wife began to be profuse with thanks. + +"No, no!" I said, firmly. "I'm not going to give you a penny's worth +of anything while you are able to earn a living. You shall have food +at once; but I shall expect you to pay for it in work. I am going to +treat you like a man and a woman, and not like beggars." + +A few minutes later, some of the neighbors were much surprised to +see Bagley and myself going up the road together. + +My wife, Merton, and tender-hearted Mousie were at the head of the +lane watching for me. Reassured, as we approached, they returned +wonderingly to the house, and met us at the door. + +"This is Mrs. Durham," I said. "My dear, please give Mr. Bagley ten +pounds of flour and a piece of pork. After you're had your dinner, +Mr. Bagley, I shall expect you, as we've agreed. And if you'll chain +up that dog of yours, or, better still, knock it on the head with an +axe, Mrs. Durham will go down and see your wife about fixing up your +children." + +Winifred gave me a pleased, intelligent look, and said, "Come in, +Mr. Bagley;" while Merton and I hastened away to catch up with +neglected work. + +"Your husband's been good to me," said the man, abruptly. + +"That's because he believes you are going to be good to yourself and +your family," was her smiling reply. + +"Will you come and see my wife?" he asked. + +"Certainly, if I don't have to face your dog," replied Winifred. + +"I'll kill the critter soon's I go home," muttered Bagley. + +"It hardly pays to keep a big, useless dog," was my wife's practical +comment. + +In going to the cellar for the meat, she left him alone for a moment +or two with Mousie; and he, under his new impulses, said: "Little +gal, ef my children hurt your flowers agin, let me know, and I'll +thrash 'em!" + +The child stole to his side and gave him her hand, as she replied, +"Try being kind to them." + +Bagley went home with some new ideas under his tattered old hat. At +half-past twelve he was on hand, ready for work. + +"That dog that tried to bite ye is dead and buried," he said, "and I +hope I buried some of my dog natur' with 'im." + +"You've shown your good sense. But I haven't time to talk now. The +old man has mown a good deal of grass. I want you to shake it out, +and, as soon as he says it's dry enough, to rake it up. Toward night +I'll be out with the wagon, and we'll stow all that's fit into the +barn. To-morrow I want your two eldest children to come and pick +berries." + +"I'm in fer it, Mr. Durham. You've given me your hand, and I'll show +yer how that goes furder with me than all the blood-and-thunder talk +in Maizeville," said Bagley, with some feeling. + +"Then you'll show that you can be a man like the rest of us," I +said, as I hastened to our early dinner. + +My wife beamed and nodded at me. "I'm not going to say anything to +set you up too much," she said. "You are great on problems, and you +are solving one even better than I hoped." + +"It isn't solved yet," I replied. "We have only started Bagley and +his people on the right road. It will require much patience and good +management to keep them there. I rather think you'll have the +hardest part of the problem yet on your hands. I have little time +for problems now, however, except that of making the most of this +season of rapid growth and harvest. I declare I'm almost bewildered +when I see how much there is to be done on every side. Children, we +must all act like soldiers in the middle of a fight. Every stroke +must tell. Now, we'll hold a council of war, so as to make the most +of the afternoon's work. Merton, how are the raspberries?" + +"There are more ripe, papa, than I thought there would be." + +"Then, Winnie, you and Bobsey must leave the weeding in the garden +and help Merton pick berries this afternoon." + +"As soon as it gets cooler," said my wife, "Mousie and I are going +to pick, also." + +"Very well," I agreed. "You can give us raspberries and milk to- +night, and so you will be getting supper at the same time. Until the +hay is ready to come in, I shall keep on hoeing in the garden, the +weeds grow so rapidly. Tomorrow will be a regular fruit day all +around, for there are two more cherry-trees that need picking." + +Our short nooning over, we all went to our several tasks. The +children were made to feel that now was the chance to win our bread +for months to come, and that there must be no shirking. Mousie +promised to clear away the things while my wife, protected by a +large sun-shade, walked slowly down to the Bagley cottage. Having +seen that Merton and his little squad were filling the baskets with +raspberries properly, I went to the garden and slaughtered the weeds +where they threatened to do the most harm. + +At last I became so hot and wearied that I thought I would visit a +distant part of the upland meadow, and see how Bagley was +progressing. He was raking manfully, and had accomplished a fair +amount of work, but it was evident that he was almost exhausted. He +was not accustomed to hard work, and had rendered himself still more +unfit for it by dissipation. + +"See here, Bagley," I said, "you are doing well, but you will have +to break yourself into harness gradually. I don't wish to be hard +upon you. Lie down under this tree for half an hour, and by that +time I shall be out with the wagon." + +"Mr. Durham, you have the feelin's of a man for a feller," said +Bagley, gratefully. "I'll make up the time arter it gets cooler." + +Returning to the raspberry patch, I found Bobsey almost asleep, the +berries often falling from his nerveless hands. Merton, meanwhile, +with something of the spirit of a martinet, was spurring him to his +task. I remembered that the little fellow had been busy since +breakfast, and decided that he also, of my forces, should have a +rest. He started up when he saw me coming through the bushes, and +tried to pick with vigor again. As I took him up in my arms, he +began, apprehensively, "Papa, I will pick faster, but I'm so tired!" + +I reassured him with a kiss which left a decided raspberry flavor on +my lips, carried him into the barn, and, tossing him on a heap of +hay, said, "Sleep there, my little man, till you are rested." + +He was soon snoring blissfully, and when I reached the meadow with +the wagon, Bagley was ready to help with the loading. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, "a little breathin'-spell does do a +feller good on a hot day." + +"No doubt about it," I said. "So long as you are on the right road, +it does no harm to sit down a bit, because when you start again it's +in the right direction." + +After we had piled on as much of a load as the rude, extemporized +rack on my market wagon could hold, I added, "You needn't go to the +barn with me, for I can pitch the hay into the mow. Rake up another +load, if you feel able." + +"Oh, I'm all right now," he protested. + +By the time I had unloaded the hay, I found that my wife and Mousie +were among the raspberries, and that the number of full, fragrant +little baskets was increasing rapidly. + +"Winifred, isn't this work, with your walk to the Bagley cottage, +too much for you?" + +"Oh, no," she replied, lightly. "An afternoon in idleness in a +stifling city flat would have been more exhausting. It's growing +cool now. What wretched, shiftless people those Bagleys are! But I +have hopes of them. I'm glad Bobsey's having a nap." + +"You shall tell me about your visit to-night. We are making good +progress. Bagley is doing his best. Winnie," I called, "come here." + +She brought her basket, nearly filled, and I saw that her eyes were +heavy with weariness also. + +"You've done well to-day, my child. Now go and look after your +chickens, big and little. Then your day's work is done, and you can +do what you please;" and I started for the meadow again. + +By six o'clock, we had in the barn three loads of hay, and Merton +had packed four crates of berries ready for market. Bobsey was now +running about, as lively as a cricket, and Winnie, with a child's +elasticity, was nearly as sportive. Bagley, after making up his +half-hour, came up the lane with a rake, instead of his ugly dog as +on the evening before. A few moments later, he helped me lift the +crates into the market wagon; and then, after a little awkward +hesitation, began: + +"I say, Mr. Durham, can't ye give a feller a job yerself? I declar' +to you, I want to brace up; but I know how it'll be down at +Rollins's. He'll be savage as a meat-axe to me, and his men will be +a-gibin'. Give me a job yerself, and I'll save enough out o' my +wages to pay for his chickens, or you kin keep 'nuff back to pay for +'em." + +I thought a moment, and then said, promptly: "I'll agree to this if +Rollins will. I'll see him to-night." + +"Did yer wife go to see my wife?" + +"Yes, and she says she has hopes of you all. You've earned your +bread to-day as honestly as I have, and you've more than paid for +what my wife gave you this morning. Here's a quarter to make the day +square, and here's a couple of baskets of raspberries left over. +Take them to the children." "Well, yer bring me right to the mark," +he said, emphasizing his words with a slap on his thigh. "I've got +an uphill row to hoe, and it's good ter have some human critters +around that'll help a feller a bit." + +I laughed as I clapped him on the shoulder, and said: "You're going +to win the fight, Bagley. I'll see Rollins at once, for I find I +shall need another man awhile." + +"Give me the job then," he said, eagerly, "and give me what you +think I'm wuth;" and he jogged off home with that leaven of all good +in his heart--the hope of better things. + + + + +Chapter XXXV + +"WE SHALL ALL EARN OUR SALT" + + +Raspberries and milk, with bread and butter and a cup of tea, made a +supper that we all relished, and then Merton and I started for the +boat-landing. I let the boy drive and deliver the crates to the +freight agent, for I wished him to relieve me of this task +occasionally. On our way to the landing I saw Rollins, who readily +agreed to Bagley's wish, on condition that I guaranteed payment for +the chickens. Stopping at the man's cottage further on, I told him +this, and he, in his emphatic way, declared: "I vow ter you, Mr. +Durham, ye shan't lose a feather's worth o' the chickens." + +Returning home, poor Merton was so tired and drowsy that he nearly +fell off the seat. Before long I took the reins from his hands, and +he was asleep with his head on my shoulder. Winifred was dozing in +her chair, but brightened up as we came in. A little judicious +praise and a bowl of bread and milk strengthened the boy +wonderfully. He saw the need of especial effort at this time, and +also saw that he was not being driven unfeelingly. + +As I sat alone with my wife, resting a few minutes before retiring, +I said: "Well, Winifred, it must be plain to you by this time that +the summer campaign will be a hard one. How are we going to stand +it?" + +"I'll tell you next fall," she replied, with a laugh. "No problems +to-night, thank you." + +"I'm gathering a queer lot of helpers in my effort to live in the +country," I continued. "There's old Mr. Jacox, who is too aged to +hold his own in other harvest-fields. Bagley and his tribe--" + +"And a city wife and a lot of city children," she added. + +"And a city greenhorn of a man at the head of you all," I concluded. + +"Well," she replied, rising with an odd little blending of laugh and +yawn, "I'm not afraid but that we shall all earn our salt." + +Thus came to an end the long, eventful day, which prepared the way +for many others of similar character, and suggested many of the +conditions of our problem of country living. + +Bagley appeared bright and early the following morning with his two +elder children, and I was now confronted with the task of managing +them and making them useful. Upon one thing I was certainly +resolved--there should be no quixotic sentiment in our relations, +and no companionship between his children and mine. + +Therefore, I took him and his girl and boy aside, and said: "I'm +going to be simple and outspoken with you. Some of my neighbors +think I'm a fool because I give you work when I can get others. I +shall prove that I am not a fool, for the reason that I shall not +permit any nonsense, and you can show that I am not a fool by doing +your work well and quietly. Bagley, I want you to understand that +your children do not come here to play with mine. No matter whom I +employed, I should keep my children by themselves. Now, do you +understand this?" + +They nodded affirmatively. + +"Are you all willing to take simple, straightforward directions, and +do your best? I'm not asking what is unreasonable, for I shall not +be more strict with you than with my own children." + +"No use o' beatin' around the bush, Mr. Durham," said Bagley, good- +naturedly; "we've come here to 'arn our livin', and to do as you +say." + +"I can get along with you, Bagley, but your children will find it +hard to follow my rules, because they are children, and are not used +to restraint. Yet they must do it, or there'll be trouble at once. +They must work quietly and steadily while they do work, and when I +am through with them, they must go straight home. They mustn't +lounge about the place. If they will obey, Mrs. Durham and I will be +good friends to them, and by fall we will fix them up so that they +can go to school." + +The little arabs looked askance at me and made me think of two wild +animals that had been caught, and were intelligent enough to +understand that they must be tamed. They were submissive, but made +no false pretences of enjoying the prospect. + +"I shall keep a gad handy," said their father, with a significant +nod at them. + +"Well, youngsters," I concluded, laughing, "perhaps you'll need it +occasionally. I hope not, however. I shall keep no gad, but I shall +have an eye on you when you least expect it; and if you go through +the picking-season well, I shall have a nice present for you both. +Now, you are to receive so much a basket, if the baskets are +properly filled, and therefore it will depend on yourselves how much +you earn. You shall be paid every day. So now for a good start +toward becoming a man and a woman." + +I led them to one side of the raspberry patch and put them under +Merton's charge saying, "You must pick exactly as he directs." + +Winnie and Bobsey were to pick in another part of the field, Mousie +aiding until the sun grew too warm for the delicate child. Bagley +was to divide his time between hoeing in the garden and spreading +the grass after the scythe of old Mr. Jacox. From my ladder against +a cherry-tree, I was able to keep a general outlook over my motley +forces, and we all made good progress till dinner, which, like the +help we employed, we now had at twelve o'clock. Bagley and his +children sat down to their lunch under the shade of an apple-tree at +some distance, yet in plain view through our open door. Their repast +must have been meagre, judging from the time in which it was +despatched, and my wife said, "Can't I send them something?" + +"Certainly; what have you to send?" + +"Well, I've made a cherry pudding; I don't suppose there is much +more than enough for us, though." + +"Children," I cried, "let's take a vote. Shall we share our cherry +pudding with the Bagleys?" + +"Yes," came the unanimous reply, although Bobsey's voice was rather +faint. + +Merton carried the delicacy to the group under the tree, and it was +gratefully and speedily devoured. + +"That is the way to the hearts of those children," said my wife, at +the same time slyly slipping her portion of the pudding upon +Bobsey's plate. + +I appeared very blind, but asked her to get me something from the +kitchen. While she was gone, I exchanged my plate of pudding, +untouched as yet, for hers, and gave the children a wink. We all had +a great laugh over mamma's well-assumed surprise and perplexity. How +a little fun will freshen up children, especially when, from +necessity, their tasks are long and heavy! + +We were startled from the table by a low mutter of thunder. +Hastening out, I saw an ominous cloud in the west. My first thought +was that all should go to the raspberries and pick till the rain +drove us in; but Bagley now proved a useful friend, for he shambled +up and said: "If I was you, I'd have those cherries picked fust. +You'll find that a thunder-shower'll rot 'em in one night. The wet +won't hurt the berries much." + +His words reminded me of what I had seen when a boy--a tree full of +split, half-decayed cherries--and I told him to go to picking at +once. I also sent his eldest boy and Merton into the trees. Old +Jacox was told to get the grass he had cut into as good shape as +possible before the shower. My wife and Mousie left the table +standing, and, hastening to the raspberry field, helped Winnie and +Bobsey and the other Bagley child to pick the ripest berries. We all +worked like beavers till the vivid flashes and great drops drove us +to shelter. + +Fortunately, the shower came up slowly, and we nearly stripped the +cherry-trees, carrying the fruit into the house, there to be +arranged for market in the neat peck-baskets with coarse bagging +covers which Mr. Bogart had sent me. The little baskets of +raspberries almost covered the barn floor by the time the rain +began, but they were safe. At first, the children were almost +terrified by the vivid lightning, but this phase of the storm soon +passed, and the clouds seemed to settle down for a steady rain. + +"'Tisn't goin' to let up," said Bagley, after a while. "We might as +well jog home now as any time." + +"But you'll get wet," I objected. + +"It won't be the fust time," answered Bagley. "The children don't +mind it any more'n ducks." + +"Well, let's settle, then," I said. "You need some money to buy food +at once." + +"I reckon I do," was the earnest reply. + +"There's a dollar for your day's work, and here is what your +children have earned. Are you satisfied?" I asked. + +"I be, and I thank you, sir. I'll go down to the store this +evenin'," he added. + +"And buy food only," I said, with a meaning look. + +"Flour and pork only, sir. I've given you my hand on't;" and away +they all jogged through the thick-falling drops. + +We packed our fruit for market, and looked vainly for clearing skies +in the west. + +"There's no help for it," I said. "The sooner I start for the +landing the better, so that I can return before it becomes very +dark." + +My wife exclaimed against this, but I added: "Think a moment, my +dear. By good management we have here, safe and in good order, +thirty dollars' worth of fruit, at least. Shall I lose it because I +am afraid of a summer shower? Facing the weather is a part of my +business; and I'd face a storm any day in the year if I could make +thirty dollars." + +Merton wished to go also, but I said, "No; there must be no risks +of illness that can possibly be avoided." + +I did not find it a dreary expedition, after all, for I solaced +myself with thoughts like these, "Thirty dollars, under my wife's +good management, will go far toward providing warm winter clothing, +or paying the interest, or something else." + +Then the rain was just what was needed to increase and prolong the +yield of the raspberry bushes, on which there were still myriads of +immature berries and even blossoms. Abundant moisture would perfect +these into plump fruit; and upon this crop rested our main hope. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +A THUNDERBOLT + + +From the experiences just related, it can be seen how largely the +stress and strain of the year centred in the month of July. Nearly +all our garden crops needed attention; the grass of the meadow had +to be cured into hay, the currants and cherries to be picked, and +fall crops, like winter cabbages, turnips, and celery, to be put in +the ground. Of the latter vegetable, I set out only a few short +rows, regarding it as a delicious luxury to which not very much time +could be given. + +Mr. Jones and Junior, indeed all our neighbors, were working early +and late, like ourselves. Barns were being filled, conical hay- +stacks were rising in distant meadows, and every one was busy in +gathering nature's bounty. + +We were not able to make much of the Fourth of July. Bobsey and +Winnie had some firecrackers, and, in the evening, Merton and Junior +set off a few rockets, and we all said, "Ah!" appreciatively, as +they sped their brief fiery course; but the greater part of the day +had to be spent in gathering the ripening black-caps and +raspberries. By some management, however, I arranged that Merton and +Junior should have a fine swim in the creek, by Brittle Rock, while +Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey waded in sandy shallows, further down the +stream. They all were promised holidays after the fruit season was +over, and they submitted to the necessity of almost constant work +with fairly good grace. + +The results of our labor were cheering. Our table was supplied with +delicious vegetables, which, in the main, it was Mousie's task to +gather and prepare. The children were as brown as little Indians, +and we daily thanked God for health. Checks from Mr. Bogart came +regularly, the fruit bringing a fair price under his good +management. The outlook for the future grew brighter with the +beginning of each week; for on Monday he made his returns and sent +me the proceeds of the fruit shipped previously. I was able to pay +all outstanding accounts for what had been bought to stock the +place, and I also induced Mr. Jones to receive the interest in +advance on the mortgage he held. Then we began to hoard for winter. + +The Bagleys did as well as we could expect, I suppose. The children +did need the "gad" occasionally and the father indulged in a few +idle, surly, drinking days; but, convinced that the man was honestly +trying, I found that a little tact and kindness always brought him +around to renewed endeavor. To expect immediate reform and unvaried +well-doing would be asking too much of such human nature as theirs. + +As July drew to a close, my wife and I felt that we were succeeding +better than we had had reason to expect. In the height of the season +we had to employ more children in gathering the raspberries, and I +saw that I could increase the yield in coming years, as I learned +the secrets of cultivation. I also decided to increase the area of +this fruit by a fall-planting of some varieties that ripened earlier +and later, thus extending the season and giving me a chance to ship +to market for weeks instead of days. My strawberry plants were +sending out a fine lot of new runners, and our hopes for the future +were turning largely toward the cultivation of this delicious fruit. + +Old Jacox had plodded faithfully over the meadow with his scythe, +and the barn was now so well filled that I felt our bay horse and +brindle cow were provided for during the months when fields are bare +or snowy. + +Late one afternoon, he was helping me gather up almost the last load +down by the creek, when the heavy roll of thunder warned us to +hasten. As we came up to the high ground near the house, we were +both impressed by the ominous blackness of a cloud rising in the +west. I felt that the only thing to do was to act like the captain +of a vessel before a storm, and make everything "snug and tight." +The load of hay was run in upon the barn floor, and the old horse +led with the harness on him to the stall below. Bagley and the +children, with old Jacox, were started off so as to be at home +before the shower, doors and windows were fastened, and all was made +as secure as possible. + +Then we gathered in our sitting-room, where Mousie and my wife had +prepared supper; but we all were too oppressed with awe of the +coming tempest to sit down quietly, as usual. There was a death-like +stillness in the sultry air, broken only at intervals by the heavy +rumble of thunder. The strange, dim twilight soon passed into the +murkiest gloom, and we had to light the lamp far earlier than our +usual hour. I had never seen the children so affected before. Winnie +and Bobsey even began to cry with fear, while Mousie was pale and +trembling. Of course, we laughed at them and tried to cheer them; +but even my wife was nervously apprehensive, and I admit that I felt +a disquietude hard to combat. + +Slowly and remorselessly the cloud approached, until it began to +pass over us. The thunder and lightning were simply terrific. Supper +remained untasted on the table, and I said: "Patience and courage! A +few moments more and the worst will be over!" + +But my words were scarcely heard, so violent was the gust that burst +upon us. For a few moments it seemed as if everything would go down +before it, but the old house only shook and rocked a little. + +"Hurrah!" I cried. "The bulk of the gust has gone by, and now we are +all right!" + +At that instant a blinding gleam and an instantaneous crash left us +stunned and bewildered. But as I recovered my senses, I saw flames +bursting from the roof of our barn. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +RALLYING FROM THE BLOW + + +Our house was far enough from the barn to prevent the shock of the +thunderbolt from disabling us beyond a moment or two. Merton had +fallen off his chair, but was on his feet almost instantly; the +other children were soon sobbing and clinging to my wife and myself. + +In tones that I sought to render firm and quiet, I said: "No more of +this foolish fear. We are in God's hands, and He will take care of +us. Winifred, you must rally and soothe the children, while Merton +and I go out and save what we can. All danger to the house is now +over, for the worst of the storm has passed." + +In a moment my wife, although very pale, was reassuring the younger +children, and Merton and I rushed forth. + +"Lead the horse out of the barn basement, Merton," I cried, "and tie +him securely behind the house. If he won't go readily, throw a +blanket over his eyes." + +I spoke these words as we ran through the torrents of rain +precipitated by the tremendous concussion which the lightning had +produced. + +I opened the barn doors and saw that the hay was on fire. There was +not a second to lose, and excitement doubled my strength. The load +of hay on the wagon had not yet caught. Although nearly stifled with +sulphurous smoke, I seized the shafts and backed the wagon with its +burden out into the rain. Then, seizing a fork, I pushed and tossed +off the load so that I could draw our useful market vehicle to a +safe distance. There were a number of crates and baskets in the +barn, also some tools, etc. These I had to let go. Hastening to the +basement, I found that Merton had succeeded in getting the horse +away. There was still time to smash the window of the poultry-room +and toss the chickens out of doors. Our cow, fortunately, was in the +meadow. + +By this time Mr. Jones and Junior were on the ground, and they were +soon followed by Rollins, Bagley, and others. There was nothing to +do now, however, but to stand aloof and witness the swift +destruction. After the first great gust had passed, there was +fortunately but little wind, and the heavy downpour prevented the +flames from spreading. In this we stood, scarcely heeding it in the +excitement of the hour. After a few moments I hastened to assure my +trembling wife and crying children that the rain made the house +perfectly safe, and that they were in no danger at all. Then I +called to the neighbors to come and stand under the porch-roof. + +From this point we could see the great pyramid of fire and smoke +ascending into the black sky. The rain-drops glittered like fiery +hail in the intense light and the still vivid flashes from the +clouds. + +"This is hard luck, neighbor Durham," said Mr. Jones, with a long +breath. + +"My wife and children are safe," I replied, quietly. + +Then we heard the horse neighing and tugging at his halter. Bagley +had the good sense and will to jerk off his coat, tie it around the +animal's eyes, and lead him to a distance from the fatal fascination +of the flames. + +In a very brief space of time the whole structure, with my summer +crop of hay, gathered with so much labor, sunk down into glowing, +hissing embers. I was glad to have the ordeal over, and to be +relieved from fear that the wind would rise again. Now I was assured +of the extent of our loss, as well as of its certainty. + +"Well, well," said the warm-hearted and impulsive Rollins, "when you +are ready to build again, your neighbors will give you a lift. By +converting Bagley into a decent fellow, you've made all our barns +safer, and we owe you a good turn. He was worse than lightning." + +I expressed my thanks, adding, "This isn't as bad as you think; I'm +insured." + +"Well, now, that's sensible," said Mr. Jones. "I'll sleep better for +that fact, and so will you, Robert Durham. You'll make a go of it +here yet." + +"I'm not in the least discouraged," I answered; "far worse things +might have happened. I've noticed in my paper that a good many barns +have been struck this summer, so my experience is not unusual. The +only thing to do is to meet such things patiently and make the best +of them. As long as the family is safe and well, outside matters can +be remedied. Thank you, Bagley," I continued, addressing him, as he +now led forward the horse. "You had your wits about you. Old Bay +will have to stand under the shed to-night." + +"Well, Mr. Durham, the harness is still on him, all 'cept the head- +stall; and he's quiet now." + +"Yes," I replied, "in our haste we didn't throw off the harness +before the shower, and it has turned out very well." + +"Tell ye what it is, neighbors," said practical Mr. Jones; "'tisn't +too late for Mr. Durham to sow a big lot of fodder corn, and that's +about as good as hay. We'll turn to and help him get some in." + +This was agreed to heartily, and one after another they wrung my +hand and departed, Bagley jogging in a companionable way down the +road with Rollins, whose chickens he had stolen, but had already +paid for. + +I looked after them and thought: "Thank Heaven I have not lost my +barn as some thought I might at one time! As Rollins suggested, I'd +rather take my chances with the lightning than with a vicious +neighbor. Bagley acted the part of a good friend to-night." + +Then, seeing that we could do nothing more, Merton and I entered the +house. + +I clapped the boy on the shoulder as I said: "You acted like a man +in the emergency, and I'm proud of you. The bringing out a young +fellow strong is almost worth the cost of a barn." + +My wife came and put her arm around my neck and said: + +"You bear up bravely, Robert, but I fear you are discouraged at +heart. To think of such a loss, just as we were getting started!" +and there were tears in her eyes. + +"Yes," I replied, "it will be a heavy loss for us, and a great +inconvenience, but it might have been so much worse! All sit down +and I'll tell you something. You see my training in business led me +to think of the importance of insurance, and to know the best +companies. As soon as the property became yours, Winifred, I insured +the buildings for nearly all they were worth. The hay and the things +in the barn at the time will prove a total loss; but it is a loss +that we can stand and make good largely before winter. I tell you +honestly that we have no reason to be discouraged. We shall soon +have a better barn than the one lost; for, by good planning, a +better one can be built for the money that I shall receive. So we +will thank God that we are all safe ourselves, and go quietly to +sleep." + +With the passing of the storm, the children had become quiet, and +soon we lost in slumber all thought of danger and loss. + +In the morning the absence of the barn made a great gap in our +familiar outlook, and brought many and serious thoughts; but with +the light came renewed hopefulness. All the scene was flooded with +glorious sunlight, and only the blackened ruins made the frightful +storm of the previous evening seem possible. Nearly all the chickens +came at Winnie's call, looking draggled and forlorn indeed, but +practically unharmed, and ready to resume their wonted cheerfulness +after an hour in the sunshine. We fitted up for them the old coop in +the orchard, and a part of the ancient and dilapidated barn which +was to have been used for corn-stalks only. The drenching rain had +saved this and the adjoining shed from destruction, and now in our +great emergency they proved useful indeed. + +The trees around the site of the barn were blackened, and their +foliage was burned to a crisp. Within the stone foundations the +smoke from the still smouldering debris rose sluggishly. + +I turned away from it all, saying: "Let us worry no more over that +spilled milk. Fortunately the greater part of our crates and baskets +were under the shed. Take the children, Merton, and pick over the +raspberry patches carefully once more, while I go to work in the +garden. That has been helped rather than injured by the storm, and, +if we will take care of it, will give us plenty of food for winter. +Work there will revive my spirits." + +The ground was too wet for the use of the hoe, but there was plenty +of weeding to be done, while I answered the questions of neighbors +who came to offer their sympathy. I also looked around to see what +could be sold, feeling the need of securing every dollar possible. I +found much that was hopeful and promising. The Lima-bean vines had +covered the poles, and toward their base the pods were filling out. +The ears on our early corn were fit to pull; the beets and onions +had attained a good size; the early peas had given place to turnips, +winter cabbages, and celery; there were plenty of green melons on +the vines, and more cucumbers than we could use. The remaining pods +on the first planting of bush-beans were too mature for use, and I +resolved to let them stand till sufficiently dry to be gathered and +spread in the attic. All that we had planted had done, or was doing, +fairly well, for the season had been moist enough to ensure a good +growth. We had been using new potatoes since the first of the month, +and now the vines were so yellow that all in the garden could be dug +at once and sold. They would bring in some ready money, and I +learned from my garden book that strap-leaved turnips, sown on the +cleared spaces, would have time to mature. + +After all, my strawberry beds gave me the most hope. There were +hundreds of young plants already rooted, and still more lying +loosely on the ground; so I spent the greater part of the morning in +weeding these out and pressing the young plants on the ends of the +runners into the moist soil, having learned that with such treatment +they form roots and become established in a very few days. + +After dinner Mr. Jones appeared with his team and heavy plow, and we +selected an acre of upland meadow where the sod was light and thin. + +"This will give a fair growth of young corn-leaves," he said, "by +the middle of September. By that time you'll have a new barn up, I +s'pose; and after you have cut and dried the corn, you can put a +little of it into the mows in place of the hay. The greater part +will keep better if stacked out-doors. A horse will thrive on such +fodder almost as well as a cow, 'specially if ye cut it up and mix a +little bran-meal with it. We'll sow the corn in drills a foot apart, +and you can spread a little manure over the top of the ground after +the seed is in. This ground is a trifle thin; a top-dressin' will +help it 'mazin'ly." + +Merton succeeded in getting several crates of raspberries, but said +that two or three more pickings would finish them. Since the time we +had begun to go daily to the landing, we had sent the surplus of our +vegetables to a village store, with the understanding that we would +trade out the proceeds. We thus had accumulated a little balance in +our favor, which we could draw against in groceries, etc. + +On the evening of this day I took the crates to the landing, and +found a purchaser for my garden potatoes, at a dollar a bushel. I +also made arrangements at a summer boarding-house, whose proprietor +agreed to take the largest of our spring chickens, our sweet corn, +tomatoes, and some other vegetables, as we had them to spare. Now +that our income from raspberries was about to cease, it was +essential to make the most of everything else on the place that +would bring money, even if we had to deny ourselves. It would not do +for us to say, "We can use this or that ourselves." The question to +be decided was, whether, if such a thing were sold, the proceeds +would not go further toward our support than the things themselves. +If this should be true of sweet corn, Lima-beans, and even the +melons on which the children had set their hearts, we must be chary +of consuming them ourselves. This I explained in such a way that all +except Bobsey saw the wisdom of it, or, rather, the necessity. As +yet, Bobsey's tendencies were those of a consumer, and not of a +producer or saver. + +Rollins and one or two others came the next day, and with Bagley's +help the corn was soon in the ground. + +Then I set Bagley to work with the cart spreading upon the soil the +barn-yard compost that had accumulated since spring. There was not +enough to cover all the ground, but that I could not help. The large +pile of compost that I had made near the poultry-house door could +not be spared for this purpose, since it was destined for my August +planting of strawberries. + +Perhaps I may as well explain about these compost heaps now as at +any other time. I had watched their rapid growth with great +satisfaction. Some may dislike such homely details, but since the +success of the farm and garden depend on them I shall not pass them +over, leaving the fastidious reader to do this for himself. + +It will be remembered that I had sought to prepare myself for +country life by much reading and study during the previous winter. I +had early been impressed with the importance of obtaining and saving +everything that would enrich the soil, and had been shown that +increasing the manure-pile was the surest way to add to one's bank +account. Therefore all rakings of leaves had been saved. At odd +times Merton and I had gone down to the creek with the cart and dug +a quantity of rich black earth from near its bank. One pile of this +material had been placed near the stable door, and another at the +entrance to the poultry-room in the basement of our vanished barn. +The cleanings of the horse-stable had been spread over a layer of +this black soil. When the layer of such cleanings was about a foot +thick, spread evenly, another layer of earth covered all from sun +and rain. Thus I had secured a pile of compost which nearly top- +dressed an acre for fodder corn. + +In the poultry-room we managed in this fashion. A foot of raked-up +leaves and rich earth was placed under the perches of the fowls. +Every two or three weeks this layer was shovelled out and mixed +thoroughly, and was replaced by a new layer. As a result I had, by +the 1st of August, a large heap of fertilizer almost as good as +guano, and much safer to use, for I had read that unless the latter +was carefully managed it would burn vegetation like fire. I believe +that this compost-heap by the poultry-room window would give my +young strawberry plantation a fine start, and, as has been shown, we +were making great calculations on the future fruit. + +I also resolved that the burning of the barn should add to our +success in this direction. All the books said that there was nothing +better for strawberries than wood ashes, and of these there was a +great heap within the foundations of the destroyed building. At one +time I proposed to shovel out these ashes and mix them with the +compost, but fortunately I first consulted my book on fertilizers, +and read there that this would not do at all--that they should be +used separately. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +AUGUST WORK AND PLAY + + +I was now eager to begin the setting of the strawberry plants in the +field where we had put potatoes, but the recent heavy shower had +kept the latter still green and growing. During the first week in +August, however, I found that the tubers had attained a good size, +and I began to dig long rows on the upper side of the patch, selling +in the village three or four barrels of potatoes a week for +immediate use. By this course I soon had space enough cleared for +ten rows of strawberries; and on the 6th of August Mr. Jones came +and plowed the land deeply, going twice in a furrow. Then I harrowed +the ground, and, with a corn-plow, marked out the space with shallow +furrows three feet apart. Through five of these furrows Merton +sprinkled a good dressing of the poultry compost, and in the +remaining five drills we scattered wood ashes. Thus we should learn +the comparative value of these fertilizers. Then I made a rude tray +with two handles, so that it could be carried between Merton and +myself. When the sun declined, we went to the strawberry bed, and +having selected the Duchess variety to set out first, soaked with +water a certain portion of the ground that was thick with plants. +Half an hour later, we could dig up these plants with a ball of +earth attached to their roots. These were carried carefully on the +tray to the field, and set out in the furrows. We levelled the +ground first, so that the crown of the plant should be even with the +surrounding surface. We set the plants a foot apart in the rows, and +by dusk had three rows out. Early the next morning we gave these +plants a good soaking in their new starting place, and, although the +weather was now dry and warm, not a leaf withered, and all began to +grow as if they had not been moved. It seemed slow work, but I +believed it would pay in the end, especially as Merton, Winnie, and +I performed nearly all the labor. + +We had now dispensed with Bagley's services, a good word from me +having secured him work elsewhere. I found that I could not make +arrangements for rebuilding the barn before the last of August, and +we now began to take a little much-needed rest. Our noonings were +two or three hours long. Merton and Junior had time for a good swim +every day, while the younger children were never weary of wading in +the shallows. I insisted, however, that they should not remain long +in the water on any one occasion, and now and then we each took a +grain or two of quinine to fortify our systems against any malarial +influences that might be lurking around at this season. + +The children were also permitted to make expeditions to mountain- +sides for huckleberries and blackberries. As a result, we often had +these wholesome fruits on the table, while my wife canned the +surplus for winter use. A harvest apple tree also began to be one of +the most popular resorts, and delicious pies made the dinner-hour +more welcome than ever. The greater part of the apples were sold, +however, and this was true also of the Lima-beans, sweet corn, and +melons. We all voted that the smaller ears and melons tasted just as +good as if we had picked out the best of everything, and my account- +book showed that our income was still running well ahead of our +expenses. + +Bobsey and Winnie had to receive another touch of discipline and +learn another lesson from experience. I had marked with my eye a +very large, perfect musk-melon, and had decided that it should be +kept for seed. They, too, had marked it; and one morning, when they +thought themselves unobserved, they carried it off to the seclusion +of the raspberry bushes, proposing a selfish feast by themselves. + +Merton caught a glimpse of the little marauders, and followed them. +They cut the melon in two, and found it green and tasteless as a +pumpkin. He made me laugh as he described their dismay and disgust, +then their fears and forebodings. The latter were soon realized; for +seeing me in the distance, he beckoned. As I approached, the +children stole out of the bushes, looking very guilty. + +Merton explained, and I said: "Very well, you shall have your melon +for dinner, and little else. I intend you shall enjoy this melon +fully. So sit down under that tree and each of you hold half the +melon till I release you. You have already learned that you can +feast your eyes only." + +There they were kept, hour after hour, each holding half of the +green melon. The dinner-bell rang, and they knew that we had ripe +melons and green corn; while nothing was given them but bread and +water. Bobsey howled, and Winnie sobbed, but my wife and I agreed +that such tendencies toward dishonesty and selfishness merited a +lasting lesson. At supper the two culprits were as hungry as little +wolves; and when I explained that the big melon had been kept for +seed, and that if it had been left to ripen they should have had +their share, they felt that they had cheated themselves completely. + +"Don't you see, children," I concluded, "that acting on the square +is not only right, but that it is always best for us in the end?" + +Then I asked, "Merton, what have the Bagley children been doing +since they stopped picking raspberries for us?" + +"I'm told they've been gathering blackberries and huckleberries in +the mountains, and selling them." + +"That's promising. Now I want you to pick out a good-sized water- +melon and half a dozen musk-melons, and I'll leave them at Bagley's +cottage to-morrow night as I go down to the village. In old times +they would have stolen our crop; now they shall share in it." + +When I carried the present on the following evening, the children +indulged in uncouth cries and gambols over the gift, and Bagley +himself was touched. + +"I'll own up ter yer," he said, "that yer melon patch was sore +temptin' to the young uns, but I tole 'em that I'd thrash 'em if +they teched one. Now yer see, youngsters, ye've got a man of feelin' +ter deal with, and yer've got some melons arter all, and got 'em +squar', too." + +"I hear good accounts of you and your children," I said, "and I'm +glad of it. Save the seeds of these melons and plant a lot for +yourself. See here, Bagley, we'll plow your garden for you this +fall, and you can put a better fence around it. If you'll do this, +I'll share my garden seeds with you next spring, and you can raise +enough on that patch of ground to half feed your family." + +"I'll take yer up," cried the man, "and there's my hand on it +ag'in." + +"God bless you and Mrs. Durham!" added his wife "We're now beginning +to live like human critters." + +I resumed my journey to the village, feeling that never before had +melons been better invested. + +The Moodna Creek had now become very low, and not more than half its +stony bed was covered with water. At many points, light, active feet +could find their way across and not be wet. Junior now had a project +on hand, of which he and Merton had often spoken lately. A holiday +was given to the boys and they went to work to construct an eel weir +and trap. With trousers well rolled up, they selected a point on one +side of the creek where the water was deepest, and here they left an +open passage-way for the current. On each side of this they began to +roll large stones, and on these placed smaller ones, raising two +long obstructions to the natural flow. These continuous obstructions +ran obliquely up-stream, directing the main current to the open +passage, which was only about two feet wide, with a post on either +side, narrowing it still more. In this they placed the trap, a long +box made of lath, sufficiently open to let the water run through it, +and having a peculiar opening at the upper end where the current +began to rush down the narrow passage-way. The box rested closely on +the gravelly bottom, and was fastened to the posts. Short, close- +fitting slats from the bottom and top of the box, at its upper end, +sloped inward, till they made a narrow opening. All its other parts +were eel-tight. The eels coming down with the current which had been +directed toward the entrance of the box, as has been explained, +passed into it, and there they would remain. They never had the wit +to find the narrow aperture by which they had entered. This turned +out to be useful sport, for every morning the boys lifted their trap +and took out a goodly number of eels; and when the squirmers were +nicely dressed and browned, they proved delicious morsels. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +A TRIP TO THE SEASHORE + + +In the comparative leisure which the children enjoyed during August, +they felt amply repaid for the toil of the previous months. We also +managed to secure two great gala-days. The first was spent in a trip +to the seashore; and this was a momentous event, marred by only one +slight drawback. The "Mary Powell," a swift steamer, touched every +morning at the Maizeville Landing. I learned that, from its wharf, +in New York, another steamer started for Coney Island, and came back +in time for us to return on the "Powell" at 3.30 P.M. Thus we could +secure a delightful sail down the river and bay, and also have +several hours on the beach. My wife and I talked over this little +outing, and found that if we took our lunch with us, it would be +inexpensive. I saw Mr. Jones, and induced him and his wife, with +Junior, to join us. Then the children were told of our plan, and +their hurrahs made the old house ring. Now that we were in for it, +we proposed no half-way measures. Four plump spring chickens were +killed and roasted, and to these were added so many ham sandwiches +and hard-boiled eggs, that I declared that we were provisioned for a +week. My wife nodded at Bobsey, and said, "Wait and see!" + +Whom do you think we employed to mount guard during our absence? No +other than Bagley. Mr. Jones said that it was like asking a wolf to +guard the flock, for his prejudices yielded slowly; but I felt sure +that this proof of trust would do the man more good than a dozen +sermons. + +Indeed, he did seem wonderfully pleased with his task, and said, +"Ye'll find I've 'arned my dollar when ye git back." + +The children scarcely slept in their glad anticipation, and were up +with the sun. Mr. and Mrs. Jones drove down in their light wagon, +while Junior joined our children in another straw-ride, packed in +between the lunch-baskets. We had ample time after reaching the +landing to put our horses and vehicles in a safe place, and then we +watched for the "Powell." Soon we saw her approaching Newtown, four +miles above, then speeding toward the wharf, and rounding into it, +with the ease and grace of a swan. We scrambled aboard, smiled at by +all. I suppose we did not form, with our lunch-baskets, a very +stylish group, but that was the least of our troubles. I am +satisfied that none of the elegant people we brushed against were +half so happy as we were. + +We stowed away our baskets and then gave ourselves up to the +enjoyment of the lovely Highland scenery, and to watching the +various kinds of craft that we were constantly passing. Winnie and +Bobsey had been placed under bonds for good behavior, and were given +to understand that they must exercise the grace of keeping +moderately still. The sail down the river and bay was a long, +grateful rest to us older people, and I saw with pleasure that my +wife was enjoying every moment, and that the fresh salt breeze was +fanning color into her cheeks. Plump Mrs. Jones dozed and smiled, +and wondered at the objects we passed, for she had never been much +of a traveller; while her husband's shrewd eyes took in everything, +and he often made us laugh by his quaint remarks. Junior and Merton +were as alert as hawks. They early made the acquaintance of deck- +hands who good-naturedly answered their numerous questions. I took +the younger children on occasional exploring expeditions, but never +allowed them to go beyond my reach, for I soon learned that Bobsey's +promises sat lightly on his conscience. + +At last we reached the great Iron Pier at Coney Island, which we all +traversed with wondering eyes. + +We established ourselves in a large pavilion, fitted up for just +such picnic parties as ours. Beneath us stretched the sandy beach. +We elderly people were glad enough to sit down and rest, but the +children forgot even the lunch-baskets, so eager were they to run +upon the sand in search of shells. + +All went well until an unusually high wave came rolling in. The +children scrambled out of its way, with the exception of Bobsey, who +was caught and tumbled over, and lay kicking in the white foam. In a +moment I sprang down the steps, picked him up, and bore him to his +mother. + +He was wet through; and now what was to be done? + +After inquiry and consultation, I found that I could procure for him +a little bathing-dress which would answer during the heat of the +day, and an old colored woman promised to have his clothing dry in +an hour. So the one cloud on our pleasure proved to have a very +bright lining, for Bobsey, since he was no longer afraid of the +water, could roll in the sand and the gentle surf to his heart's +content. + +Having devoured a few sandwiches to keep up our courage, we all +procured bathing-dresses, even Mrs. Jones having been laughingly +compelled by her husband to follow the general example. When we all +gathered in the passage-way leading to the water, we were convulsed +with laughter at our ridiculous appearance; but there were so many +others in like plight that we were scarcely noticed. Mrs. Jones's +dress was a trifle small, and her husband's immensely large. He +remarked that if we could now take a stroll through Maizeville, +there wouldn't be a crow left in town. + +Mrs. Jones could not be induced to go beyond a point where the water +was a foot or two deep, and the waves rolled her around like an +amiable porpoise. Merton and Junior were soon swimming fearlessly, +the latter wondering, meanwhile, at the buoyant quality of the salt +water. My wife, Mousie, and Winnie allowed me to take them beyond +the breakers, and soon grew confident. In fifteen minutes I sounded +recall, and we all emerged, lank Mr. Jones now making, in very +truth, an ideal scarecrow. Bobsey's dry garments were brought, and +half an hour later we were all clothed, and, as Mr. Jones remarked, +"For a wonder, in our right minds." + +The onslaught then made on the lunch-baskets was never surpassed, +even at that place of hungry excursionists. In due time we reached +home, tired, sleepy, yet content with the fact that we had filled +one day with enjoyment and added to our stock of health. + +The next morning proved that Bagley had kept his word. Everything +was in order, and the amount of work accomplished in the garden +showed that he had been on his mettle. Hungry as we had been, we had +not emptied our lunch-baskets, and my wife made up a nice little +present from what remained, to which was added a package of candy, +and all was carried to the Bagley cottage. + +Juvenile experiences had not exactly taught the Bagley children that +"the way of the transgressor is hard,"--they had not gone far enough +for that,--and it certainly was our duty to add such flowers as we +could to the paths of virtue. + +The month of August was now well advanced. We had been steadily +digging the potatoes in the field and selling them in their +unripened condition, until half the acre had been cleared. The vines +in the lower half of the patch were now growing very yellow, and I +decided to leave them, until the tubers should thoroughly ripen, for +winter use. By the 20th of the month we had all the space that had +been cleared, that is, half an acre, filled with Duchess and Wilson +strawberries; and the plants first set were green and vigorous, with +renewed running tendencies. But the runners were promptly cut off, +so that the plants might grow strong enough to give a good crop of +fruit in the following June. + +I now began to tighten the reins on the children, and we all devoted +more hours to work. + +During the month we gathered a few bushels of plums on the place. My +wife preserved some, and the rest were sold at the boarding-houses +and village stores, for Mr. Bogart had written that when I could +find a home market for small quantities of produce, it would pay me +better than to send them to the city. I kept myself informed as to +city prices, and found that he had given me good and disinterested +advice. Therefore, we managed to dispose of our small crop of early +pears and peaches as we had done with the plums. Every day convinced +me of the wisdom of buying a place already stocked with fruit; for, +although the first cost was greater, we had immediately secured an +income which promised to leave a margin of profit after meeting all +expenses. + +During the last week of August the potatoes were fully ripe, and +Merton, Winnie, Bobsey, and I worked manfully, sorting the large +from the small, as they were gathered. The crop turned out very +well, especially on the lower side of the field, where the ground +had been rather richer and moister than in the upper portion. + +I did not permit Merton to dig continuously, as it was hard work for +him; but he seemed to enjoy throwing out the great, smooth, white- +coated fellows, and they made a pretty sight as they lay in thick +rows behind us, drying, for a brief time, in the sun. They were +picked up, put into barrels, drawn to the dry, cool shed, and well +covered from the light. Mr. Jones had told me that as soon as +potatoes had dried off after digging, they ought to be kept in the +dark, since too much light makes them tough and bitter. Now that +they were ripe, it was important that they should be dug promptly, +for I had read that a warm rain is apt to start the new potatoes to +growing, and this spoils them for table use. + +So I said: "We will stick to this task until it is finished, and +then we shall have another outing. I am almost ready to begin +rebuilding the barn; but before I do so, I wish to visit Houghton +Farm, and shall take you all with me. I may obtain some ideas which +will be useful, even in my small outlay of money." + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM + + +Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about +one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in +comparison with anything I could erect. They had been constructed, +however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a +visit might suggest to me some useful points. Sound principles might +be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come +within my means. At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full +of interest and pleasure. So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked +like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels +stored. As they were only fifty cents a bushel, I resolved to keep +them until the following winter and spring, when I might need money +more than at present, and also get better prices. + +Then, one bright day toward the end of August, we all started, after +an early dinner, for the farm, Junior going with us as usual. We had +been told that the large-minded and liberal owner of this model farm +welcomed visitors, and so we had no doubts as to our reception. Nor +were we disappointed when, having skirted broad, rich fields for +some distance, we turned to the right down a long, wide lane, +bordered by beautiful shrubbery, and leading to the great buildings, +which were numbered conspicuously. We were courteously met by Major +Alvord, the agent in charge of the entire estate. I explained the +object of my visit, and he kindly gave us a few moments, showing us +through the different barns and stables. Our eyes grew large with +wonder as we saw the complete appliances for carrying on an immense +stock-farm. The summer crops had been gathered, and we exclaimed at +the hundreds of tons of hay, fodder, and straw stored in the mows. + +"We use a ton of hay daily, after the pasture season is over," +remarked our guide. + +When we came to look at the sleek Jersey cows and calves, with their +fawn-like faces, our admiration knew no bounds. We examined the +stalls in which could stand thirty-four cows. Over each was the name +of the occupant, all blood animals of the purest breed, with a +pedigree which might put to shame many newly rich people displaying +coats-of-arms. The children went into ecstasies over the pretty, +innocent faces of the Jersey calves, and Mousie said they were "nice +enough to kiss." Then we were shown the great, thick-necked, black- +headed Jersey bull, and could scarcely believe our ears when told +that he, his mother, and six brothers represented values amounting +to about a hundred thousand dollars. + +We next visited a great Norman mare, as big as two ordinary horses, +and the large, clumsy colt at her side; then admired beautiful +stallions with fiery eyes and arching necks; also the superb +carriage-horses, and the sleek, strong work animals. Their stalls +were finely finished in Georgia pine. Soon afterward, Bobsey went +wild over the fat little Essex pigs, black as coals, but making the +whitest and sweetest of pork. + +"Possess your soul in patience, Bobsey," I said. "With our barn, I +am going to make a sty, and then we will have some pigs." + +I had had no good place for them thus far, and felt that we had +attempted enough for beginners. Moreover, I could not endure to keep +pigs in the muddy pens in ordinary use, feeling that we could never +eat the pork produced under such conditions. + +The milk-house and dairy were examined, and we thought of the oceans +of milk that had passed through them. + +A visit to "Crusoe Island" entertained the children more than +anything else. A mountain stream had been dammed so as to make an +island. On the surrounding waters were fleets of water-fowl, ducks +and geese of various breeds, and, chief in interest, a flock of +Canada wild-geese, domesticated. Here we could look closely at these +great wild migrants that, spring and fall, pass and repass high up +in the sky, in flocks, flying in the form of a harrow or the two +sides of a triangle, meanwhile sending out cries that, in the +distance, sound strange and weird. + +Leaving my wife and children admiring these birds and their rustic +houses on the island, I went with Major Alvord to his offices, and +saw the fine scientific appliances for carrying on agricultural +experiments designed to extend the range of accurate and practical +knowledge. Not only was the great farm planted and reaped, blood +stock grown and improved by careful breeding, but, accompanying all +this labor, was maintained a careful system of experiments tending +to develop and establish that supreme science--the successful +culture of the soil. Major Alvord evidently deserved his reputation +for doing the work thoroughly and intelligently, and I was glad to +think that there were men in the land, like the proprietor of +Houghton Farm, who are willing to spend thousands annually in +enriching the rural classes by bringing within their reach the +knowledge that is power. + +After a visit to the sheep and poultry departments, each occupying a +large farm by itself, we felt that we had seen much to think and +talk over. + +It was hard to get Winnie away from the poultry-houses and yards, +where each celebrated breed was kept scrupulously by itself. There +were a thousand hens, besides innumerable young chickens. We were +also shown incubators, which, in spring, hatch little chickens by +hundreds. + +"Think of fifteen hundred eggs at a sitting, Winnie!" I cried; +"that's quite a contrast to the number that you put under one of +your biddies at home." + +"I don't care," replied the child; "we've raised over a hundred +chickens since we began." + +"Yes, indeed," I said. "That for you--for you have seen to it all +chiefly--is a greater success than anything here." + +I was thoughtful as we drove home, and at last my wife held out a +penny. + +"No," I said, laughing; "my thoughts shall not cost you even that. +What I have seen to-day has made clearer what I have believed +before. There are two distinct ways of securing success in outdoor +work. One is ours, and the other is after the plan of Houghton Farm. +Ours is the only one possible for us--that of working a small place +and performing the labor, as far as possible, ourselves. If I had +played 'boss,' as Bagley sometimes calls me, and hired the labor +which we have done ourselves, the children meanwhile idle, we should +soon come to a disastrous end in our country experiment. The fact +that we have all worked hard, and wisely, too, in the main, and have +employed extra help only when there was more than we could do, will +explain our account-book; that is, the balance in our favor. I +believe that one of the chief causes of failure on the part of +people in our circumstances is, that they employ help to do what +they should have done themselves, and that it doesn't and can't pay +small farmers and fruit-growers to attempt much beyond what they can +take care of, most of the year, with their own hands. Then there's +the other method--that of large capital carrying things on as we +have seen to-day. The farm then becomes like a great factory or +mercantile house. There must be at the head of everything a large +organizing brain capable of introducing and enforcing thorough +system, and of skilfully directing labor and investment, so as to +secure the most from the least outlay. A farm such as we have just +seen would be like a bottomless pit for money in bungling, careless +hands." + +"I'm content with our own little place and modest ways," said my +wife. "I never wish our affairs to grow so large that we can't talk +them over every night, if so inclined." + +"Well," I replied, "I feel as you do. I never should have made a +great merchant in town, and I am content to be a small farmer in the +country, sailing close to shore in snug canvas, with no danger of +sudden wreck keeping me awake nights. The insurance money will be +available in a few days, and we shall begin building at once." + +The next day Merton and I cleared away the rest of the debris in and +around the foundations of the barn, and before night the first load +of lumber arrived from the carpenter who had taken the contract. + +This forerunner of bustling workmen, and all the mystery of +fashioning crude material into something looking like the plan over +which we had all pored so often, was more interesting to the +children than the construction of Solomon's temple. + +"To-morrow the stone-masons come," I said at supper, "and by October +we are promised a new barn." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +HOARDING FOR WINTER + + +As was stated early in this simple history the original barn was +built on a hillside, the rear facing the southeast; and since the +foundations were still in a fair condition, and the site was +convenient, I determined to build on the same spot, somewhat +modifying the old plan. I had read of the importance of keeping +manure under cover, and now arranged that by a trap door the +cleanings of the horse and cow stable should be thrown into the +basement, which, by a solid brick partition, should be so divided as +to leave ample room for a dark cellar in which to store roots and +apples. Through this trap door in the stable rich earth and muck +from the banks of the creek could be thrown down also, covering the +manure, and all could be worked over and mixed on rainy days. By +this method I could make the most of my fertilizers, which may be +regarded as the driving-wheel of the farm. + +I had decided that the poultry-house and pigsty should form an +extension to the barn, and that both should be built in the side of +the bank also. They would thus have an exposure to the south, and at +the same time, being formed in part by an excavation, would be cool +in summer. The floor of the sty should have a slight downward slope, +and be cemented. Therefore it could be kept perfectly clean. This +residence of Bobsey's future pets should be at the extreme end of +the extension, and above it should be a room in which I could store +picked-up apples, corn, and other food adapted to their needs, also +a conduit by which swill could be poured into the trough below +without the necessity of entering the pen. I proposed to keep only +two or three pigs at a time, buying them when young from neighboring +farmers, and fattening them for our own use according to my own +ideas. + +The poultry-house, between the barn and sty, was to be built so that +its side, facing the south, should be chiefly of glass. It was so +constructed as to secure the greatest amount of light and warmth. +Eggs in winter form the most profitable item in poultry keeping, and +these depend on warmth, food, shelter, and cleanliness, with the +essential condition that the hens are young. All the pullets of +Winnie's early broods therefore had been kept, and only the young +cockerels eaten or sold. We had the prospect of wintering about +fifty laying hens; and the small potatoes we had saved would form a +large portion of their food. Indeed, for some weeks back, such small +tubers, boiled and mashed with meal, had formed the main feed of our +growing chickens. + +I learned that Bagley was out of work, and employed him to excavate +the bank for these new buildings. We saved the surface earth +carefully for compost purposes, and then struck some clean, nice +gravel, which was carted away to a convenient place for our roads +and walks. On a hillside near the creek were large stones and rocks +in great quantity, and some of these were broken up for the +foundations. Along the edge of the creek we also found some +excellent sand, and therefore were saved not a little expense in +starting our improvements. + +It did not take the masons long to point up and strengthen the old +foundations, and early in September everything was under full +headway, the sound of hammer, saw, and plane resounding all day +long. It was Winnie's and Bobsey's task to gather up the shavings +and refuse bits of lumber, and carry them to the woodhouse. + +"The ease and quickness with which we can build fires next winter," +I said, "is a pleasant thing to think of." + +Meanwhile the garden was not neglected. The early flight of summer- +boarders had greatly reduced the demand for vegetables, and now we +began to hoard them for our own use. The Lima-beans were allowed to +dry on the vines; the matured pods of the bush-beans were spread in +the attic; thither also the ripened onions were brought and placed +in shallow boxes. As far as possible we had saved our own seed, and +I had had a box made and covered with tin, so as to be mouse-proof, +and in this we placed the different varieties, carefully labelled. +Although it was not "apple year," a number of our trees were in +bearing. The best of the windfalls were picked up, and, with the +tomatoes and such other vegetables as were in demand, sent to the +village twice a week. As fast as crops matured, the ground was +cleared, and the refuse, such as contained no injurious seeds, was +saved as a winter covering for the strawberry plants. + +Our main labor, however, after digging the rest of the potatoes, was +the setting of the remaining half-acre in the later varieties of the +strawberry. Although the early part of September was very dry and +warm, we managed to set out, in the manner I have described, two or +three rows nearly every afternoon. The nights had now grown so long +and cool that one thorough watering seemed to establish the plants. +This was due chiefly to the fact that nearly every plant had a ball +of earth attached to the roots, and had never been allowed to wilt +at all in the transition. About the middle of the month there came a +fine rain, and we filled the remainder of the ground in one day, all +the children aiding me in the task. The plants first set out were +now strong and flourishing. Each had a bunch of foliage six inches +in diameter. + +Thus, with helping on the new barn and other work, September saw a +renewal of our early-summer activity. + +"The winds in the trees are whispering of winter," I said to the +children, "and all thrifty creatures--ants, bees, and squirrels--are +laying up their stores. So must we." + +I had watched our maturing corn with great satisfaction. For a long +time Merton had been able to walk through it without his straw hat +being seen above the nodding tassels. One day, about the 20th of the +month, Mr. Jones came over with some bundles of long rye straw in +his wagon, and said, "Yer can't guess what these are fer." + +"Some useful purpose, or you wouldn't have brought them," I replied. + +"We'll see. Come with me to the corn patch." + +As we started he took a bundle under his arm, and I saw that he had +in his hand a tool called a corn-knife. Going through the rows he +occasionally stripped down the husks from an ear. + +Finally he said: "Yes, it's ready. Don't yer see that the kernels +are plump and glazed? Junior and I are going to tackle our corn ter- +morrow, and says I to myself, 'If ourn is ready to cut, so is +neighbor Durham's,' The sooner it's cut after it's ready, the +better. The stalks are worth more for fodder, and you run no risk +from an early frost, which would spile it all. You and Merton pitch +in as yer allers do, and this is the way ter do it." + +With his left hand gathering the stalks of a hill together above the +ears, he cut them all olf with one blow of the corn-knife within six +inches of the ground, and then leaned them against the stalks of an +uncut hill. This he continued to do until he had made what he called +a "stout," or a bunch of stalks as large as he could conveniently +reach around, the uncut hill of stalks forming a support in the +centre. Then he took a wisp of the rye-straw, divided it evenly, and +putting the ends together, twisted it speedily into a sort of rope. +With this he bound the stout tightly above the ears by a simple +method which one showing made plain to me. + +"Well, you are a good neighbor!" I exclaimed. + +"Pshaw! What does this amount to? If a man can't do a good turn when +it costs as little as this, he's a mighty mean feller. You forget +that I've sold you a lot of rye-straw, and so have the best of yer +after all." + +"I don't forget anything, Mr. Jones. As you say, I believe we shall +'make a go' of it here, but we always remember how much we owe to +you and Junior. You've taken my money in a way that saved my self- +respect, and made me feel that I could go to you as often as I +wished; but you have never taken advantage of me, and you have kept +smart people from doing it. Do you know, Mr. Jones, that in every +country village there are keen, weasel-like people who encourage +new-comers by bleeding their pocket-books at every chance? In +securing you as a neighbor our battle was half won, for no one needs +a good practical friend more than a city man beginning life in the +country." + +"Jerusalem! how you talk! I'm goin' right home and tell my wife to +call me Saint Jones. Then I'll get a tin halo and wear it, for my +straw hat is about played out;" and away he went, chuckling over his +odd conceits, but pleased, as all men are, when their goodwill is +appreciated. If there is one kind of meanness that disgusts average +human-nature more than another it is a selfish, unthankful reception +of kindness, a swinish return for pearls. + +After an early supper I drove to the village with what I had to +sell, and returned with two corn-hooks. At dusk of the following +day, Bagley and I had the corn cut and tied up, my helper remarking +more than once, "Tell you what it is, Mr. Durham, there hain't a +better eared-out patch o' corn in Maizeville." + +On the following day I helped Bagley sharpen one of the hooks, and +we began to cut the fodder-corn which now stood, green and +succulent, averaging two feet in height throughout the field. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +AUTUMN WORK AND SPORT + + +The barn was now up, and the carpenters were roofing it in, while +two days more of work would complete the sty and poultry-house. +Every stroke of the hammer told rapidly now, and we all exulted over +our new and better appliances for carrying out our plan of country +life. Since the work was being done by contract, I contented myself +with seeing that it was done thoroughly. Meanwhile Merton was busy +with the cart, drawing rich earth from the banks of the creek. I +determined that the making of great piles of compost should form no +small part of my fall and winter labor. The proper use of +fertilizers during the present season had given such a marked +increase to our crops that it became clear that our best prospect of +growing rich was in making the land rich. + +During the last week of September the nights were so cool as to +suggest frost, and I said to Mousie: "I think we had better take up +your geraniums and other window plants, and put them in pots or +boxes. We can then stand them under a tree which would shelter them +from a slight frost. Should there be serious danger it would take us +only a few minutes to bring them into the house. You have taken such +good care of them all summer that I do not intend that you shall +lose them now. Take your flower book and read what kind of soil they +grow best in during the winter, and then Merton can help you get +it." + +The child was all solicitude about her pets, and after dinner she +and Merton, the latter trundling a wheelbarrow, went down to the +creek and obtained a lot of fine sand and some leaf-mould from under +the trees in the woods. These ingredients we carefully mixed with +rich soil from the flower-bed and put the compound in the pots and +boxes around the roots of as many plants as there was room for on +the table by the sunny kitchen window. Having watered them +thoroughly, we stood them under a tree, there to remain until a +certain sharpness in the air should warn us to carry them to their +winter quarters. + +The Lima-beans, as fast as the pods grew dry, or even yellow, were +picked and spread in the attic. They could be shelled at our leisure +on stormy winter days. + +Early in September my wife had begun to give Mousie, Winnie, and +Bobsey their lessons again. Since we were at some distance from a +schoolhouse we decided to continue this arrangement for the winter +with the three younger children. I felt that Merton should go to +school as soon as possible, but he pleaded hard for a reprieve until +the last of October, saying that he did not wish to begin before +Junior. As we still had a great deal to do, and as the boy had set +his heart on some fall shooting, I yielded, he promising to study +all the harder when he began. + +I added, however: "The evenings have grown so long that you can +write for half an hour after supper, and then we will review your +arithmetic together. It will do me good as well as you." + +During the ensuing weeks we carried out this plan partially, but +after a busy day in the open air we were apt to nod over our tasks. +We were both taught the soundness of the principle that brain work +should precede physical exercise. + +The 1st day of October was bright, clear, and mild, and we welcomed +the true beginning of fall in our latitude most gladly. This month +competes with May in its fitness for ideal country life. The +children voted it superior to all other months, feeling that a vista +of unalloyed delights was opening before them. Already the +butternuts were falling from several large trees on the place, and +the burrs on the chestnuts were plump with their well-shielded +treasures. Winnie and Bobsey began to gather these burrs from the +lower limbs of an immense tree, eighteen feet in circumference, and +to stamp out the half-brown nuts within. + +"One or two frosts will ripen them and open the burrs," I said, and +then the children began to long for the frost which I dreaded. + +While I still kept the younger children busy for a few hours every +clear morning in the garden, and especially at clipping the runners +from the strawberry plants in the field, they were given ample time +to gather their winter hoards of nuts. This pursuit afforded them +endless items for talk, Bobsey modestly assuring us that he alone +would gather about a million bushels of butternuts, and almost as +many chestnuts and walnuts. "What will the squirrels do then?" I +asked. + +"They must do as I do," he cried; "pick up and carry off as fast as +they can. They'll have a better chance than me, too, for they can +work all day long. The little scamps are already taking the nuts off +the trees--I've seen 'em, and I wish Merton would shoot 'em all." + +"Well, Merton," said I, laughing, "I suppose that squirrels are +proper game for you; but I hope that you and Junior won't shoot +robins. They are too useful a bird to kill, and I feel grateful for +all the music they've given us during the past summer. I know the +law permits you to shoot them now, but you and Junior should be more +civilized than such a law." + +"If we don't get 'em, everybody else will, and we might as well have +our share," he replied. + +I knew that there was no use in drawing the reins too tight, and so +I said: "I have a proposition to make to you and Junior. I'd like +you both to promise not to shoot robins except on the wing. That +will teach you to be expert and quick-eyed. A true sportsman is not +one who tries to kill as much game as possible, but to kill +scientifically, skilfully. There is more pleasure in giving your +game a chance, and in bringing it down with a fine long shot, than +in slaughtering the poor creatures like chickens in a coop. Anybody +can shoot a robin, sitting on a bough a few yards off, but to bring +one down when in rapid flight is the work of a sportsman. Never +allow yourself to be known as a mere 'pot-hunter.' For my part, I +had rather live on pork than on robins or any useful birds." + +He readily agreed not to fire at robins except when flying, and to +induce Junior to do likewise. I was satisfied that not many of my +little favorites would suffer. + +"Very well," I said, "I'll coax Mr. Jones to let Junior off to- +morrow, and you can have the entire day to get your hands in. This +evening you can go down to the village and buy a stock of +ammunition." + +The boy went to his work happy and contented. + +"Papa, where can we dry our butternuts?" Winnie asked. + +"I'll fix a place on the roof of the shed right away," I said. "Its +slope is very gradual, and if I nail some slats on the lower side +you can spread the millions of bushels that you and Bobsey will +gather." + +Now Bobsey had a little wagon, and, having finished his morning +stint of work, he, with Mousie and Winnie, started off to the +nearest butternut-tree; and during the remainder of the day, with +the exception of the time devoted to lessons, loads came often to +the shed, against which I had left a ladder. By night they had at +least one of the million bushels spread and drying. + +As they brought in their last load about five o'clock in the +afternoon I said to them, "Come and see what I've got." + +I led the way to the sty, and there were grunting three half-grown +pigs. Now that the pen was ready I had waited no longer, and, having +learned from Rollins that he was willing to sell some of his stock, +had bought three sufficiently large to make good pork by the 1st of +December. + +The children welcomed the new-comers with shouts; but I said: "That +won't do. You'll frighten them so that they'll try to jump out of +the pen. Run now and pick up a load of apples in your wagon and +throw them to the pigs. They'll understand and like such a welcoming +better;" and so it proved. + +At supper I said: "Children, picking up apples, which was such fun +this evening, will hereafter be part of your morning work, for a +while. In the room over the sty is a bin which must be filled with +the fallen apples before any nuts can be gathered." + +Even Bobsey laughed at the idea that this was work; but I knew that +it would soon become so. Then Mousie exclaimed, "Papa, do you know +that the red squirrels are helping us to gather nuts?" + +"If so, certainly without meaning it. How?" + +"Well, as we were coming near one of the trees we saw a squirrel +among the branches, and we hid behind a bush to watch him. We soon +found that he was tumbling down the nuts, for he would go to the end +of a limb and bite cluster after cluster. The thought that we would +get the nuts so tickled Bobsey that he began to laugh aloud, and +then the squirrel ran barking away." + +"You needn't crow so loud, Bobsey," I said. "The squirrel will fill +many a hole in hollow trees before winter, in spite of you." + +"I'll settle his business before he steals many more of our nuts," +spoke up Merton. + +"You know the squirrel wasn't stealing, my boy. The nuts grew for +him as truly as for you youngsters. At the same time I suppose he +will form part of a pot-pie before long." + +"I hate to think that such pretty little creatures should be +killed," said Mousie. + +"I feel much the same," I admitted; "and yet Merton will say we +cannot indulge in too much sentiment. You know that we read that red +squirrels are mischievous in the main. They tumble little birds out +of their nests, carry off corn, and I have seen them gnawing apples +for the sake of the seeds. It wouldn't do for them to become too +plentiful. Moreover, game should have its proper place as food, and +as a means of recreation. We raise chickens and kill them. Under +wise laws, well enforced, nature would fill the woods, fields, and +mountains with partridges, quail, rabbits, and other wholesome food. +Remember what an old and thickly settled land England is, yet the +country is alive with game. There it is protected on great estates, +but here the people must agree to protect it for themselves." + +"Junior says," Merton explained, "that the partridges and rabbits in +the mountains are killed off by foxes and wild-cats and wood- +choppers who catch them in traps and snares." + +"I fancy the wood-choppers do the most harm. If I had my way, there +would be a big bounty for the destruction of foxes, and a heavy fine +for all trappers of game. The country would be tenfold more +interesting if it were full of wild, harmless, useful creatures. I +hope the time will come when our streams will be again thoroughly +stocked with fish, and our wild lands with game. If hawks, foxes, +trappers, and other nuisances could be abolished, there would be +space on yonder mountains for partridges to flourish by the million. +I hope, as the country grows older, that the people will +intelligently co-work with nature in preserving and increasing all +useful wild life. Every stream, lake, and pond could be crowded with +fish, and every grove and forest afford a shelter and feeding-ground +for game. There should be a wise guardianship of wild life, such as +we maintain over our poultry-yards, and skill exercised in +increasing it. Then nature would supplement our labors, and furnish +a large amount of delicious food at little cost." + +"Well, papa, I fear I shall be gray before your fine ideas are +carried out. From what Junior says, I guess that Bagley and his +children, and others like them, will get more game this winter than +we will, and without firing a shot. They are almost as wild as the +game itself, and know just where to set their snares for it. I can't +afford to wait until it's all killed off, or till that good time +comes of which you speak, either. I hope to shoot enough for a pot- +pie at least to-morrow, and to have very good sport while about it." + +"I have good news about the Bagley children," said my wife. "I was +down there to-day, and all the children begin school next Monday. +Between clothes which our children have outgrown, and what Mrs. +Bagley has been able to buy and make, all three of the young Bagleys +make a very respectable appearance. I took it upon myself to tell +the children that if they went to school regularly we would make +them nice Christmas presents." + +"And I confirm the bargain heartily," I cried. "Merton, look out for +yourself, or the Bagley boy will get ahead of you at school." + +He laughed and, with Junior, started for the village, to get their +powder and shot. + +The next morning after preparing a good lot of cartridges before +breakfast, the two boys started, and, having all day before them, +took their lunches with the intention of exploring Schunemunk +Mountain. The squirrels, birds, and rabbits near home were reserved +for odd times when the lads could slip away for a few hours only. + +Our new barn, now about completed, gave my wife and me as much +pleasure as the nuts and game afforded the children. I went through +it, adding here and there some finishing touches and little +conveniences, a painter meanwhile giving it a, final coat of dark, +cheap wash. + +Our poultry-house was now ready for use, and I said to Winnie, "To- +night we will catch the chickens and put them in it." + +The old horse had already been established in the stable, and I +resolved that the cow should come in from this time. In the +afternoon I began turning over the fodder corn, and saw that a very +tew more days would cure it. Although I decided not to begin the +main husking until after the middle of the month, I gathered enough +ears to start the pigs on the fattening process. Toward night I +examined the apples, and determined to adopt old Mr. Jarmson's plan +of picking the largest and ripest at once, leaving the smaller and +greener fruit to mature until the last of the month. The dark cellar +was already half filled with potatoes, but the space left for such +apples as we should pick was ready. From time to time when returning +from the village I had brought up empty barrels; and in some of +these, earlier kinds, like tall pippins and greenings, had been +packed and shipped to Mr. Bogart. By his advice I had resolved to +store the later varieties and those which would keep well, disposing +of them gradually to the best advantage. I made up my mind that the +morrow should see the beginning of our chief labor in the orchard. I +had sold a number of barrels of windfalls, but they brought a price +that barely repaid us. My examination of the trees now convinced me +that there should be no more delay in taking off the large and fine- +looking fruit. + +With the setting sun Merton and Junior arrived, scarcely able to +drag their weary feet down the lane. Nevertheless their fatigue was +caused by efforts entirely after their own hearts, and they declared +that they had had a "splendid time." Then they emptied their game- +bags. Each of the boys had a partridge, Merton one rabbit, and +Junior two. Merton kept up his prestige by showing two gray +squirrels to Junior's one. Bed squirrels abounded, and a few robins, +brought down on the wing as the boys had promised. + +I was most interested in the rattles of the deadly snake which +Junior had nearly stepped on and then shot. + +"Schunemunk is full of rattlers," Junior said. + +"Please don't hunt there any more then," I replied. + +"No, we'll go into the main Highlands to the east'ard next time." + +Merton had also brought down a chicken hawk; and the game, spread +out on the kitchen table, suggested much interesting wild life, +about which I said we should read during the coming winter, adding: +"Well, boys, you have more than earned your salt in your sport to- +day, for each of you has supplied two game dinners. We shall live +like aldermen now, I suppose." + +"Yes," cried Merton, "whether you call me 'pot-hunter' or not, I mean +my gun to pay its way." + +"I've no objections to that," was my laughing answer, "as long as +you shoot like a sportsman, and not like a butcher. Your guns, boys, +will pay best, however, in making you strong, and in giving you some +well-deserved fun after your busy summer. I feel that you have both +earned the right to a good deal of play this month, and that you +will study all the harder for it by and by." + +"I hope you'll talk father into that doctrine," said Junior, as he +sat down to supper with us. + +The boys were drowsy as soon as they had satisfied their keen +appetites, and Mousie laughed at them, saying that she had been +reading how the boa-constrictor gorged himself and then went to +sleep, and that they reminded her of the snake. + +"I guess I'll go home after that," said Junior. + +"Now you know I was only poking a little fun," said Mousie, +ruefully, as she ran into the kitchen and gathered up his game for +him, looking into his face so archly and coaxingly that he burst +out: "You beat all the game in the country. I'll shoot a blue jay, +and give you its wings for your hat, see if I don't;" and with this +compliment and promise he left the child happy. + +Merton was allowed to sleep late the next morning, and was then set +to work in the orchard, I dividing my time between aiding in picking +the apples and turning over the fodder corn. + +"You can climb like a squirrel, Merton, and I must depend on you +chiefly for gathering the apples. Handle them like eggs, so as not +to bruise them, and then they will keep better. After we have gone +over the trees once and have stacked the fodder corn you shall have +a good time with your gun." + +For the next few days we worked hard, and nearly finished the first +picking of the apples, also getting into shocks the greater part of +the corn. Then came a storm of wind and rain, and the best of the +apples on one tree, which, we had neglected, were soon lying on the +ground, bruised and unfit for winter keeping. + +"You see, Merton," I said, "that we must manage to attend to the +trees earlier next year. Live and learn." + +The wind came out of the north the day after the storm, and Mr. +Jones shouted, as he passed down the road, "Hard frost to-night!" + +Then indeed we bustled around. Mousie's flowers were carried in, the +Lima-bean poles, still hanging full of green pods more or less +filled out, were pulled up and stacked together under a tree, some +tomato-vines, with their green and partially ripe fruit, were taken +up by the roots and hung under the shed, while over some other vines +a covering was thrown toward night. + +"We may thus keep a supply of this wholesome vegetable some weeks +longer," I said. + +Everything that we could protect was looked after; but our main task +was the gathering of all the grapes except those hanging against the +sides of the house. These I believed would be so sheltered as to +escape injury. We had been enjoying this delicious fruit for some +time, carrying out our plan, however, of reserving the best for the +market. The berries on the small clusters were just as sweet and +luscious, and the children were content. + +Sure enough, on the following morning white hoar-frost covered the +grass and leaves. + +"No matter," cried Winnie, at the breakfast-table; "the chestnut +burrs are opening." + +By frequent stirring the rest of the corn-fodder was soon dried +again, and was stacked like the rest. Then we took up the beets and +carrots, and stored them also in the root cellar. + +We had frost now nearly every night, and many trees were gorgeous in +their various hues, while others, like the butternuts, were already +losing their foliage. + +The days were filled with delight for the children. The younger ones +were up with the sun to gather the nuts that had fallen during the +night, Merton accompanying them with his gun, bringing in squirrels +daily, and now and then a robin shot while flying. His chief exploit +however was the bagging of half a dozen quails that unwarily chose +the lower part of our meadow as a resort. Then he and Junior took +several long outings in the Highlands, with fair success; for the +boys had become decidedly expert. + +"If we only had a dog," said Merton, "we could do wonders." + +"Both of you save your money next summer, and buy one," I replied; +"I'll give you a chance, Merton." + +By the middle of the month the weather became dry and warm, and the +mountains were almost hidden in an Indian summer haze. + +"Now for the corn-husking," I said, "and the planting of the ground +in raspberries, and then we shall be through with our chief labors +for the year." + +Merton helped me at the husking, but I allowed him to keep his gun +near, and he obtained an occasional shot which enlivened his toil. +Two great bins over the sty and poultry-house received the yellow +ears, the longest and fairest being stored in one, and in the other +the "nubbin's," speedily to be transformed into pork. Part of the +stalks were tied up and put in the old "corn-stalk barn," as we +called it, and the remainder were stacked near. Our cow certainly +was provided for. + +Brindle now gave too little milk for our purpose, whereas a farmer +with plenty of fodder could keep her over the winter to advantage. I +traded her off to a neighboring farmer for a new milch cow, and paid +twenty dollars to boot. We were all great milk-topers, while the +cream nearly supplied us with butter. + +Having removed the corn, Mr. Jones plowed the field deeply, and then +Merton and I set out the varieties of raspberries which promised +best in our locality, making the hills four feet apart in the row, +and the rows five feet from one another. I followed the instructions +of my fruit book closely, and cut back the canes of the plants to +six inches, and sunk the roots so deep as to leave about four inches +of soil above them, putting two or three plants in the hill. Then +over and about the hills we put on the surface of the ground two +shovelfuls of compost, finally covering the plants beneath a slight +mound of earth. This would protect them from the severe frost of +winter. + +These labors and the final picking of the apples brought us to the +last week of the month. Of the smaller fruit, kept clean and sound +for the purpose, we reserved enough to make two barrels of cider, of +which one should go into vinegar, and the other be kept sweet, for +our nut-crackings around the winter fire. Bobsey's dream of +"millions of bushels" of nuts had not been realized, yet enough had +been dried and stored away to satisfy even his eyes. Not far away an +old cider-mill was running steadily, and we soon had the barrels of +russet nectar in our cellar. Then came Saturday, and Merton and +Junior were given one more day's outing in the mountains with their +guns. On the following Monday they trudged off to the nearest public +school, feeling that they had been treated liberally, and that +brain-work must now begin in earnest. Indeed from this time forth, +for months to come, school and lessons took precedence of everything +else, and the proper growing of boys and girls was the uppermost +thought. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +THANKSGIVING DAY + + +November weather was occasionally so blustering and stormy that I +turned schoolmaster in part, to relieve my wife. During the month, +however, were bright, genial days, and others softened by a smoky +haze, which gave me opportunity to gather and store a large crop of +turnips, to trench in my celery on a dry knoll, and to bury, with +their heads downward, all the cabbages for which I could not find a +good market. The children still gave me some assistance, but, +lessons over, they were usually permitted to amuse themselves in +their own way. Winnie, however, did not lose her interest in the +poultry, and Merton regularly aided in the care of the stock and in +looking after the evening supply of fire-wood. I also spent a part +of my time in the wood lot, but the main labor there was reserved +for December. The chief task of the month was the laying down and +covering of the tender raspberries; and in this labor Bagley again +gave me his aid. + +Thanksgiving Day was celebrated with due observance. In the morning +we all heard Dr. Lyman preach, and came home with the feeling that +we and the country at large were prosperous. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, +with Junior, dined with us in great state, and we had our first +four-course dinner since arriving in Maizeville, and at the +fashionable hour of six in the evening. I had protested against my +wife's purpose of staying at home in the morning, saying we would +"browse around during the day and get up appetites, while in the +afternoon we could all turn cooks and help her." Merton was +excepted, and, after devouring a hasty cold lunch, he and Junior +were off with their guns. As for Bobsey, he appeared to browse +steadily after church, but seemed in no wise to have exhausted his +capacity when at last he attacked his soup, turkey drum-stick, and +the climax of a pudding. Our feast was a very informal affair, +seasoned with mirth and sauced with hunger. The viands, however, +under my wife's skill, would compare with any eaten in the great +city, which we never once had regretted leaving. Winifred looked +after the transfers from the kitchen at critical moments, while +Mousie and Winnie were our waitresses. A royal blaze crackled in the +open fireplace, and seemed to share in the sparkle of our rustic wit +and unforced mirth, which kept plump Mrs. Jones in a perpetual +quiver, like a form of jelly. + +Her husband came out strong in his comical resume of the past year's +experience, concluding: "Well, we owe you and Mrs. Durham a vote of +thanks for reforming the Bagley tribe. That appears to me an +orthodox case of convarsion. First we gave him the terrors of the +law. Tell yer what it is, we was a-smokin' in wrath around him that +mornin', like Mount Sinai, and you had the sense to bring, in the +nick of time, the gospel of givin' a feller a chance. It's the best +gospel there is, I reckon." + +"Well," I replied, becoming thoughtful for a moment with boyish +memories, "my good old mother taught me that it was God's plan to +give us a chance, and help us make the most of it." + +"I remembered the Bagleys to-day," Mrs. Jones remarked, nodding to +my wife. "We felt they ought to be encouraged." + +"So did we," my wife replied, sotto voce. + +We afterward learned that the Bagleys had been provisioned for +nearly a month by the good-will of neighbors, who, a short time +since, had been ready to take up arms against them. + +By eight o'clock everything was cleared away, Mrs. Jones assisting +my wife, and showing that she would be hurt if not permitted to do +so. Then we all gathered around the glowing hearth, Junior's rat-a- +tat-snap! proving that our final course of nuts and cider would be +provided in the usual way. + +How homely it all was! how free from any attempt at display of +style! yet equally free from any trace of vulgarity or ill-natured +gossip. Mousie had added grace to the banquet with her blooming +plants and dried grasses; and, although the dishes had been set on +the table by my wife's and children's hands, they were daintily +ornamented and inviting. All had been within our means and +accomplished by ourselves; and the following morning brought no +regretful thoughts. Our helpful friends went home, feeling that they +had not bestowed their kindness on unthankful people whose scheme of +life was to get and take, but not to return. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +WE CAN MAKE A LIVING IN EDEN + + +Well, our first year was drawing to a close. The 1st of December was +celebrated by an event no less momentous than the killing of our +pigs, to Winnie's and Bobsey's intense excitement. In this affair my +wife and I were almost helpless, but Mr. Jones and Bagley were on +hand, and proved themselves veterans, while Mrs. Jones stood by my +wife until the dressed animals were transformed into souse, head- +cheese, sausage, and well-salted pork. The children feasted and +exulted through all the processes, especially enjoying some sweet +spareribs. + +I next gave all my attention, when the weather permitted, to the +proper winter covering of all the strawberries, and to the cutting +and carting home of old and dying trees from the wood lot. + +The increasing cold brought new and welcome pleasures to the +children. There was ice on the neighboring ponds, and skates were +bought as premature Christmas presents. The same was true of sleds +after the first fall of snow. This white covering of the earth +enabled Merton and Junior to track some rabbits in the vicinity, +which thus far had eluded their search. + +By the middle of the month we realized that winter had begun in all +its rather stern reality; but we were sheltered and provided for. We +had so far imitated the ants that we had abundant stores until the +earth should again yield its bounty. + +Christmas brought us more than its wonted joy, and a better +fulfilment of the hopes and anticipations which we had cherished on +the same day of the previous year. We were far from regretting our +flight to the country, although it had involved us in hard toil and +many anxieties. My wife was greatly pleased by my many hours of rest +at the fireside in her companionship, caused by days too cold and +wintry for outdoor work; but our deepest and most abiding content +was expressed one evening as we sat alone after the children were +asleep. + +"You have solved the problem, Robert, that was worrying you. There +is space here for the children to grow, and the Daggetts and the +Ricketts and all their kind are not so near as to make them grow +wrong, almost in spite of us. A year ago we felt that we were +virtually being driven to the country. I now feel as if we had been +led by a kindly and divine hand." I had given much attention to my +account-book of late, and had said, "On New Year's morning I will +tell you all the result of our first year's effort." + +At breakfast, after our greetings and good wishes for the New Year, +all looked expectantly at me as I opened our financial record. +Carefully and clearly as possible, so that even Winnie might +understand in part, I went over the different items, and the expense +and proceeds of the different crops, so far as I was able to +separate them. Bobsey's attention soon wandered, for he had an +abiding faith that breakfast, dinner, and supper would follow the +sun, and that was enough for him. But the other children were +pleased with my confidence, and tried to understand me. + +"To sum up everything," I said, finally, "we have done, by working +all together, what I alone should probably have accomplished in the +city--we have made our living. I have also taken an inventory or an +account of stock on hand and paid for; that is, I have here a list +on which are named the horse, wagon, harness, cow, crates and +baskets, tools, poultry, and pigs. These things are paid for, and we +are so much ahead. Now, children, which is better, a living in the +city, I earning it for you all? or a living in the country toward +which even Bobsey can do his share?" + +"A living in the country," was the prompt chorus. "There is +something here for a fellow to do without being nagged by a +policeman," Merton added. + +"Well, children, mamma and I agree with you. What's more, there +wasn't much chance for me to get ahead in the city, or earn a large +salary. Here, by pulling all together, there is almost a certainty +of our earning more than a bare living, and of laying up something +for a rainy day. The chief item of profit from our farm, however, is +not down in my account-book, but we see it in your sturdier forms +and in Mousie's red cheeks. More than all, we believe that you are +better and healthier at heart than you were a year ago. + +"Now for the New Year. Let us make the best and most of it, and ask +God to help us." + +And so my simple history ends in glad content and hope. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Driven Back to Eden, by E. P. Roe + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN *** + +This file should be named drvbk10.txt or drvbk10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, drvbk11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, drvbk10a.txt + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/drvbk10.zip b/old/drvbk10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..772c50e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/drvbk10.zip |