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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf 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..e88db07 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67091 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67091) diff --git a/old/67091-0.txt b/old/67091-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ee2c585..0000000 --- a/old/67091-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6493 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Norma: A Flower Scout, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Norma: A Flower Scout - -Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy - -Release Date: January 3, 2022 [eBook #67091] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT *** - - - - - - NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT - - - - -[Illustration: The hostess would dig up a small plant and place it -carefully in the basket.] - - - - - NORMA: - A FLOWER SCOUT - - By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY - - Author of - “Natalie: A Garden Scout,” “Janet: A Stock-Farm - Scout,” “The Blue Bird Series,” “The Five - Little Starrs Series.” - - Endorsed by and Published with the Approval of - NATIONAL GIRL SCOUTS - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - Publishers New York - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - - The Girl Scouts - Country Life Series - - A SERIES OF STORIES FOR GIRLS - By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY - - NATALIE: A GARDEN SCOUT - JANET: A STOCK-FARM SCOUT - NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT - - Copyright, 1925 - By A. L. BURT COMPANY - - NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT - Made in “U. S. A.” - - - - - CONTENTS - - I Norma’s Letter Home. - II Mrs. Tompkins Coaches Norma. - III An Automobile Is Donated. - IV Building Bird Houses. - V Mignonette and Chrysanthemum. - VI Flower Days and Legends. - VII The Rock and Water Garden. - VIII The Rain Interferes. - IX Various Undesired Tasks. - X The Water Garden Completed. - XI The Joy of Good Construction. - XII The Pigeon Cote. - - - - -NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT - - -CHAPTER I - -NORMA’S LETTER HOME. - - -“Dear Folks at Home: - -“Here I am at Green Hill, just as much at home after a few hours’ -time, as if I had been here for years. But, oh, Mother! Such an -arrival as we three girls experienced! I wish you could have seen us -when we finally reached the farm. How Daddy would have laughed! But -you, Muzzer, would have wept at the sight of my shoes, they were so -covered with mud. And you would have reminded me that you had just -paid fifteen dollars for them, downtown. But it was not my fault—that -mud. It was Amity Ketchum’s fault. I’ll tell you about it. - -“When Belle Barlow, Frances Lowden and I jumped from the poky local -train that stopped at Four Corners on signal only, we looked all -around for some sort of a hack to take us and our luggage to Green -Hill. We remembered what Mrs. James had told us about the lazy driver -who took them to the farm when they arrived, but he was not to be seen -when we got there. - -“Then we went to the ticket-office to ask the agent about some sort of -a conveyance, but the place was closed and not a soul anywhere about -the building. We looked at each other and laughed. - -“‘There’s but one alternative, girls—walk!’ declared Belle, in her -usual calm superior manner. - -“The drizzle that was sifting down when we left New York had become a -fine rain at Four Corners, making the roads muddy and full of small -pools. We had our suitcases and smaller traps to carry, as well as -hold up our umbrellas to keep our new straw hats from becoming -discouraged and droopy. Can you picture us? - -“As Frances remarked after we had hiked for a hundred yards and -suddenly caught a squall of wind sweeping over the fields: ‘The -luggage acted as ballast and anchorage at the same time, to keep us -from flying up in the air with temper.’ Struggling along in spite of -handicaps, we finally reached the Post Office store. - -“Now what do you think! There sat that lazy Amity Ketchum tilted back -in an old wooden chair, his feet crossed on top of a small cylinder -stove, discussing present-day politics. If the three of us had not -felt so aggrieved, we must have laughed outright at the sight of the -solitary hackman in the profession at Four Corners, absolutely -regardless of trade, or the difficulties his clients must experience -on such a day, with their misplaced confidence in Amity causing them -such free exercise as we were having. - -“Why will doting parents misname their progeny as this man Amity was -named, Mother? He is so far from being amiable that his name should -suggest just the opposite of what ‘Amity’ means. We girls learned from -the store keeper that Amity Ketchum was the local Jehu, so Belle spoke -to him in rather an imperious tone. - -“‘Why were you not at the station to meet this train, as we wired you -to do?’ - -“Amity carefully lifted one foot after the other, from the cold -stove-top to the floor, and slowly turned around in his chair to stare -at us. Then he actually ignored us and replaced his feet on the -fireless stove, and tilted back the chair and resumed his discussion -where he had abruptly interrupted himself to take a good look at -Belle. This made the other country men, who were lounging about the -place, grin at us as if we were big sillies. But Belle was furious. I -knew Amity was in for it when she said in her most cutting voice: - -“‘I believe you are the driver of that sorry-looking freak standing -outside that goes by the name of Cherub. Was ever a beast as that, or -a man like you, so contrarily named? Why, just look at the poor excuse -called Cherub! His coat of fur has not been shorn for countless moons, -and the size of his hoofs must have caused the holes in the road which -are now filled with water like miniature lakes. Then give a thought to -those queer tufts of hair growing from above the hoofs—like the -Scotchman’s precious emblem that swings from his belt. And the -vehicle! ye gods, what a rare picture for the movie camera! Its wheels -running at different angles from each other in the most independent -way, and the dashboard that was broken through by the last passenger, -several weeks ago, still dangling to trip the Cherub’s heels. Well! -Four Corners must sit up, now, and take notice. A group of _live_ -young people have come to stay, and sleepers like this driver and his -spirited steed, will be left behind unless he churks up a bit.’ - -“Amity Ketchum had never experienced any controversy with the natives -over his indolent habits, as they accepted him and his profession just -as he was. But Belle’s denunciation caused his lower jaw to drop and -render him speechless, while the farmers who had nothing to do on a -rainy day, laughed heartily at Belle’s words. - -“We turned to go out, but Frances suddenly had a brilliant idea. -‘People like you seldom appreciate what you have until you lose it. If -some other young farmer about here would start a cab line for Four -Corners, we would send him all the patronage we will have daily at the -farm.’ - -“But no one rose to this tempting bait, so we poor bedraggled girls -had to plod onward to Green Hill, carrying our bags and umbrellas as -before, with injured pride weighting us down. - -“Well, we finally reached the farm where Mrs. James and Natalie and -Janet were eagerly watching for us. They had heard the engine whistle -an hour before, and wondered what delayed us so. We described our -differences of opinion with the hackman, much to Mrs. James’s -amusement, and the girls’ hilarious laughter. But Rachel who stood in -the doorway, listening, was furious. She declared that if she only -owned an automobile she’d telegraph for her nephew, Sambo, to come -right out to Four Corners and earn a decent living by taxi-cabbing in -Four Corners. But her suggestion inspired Frances who is writing a -letter to her Father about some scheme she has in mind. ‘She won’t -tell us a thing about it until she hears,’ she said. - -“Now that the unpleasant walk is over and we are comfortable again, we -can laugh at the incident. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have -missed the fun for anything, as it will prove to be one of the -laughable experiences of our summer at Green Hill. There goes the -dinner call, folkses—I’ll have to finish this letter later.” * * * - -“It is now supper time, dear folks, and I am sitting in my room to add -a few lines to this letter. This noon, directly after dinner—every one -in the country has dinner at noon and supper at night—so we fell into -the same customs at the farm. Right after dinner, Natalie informed us -three girls that we were all invited to visit Solomon’s Seal Girl -Scouts’ Camp. This is the group of girls I told you about, that Miss -Mason organized last year, and now has in camp at the woodland of the -farm. - -“We had a most interesting visit with the girl scouts. They did so -many stunts for us that it would fill a book were I to try and write -it all for you now. The object of the meeting was to discuss the plan -of having Mrs. James form a second Patrol of Solomon’s Seal scouts. -Miss Mason’s scouts form Patrol Number One, and we girls will be -Patrol Number Two. Then we can apply at the National Headquarters in -New York City for a charter which officially registers us as a Troop. - -“It was decided that we girls, being five, and the three girls Natalie -and Janet know, and asked to join the Patrol, will comprise the -membership of the new Patrol. But we will be Tenderfeet for a month, -before we can call ourselves regular scouts. - -“This evening, after supper, we sat talking about the work Natalie and -Janet are doing on the farm. Natalie started a vegetable garden soon -after she arrived at the farm, and now you ought to see those beds! -Really, you would be amazed to see how the cuttings and seeds Natalie -planted are growing. She says she is going to sell the produce to the -scouts at camp, and to Rachel, for the house-table. If there is more -than enough to supply these needs, she is going to send it to New York -to friends to buy. In this way she expects to earn enough money during -the summer to pay for her own board and keep. Then Jimmy (Mrs. James, -you know) can save the cost of Nat’s board and deposit it in the bank -for her future. - -“When Janet found Natalie was working for a living in such a -delightful way, she, too, got the idea of starting something to earn -her living this summer, and save the board money that her folks send -every week to Jimmy, for a future college education. Janet started a -stock farm. She bought three darling little pink pigs and some -chickens. She expects to sell the eggs the hens lay, and sell the -broilers the setting hens will soon hatch out for her. This will bring -in ready money every day, and in a short time she will be able to buy -a cow, a calf, a lot of ducks, geese and turkeys, and maybe some sheep -and everything else that belongs to stock work on a farm. - -“You really won’t believe how much money Janet will have by the end of -this summer, all cleared out of the stock investment. But she proved -it to me by showing me the actual figures on paper. Eggs are so -expensive now, and broilers, too, always bring a fancy price in the -market. Then, when she sells the milk, butter and cheese from the cow, -the squabs from the pigeons, the ducks, geese and turkeys at -Thanksgiving time, she will be repaid for her labor during the summer. -The three pigs will fatten and grow without any care or cost to Janet, -as they just eat whatever is left from the house; but pork brings -awfully high prices when sold, so Janet will clear about a hundred and -fifty dollars on her three pigs, when she sells them to the butcher. I -wish I had been here first, and had had the opportunity to start a -stock farm such as Janet has. - -“But I suppose I would have made a failure of it, as I love to dream -and idealize things. And Janet certainly can’t sit and idealize pigs -and cows and such creatures, because I watched her tonight—she almost -cried because she forgot to feed the pigs their supper, and they -squealed unmercifully for hours until she mixed the corn-meal mush and -carried it to them. - -“It was suggested by Jimmy that I cultivate flowers in the beds -already laid out but, thus far, nothing is planted in them. There are -several hardy shrubs and flowers that come up every year which were -left here by the former tenant, but they need pruning and cleaning out -before they will look tidy and thrifty. Jimmy says she will help me -all she can in the flower-gardening, so I have decided to try it, -anyway. - -“Natalie told me that Mrs. Tompkins, the wife of the man who owns the -post office store, offered to give them all the slips and cuttings we -needed to plant around the house at Green Hill. I am sending to a -large seed store in New York, for a catalogue of their seeds and -flowers, and will choose those which will grow quickly, as it is July -and several months have been lost before I got here. - -“Nat said that Mrs. Tompkins has the most beautiful flower gardens -back of the house! I am going there to visit her and see her flowers. -Jimmy thinks this work is just suited to my temperament, as I always -loved flowers, and feel quite enthusiastic over the prospect of -growing them and taking care of them. I couldn’t see where any profit -could come to me out of the work of planting and watching over the -flowers, but Jimmy says there are as many ways for me to dispose of my -flowers for money, as it is possible for Natalie to sell vegetables, -or Janet to sell stock. - -“Before you see your dreamy Norma again, she will be a professional -floriculturist. As a beginning in the business, Mrs. James authorized -me to take charge of the landscaping of the grounds about the house. I -am also going to have charge of the lawns. To keep the grass cut short -and the edges trimmed neatly, and the people from walking across the -grass and wearing footpaths over the lawn. I am to be paid for all -garden or lawn work, the same as Farmer Ames charges the household for -his time. Jimmy also told me that I shall be paid for any work I am -asked to do about the place, whether it is helping Natalie weed or -plant her vegetable gardens, or doing odd jobs. - -“But the flower beds will be all my own to do with as I like, so there -will be no pay for planting or raising flowers. It is such fascinating -work—this flower seeding and planting, that I count every moment as -wasted when I am not doing something to improve the garden or lawns. - -“Mrs. James is the heart of everything at Green Hill Farm, from Rachel -as house-worker, down to the dog, Grip, who belongs to Sam, the handy -man; everything turns to her for advice and help. What would we all do -without her?” * * * - -“10 P. M.—I was interrupted in my letter just as I finished the last -paragraph. The girls called me to hurry downstairs and walk with them -to Four Corners. I went, but Mrs. James and I stopped to visit Mrs. -Tompkins’s gardens while the other girls went on, with Hester -Tompkins, to see Nancy Sherman and Dorothy Ames about forming a scout -patrol. I can’t go to sleep without telling you about Mrs. Tompkins’s -flowers, so I am sitting up to write, but all the others are fast -asleep. - -“I never thought the plain old earth could produce such lovely colors -and the delicate perfumes Mrs. Tompkins’s flowers have. She has a -large area devoted to her flowers, and there I saw almost every kind -of plant, blossom, shrub, vine or tree that grows north. She says it -is because she loves them so much that they bloom and thrive so -splendidly for her. - -“I believe that I could love flowers that way, too, and maybe they -will bloom and thrive successfully for me, too. I told Mrs. Tompkins -that I knew of no pleasanter way to live than to see such lovely -rewards as the flowers, for one’s time and patience. - -“She looked at me very searchingly, for a minute, and then said: -‘Norma, I think you will be a successful florist if you keep at the -work. But you cannot slight such a calling once you undertake to grow -the plants.’ - -“I wish you could see the great basketful of slips, roots and cuttings -that I brought home from Mrs. Tompkins’s gardens tonight. I am going -to get up at sunrise in the morning and plant them. Jimmy and I were -visiting Mrs. Tompkins for almost two hours, yet it seemed like ten -minutes. - -“Now that this letter is finished, it can be mailed in the morning and -I am free to start my garden work. Don’t be alarmed if you do not hear -from me again for a long time as I will not have much time to spare -once I begin gardening and landscaping the farm. When it begins to -look like a real picture garden I want you both to come out and see -what I can do. But do write often, - - To your loving - Norma. - -P. S.—If you possibly can send me my two months’ allowance in advance, -I would be very grateful, as I want to buy seeds and bulbs, and lots -of things for my work. Please send it _at once_. - - Norma. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - MRS. TOMPKINS COACHES NORMA. - - -The foregoing letter was sealed and mailed that forenoon when Farmer -Ames drove past on his way to the general store. But there may be some -readers who have not met Natalie and her friends at Green Hill Farm, -and so, are not aware that Natalie left New York City with Mrs. James, -her valuable companion and friend, and Rachel, the old southern cook -who had been with the Averills for many years, to live on a farm in -Westchester County that had been left the girl by her mother. - -The old Colonial house on the farm was large and comfortable, so -Natalie’s four school chums had agreed to spend the summer there, and -board with Mrs. James. This income would help pay current expenses of -housekeeping, and the girls could enjoy the freedom of country life -and be happy in each other’s company. - -All the amusing incidents that occurred to Natalie when she launched -her plan and started a vegetable garden to help defray expenses, and -the still more ludicrous experiences Janet had after she began her -stock farm, are told in the two preceding volumes of this country life -series, namely: “Natalie: A Garden Scout,” and “Janet: A Stock-Farm -Scout.” - -The same day that Norma’s letter went to her parents, a letter written -by Frances Lowden was also mailed at Four Corners. In Frances’s letter -she begged her parents to leave the automobile at the farm when they -went to Colorado for the summer months. The reason for wanting the car -at Green Hill was explained in the other volumes; that Frances -proposed running a jitney as her business venture that summer, and -thus put Amity Ketchum out of his profession for the time being. - -How this venture succeeded and how Frances added to this undertaking -the other branches of work that won her the badges in scoutdom, is -told in full in her book which follows this one. - -The preceding evening, while four of the girls called on Nancy Sherman -and Hester Tompkins to make an appointment for the meeting of the two -scout patrols, Mrs. James took Norma and introduced her to Mrs. -Tompkins, the flower lover. - -“I trust we are not disturbing you, Mrs. Tompkins, but I wanted to -introduce Norma to you, as I think you two will be very close friends -after you get acquainted with each other’s ideals,” said Mrs. James. - -“I’m glad you came in, as Hester just went out to visit Nancy Sherman -for a little time this evening, and I am quite alone. I was just on -the point of going out to my garden and watch the bud on a -night-bloomer. I hope it opens tonight.” - -“Oh, then, let us go with you, as Norma is going to start the flower -gardens at the farm, and will be very grateful to you for any hints or -helps you can give her,” explained Mrs. James. - -“I’m glad to find someone who is interested in my hobby,” was Mrs. -Tompkins’ reply, as she smiled at Norma. “Come right out and let me -introduce you to my favorites in the flower beds.” - -Norma and Mrs. James followed their hostess out to her large gardens, -and Mrs. Tompkins began describing various plants as they passed them. - -“You’ll find that most of my flowers in the beds nearest the house are -all of the old-fashioned variety, because they give out such sweet -perfume. I love to sit by my back window and smell their refreshing -odors. It is payment in full for all the time I give to their food and -growth.” - -The two visitors walked slowly along the neat footpath and stopped -frequently to stoop and smell of a bright blossom, or admire a -wonderful color of a flower. - -“I try to use good judgment in the arrangement of my plants, too, as -well as to group the colors so they will blend instead of fight with -each other. Sometimes, I have great difficulty in this arrangement, as -a flower will open and surprise me with an entirely different color or -shade than I expected. Quite often, the bees, or birds, will carry a -germ from one flower to another when they visit it to sip the nectar, -and this fertilization of the seed, after the flower dies, is made -manifest in a totally different color in the next production of the -plant.” - -“Oh, how interesting! I never knew such things happened in a flower -garden,” exclaimed Norma. - -Mrs. Tompkins laughed at the girl’s very evident interest. “You will -find stranger and more absorbing things happening in a flower garden, -than this very common occurrence. Because you see, it really depends -upon the breezes, the bees, or the birds—sometimes, on a creeping -insect or caterpillar—to carry pollen and the fertilizing germs from -one flower to another. And Nature seldom errs in her judgments, -either.” - -“Mrs. Tompkins,” now asked Mrs. James, “do you know anything of the -quality of the soil in the flower beds at Green Hill?” - -“I’m afraid I am not well enough acquainted with it to render any -verdict on it now. But I could visit you and examine it, so as to give -you an intelligent answer on what flowers it will raise. The last -tenant of the farm did not waste much time, or money, on the floral -side of the grounds. His hobby was vegetable growing and the barn -yard, and his wife cared little for gardening, so the beds were -generally neglected. - -“Fortunately, there is no danger of spoiling soil when it is not -planted, and it is a very easy matter to enrich it so that any plant -will thrive in it. The only impossible soil is what is known as ‘hard -pan,’ but we find little of that around here.” - -“I forked over some of the dirt in one of the beds and found it was -rather dry and lacking in richness. Now this may be due to a sandy -soil, or it may mean the soil is impoverished and needs more -vitalizing properties before we plant the flowers,” said Mrs. James. - -“If the ground was well manured early this spring or if you use good -barn yard manure this fall, the beds will show a fine condition by -next spring. I should use about a half-barrel full of manure to a -square yard of the soil. But that will not do you any good for -immediate planting. I would have to see the soil before I prescribe -now for it,” explained Mrs. Tompkins. - -“If Janet adds to her poultry business and buys pigeons and other -feathered fowl very soon, we can use that manure for the beds. I’ve -heard that poultry manure is best for flowers,” ventured Mrs. James. - -“I’ll tell you what I do,” returned Mrs. Tompkins. “I believe poultry -manure is one of the best to be had for any purpose with plants, as it -is rich in nitrogen, easily stored and handled, and does not contain -the grain or weed seeds that stall manure has and always reproduces -when used in the garden. I remove any droppings from the perches and -the floor of the house where the fowl roost; then I sweep the floors -of all the coops, and use a fine tooth rake to clean out the poultry -yards. These I throw in the box where that particular compost is kept. -If I have any waste vegetable matter from the gardens or the kitchen -garbage, I mix that with the poultry manure and leave it to decay -thoroughly. - -“I have learned that such a compost heap, far enough from the house to -prevent any disagreeable odors from reaching us, will attract the -chickens when they are at large, each day, to exercise. They will -scratch in the heap and mix it better than I can. You do not need -nearly as much poultry manure as you would of stall manure.” - -“What kind of manure can we use now that will not burn the plants -Norma may wish to raise?” asked Mrs. James. - -“As I said before, I had better test the soil before I commit myself -to reply. If the soil is damp, she’d better use some wood ashes from -the fire-places, to furnish the potash and improve the condition of -the soil. Bone dust makes a good fertilizer that can be used at most -times, but it does not provide any humus to the ground. I think I -should use a fine bone dust for present needs, but use a coarse powder -for spring or fall enriching.” - -Norma now interrupted this conversation by exclaiming: “Oh, what a -beautiful bed of gladiolis! In New York we would have to pay a dollar -for six of those stalks.” - -“I’m very fond of my gladiolis, and so are my bees and birds, -especially the humming-birds. They hover in and out of the blossoms as -long as there is one to hold honey or nectar. My July flowering -gladiolis are planted in early spring and produce magnificent spikes -of flowers right through to frost time. I plant many of the bulb in -late autumn and protect them from the frost with straw sweepings from -the stable.” - -One corner of the garden was a mass of gorgeous color produced by -great peonies. Mrs. James pointed at them and remarked about their -size and the sweetness which she could smell as far away as she was. - -“I am justly proud of them,” smiled Mrs. Tompkins. “I was careful to -plant them where they would be protected from the east wind. They love -a deep fertile soil and will thrive well in a sunny sheltered garden. -You can grow them from seed, but you will wait a long time before -enjoying the flowers. If you transplant a well-rooted plant, you will -have flowers the following season.” - -“I don’t suppose we can plant any roots so late as this?” queried -Norma, anxiously. - -“No, it would merely kill the plant and the root would dry up in the -ground.” - -The iris, the phloxes, the pinks, lavender, portulacae and many other -old-fashioned flowers were discussed, and for each one, Mrs. Tompkins -had a valuable lesson to give Norma. As they went along the paths, -Norma carrying a flat-bottomed basket, the hostess would dig up a -small plant which had sprung up from a seed beside the older plant, -and place it carefully in the basket. Thus by the time the three had -covered the length of the paths in this section of the garden, Norma -had almost a full basket of young slips and roots to take home for her -own gardens. Then they walked over to a garden well enclosed with -hedges, both low and high. - -It brought forth a simultaneous exclamation of admiration, as Mrs. -James and Norma saw that this large garden contained all kinds of -roses, from the single American Beauty standing upright and queenly, -to the tiny bush prolific with pink blooms. The hedges, too, were well -worth admiring and seeing. - -On the side nearest the other flower-beds, the low hedge was comprised -of hyssop, rosemary and lavender. On either side were hedges of roses, -thickly grown and kept well-trimmed, but back of the riot of color and -perfume of the rose garden proper, stood dark green privet and back of -that a row of dwarf cedars. This effectually screened the barns, but -what really covered the grey, unpainted buildings were the luxuriant -vines and creepers which were trained up over the roof, and hung in -festoons from gables and dormer windows set in the roof. - -Standing, as the visitors now did, beside the low hedge of flowers, -and gazing across the roses to the taller hedge of cedar and then up -at the tangle of green vines, the effect was lovely. And so thought -the woman who had accomplished this effect. - -After Norma had inhaled the perfume and sighed in an ecstasy of -pleasure at the beautiful roses glowing before her, Mrs. Tompkins -retraced her steps toward the house, as the twilight was falling and -the dew began to gather on the foliage of the plants. - -Norma carried the basket as if it were filled with frail creations of -mist, but she asked questions, nevertheless. - -“Why do you have table oilcloth spread out over the basket, Mrs. -Tompkins?” - -“To keep the soil from drying and to keep the roots and plants moist -after they are placed in the basket. The oilcloth keeps the air from -circulating about the roots and soil.” - -“Then why have such a shallow basket. Would not a deep one keep away -the air?” - -“If we used a deep basket you would have to reach down into it and, -perhaps, break a delicate stem, or catch your sleeve, or leaves of -other plants, while you are removing a plant or root. By having such a -shallow basket, one is not tempted to place other plants with their -soil, on top of those in the bottom, as might be the case if one used -a deep basket.” - -As the three reached the back piazza which was completely hidden under -vines, Norma remarked aloud: “It’s a wonder Mrs. Tompkins never went -into the florist business, instead of keeping all these wonderful -flowers and her valuable knowledge about them, to herself.” - -Mrs. Tompkins smiled. “I’ll tell you something that I seldom speak of. -I have had many tempting offers of large salaries and easy hours, to -take charge of private greenhouses owned by millionaires who like to -raise prize flowers; and also from commercial florists to superintend -their greenhouses, because I have won quite a reputation for myself -through my successful floriculture. But I stayed at home to work with -my own garden and with my old-fashioned tools and ways.” - -“Oh, Mrs. Tompkins! Didn’t you want fame and riches?” cried Norma, -scarcely able to understand why one should refuse such wonderful -gifts. - -“Well, maybe I am queer, but I love flowers from a different -standpoint than these growers of fancy and freakish plants,” explained -Mrs. Tompkins. “It would hurt me to see the boss cutting all my young -and glorious buds and blossoms to sell to a city market. I would see, -in my mind’s eye, all my pets being sold to cold individuals for -decorating their homes for parties, or to pin at their waist, without -a thought for the sweet life of the flowers. And naturally, I would -scold the owner of the greenhouse for such wholesale destruction. Now -put me in charge of a rich man’s greenhouses, and tell me to produce a -giant rose or chrysanthemum with which to win a prize and a newspaper -comment! I couldn’t do it. I love all flowers so that I would fight to -protect them. In my own home garden, I am ruler and no one tells me to -strive for a prize, or sell my blossoms for money. And my flowers know -I love them, so they really race with each other to see which one can -offer me the finest blossoms.” - -Norma laughed delightedly at this explanation, and Mrs. James nodded -her head understandingly, as she murmured: “That is the way I could -love the flowers if I allowed myself to specialize with them. And -because I think Norma is much the same, I wanted her to try the flower -gardening and then come and meet you.” - -“Yes, I am that way!” declared Norma. “The other girls always laughed -at me when I refused to pin flowers at my girdle, because I said they -would droop and die so quickly. That’s why they dubbed me ‘Sentimental -Norma.’ But it wasn’t that I hated to wear them, but that I couldn’t -bear the thought of how much longer the flowers would have lived and -shed their fragrance abroad, had they been able to remain on the -plant. Then the bees and birds and all Nature would have benefited -more than by cutting the flower to please one person.” - -Mrs. Tompkins now learned from Norma’s guileless remark how idealistic -and poetical the girl really was. She stepped forward and placed one -hand on the tangled waves of hair and said: “I see we are going to be -very good friends, Norma.” - -Norma smiled up at the plain-faced woman and Mrs. James showed her -satisfaction at the way Norma was accepted by their hostess. The other -girls who had gone to Nancy Sherman’s had not yet returned to the -Tompkins house, so the three flower lovers sat on the narrow front -piazza and waited for them. - -Twilight had given way to grey evening, and the frogs began croaking, -and the little lizards chirping over in the meadow across the road as -the three friends sat and talked of various things pertaining to -floriculture. - -“If you find the soil in any section of your garden of a clay nature, -you will need to lighten it. Sand generally needs rich farm yard -manure to strengthen it. This must be dug under and well mixed for -about two feet in depth. As I said a while back, it is too late in the -season to make use of farm yard composts of any kind, unless you use -it in the water with which you soak the plants after sundown, at -night. I keep a hogshead of water in a back corner of my garden, in -which I soak manure from the barn yard and stalls. I add a small -quantity of the compost to this water every time I add water in any -quantity. This keeps it always at about the same degree of -nourishment.” - -“We have a few lily-of-the-valley plants along the side of the house -where the driveway comes in. But they do not seem to be thriving,” -said Mrs. James. “Can you tell me what to give them?” - -“That’s because they are in the wrong location; now they are facing -the southern sun and are exposed to the rays as well as to all the air -that reaches the piazza. You must dig them up this fall, Mrs. James, -and place them in a shady northeast bed. Plant them on that northeast -side of the house where the stone wall sticks out like a buttress. I -never knew why that freak of an out-thrust was there. But _now_ I know -why it is there—to protect and shade your lily-of-the-valley plants.” - -Norma and Mrs. James smiled at this interpretation, and Mrs. Tompkins -continued: “It would be a pity if Norma had to go back to the city -before she had had time to plant her bulbs for next year’s flowers. -The daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths and other bulbs, which need -fall or early winter planting, and the hardy vines and shrubs which -beautify a place so wonderfully, have to be planted in the fall when -the sap is all out of the wood.” - -“Mrs. Tompkins, do you think I could ever grow such lovely flowers at -Green Hill, as you have back there in your gardens?” asked Norma, -yearningly. - -“Why not? Perhaps better ones; for you have soil, right exposures and -finer surroundings than I ever had here at Four Corners. You must -understand that plants are living things and they really appreciate -their environment as much as we do. But the most important factor with -them is the warmth of creative love—not the mortal selfish kind, but -the divine eternal unselfish love. That is why you read of a scraggy -little plant half-dead in the pot, that began to revive and flourish -when cared for by a bed-ridden child whose days were passed in a -tenement cellar. That plant needed not the sunshine and air of nature, -as much as the beams of love and devotion and sacrifice from a human -soul.” - -“When you visit us at Green Hill, Mrs. Tompkins, I am going to show -you an eye-sore that spreads all the way from the barn yard end of the -farm to the road that runs past the northeast corner of the property. -Perhaps you can suggest a remedy for that disgrace,” said Mrs. James -earnestly. - -“There is no ill in Nature. It is what man makes of his opportunity. I -know the spot you speak of, and I often wished I had the right to go -in there and work my will in that depression.” - -“Then it is yours to do as you will with it, only let Norma and me act -as your aides in doing it,” laughed Mrs. James. - -“If we three consolidated and began alterations on the grounds of -Green Hill, few people would recognize the place in a year’s time,” -rejoined the hostess, smilingly. - -“We’ll do it!” declared Norma eagerly. - -“When you remember the rolling, artistic natural grades of the farm, -and the sheltered, as well as exposed areas for planting, is it not a -wonder the former tenant could not see the beauty in flower-growing?” -said Mrs. James musingly. - -“Will you come over the first thing tomorrow morning?” asked Norma -anxiously. - -The ladies laughed and Mrs. Tompkins replied: “I’ll try to drive over -when Farmer Ames goes back home.” - -The other girls now joined the three people on the piazza and Hester -said: “We’re all going to join the scout patrol, Mother, and there -will be lots of fun after this, all summer through.” - - - - - CHAPTER III - - AN AUTOMOBILE IS DONATED. - - -Norma left the basket of plants in the cool cellar for the night, but -she was up in the morning before anyone was astir in the house, in -order to get the plants in the ground before the sun rose high. She -was busily engaged in digging holes with a kitchen coal-shovel and -planting the roots carefully as Mrs. Tompkins had shown her when Mrs. -James came out and saw her at work. - -“Ha! the early bird catches the flowers!” called Mrs. James, as she -ran across the grass and joined Norma at the garden. - -“I planted the young sweet williams and the chicken feet, and the -pinks, all along that border, you see,” said Norma. - -“Very good, but you did not entrench any manure in the soil, did you?” - -“No, because I thought we would buy some bone dust as Mrs. Tompkins -said, and spread it over the top after the flowers are in the ground.” - -Mrs. James advised and suggested, as Norma dug and planted -industriously, until she had all of the slips and plants that were -given her the evening before, in the ground. Then the two walked along -the grass-overgrown road that ran down to the stream. The old rail -fence on one side, that separated the house grounds from the pasture -lot, was not a beautiful thing to look at. And the strip of weed-grown -wild-grass that stretched between the fence and the badly kept road -made the spot still more uninteresting. - -“Norma, since the first day I moved to the place, I’ve been eager to -reclaim this awful strip of land, so I asked Natalie to plant a few -rows of corn, or beans, or even potatoes all along here. But she -wouldn’t waste time over it, she said. Now let’s you and I beautify -it.” - -“Nothing I’d like better, Jimmy. What would you suggest?” - -“What would _you_ suggest!” countered Mrs. James. - -“We could simply overwhelm that old rail fence with creepers. -Convolvulas, moon-flowers, clematis, and Virginia creepers, to say -nothing of trumpet vines, will glorify the old grey rails. What do you -think?” - -“Splendid! And they all will grow even though it is July; the trumpet -vine and Virginia creeper may object but the others will make a good -showing in a few weeks, and before August we will have the old fence -hidden under a mass of foliage and flowers.” - -“Their roots are not large, either, and they will not absorb the -nourishment from the soil which will be needed by the other plants we -will plant along there,” added Norma. - -“I haven’t any idea of what to plant. The weeds have to all come out -first, and then we may find that the soil is so dry and poor that it -will need entrenching, as Mrs. Tompkins described, yesterday.” - -“I’ve been thinking of it, while I was digging this morning, Jimmy, -and I thought a border of squatty old-fashioned plants such as tansy, -tarragon, rue and chervil, exactly like Mrs. Tompkins has about that -board fence that screens her gardens from the grocery yard, would look -fine. Then, between the border and the vines on the fence, we could -plant all kinds of geraniums, in red, white or pink. They will grow, -too, because they take root and will stand transplanting at any time -of the summer season. If we shelter them for the first few days, to -protect them from the hot rays of the sun, and keep the roots well -watered in early morning and in the evening, they ought to take hold -at once.” - -“I’m sure they will, Norma, and I can see how pretty the effect of -such massed plants will be,” responded Mrs. James. “And way down -there, opposite Natalie’s vegetable gardens, we can add some more -hollyhocks for next year. Those few now growing there look so forlorn -and lonesome, trying to lean against the old fence.” - -“We might plant some sun flowers right away—they will grow now, and -bloom before September. That will give the lonely hollyhocks a -_little_ company, and provide feasts for the birds, too.” - -“We’ll try it!” declared Mrs. James, and then just as Rachel’s welcome -call for breakfast sounded over the lawn, and the two went towards the -house to wash before appearing at the table, Rachel gave a whoop and -stood waving her arms, as she gazed across the drying-lawn back of her -kitchen. - -“Dem fowls ’scaped from the barn yard, Natalie, and is eating yor -greens as fas’ as they kin!” was the cook’s warning cry to the girls -within the house. - -In less than a minute, four girls streamed out of the back door and -followed in the wake of the southern mammy, as she hurried down the -pathway to the vegetable gardens. Norma and Mrs. James trailed after -the four girls, but the trespassing hens and rooster were shooed away -from the forbidden ground by the time the last two in the procession -arrived on the scene. - -“Now Janet, you’ve just _got_ to get some wire and keep those horrid -chickens in a yard,” wailed Natalie, when she saw the damage they had -done to the tender tops of her greens. - -So, soon after the breakfast, Janet started for Four Corners to -purchase a roll of chicken wire for the runway. Belle and Frances -offered to go with her and help carry the roll back to the house. -Norma had too much to do with her flower gardening to think of leaving -the work, so she was hard at her self-appointed tasks when the Lowdens -drove up in their touring car and stopped in front of the house. - -Mrs. James was indoors helping Rachel, when Mr. Lowden came along the -side road and stopped back of Norma. The first inkling she had of -anyone being near her was, when she heard a man’s amused voice asking -“How is your garden growing?” - -Then Norma eagerly explained what she was doing, and all that Natalie -and Janet had already accomplished. That made her remember something. -“Oh, Janet had to go to buy chicken-wire to keep her chickens from -gobbling Natalie’s greens, so Frances and Belle went along to help her -carry the roll of wire back.” - -“Where did they go for it?” asked Mr. Lowden. - -“All the way to Four Corners, and a roll of wire ought to be rather -heavy before they finish this mile, don’t you think, Mr. Lowden?” -suggested Norma. - -Frances’ father laughed, and said he would drive down the road and -help them with the burden. Then he went out to tell his wife and send -her in to the house to visit Mrs. James, while he went for the three -girls and the chicken wire. - -The object of the Lowdens’s early visit was soon told. And they were -fully repaid for their offer to leave the touring car for the girls of -Green Hill Farm to use during the summer while the owners were -vacationing in the Rockies, by such happy faces and excited -declarations of how good the Lowdens were, etcetera. - -When it came time for the Lowdens to start for the train that left -Four Corners at noon every day, Frances asked who of the girls would -like to drive with her to the station. Janet simply had to begin that -horrid chicken fence, and Natalie had to mend her broken plants and -smooth the scratched-up soil; Belle said someone ought to help poor -Janet, so Norma spoke up: - -“I’d love to go with you, Frans, if you will leave me at Mrs. Tompkins -and call for us on your way back. Jimmy and I invited her to visit us -today and advise us with the landscaping about the house.” - -“Sure! Jump in and I’ll drop you as we pass the store. You can have -Mrs. Tompkins all ready to come back with me when I stop for you,” was -Frances’s willing reply. - -The trip was soon made, and Norma, with Mrs. Tompkins, were welcomed -by Mrs. James who was waiting on the side porch. Frances left the car -under the great oak that grew beside the corner of the driveway near -the front fence corner, and then ran to the barn yard to see what -Janet was doing. But she was soon drafted into service with Belle and -the three forgot the three floriculturists at the house, for a time. - -Norma and Mrs. James escorted their visitor across the lawns to the -garden that had been planted that morning. “Oh, but you should have -placed inverted flower-pots over the little plants during the hot -sunshine, Norma,” said Mrs. Tompkins anxiously. - -“I didn’t forget it, Mrs. Tompkins, but I had none. I hunted down in -the cellar, in hopes of finding some old ones, but I didn’t see a -one.” - -“In that case, you should have made cornucopias of paper—brown paper -if you have it, or newspaper if there is no heavier kind on the place. -I’ll show you how to do it if you get me the paper,” offered the -visitor. - -Rachel had several sheets of brown paper in the kitchen which she had -folded and saved for a need, and now Norma was handed it, while Rachel -felt that this gift privileged her to join the flower growers and -listen to their talk. But she soon wearied of it and started for the -barn yard to find if the company there was more interesting. - -Mrs. Tompkins formed cones of the papers, some larger, some smaller, -according to the size of the plant to be covered, and when these cones -were placed in an inverted manner over the plants they were secured to -the ground by means of sticks or stones placed at the edge of the -paper. - -The three then walked over to the strip of weeds that grew all along -the fence-line, and Norma explained what she had suggested in flowers, -for that strip. Mrs. Tompkins exchanged looks with Mrs. James, and -said, smilingly: “Our flower scout is improving wonderfully in the few -lessons she’s had.” - -Shouts and laughter reaching them from the farm yard now attracted the -visitor’s attention, and she looked over in that direction. Norma -explained what was going on there: “Janet has to fence her chickens in -because they scratch up Nat’s garden and eat the tops from her -greens.” - -Mrs. Tompkins laughed, but she said: “I wouldn’t want a garden of any -kind, if I had no living creatures about it to make it companionable. -To me, the bees, birds, pigeons and chickens, yes, even cats and dogs, -help make my gardens more lovable, for these domestic animals love -flowers and sweet-smelling things just the same as we do.” - -“I never looked at it in that light,” murmured Norma. - -Just then a shout for Mrs. James came ringing across the farm from the -direction of the barn yard, so that lady hastily excused herself and -ran down the lane to see what was wanted of her. She did not return to -Norma or Mrs. Tompkins, so they walked on and talked of their favorite -subject—flower culture. - -“I have watched many times, and do you know, Norma, not a cat or dog, -or other creatures that wandered into my gardens, ever ruined a plant -for me! I have seen them scoop out a slight depression in the soft -soil to sleep in. But they always curled up in the little hole and -never disturbed the roots or vines. Then when they had had their nap -they would get up and walk silently away. I generally smoothed out the -spot and that was all the trouble it gave me.” - -“Mrs. Tompkins, it must be your sublime faith that the creatures won’t -injure your flowers, that keeps them from doing any harm,” remarked -Norma. “Just like Daniel when he was in the lion’s den, you know. If -he had wavered and thought to himself: ‘Oh, I wonder if God really -will bother to keep the lions’ jaws closed’ maybe he wouldn’t have -come out of that experience quite so remarkably.” - -Mrs. Tompkins laughed heartily at the comparison, and added: “I see -you know something of the Scriptures, Norma, so I can say, and you -will understand, the line that goes thus: ‘Faith is the substance of -things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ I trust to my -faith in _good_ creatures and hope that they will respond to my loving -faith in them, and sure enough! the evidence of such things generally -appears to me.” - -“Why can’t I encourage the same sort of faith in my ideals for a -garden, Mrs. Tompkins? I know a garden of flowers _must_ be good -because flowers are beautiful things created by God. So I can hold to -my faith until I see the evidence appear, eh?” - -Mrs. Tompkins smiled and nodded, then added: “I want to say, that in -speaking of entertaining the little feathered angel birds, in my -flower garden, I also entertain them in beneficent ways unseen by me. -For bees and birds are necessary and valuable for your flowers. The -bees have panniers on their legs where they carry the pollen to the -hives, and many a tiny bit of pollen falls from these well-packed -panniers to fall into the heart of the blossom from which the bee is -gathering nectar. In this bit of pollen lies the secret of the -fertilization of other flowers. - -“Can you picture my flower garden without the darling humming-birds -and bees that buzz and sing about it all day long?” - -“I wish we could coax all the different birds in the county to live on -the farm. I’d love it!” declared Norma fervently. - -“You can have them, if you will work to attract them,” was Mrs. -Tompkins’s reply. - -“Jimmy said that she never saw so many different kinds of wild song -birds in any place, as she has seen since coming to Green Hill. She -told me that the only regret is that she has not built any bird houses -to offer them for homes.” - -“Why lose any more time, then? Begin to fix up some bird houses at -once, and you will see what a difference they will make about your -place.” - -“I thought we would have to send to the city and buy the houses,” -ventured Norma. - -“Goodness, no! You can use empty starch boxes such as Si throws on the -woodpile, or cheese boxes, or even soap boxes, if they are not too -large and heavy. You can fix partitions inside, and then nail perches -on the outside under the entrances, then, last of all, you nail the -cover on the box again and paint it. If you want a real fancy house, -get some bark from a fallen tree and nail it on the outside with wire -brads.” - -“I’ll get the girls to help me and we’ll do it at once,” promised -Norma eagerly. “You ask your husband to save some of those boxes for -us, will you, Mrs. Tompkins?” - -“I certainly will! and now that I come to think of it, I saw Si empty -another cheese box this morning. That makes two you girls can have, -for I saved one a few weeks ago in case any of the neighbors asked me -for one to use for the birds.” - -“How do you make that kind, Mrs. Tompkins?” asked Norma. - -“For wrens you always cut a small hole so the sparrows can’t crawl in -and annoy them. A wren is touchy and won’t live in a nest where she is -annoyed by her enemy, the sparrow. A bluebird or a martin needs a -doorway a little larger than the wren’s. And the robin, or the blue -jay, or an oriole, needs the door still larger. A cat bird, and birds -of his size, needs the largest holes to their nests, of any of these -others. - -“So you cut the hole according to the bird you expect to rent your -house to. The more modern improvements you offer a tenant the sooner -you rent the apartment. Most birds like a cozy home, with enough room -to build a good substantial nest therein, but not so large that it -will feel like poking in the corners every night to make sure there -are no tramps lurking about. The tenants like a safe perch upon which -they can rest when they alight before entering their home. And they -even like a little promenade deck in front of their house, so the -mother can exercise now and then, and still have safety and security -from cats, or fighting birds that disagree with the smaller ones. A -roof to shed water and shade the doorway is also a boon to the tenant; -then give them a fine bird-bath near the house, and feeding grounds -throughout the cold weather and you will be amazed at the beautiful -song birds you can secure for your houses.” - -“Shall we nail the boxes to the tree trunks?” asked Norma. - -“Better not, as cats can climb a tree and will frighten the birds even -if they do not kill them. I should swing the house by means of a stout -wire, from a bough, or nail the house to a strong slat and then nail -the slat to the main trunk, or large bough of the tree. If you place a -bird house under the eaves of your house, you can use the slat and -nail it securely to the ledge of the window, but keep the house out -towards the eaves where it will be far enough away from the window to -insure privacy to the birds.” - -“Dear me, I wish Janet had thought of keeping bees. I will speak to -her about it, and if she doesn’t try it, I will do it myself. I want -bees, and birds, and butterflies, and everything, to enjoy my flowers -as much as I shall myself,” sighed Norma. - -Mrs. Tompkins was too wise to suggest that Norma had better try and -grow a flower garden before she planned for the friendly visitors to -such a garden. But she said, _apropos_ of bees: “I’m looking for a -swarm of my bees almost any day, now. If you girls decide to start a -bee-hive, just send me word and I’ll keep the new swarm for you.” - -“Oh, do! Even if the others won’t, I’m going to have them for my -garden flowers,” cried Norma eagerly. - -At this moment, Frances called to Mrs. Tompkins: “I’ve got to rush to -the store for more wire nails and an extra hammer, for Janet’s work. -If you are ready to go home, I’ll drive you back.” - -“Oh, must you go so soon?” asked Norma when Mrs. Tompkins nodded her -head at Frances. - -“Soon! Why, child, I have been here more than an hour.” - -“Well, then, I’ll jump in with you and get those boxes for the bird -houses,” declared Norma. - -So the boxes were found and placed in the automobile while Frances was -waiting for the nails and hammer at Four Corners’ general store. When -Norma came out of the house, where she had gone at Mrs. Tompkins’s -invitation, she carried a bottle of tiny brown seeds and several -pasteboard boxes. One small pill box that had held pepsin pellets at -one time now had six precious nasturtium seeds in it. Another box held -a quantity of morning glory seeds, and still another had sun flower -seeds in it. A paper packet held sweet pea seeds and these Norma was -told to soak in warm water for quickest results after planting. - -Frances was ready to start back to the farm just about the time when -Norma came out with the seeds in her hands. As she turned to wave a -hand at her generous friend, the latter said: “Remember to soak all -the seeds but the nasturtiums. They are better dry, when planted. And -plant them in the morning after they have soaked through the night.” - -The tonneau was piled high with starch boxes, two round cheese boxes -and other small boxes that would make good bird houses, so Norma sat -in front beside Frances and chattered of all the birds they would soon -have about Green Hill, once the apartments were ready for their -occupancy. - -When she got home, the boxes were piled beside the side door leading -to the cellar, and then Norma carried her seeds indoors to soak, as -Mrs. Tompkins had advised her to do. The small pill box containing the -six rare nasturtium seeds was left on the living room table while -Norma soaked the other seeds in cups filled with warm water. These -cups were placed under the steps of the porch to be out of harm’s way. - -Norma now picked up the pill box and wondered where to keep it for the -night. It might be damp under the porch steps, and the seeds might be -spilled if the box was left on the living room table. So she decided -to hide it in the pantry closet where the china was kept. She would -put it on a shelf that she could easily reach, and shove it against -the side wall just inside the door that opened to the dining room. So -here the box was left. - -Nothing more could be done that evening in the flower gardens, so -Norma joined the other girls when they came from the barn yard talking -about the fence they had built. As Janet had forgotten the pig’s extra -meal of milk that morning, the milk had soured, and Rachel had made -sour-milk pancakes of it for supper. - -These were a favorite dish with all the girls, and Rachel mixed an -extra lot of batter. Smeared thickly with butter and with white clover -honey poured over them, they were so delicious that the hungry girls -did full justice to them. But Rachel still had so much batter left, -after the girls had finished supper, that she baked it into cakes for -herself. She, too, was overfond of sour-milk pancakes with pure honey -on them. - -She ate and ate, until she could hardly breathe, and then she sighed -because the last pancake had to be put away on the pantry shelf. She -sought for a safe corner in which to hide it from Mrs. James’s -searching eye, for fear of being laughed at for saving it for her -breakfast. - -In pushing the plate in the corner, Rachel found the pill box, and -always having enough curiosity to cause her useless trouble, she -carried the box to the kitchen window to see what it said on the -cover. Then she carried it back and placed it on the shelf. - -The supper dishes were washed and put away where they belonged, but -Rachel found it hard to finish her tasks, because she was taken with -such indigestion pains. She drank a glass of hot water, hoping to -relieve her difficulty in breathing. But it got worse. She sat down -every few moments until a cramp had passed, and every time she began -again to do the dishes, she had to gasp for breath. - -Suddenly she remembered the pill box that said: “Pepsin pills for -indigestion.” - -“Dat means despepsy like what I got so bad,” muttered Rachel, going -for the box. - -She brought it out to the daylight and laboriously read the -directions: “Take two pills, if attack is severe. If not relieved, -repeat dose in half hour.” - -“Humph! I’se got it so bad, I reckon I’d better take all foh at one -time—like it say, repeat dose.” So Rachel took four of the six rare -seeds. She replaced the box on the shelf and in a short time the gas -disappeared and she felt better. She sat on the stoop for a time to -enjoy the cool breezes, and then finding she was feeling as well as -ever again, she walked out on the lawn to meet the girls who had spent -the evening at Solomon’s Seal Camp. - -They told Rachel all about the stories of the stars and the legends of -the constellations that the scouts had told them, and so interested in -some of these myths was Rachel that she forgot to speak of the pills -she had taken from the box in the pantry. - -Early before breakfast the next morning, Norma and Mrs. James were -planting the seeds which had been soaked through the night. They -planted them where the soil was richest, and planned to dig up the -tiny shoots when they came up, and transplant them over by the fence -which would be all ready for the vines by that time. - -“Now I’ll go and get the wonderful nasturtium seeds, Jimmy,” said -Norma, when the swollen wet seeds were all planted. - -She ran to the pantry and got the box. She ran out again with it in -her hand and did not open it until she stopped in front of Mrs. James. -Then she carefully lifted the cover from the box to show her companion -the six queer shrivelled seeds that would bring forth such beauty. To -her amazement she saw but two. - -“I know Mrs. Tompkins gave me six!” she exclaimed. - -“You didn’t drop any on your way over here, did you?” - -“No, I never removed the lid until I got here.” - -“That’s very strange! I wonder if there are any field mice in the -house. I’ve heard they love nasturtium seeds,” said Mrs. James. - -“Jimmy, if a mouse got the seeds, wouldn’t the cover be off, or a hole -eaten into the box?” - -“Yes, of course it would! And the cover was on when you picked it up?” - -“It was on exactly as I left it last night, and just as I showed it to -you this minute.” - -It was a mystery, but a sad one for Norma as she had been so proud of -those six Oriental nasturtium seeds. The main subject of conversation -at the breakfast table that morning was the strange disappearance of -four seeds from the pill box. Rachel brought in another plate of toast -while Norma described minutely the place on the shelf where she had -hidden the box the night before. - -Rachel thumped the plate on the table and dropped into an empty arm -chair. Her eyes bulged and her mouth sagged open in dismay. Finally -she gasped in awe-struck tones: - -“Mis’ James, what yoh think will happen to me ef I swallowed dem foh -pills?” - -“What four pills, Rachel?” was the puzzled reply. - -“Why dem foh seed pills in dat dyspepsy box. I got such cramps las’ -night, I had to take somefin and dat was all I could fin’.” - -The girls almost had hysterics from laughing at her confession, and -Janet managed to say: “Norma will have to pour water down your throat -every day before sun-up, and every evening after sunset, Rachel, to -make the vine grow luxuriantly.” - -“Janet—yoh don reely mean dat, does yoh?” was Rachel’s dread question. - -“Sure, Rachel! You’ll have the finest Oriental vine coming out of your -mouth in a few days that Norma ever saw!” - -But Mrs. James hushed Janet’s foolish teasing and assured Rachel that -she would feel no ill effects at all, from the wrong dose of seeds. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - BUILDING BIRD HOUSES. - - -The day Norma discovered where her four precious seeds had gone was -the day Sambo arrived at Green Hill, and just before he made his -appearance, the dog, Grip, was found on the high road and brought home -to the farm to live. Soon after his introduction to Mrs. James, the -dog saw his rightful master coming in at the gate and welcomed him as -only a lost dog can welcome a master found. - -Norma spent most of her spare time that day in weeding the strip of -garden alongside the old rail fence. Sam was ordered to help in this -work after dinner, and Mrs. James came out to dig up roots and snags -which would not come out by hand-pulling. The entire strip, running -from the great oak tree near the front gate, down to the old -hollyhocks that grew opposite Natalie’s corn field, was cleared of -weeds and the ground was dug up and ready to be well mixed with -manure. - -As the girls were going in the automobile, the next day, to buy a cow, -Sam was told to use the manure left near the vegetable gardens, to -spade under in the soil alongside the rail fence. The cow was -purchased and Janet also bought a little calf, a deed which she felt -was reckless because of her meager finances since she began stock -farming. But Susy, the calf, was too cute to leave behind, so she was -to be brought the same time the cow was delivered at the farm. - -The party got back to the house just before two o’clock, but Rachel -had not expected them any sooner, so the dinner was just ready when -the car drove in at the gate and stopped by the side porch. - -Rachel bustled out of the side door, consumed with curiosity. “Did -you-all git a cow?” she asked almost before the car had stopped. - -“Not only a fine cow, Rachel, but a darling calf, too!” exclaimed -Janet, the pride of proprietorship sounding in her voice. - -“I jus’ finished dinneh, so you-all come right in and eat,” said -Rachel, anxious over her charges because they had gone long past the -usual dining hour with nothing to eat. - -While the autoists washed and brushed up before sitting down at the -table, Rachel stood talking to Norma about the garden. “Sam done gone -and futilised dat soil so fine dat you kin grow any t’ing in it, now. -When you done dinneh you just go and see how smood it looks.” - -“That’s good, Rachel, because I found some lovely bushes growing down -the road a bit that I want to dig up and plant along that fence line. -If we begin keeping bees, we will need plenty of blossoms all summer -through, and these bushes will provide flowers now, and berries later, -for the birds.” - -While the girls were getting ready for dinner, the girl scouts from -camp could be heard laughing and talking eagerly as they approached -the house. In a few moments, not only the camping scouts, but Nancy -Sherman, Hester Tompkins and Dorothy Ames, with them, came up the -porch steps and greeted the returned tourists. - -“We came to see if you found a cow?” was the general question. - -Then it became necessary to describe every lap of the journey much to -the delighted interest of all the audience. When they heard the -corporation cow would arrive Saturday morning, they all cheered -lustily, but Mrs. James said seriously: - -“You haven’t any habitable shed for the cow, nor for the calf, to go -in. If I were you girls I would commence without delay and construct a -decent cow-shed for Susy, and partitioning off a stall in the barn as -a home for the cow.” - -This was decided upon after discussing the pros and cons of a cowshed -or a first class barn stall for a cow. The latter choice won because -it was much easier to partition off a stall than to build an entirely -new shed and fence in a yard. - -It seemed that once Janet started adding to the stockyard creatures, -she lost all count of money and squandered what allowances might come -to her in the next two months, or three. Mr. Ames had offered to trust -her for payment, and that was her undoing, for she not only bought the -twenty goslings the day she exchanged the old Plymouth Rock hen for -the Rhode Island Reds, but she also chose a few guinea hens, five -pairs of pigeons, and spoke for half a dozen ducks. - -Norma had not had any time to devote to her flower beds that day, -because she wished to help build the home for Sue, but when the girls -trooped back to the house, Miss Mason saw the heap of boxes lying near -the cellar door. - -“What are all those for?” asked she, of anyone who would answer. - -“Bird houses. Mrs. Tompkins says we ought to make them at once and get -them up if we hope to coax any birds to our farm,” explained Norma. - -“Good idea! Do any of you girls know how to build one?” asked the -Captain. - -“I never made one, but Mrs. Tompkins told me just how to do it. She -says flowers need birds and bees about to keep them healthy,” returned -Norma. - -“She’s right, too, because birds are a gardener’s right-hand helper in -catching destructive insects on the plants. If Natalie had more birds -about the farm, she wouldn’t have any potato bugs on her vines,” -remarked Mrs. James. - -“Well, I’m going to clean all those beetles off as soon as I get -time,” said Natalie, in justification of her procrastination. - -“Now that we all whetted an appetite for sawing and hammering, what do -you girls say to our working on the bird houses until it is time to go -back to camp?” asked Miss Mason. - -This suggestion met with approval from all, and soon there was a -medley of sounds—laughing, talking, hammering, sawing and scuffling of -feet on the stone floor of the cellar, for that is where the bird -boxes were being constructed. Mrs. James insisted that the scouts from -camp remain to sup with them and finish the work on the bird houses -afterward. - -Of course, they were pleased at the invitation—even though it was -proper to refuse to stay, in a tone that meant they would, if the -invitation was repeated. So they all remained to enjoy some of -Rachel’s famous supper dishes, and then completed the bird houses that -evening before going back to camp. - -Miss Mason and Mrs. James superintended the carpentry and kept up a -pleasant fire of good suggestions, at the same time. - -“I’m delighted that we will have enough bird houses to try to induce -some of the lovely birds I have seen about here to come and nest in -our trees, but I think we ought to provide a bird bath on the lawn -where the newcomers can drink and bathe without going down to the -stream. I fear they may be enticed to stay away, if they compare -conveniences with our environment and down by the stream,” said Mrs. -James. - -“It ought to be an easy matter to build a nice concrete bird-bath,” -said Miss Mason. - -“I’d like to experiment on one, after we finish these houses and get -them properly placed,” said Mrs. James. - -“Well, I’ll help you make one, if you say so, although I am almost as -ignorant of how to mix concrete as this box. Still, we can use our -intelligence, you know,” laughed the Captain. - -“I know what to do!” exclaimed Norma, now. “I’ll go and ask Mrs. -Tompkins in the morning. _She’ll_ know and tell us what to do.” - -Mrs. James and the house scouts laughed, and the former said: “Norma -runs to her Oracle for everything, now.” - -“We might experiment with a feeding station, too, if you want to -attract and hold the birds about the house until they get acclimated -to their new quarters. Then they will remain late into the fall and -return early in the spring,” was Miss Mason’s suggestion. - -“I wonder what kind of birds we can coax to our houses?” queried -Natalie, boring a hole in one of the boxes with an augur. - -“I’ve seen wrens, bluebirds, robins, thrashers, cat birds, orioles and -many not so familiar, flying about the farm, so that ought to be a -fair idea of the kind we may hope to house very soon,” replied Mrs. -James. - -“_One_ bird we can depend on coming and trying to crowd out all the -others,” giggled Natalie. - -“Yes, the English sparrow,” agreed Janet. “I wish we could raise the -rent on them, or do some other restrictive act that would warn them -from the premises.” - -“The only way I know of is to keep the doors of the nests small enough -for a wren and too small for a sparrow. All the other birds will fight -off the sparrows, but the wren won’t—they just move away,” explained -Mrs. James. - -“Look at this hole, is it about the right size, Jimmy?” asked Norma as -she finished the boring in the wood. - -“Speaking of the wren, I want to tell you a little story of one I -found nesting under the eaves of my brother’s country house. Its nest -was dangerously near the rose trellis where a cat could climb up and -get it, but it wanted to be near the people in the house, and that was -the only available spot where a nest would perch. So we built a -special corner bracket and shelf for it, and when Jenny laid her eggs -we very gently and carefully moved the nest to a safe place, before -she had really started brooding over them. We knew she would not -abandon the eggs because of the moving, but we felt much easier when -we realized she was safe.” - -“I remember some wrens who always built their nests as close to our -back doors as they could get without actually lodging right on the -doorstep,” laughed Mrs. James. - -“What dear little things they are!” sighed Norma tenderly. - -This remark attracted several girls’ attention to Norma and then they -stopped their own work to go and see what she was making. - -“Well! of all things—just look at Norma’s palace!” exclaimed Janet -admiringly. - -That brought the other girls around her and she had to explain just -what she was doing with the cheese box. “I am following Mrs. -Tompkins’s suggestions and plans for my bird house. You see I divided -the inside of the box into five flats, and at each apartment I bored a -hole. Because they are of different sizes, I hope to have different -birds as tenants in it. - -“When the partitions were fastened inside, I nailed the cover on the -cheese box again. The two large barrel covers that Mrs. Tompkins gave -me make the bottom and roof. Because the barrel head is larger than -the cheese box, it provides a nice little balcony all around the -house. And the other head that is on top for a roof, projects far -enough over the cheese box to keep the rain from driving in at the -open doors of the apartments.” - -“But, Norma, how are you going to keep the water from coming through -that flat roof and soaking the birds inside the box?” asked Janet. - -“You just wait! I found a fine roof for my house, this afternoon, but -I am not ready, yet, to roof the building. I want to nail some -brackets on the bottom so the house can be nailed to a pole, then I -will roof it and paint it green with white trimmings.” - -Accordingly, Norma finished the house and then got out a basket filled -with straw. An upright stick was fastened in the center of the top of -the house and to this a wire netting was tacked, so that the edges -overlapped the eaves of the roof, and the top fitted close to the -upright. Upon this wire net Norma wove her thatched roof, which, when -finished, looked very attractive and rustic. - -“It looks great but it is going to be a dreadful work to fasten it in -a tree, because it is so big and bulky,” said Janet. - -“I’m not going to place it in a tree. It is going to be mounted on an -old clothes pole that Rachel never uses. I’ve chosen the site of the -house already,” laughed Norma. - -“And you said you were going to paint it?” asked Natalie. - -“Yes, I bought a can of green paint and a smaller one of white lead at -the store yesterday. When it is on the pole I am going to paint the -house and the pole, too.” - -Norma then went to inspect the work of her companions. She found they -had divided the starch boxes into four rooms, a room for each nest. -But each opening was so placed that no bird need meet his neighbor, in -coming to or going from his home. Under each door was a perch, or -platform, for the birds to alight upon before entering the door of -their house. Some of these perches were made by boring a tiny hole -under the doorway and sticking a meat skewer firmly in. When the -inside work was completed, the cover was shoved onto the starch boxes -and nailed fast. A slat was attached to the bottom so the house could -be nailed to a tree trunk and yet be out of reach of any prowling cat. - -“I’m curious to know who will draw that other cheese box as their -lot,” said Belle, as she added the finishing touches to her soap-box -apartment house. - -“Well, if no one else applies for it, I shall attach it for my own -pleasure,” said Mrs. James. “But I warn you girls now—I propose -building a modern flat-house with every conceivable convenience in it -for my tenants. They will have sleeping porches, hot water day and -night, elevator service, telephones, parquet floors—in fact, -everything one looks for in a first-class modern apartment. So don’t -feel jealous when you find the birds flock to rent my rooms, because -you must remember my investment of labor will be twice as heavy as -yours, and I deserve having the best tenants apply for my flats.” - -The girls giggled at Mrs. James’s explanation, and Janet said: “What -will you do if a sparrow or a blue jay applies for rooms?” - -“I’ll ask him for references. If he can’t produce high-class -references from other landlords, I’ll have none of him.” - -The girls laughed at the reply, and Janet retorted: “The day of rent -profiteers is past. You’ll be hauled into Court if you ask high -rents.” - -“Then I’ll fill my flats on a co-operative plan. That is best, anyway, -I think. I will provide the house, and the tenants will provide the -harmony,” said Mrs. James, smiling at her own foolishness. - -“You’re too lenient with your tenants, Jimmy,” remonstrated Norma. “If -any applicant asks me what form of rent my co-operative plan demands, -I’ll say the tenant has to pay me in helping me keep my plants clear -of insects.” - -“You two have so much to say I can’t get in a word. Now keep quiet, -and let us have a word to say,” begged Frances. - -“What do you want to talk about?” laughed Belle. - -“Here’s my bird house. Six flats made out of a soap box. Where shall I -secure it to a tree?” asked Frances. - -“Did you intend the flats for bluebirds or martins? The openings are -too large for the wrens,” said the Captain. - -“Every one else seemed anxious to house a wren so I thought I would -try for another kind of bird. It’s all the same to me, who rents the -place, as long as they behave and pay their rent in advance,” -explained Frances. - -“What are your prices? You haven’t any insects to keep from the -plants,” laughed Miss Mason. - -“A song to wake me, a song when I have the blues, and a song at -eventide,” said Frances. - -“You’ll get it, all right. Never fear that your house will be vacant -on those terms,” remarked Janet. - -“I would like one of those soap box houses to be placed near the end -of the farm yard, girls, just where the little brook runs past the old -barn. I have a reason for this, which I will tell you of another day. -If we had two or three houses in that vicinity it would be better than -one,” said Mrs. James. - -“I saw a thrasher in a brush heap over by that creek, today, while we -were working in the barn yard,” said Janet now. - -“Then we ought to place a house for him in that location,” rejoined -Mrs. James. - -“Isn’t it too late in the season for the birds to build in our -houses?” asked Belle. “I thought birds mated and nested in the -springtime.” - -“They do, but storms, winds and other accidents are always breaking -down nests so that the birds have to seek new quarters. These -wanderers we are sure to attract to our houses. Besides these, the -tree swallows, martins and chickadees are generally on the lookout for -better homes than they have built. They will move, at any time, during -the summer season.” - -Finally the boxes were all turned into bird houses of different styles -and workmanship, but all looked substantial and serviceable enough to -suit any particular bird house hunter. Some of the boxes were covered -with the bark from an old tree trunk; others had copied Norma’s plan -of thatching a roof; and some were panelled and balconied, until they -looked very elaborate, indeed. - -“Well, we can’t do any more tonight, girls. Tomorrow morning, if -you’ll come up after breakfast, we will place the bird houses wherever -you choose,” said Mrs. James. - -So good nights were said and the scouts went down the hill towards -camp, while the house girls went slowly upstairs to bed. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - MIGNONETTE AND CHRYSANTHEMUM. - - -Norma was out-of-doors before the others, the morning after completing -the bird houses and selected suitable spots for the two large houses -to be placed. The smaller ones belonged exclusively to the scouts and -their locations would have to be decided upon by them. - -Sam came from the kitchen door, yawning and stretching as he came. -When he found Norma already up and busy, going about the back yard, he -hurried over to see if he could help in any way. - -“Yes, you can, Sam. I made that lovely bird house last night but I -need you to saw off that old clothes pole, square across the top, so -we can nail the house on it and brace it firmly with a few wooden -supports from underneath. Can you cut it across squarely?” - -“Sure, ’cause dat ain’t nuttin’ to do!” declared Sam, going for the -hammer and saw. - -Norma carried out the short ladder and placed it against the post, and -when Sam came with the tools, he climbed up to the second from the top -rung and began to look sideways at the top of the pole, while -squinting scientifically to measure its diameter. - -Norma watched patiently for a few moments, then she said: “Why, Sam! -You don’t have to do any measuring or marking to get your right line. -Just saw through that cove that runs around the post where the fancy -acorn top begins. That’s true enough to guide anyone.” - -“Dat’s so, Norma! I didn’t never think of dat way,” admitted Sam, -grinning at his lack of judgment. - -Norma handed him the saw and Sam began to work it across the post. He -had to lift his right arm even with his eyes, to saw in the groove -made by the turning mill when the post was made, and this made the -work the harder for him. - -Norma stood below watching as the saw began to bite into the old wood. -Sam sawed and sawed, and was halfway through the pole when Norma went -to the other side to see how much more he had to do. - -“Oh, Sam! You’re way off the groove on this side of the post!” -exclaimed she anxiously. - -“It look straight enough from dis side,” argued Sam. - -“Get down and look for yourself! Your saw runs up more than an inch on -the back of the post.” - -So Sam climbed down and joined Norma at the back of the pole. He had -left his saw sticking in the cleft so he could better judge where his -mistake was being made. He found matters as Norma had said, but he -couldn’t see what did it. He scratched his head for an intelligent -explanation to shine forth, but none came. - -“I tell you what I got to do!” he declared, going over and taking the -ladder from that side and moving it to the side where the cleft ran an -inch above the groove. “I got’ta saw from dis side, now—see?” - -He now began sawing the post from “this side,” as he said, and again -he sawed and sawed, with might and main, until his face was streaming -and his breath came in short gasps with the effort. - -Norma waited and when he was almost halfway through from “this side” -she went back to the first side to see if he was almost meeting the -first cleft. - -“Oh, Sam! Now you’ve gone and sawed an inch above the _old_ line and -they’ll never meet!” cried Norma anxiously. - -Again Sam got down and walked around to eye his work from Norma’s -position, and then he scratched his head again. This time he frowned -heavily at the problem to be solved. - -“Now, I don’t see how dat saw got so high when I was so careful to -keep it going in the groove around the post,” said he. - -“Well, I don’t see, either, especially as I _asked_ you to saw it -_square_ across, before you started,” complained Norma. - -“I know you did, but askin’ ain’t cuttin’, you see.” - -“It looks so simple, Sam—just saw along that little gutter made in the -pole! That would bring the top off and leave the post nice and flat on -top. As it now is, the top won’t come off and no bird house will sit -on a slant.” - -“It _do_ look simple, Norma, I’ll tell the worl’, but it can’t be so -simple as it looks, or I could do it!” declared Sam. - -Mrs. James joined them by this time, and wanted to know what was -wrong. Why did Sam seem so troubled so early in the day? - -The problem was explained but Norma admitted that they found no -solution for it. Mrs. James told Sam to get up on the ladder again and -show her how he had sawed. - -Sam demonstrated his recent method of sawing, and Mrs. James began -laughing. Norma frowned at her uncalled-for mirth, and Sam climbed -from the ladder and stood gazing at her for an explanation. - -“Don’t you see what you have done to cause the saw to run uphill at -the back of the post?” - -“No, I don’t! I tried hard to cut in the groove.” - -“Well, first place, you stood below the line you had to cut through. -You had to lift your arm above your shoulder, and that in itself would -tend to draw the saw downward in front, because your arm works back -and forth and does not keep its same position of height. It generally -falls downward as the arm works backward—watch me, and you will see.” -Then Mrs. James sawed slowly and showed both Sam and Norma how easy -and unconsciously the tendency was to have the arm drop from its level -as it worked backward. - -“Another thing is, your saw cut in the groove at the front where you -faced it, but the tough chestnut wood turned the thin edge of the saw -upward because of the slight downward tendency of your arm, as you -drew the elbow back and forth. That was enough to start the saw -glancing upward, and when you reached the center of the pole, you -found you were fully an inch out of the way. - -“Then you started to saw on this side of the post, but you made the -same mistake as before. Had you stood upon the top rung of the ladder, -or used a higher ladder so you could saw the knob of the pole from a -stand even with your waist line, you would have found it much easier -to cut.” - -“Well, now it’s all crooked, what can we do?” asked Norma. - -“Sam can bring out the high step-ladder that we used to rescue Natalie -from the cherry tree, and stand on that. Then he can stand on a step -so he will be _above_ the groove he has to cut. He can start sawing -from a third side of the pole, so the other two clefts will not -interfere with his straight across cut.” - -Sam went for the step-ladder and Mrs. James waited to see that he was -properly started on the work this time, then she went into breakfast. - -The girls were talking over the council meeting Miss Mason had invited -them to attend that morning, and Frances said she would drive to Four -Corners, directly after breakfast, to ask the three girls, and bring -them back to go with the house scouts. - -“At the same time, ask Mrs. Tompkins if she can come, too, as we want -her to give us a little talk on flowers, bees and birds,” said Mrs. -James. - -“Oh, can I go with you, Frans?” asked Norma eagerly when she heard her -friend was invited to join the meeting at camp. - -“Of course, if you are ready when I am. I don’t want to wait around -for nothing, while you plant a few more dry sticks in the garden,” -giggled Frances, winking at the other girls. - -But Norma was ready before Frances this time, and had time to direct -Sam how to nail the cheese box bird house on the post. The top was -squared to suit and the house had been brought from the cellar to try -on top of the post and see how it looked. - -“You can go with Frances, Norma, and we’ll see that the house goes up -all right,” promised Mrs. James when she saw the anxiety expressed by -Norma. - -When they neared Four Corners, Norma said to Frances: “You can drop me -at the store so I can see Mrs. Tompkins while you go for Dot Ames and -Nancy Sherman. Then you can pick us up on your way back.” - -It was not yet nine o’clock and Mrs. Tompkins was in her garden -attending to the early duties of a systematic florist, when Norma ran -out and joined her. She had no difficulty in winning Mrs. Tompkins’ -consent to attend a council meeting and tell the scouts some things -about flowers and birds and bees. Then Norma told her about the fine -bird house she had made of the cheese box and how Sam tried to square -off the old clothes pole. - -Mrs. Tompkins laughed at the description Norma gave and then said: -“It’s too bad the houses were not up early in the spring. You’d have -them full of song birds now. But they’ll be ready for next year, -anyway.” - -“Will the birds find enough to eat around the house and gardens, -without flying too far away for food?” asked Norma anxiously. - -“They will if you plant the right kind of growing things. Natalie, for -instance, must plant some grain along the fence line on the meadow -side. That will not interfere with any flowers you have there.” - -“Mrs. James and I were planning about that ugly fence and the strip of -garden, just yesterday. We have it all cleared out and manured, ready -to use now.” - -“What did you plan to use there?” asked Mrs. Tompkins. - -“We are going to plant the vines as soon as they come up from the -seeds you gave me, all along the fence line. Then I want the -old-fashioned border plants all along the edge of the ground where the -drive joins it, and in the center of the long bed we expected to plant -geraniums. All geraniums—to make it look like something that was meant -to be.” - -“But you did not plan to plant them all the way from the road to the -woodland, did you?” was Mrs. Tompkins’s amazed question. - -“Oh, no! only from the street down to the line where the vegetable -garden begins. From there on to the stream, we thought we could plant -sunflowers, hollyhocks, dahlias and other tall-growing flowers.” - -“Well, now listen to what I would do with that strip, if it was mine: - -“I’d get Sam to work at the digging, while you girls can help with the -packing of the earth about the roots, and the careful lifting and -removal of the trees and shrubs growing in your woodland. Then watch -while they are being wheeled up to the garden strip where a deep hole -has been made ready to receive them—one by one. - -“Start with a young mulberry tree, if possible, for that fruit is the -most attractive for birds of all kinds. And bees like to hover about -mulberry blossoms, too, and get their nectar there. In my opinion, a -mulberry tree is a necessity if one wants to keep birds and bees -happy. - -“Besides the mulberry tree—or three or four of them, if you can find -them of a size easy to remove from the woods—take the elderberry -bushes, the choke-cherry, dogwood trees, wild black cherry and other -kinds that not only blossom profusely but bear fruit that the birds -like. - -“All these trees and shrubs or bushes can be planted at intervals -along that garden strip by the fence. Then, in between those high -bushes and trees, you can plant the geraniums. The low border flowers -can run all along without a break and the vines at the back where the -old fence is, can also cover that, but your gay geraniums will look -all the gayer and prettier for having the green bushes and trees break -the monotonous streak of color.” - -“That’s splendid advice, Mrs. Tompkins, and I only hope we can find -such trees and bushes.” - -“That is the easiest part of the work, Norma, because the woodland -down by the stream, is full of just such berry bushes and fruit trees. -That is one reason the woods, there, is so full of wild song birds. -And they will move up nearer the house if they find plenty of food and -good lodgings.” - -“Dear me! I wish to goodness we had been on the farm in time to do all -this work before the birds came from the South!” sighed Norma. - -“It will be ready for them next year, at least. Even if these bushes -and trees die off, you can easily replace them with others in the late -fall or early spring. To group them judiciously and know where they -belong, is an important work that can be done now while they are in -full leaf and will show how they look.” - -“It seems a pity to transplant the poor things just to show us how -they look, and then have them die,” remarked Norma. - -“If the soil about the roots is carefully dug and packed on the -outside with straw or strips of burlap to keep it from falling off, -there is no reason why the bushes and trees should fade or die. The -main thing to do is to keep their native soil about the roots, and to -disturb the roots as little as possible. This can be done by digging a -wide enough circle about the trunk, and by having a large enough hole -where it is to go in. I think it is a waste of money to buy fancy -shrubs and decorative bushes, or trees, for the lawn or garden, -because one can find any kind one needs right in the woods.” - -“The reason I mentioned sun flowers along the fence-line, Mrs. -Tompkins, I knew the birds loved to eat their seeds, and they grow -rapidly in any soil without any attention, too.” - -“Yes, sun flowers are magnets for the birds, but so are bitter sweet -and clematis, and you know how lovely they would look on a trellis or -growing up the side porch. You can find bitter sweet along the roads -in the countryside, and wild clematis, too. Then you can buy a trumpet -vine, and honeysuckle and Virginia creepers from a florist and have -them well grown by next year. If I were in Janet’s place, I’d hide the -ugly old barn and sheds with rows of sun flowers and castor oil bean -plants. Then I’d train all sorts of vines up the sides of the -buildings until the place was a thing of beauty instead of what it is -today.” - -“I’ll tell Janet what you said and let her come and take a few lessons -from you, as I am doing,” laughed Norma. - -“If it’s birds you girls want to coax to live about the house, you -can’t have too many fruit or seed-bearing plants around.” - -“It’s a pity the geraniums have no sweet perfume because it seems a -waste of space to plant them just for their looks,” said Norma, as -Mrs. Tompkins went to the mirror to pin on her hat. - -“You’ll find anyone who harbors envy is seldom sweet or lovable, and -geraniums mean ‘envy’ in the directory of flowers.” - -“Really! I never knew that flowers meant anything excepting perfume -and beauty,” exclaimed Norma, deeply interested. - -“Oh, yes! Every flower has a meaning and many of them have very -interesting legends connected with their history.” - -“Oh, if you would tell us some of those legends at the scout council -today how we would appreciate it!” - -“I will, if you wish it. I will not only give the scouts a talk on -flowers, but I will add a dessert after the heavy meal, to please the -guests who will sit about my table of flowers,” laughed Mrs. Tompkins. -“But they must agree not to feel offended if I tell them their flower -for their natal day and give its meaning. It may not always please, -you know.” - -“How did you learn all these things, Mrs. Tompkins?” - -Norma’s hostess laughed. “You did not think that I could spend so many -years with my flowers without finding out some of the stories that -belong to them, did you? One who grows vegetables tries to discover -all that can be said about them; and a bird fancier, or one who -studies forestry, or bees, or insects, learns their history first; the -legends and tales that belong to almost everything on earth, are read -or heard, and found interesting to the fancier.” - -“If there is a flower for every natal day, tell me what mine is?” said -Norma eagerly, mentioning the date of her birth. - -“Yours is the mignonette and it means ‘loveliness.’ Not because of the -beauty of form or coloring, but because of its character and -qualities. It is a constant bloomer and its perfume is so freely and -generously sent forth that all may inhale and enjoy. - -“In the Orient where this little flower originally came from, it is -called ‘resada’ because the Orientals claim that if one stoops to -inhale its fragrance as it grows upon its lowly stem it has the power -to soothe any pain and drive away most sorrows. - -“I never judge loveliness from looks, Norma, but from qualities. I -know some folks who are so homely that the first time I met them I was -sorry for them. But I soon grew to appreciate the wonderful -characteristics which made them quite lovely to me. And I also have -met people quite the reverse of this desirable kind.” - -“What is your natal flower, Mrs. Tompkins?” questioned Norma. - -Mrs. Tompkins glanced at a large garden of healthy green plants, which -as yet were merely stems and foliage. Then she said sadly: “Before I -lost my boy, I used to take the greatest pleasure and pride in my -chrysanthemums, because we worked together and produced some -remarkable specimen. Robert and I won several prizes in the New York -Flower Show with our unusual chrysanthemums. But now, I just let them -grow as I do the rest of the flowers. No one takes the joy and -pleasure in my gardens since Robert was killed.” - -Norma felt the moisture coming into her eyes for this sad mother, for -she had heard from Hester, how her only brother had met his death in -France during the first year of America’s war with Germany. So she -could say nothing, but she waited patiently. - -“I was born in October, the month of the chrysanthemum. And I was -named Chrystine, too. I always admired the lovely large Oriental -flowers, even before I knew they were my birth flowers. Then, when I -succeeded with so many other flowers, I began to try to succeed with -the imperial flowers of China. You know, do you not, that the -chrysanthemum is a native of China, and not of Japan, as so many -people believe?” - -“No, I did not know. I, too, thought it was a Japanese native flower,” -answered Norma. - -“In the year 246 B. C. China was ruled by a very cruel Emperor who -feared nothing but death. But he was in such constant dread of the -spectre that he ordered his physicians to spare no cost and time or -lives to search for the elixir of life which he had been told was kept -in a secret place. - -“A clever young physician, who bore the Emperor no love, perfected a -scheme, and then called at the palace. He told the Emperor that a rare -flower grew on an island far out at sea, but no one had ever been able -to gather it, as it faded instantly and died, if any hand polluted by -any form of sin, touched it or its plant. - -“Then the young man said he would suggest that a number of pure young -men and as many virgins be found and ordered to accompany him in a -boat to sail for this island. There the purest of them all would be -made to gather this flower and bring it to the Emperor who would then -live forever. - -“The physician was fitted out with a vessel and everything needed for -a long voyage and the maidens and young men were found to go with him. -Then the foolish Emperor sighed and waited eagerly for the flower of -life. But nothing was heard of the party for a long time, then when -the Emperor was dead, the news reached China that the voyagers reached -Japan safely and colonized a state with their pure and healthy young -people. This is why the Japanese claim they come of finer stock and -more intelligent natures than other ancient races of the world.” - -“How interesting it is,” ventured Norma, in a whisper so as not to -distract the speaker. “And was that flower the chrysanthemum?” - -“Yes, but that is not the legend I meant to tell you when I began. The -pink chrysanthemum means ‘Love’; the white one means ‘Truth’; and the -yellow one means ‘Life’—and all three of them, Love, Truth and Life, -mean Robert to me now, because they stand for the second coming of -Christ, and at that resurrection all who have died in the Lord shall -live in Him again, also. But to understand why this is so, I must tell -you the story of the flower. - -“You probably know that the twenty-fifth of December is not really the -birthday of Jesus, but that the real date is some time in the latter -part of October. The December date was set apart by the Romans at the -revision of our present Calendar. So the chrysanthemum was the natal -flower of our Lord. - -“When the Wise Men sought for the young child, they saw a great golden -star shining in the sky, and this they followed until they came to -Bethlehem of Judea. It had led them over rugged hills and through -shadowy vales, and finally descended before their eyes to rest upon -the lintel of the stable where the Babe was born. - -“As the Wise Men stooped to enter the door, the starry flower fell -into the hand of the first one to pass within. When the wondering man -saw that the blossom was of pure gold and gave forth such a marvelous -perfume, he knew it to be from heaven. So he gave it into the tiny -hand of the Prince of Peace. - -“The Child held the beautiful blossom aloft as if it was a sceptre, -then slowly the petals unfolded and the heavenly star bowed low before -the King of Kings. And to this day you will see the petals of the -golden chrysanthemum curl meekly, as they bowed that night before the -Saviour. - -“But a sigh from the Virgin suddenly wafted the petals away and they -found their places in the midnight sky again. There they radiated -brightness and glory upon all the world and all who would could follow -the pointing of the petals and seek and find the Christ. And so to -this day the shining golden petals in the night sky point the way to -their Lord and King, Christ Jesus.” - -“Oh, what a beautiful story, Mrs. Tompkins! I wish you would tell that -legend to the scouts.” - -“I couldn’t my dear child. I will tell them others, but not this one, -as I feel a reverence for all that belongs to Christ, since Robert -rose from our sight. I told you because I feel there is the same -affinity between you and me as there was between Robert and me, linked -together because of our mutual love for flowers.” - -At this moment, the merry shouts of the girls in the car, interrupted -further conversation and Mrs. Tompkins started for the door. But Norma -caught her hand and whispered: “I’ll not call you Mrs. Tompkins, -hereafter—you shall be chrysanthemum to me, because you truly are a -shining light in the firmament.” - -The woman with the thin refined face, and grey hair held both soft -girlish hands in her hardened ones and smiled sadly: “And you shall be -Mignon for me, hereafter, for truly you soothe away the pain and will -heal my sorrow.” - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - FLOWER DAYS AND LEGENDS. - - -Frances soon drove the car up to the side porch where the scouts from -the house were waiting for the rest of their patrol to join them, and -after welcoming Mrs. Tompkins and the three girls, they all started -for Solomon’s Seal Camp. On the way past the strip of ground which -Norma had had cleared and manured ready to plant Mrs. James was told -what Mrs. Tompkins had suggested about fruit and flower bushes from -the woods to provide food for bees and birds. - -“That’s a splendid idea, and one that we will carry out without delay, -Norma,” replied Mrs. James. - -“It will take all of us scouts working with you to complete such a -large contract on time,” laughed Janet. - -“If the trees are meant for the birds and bees, we will have to bear -our share of the burden of moving them from the woods, because we are -all partners in the bird and bee business, you know, as well as in -Sue’s corporation,” added Natalie. - -“I’m sure I have no objection to these offers of help,” retorted Mrs. -James. - -“Well, then, we’ll mention the contract to Patrol One, as soon as we -arrive in camp,” was Belle’s remark. And she did it, too, the moment -welcomes were over. The scouts of Patrol One were very glad to accept -the contract on shares, and they agreed to start seeking for healthy -young trees and bushes without delay. - -Then Norma exclaimed: “And what do you think, girls? I told Mrs. -Tompkins about the geraniums I wanted to plant all along the -fence-bed, and she said that geraniums meant ‘envy.’ Did you ever know -that every flower means something?” - -The scouts admitted that they did not know it, but they also wanted to -know all about the various meanings of well-known flowers. Mrs. James -interrupted, however, with the question: “There are many different -kinds of geranium, Mrs. Tompkins, so the meaning ‘envy’ cannot apply -to them all.” - -“No, because we do not classify the flowers correctly. We call several -flowers ‘geraniums’ which have no right to the name. In the Far East -the geranium is the size of a small tree, but the plants we call by -the same name are nothing like that. Then, too, the spiced flower, and -the rose-geranium are not really proper names for the plants. - -“The tree that really is a geranium in the Far East stood for envy -until Mahomet washed his shirt one day and hung it on the limb of the -geranium tree to dry. In a marvelously short time the garment was dry, -so Mahomet took it from the bush but where the shirt had hung now -blossomed forth a brilliant crimson crown of flowers. And from that -day, the tree was no longer green with envy of its flowering -neighbors, but proud in its own beauty.” - -The two Patrols applauded this unexpected story and Miss Mason added: -“I see our Welcome Entertainer lost no time in beginning her work. -This deserves a badge of honor from us, I say.” - -“We agree, but where is the badge?” asked Janet. - -“We’ll make one and invite Mrs. Tompkins to be our guest, on the day -we present it to her,” returned Miss Mason, smilingly. So the scouts -surmised she had a nice little plan in mind with which to thank Mrs. -Tompkins. - -“I vote that we give Mrs. Tompkins the seat of honor and lose no time -in hearing all the valuable things she can tell us,” suggested Mrs. -James, waving her girls to the grass to seat themselves. - -So the Speaker for the day was conducted to the chair that was the -seat of the Captain at other times and the scouts formed a semi-circle -about her, with ears and eyes and minds open to hear everything she -said. - -“I suppose to be a good instructor, I ought to mention a few things -about the flowers; but you all may know, or a few of you may not know -of them. However, I will only speak of these things in a general way -so you will not need to grow impatient with me,” began Mrs. Tompkins. - -“First of all, the floriculturist must understand the soil he expects -to plant his flowers, or seeds, in. There are many kinds of compost, -and some kinds are better than others, for certain flowers or soil. -Best of all _general_ flower fertilizers is a well-rotted cow manure, -but it must be six months old, at least, before it is mixed with the -soil. Fresh well-ground bone meal is best for roses, shrubs, trees and -many flowers. Soot taken from our chimneys is splendid for box, privet -and other hedges, especially so for the bay trees which are so -decorative these days. If you mix soot with sulphur, you can stop -mildew which is the bane of many a florist. - -“One reason why country women have good success with the flowers -growing about the kitchen doorstep is because they generally throw the -dish water or Monday’s wash water from the clothes out over the flower -beds. Not that the dirty water helps the flower but the amount of -potash from the soap did the work of fertilizing. - -“Sheep manure is fine, but expensive, for flower beds. Also the -sweepings and rakings of the poultry yard—this is as good as any -compost I know of. The cleanings of the pig pen also mixes well with -the chicken manure, and the combination is excellent. - -“One of the main causes of flower sickness and pests, comes from dry -atmosphere, dewless nights, dry winds or baking sun rays. These sap -the vitality of the plants and check their progress. If you dig up the -soil a few inches and mix in it the fresh clipped grass from the lawn -or a bit of very old manure you can offset this evil. - -“The minute you find mildew on a plant, fight it, or it will spread so -rapidly to other plants that you will find it well nigh impossible to -kill it. In a very short time, your most beautiful flowers will be -nothing but a memory. Powder your diseased plants with soot and -sulphur nor care for their looks as long as you save them in the end. - -“Roses are our sweetest and also the most troublesome of flowers. One -seldom plucks a rose without finding a bug about it somewhere. But all -sorts of bugs can be cleaned off now and kept away by sprinkling the -rose bushes with a water to which a mixture of milk, kerosene and -water has been added. The directions say: Three pints sweet milk, -three pints kerosene, two pints water. Then add this as you need to -wet the bushes, as follows: one pint of mixture to every two gallons -of water. Not only sprinkle all leaves, buds and blossoms, but the -ground about the bush, as well. This wash can be applied every ten -days to two weeks apart, from May to June. - -“The best all-around cure I know of, for removing every sort of insect -or worm, are the birds—plenty of wild birds about your place. To -encourage these feathered helpers, keep away strange cats, provide -plenty of bird houses, give them bathing pools and feeding stations, -as well as berry bushes, fruit trees and plants that will provide -plenty of seeds for them to harvest. One of the favorite foods of the -wild birds are various kinds of growing grain, corn and seed grasses. -The latter are very decorative when grown in clumps and large patches, -and the grain can be made to add to the beauty of a place if properly -grouped. - -“There are very few flowers that cannot be planted in the fall and -left to come up in the spring. All my bulbs are planted in fall and -covered with a straw mixed manure to keep the frost away. Also my -hardy plants and shrubs are planted in the fall. If vines and -self-growing flowers are seeded in the fall and covered with a light -compost, they will come up as soon as the season is conducive. But I -seldom set out my tender plants until after Decoration Day. If I need -an early start for my flowers, I begin them in the hot-beds, or cold -frames. - -“I won’t take any more time now, girls, to go into details about -plants, because we have all summer to ask and answer questions on any -special matter. But I will reply to any query you may wish to ask me -now, before I begin the legends,” said Mrs. Tompkins. - -The scouts showed no desire to postpone the telling of the stories -they wanted to hear, so the guest smiled and began. - -“I’ll begin by telling you that Hester’s natal flower is the white -rose—her birthday comes on the first of June. The fairy-tale about the -first white rose is very pretty. - -“One very warm day in the long ago, the Hindu god Vishnu was arguing -with Brahma while both of them floated on the water to cool -themselves. Brahma had said that the lovely lotus in which he was -floating was the fairest flower that ever was seen. Vishnu -contradicted his statement, by saying that he knew of a flower far -more beautiful. - -“Then Brahma said impatiently: ‘I cannot believe what my eyes have -ne’er beheld. Where is this rare blossom thou praiseth?’ - -“Vishnu smiled wisely and replied: ‘The lotus is fair, but this flower -that blooms only in my garden of Paradise is incomparable. Nothing -hath ever been seen like unto it.’ - -“Then Brahma became curious to see it with his own eyes, and he said: -‘Go to! If thy flower be so wondrous fair that its beauty exceedeth my -lotus, then will I give thee the half of my kingdom. But should it -fail to merit my admiration and my lotus remains the finest flower, -then the half of thy domain becomes mine.’ - -“Vishnu agreed to this wager and the two quickly hied them to the -Paradise that surrounded Vishnu’s palace. Brahma was conducted to a -royal banqueting hall to partake of refreshments, but he was too eager -to see the beautiful flower Vishnu had lauded. - -“So the two sought the gardens where the sweetest and loveliest -flowers bloomed all the year round. Then came Vishnu to a circular bed -that was surrounded by a path, and all about this path were wonderful -roses, wafting their perfume everywhere. But all the blossoms turned -the one way—towards the circular flower bed in the center of which -stood a tall, slender, majestic rose plant. - -“Vishnu halted in front of this rose tree that stood apart from its -brethren, as if consecrated for a purpose. And as he lifted his eyes -to the tiny green bud that crowned the top of the bush, the bud began -to grow. Brahma stared in wonderment, but said not a word—so marvelled -he. - -“In a few moments the bud had increased to its full size, which was -thrice the size of a man’s head. And then it began to open its green -doors. Slowly the white leaves of a flower appeared and when full -grown, leaned back upon the stem of the blossom to make room for the -other petals. - -“Finally all the petals had appeared, and the rose seemed full-blown. -Then came such a rare perfume from its heart as would intoxicate the -beholders. And from the heart of the rose, there came slowly and -gracefully a waxen-white goddess of surpassing beauty and fairness. -She stepped daintily from the rose and stood before the bewildered -Vishnu. Brahma was speechless with surprise also. - -“Then spake the queen of the roses and said: ‘Vishnu, because thou -hast honored the flowers in thine own home garden, Nature hath sent me -to be your bride. Henceforth, the white rose shall be a bride’s -flower, and its sweetness and beauty shall ne’er fade.’ - -“Thereupon, Brahma admitted willingly that this flower in the garden -of Paradise was the most beautiful in the world, and the half of his -kingdom became Vishnu’s, who now was the greater lord and governed -Brahma and his possessions.” - -When Mrs. Tompkins concluded her story of the white rose, the scouts -applauded delightedly, and then Janet called out: “Tell me my flower, -Mrs. Tompkins, and what is the legend to go with it.” - -“When is your birthday, Janet?” asked the story-teller. - -“August twentieth.” - -Mrs. Tompkins laughed lightly and replied: “Janet, you have a flower -that is a keynote to your character—daring, frank, stubborn to resist -obstacles and adverse conditions, generous in sweetness and sunny -coloring, but so willing to bloom everywhere that others might be -cheered, that it is not half appreciated. I mean the dandelion, your -natal day flower.” - -The other scouts laughed at Janet’s expression and Mrs. James remarked -significantly: “The dandelion never borrows trouble, skips merrily -over the meadow or roadway, creeps in to smile on the fairest lawns, -lifts its sunny face in the most squalid corners, but is often -trampled under foot, or scorned because of its intrepid stand but bold -assurance.” - -“Well, if that means I am bold because I was impatient to know what my -birth flower was, I have my answer. A dandelion! Pooh!” was Janet’s -scornful rejoinder. - -“Don’t scorn this little flower, Janet, because you say it grows -commonly everywhere. The field and roadside blossoms have the greatest -mission in God’s flower kingdom. Because they are told to brighten and -cheer all climes and creatures. Besides this, the dandelion has a most -interesting construction and its great sweetness offers unlimited -nectar and pollen to the bees and birds. What would they do without -the dandelion?” said Mrs. Tompkins. - -Janet felt more resigned at this explanation, and Mrs. Tompkins -continued: “The name of dandelion is not the correct one for this -sunny blossom, but like so many of our English words it became -commonly called the ‘dandelion’ because a foppish young lion of -society who was one of the ‘dandies’ of his day, and used the little -yellow flower as his symbol. It was used on his linen, his crest, and -he always wore one in his button-hole. - -“But the real name of the flower was Sun Lion, because of its -endurance and powers to withstand overwhelming adversities, and -because its face always smiled serenely up at the sun, and turned as -the sun moved across the sky, to always keep its eye open towards it. -This is what made its fine golden petals radiate from the central -point outward—as the sun’s rays shine outward to all. - -“The legend that I have heard of the dandelion comes from Indian lore, -and the moral is quite simple to understand—never procrastinate. - -“The South Wind, who was very fond of wild flowers, took a walk one -day through a woods where he became enchanted with the pretty blossoms -he found growing there. But he loitered so long that he became drowsy -when the sun shone warmly down at noontime. So he found a secluded -shady nook and curled up to have a nap. - -“When he awoke, he found he had slept through the night and now it was -morning again; so he lifted his head and rested it upon his elbow, and -gazed delightedly around him. The woods with its admiring blossoms, -smiled back at him, and out on the meadows the meek and lowly flowers -nodded joyously to greet him. - -“As South Wind smiled back at his admirers, he suddenly saw a happy -little flower maid out on the meadow, dancing for joy and waving about -her a bright sunny cloud of golden hair. - -“South Wind was so enchanted by this bright vision that he decided to -woo her for his bride. But the sun rose higher and reached noontime, -when it shone too warm for South Wind to exert himself very much. So -he said he would defer his wooing until the next day. Then he sought -the cool and shady nook in the woods and soon fell fast asleep again. - -“When he awoke again, it was another day, but still the golden-haired -maid was dancing and smiling in the meadow; and the amorous South Wind -sighed with sentiment and started to rise and woo the captivating -beauty. But again the heat of noonday overcame his good intentions and -he dropped back and took one more nap. - -“He awoke early on the third morn and jumped up with the determination -to go and win the fair maid _that_ day without fail. So he blew -himself quickly out of the alluring woods and reached the meadowland -where he had watched the golden-haired dancer. As he softly approached -the figure which now stood still in the grass, he smiled, for he -pictured the greeting such a spirited maid would give him—the South -Wind! - -“He reached the figure, but what was his chagrin when he saw the -wonderful golden hair had faded to grey, and the youth of the charming -dancer had turned to old age upon a bended stem! Poor South Wind knew -it was because of his delay in wooing and winning the object of his -love, while youth and beauty remained, that now filled his heart with -bitter disappointment. He sighed heavily with his sorrow, and his -breath blew over the grey head of Sun Lion and at that breath of love -lost, the whitened hair fell from her crown and were lightly wafted, -here and there, and far away, leaving the old head shorn of all its -covering, and bent low in useless regrets.” - -This story met with more appreciative applause than the white rose -legend, and then so many girls called for their natal flowers and the -legends to go with them, that the Captain held up a hand for patience. -When quiet reigned once more, Mrs. James said: - -“I propose that we hear from our hostess of Green Hill Farm. Perhaps -she has a favorite natal flower and a pretty legend to go with it.” - -“Yes, Natalie—what is your birth date?” asked Mrs. Tompkins. - -“My birthday is on the eleventh of June?” said the girl eagerly. - -“June eleventh has the field daisy for its flower. It means -‘optimism.’ There are many stories in connection with the daisy—or -Marguerite, as it is known in France. But the story that is claimed to -be a true one, tells how Marguerite of heathen times, was driven from -her father’s home in Antioch because she would not renounce the -Christian faith and bow low to the pagan god. She loved the daisy and -it became her flower after her martyrdom. - -“There is a legend, or myth, about the daisy that says: ‘Once the -dryads were dancing on the great Green of the world, when the god of -spring passed by and stopped to watch the dance. The dryads were so -merry and gay in the abandon of their whirl that they did not see the -god of spring creep up and await his opportunity to spring forward and -catch up the sweetest of them all—a modest lovely little form which -had attracted his eye. - -“‘Just as the god snatched the beauteous maiden from her companions, -she lifted her head and called to heaven for help. Instantly she was -turned into the lovely little daisy that always lifts its head toward -heaven and greets the sun with smiles.’” - -When the girls’ applause for this tale died out, Norma suggested -eagerly: “Now we ought to hear Jimmy’s natal flower and its legend.” - -“I already know my natal flower, and my birthday being so near at hand -I think I will ask to be excused from the publicity such a revelation -will make just now,” laughed Mrs. James. - -“Tell us what your flower is, if you know it?” demanded Natalie -eagerly. - -“It is the honeysuckle—not the wild but the clinging vine,” returned -Mrs. James. - -“Ha! That means devotion, doesn’t it. Quite true of your -characteristics, too,” remarked Mrs. Tompkins. - -Mrs. James flushed, but smiled with thanks at the delicate compliment, -then added: “Is there a legend to go with it?” - -“It is a love story of Old England, but not claimed to be true. It -goes like this: A sweet little country maid would not look at the -uncouth lads of her village, so they stood aside and sighed in vain. - -“But a handsome young gallant rode through the dale, one morn, and -spied the lovely discontented rural maid as she stood beside the door -of her humble home-cottage. He tarried in the village long enough to -woo the girl who had appealed so strongly to his senses, but when he -had won her love and she was dreaming of her wedding day, he realized -how tiresome she would be in his gay life of London. - -“So he told her ruthlessly one moonlight evening that he could not wed -because he had wearied of her love. The maid cried out brokenly that -she would not let him leave her. But he sprang away from her -outstretched hands and ran for his horse which had been hidden behind -the trees. Before he could reach it, however, the jilted maid ran -after and caught his body in her embrace. She sank upon her knees, -while she still clung desperately to his waist and hands and begged -him to remain with her yet a little while. - -“He was just about to tear away her clinging fingers so he could -escape, when the moon rode out from behind the black cloud that had -veiled its face hitherto. The broken-hearted maiden cried to the moon -to help her keep her lover always beside her, and instantly, an icy -finger of moonlight touched the callous youth and turned him into a -slender tree. About the trunk of the tree there twined the arms of the -girl in the form of the honeysuckle, but every tear she wept produced -a splash of a flower that shed sweetest fragrance upon the air.” - -“That is a very romantic little story, but not one that I can claim as -an appropriate one for myself,” laughed Mrs. James. - -“Now that Jimmy has had her flower and its legend, I think we ought to -hear one for Miss Mason, too,” declared Janet. - -“Yes, yes!” chorused the scouts eagerly. - -“Well, girls, my birthday happens to be soon, and I feel the same as -my Lieutenant does—that it will give the date too much publicity if -you all hear it, just now,” retorted Miss Mason. - -“Oh, I know when Jimmy’s is. If yours is near that time it ought to be -the honeysuckle, too,” said Natalie. - -“Just to compel the Captain to reveal the date of her birth, I will -tell you, scouts, that my birthday is on the sixteenth of July—very -imminent, you see,” said Mrs. James. - -“Why! how interesting! That is my birthday, too!” exclaimed the -Captain. - -“Ho! A double birthday, then,” exclaimed Norma. - -“And one we must celebrate without fail,” added Janet. - -“Yes, indeed! Our two grand masters of the lodge having a birthday on -the same day!” laughed Natalie. - -“We’ll have the party, all right, to celebrate, but the Captain has no -legend coming to her. She’ll have to take some of Jimmy’s honeysuckle -and share the romance with her,” said Norma. - -The scouts laughed merrily and when the teasing had subsided somewhat -the Captain said: “We ought to know what Solomon’s Seal means—in a -legend, I mean.” - -But the girls were clamoring for their own birth flowers, so that Miss -Mason’s words were lost. Mrs. Tompkins replied to most of the requests -for the names and meanings of the various natal flowers, and the -scouts heard that June the fifth had Verbena for its flower and its -meaning was “discretion.” The Crocus for March seventh meant -cheerfulness. The Canterbury Bell in August stood for gratitude. And -the April Violet meant modesty. One of the scouts heard that the -snapdragon meant presumption but she was the most retiring one of all -the Patrol, so this called out a general laugh at her expense. Then -Frances was told that her flower was the proud and disdainful -sunflower and again the scouts laughed heartily for they declared that -the flower dictionary was wrong. Frances should have had the fuchsia -instead, which means “mad ambition.” - -Two hours had passed in this interesting form of story-telling and now -Mrs. Tompkins said she must be starting back home or her husband would -send out the secret detective force of Four Corners to locate her. - -The very idea of Four Corners having any such force made the scouts -laugh gayly, but Miss Mason said anxiously: “Oh, you must not think of -leaving the scout gathering until we have had our refreshments, Mrs. -Tompkins.” - -This part of the programme was unexpected by Patrol Two, but -nevertheless very acceptable. Short shrift was made of the cakes baked -by the scouts that morning; and the birch lemonade concocted from the -essence distilled from macerated birch, made a delicious drink. - -As the scouts of Patrol Number Two left camp and started for the -house, one of the members of Patrol One called out: “Don’t forget the -celebration on the sixteenth! We’ve got to get together very soon and -plan for it.” - -And Natalie, speaking for her scouts, called back: “No, we won’t -forget!” - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - THE ROCK AND WATER GARDEN. - - -Late that afternoon, when the girls were engaged with their various -pursuits, Norma called Mrs. James to join her over at the rail fence. -Here the two paced off the strip of ground and tied strings on the -rails opposite which they planned to plant the wild berry and flower -bushes from the woods. - -This done, Norma said: “Now let’s go over to the barn yard and decide -where to plant the sun flowers and other bushes from the woods.” - -This was finally done, also, and then Mrs. James walked slowly from -the barn to the edge of the tiny brook that ran all along the edge of -the barn yard and found its outlet in the woodland stream. Norma -followed, wondering why her companion paused so often to study the -environment and why she turned to allow her eyes to rove over the -rivulet and its weedy sides. - -“I’ve been thinking, Norma, that this unsightly spot on the farm ought -to be redeemed in some way. Not only does this insignificant creek -afford many stagnant places where mosquitoes breed, but the briars and -weeds growing so thickly on its banks keep scattering their seeds -every fall and causing more work for us the following season.” - -“What were you thinking of doing with it, Jimmy?” - -“Well, I’ve been thinking a great deal of what you said yesterday, -Norma, about wishing to build a rock garden with ferns and plants that -grow well in such soil, and then when you had time to figure out the -plans and cost of building a miniature water garden, you wanted to -take up that interesting work. - -“I have always had a desire to build a water garden, too, but I never -really got so far as to see it done. I felt the wish to make one -revive the moment you spoke of planning one. And just now when we -crossed this undesirable patch of ground, I started wondering if we -could not divert this stream into something for our garden.” - -“Oh, but I had no idea of having my water garden over by the barn -yard, Jimmy,” exclaimed Norma, greatly disturbed. “I wanted it to be -on the front lawn, or near enough to the house so we could all enjoy -its refreshing looks whenever we passed by it or sat on the porch.” - -“That is my intention, too. I want to find out the source of this tiny -creek, because it must have a source somewhere, you know. I do not -remember any brook or water passing over the main road in front of the -house, do you?” - -“No, but we may have overlooked its being there. There may be a large -drain pipe under the road, to conduct the creek from one side of the -road to our side. I’ll go and find out.” - -“We’ll both go and see just where this water has its birth. Now that -I’ve given a thought to it, I’m as curious as can be, to locate its -origin,” said Mrs. James. - -So the two hurried past the house and out to the road. Here they -walked for some distance past the corner post of the farm-line, but -could not find anything that might possibly be a spring or creek that -would finally form the tiny rivulet they were investigating. - -So they retraced their steps and again reached the little ford over -the barn yard lane, where the stream crossed. - -“We’ll have to break our way into this jungle of shoulder-high weeds -and briars, if we expect to find the source of the creek,” remarked -Mrs. James, pinning her short skirt tightly about her and beginning to -bend down the weedy stems that obstructed the way. - -Norma followed closely in her tracks and after a slow progress through -the stubborn undergrowth, the two came to a spot almost opposite the -house, but about three hundred yards away from it. - -“Why, the creek turns sharply towards the house here, Norma, but the -jungle spreads further afield,” said Mrs. James, as she turned to the -left to follow the stream. - -They now reached a point in the course of the creek that was not a -hundred feet away from the front corner of the house, but the reeds -and briars had always hidden the small stream winding its way through -the jungle. Mrs. James was elated at discovering a natural supply of -water so near the front lawns and stepped out to proceed, when -suddenly her foot sank in a soft bog. - -“Oh!” exclaimed she, quickly pulling her foot out and stepping back. -Norma was just about to advance, but she, too, jumped back to avoid a -collision. - -“What is it—a water snake?” called Norma anxiously. - -“No, a mire. I went right down in a marsh. But it is not possible to -determine how large an area the mire covers, because the undergrowth -is so dense. Let’s go back and try to enter the place from the -front-lawn side.” - -So the two hastened back the way they had come, and tried to continue -their investigations from the front lawn side of the briar patch. - -The two stood on a slight elevation of ground at the front corner of -the lawn, where stood a group of giant pines which had done service as -silent sentinels for more than a century. They made one of the -artistic scenic effects on the farm, with their wide-spreading limbs -tipped with flat fans of aromatic green shading the lawn and road. - -“From this slight knoll, the ground slopes naturally to this -depression that is now covered with that tangled undergrowth,” said -Mrs. James, pointing generally at the area under discussion. “You can -see that the ground rises very gradually from the depression until it -is on a level with the main road again. From the spot where I went -down in the marsh, over to the property line of our farm, is more than -a hundred yards across, and it is all such a jungle that no one ever -bothered to investigate the possibilities of doing anything with it. -At least, that is what I think, because this place has been -uncultivated for years, as one can see.” - -Norma listened intently and followed with her eyes, the various -directions pointed out, but wondered what could be done. - -“Now I am almost convinced that that creek finds its source somewhere -in that bog. I believe that the spring we will discover there is not -only the cause of that bog and the rank growth of weeds and briars, -but it also furnishes the tiny stream of water that trickles past the -barn. If this is so, Norma, then our hardest problem is already -solved. In building a water garden the question of water supply is the -greatest thing. - -“One can run a pipe line from the house to any locality, and one can -divert a nearby stream into a pool, and then lead its overflow away -again, but that means a lot of work and expense. If we can find that -the spring is located in, or near, this depression of ground, we not -only have solved our difficulty of water supply, but we also have a -natural pool formed by this slight hollow that is nicely graded all -around to form the banks of our lake.” - -“But, Jimmy, those roots will grow up again even if we cut off the -tops of the weeds, and the bog will be horrid if it is underneath our -pool,” was Norma’s disappointed reply. - -“We’d have to get help and dig out the roots to prevent their decaying -when under water. And we’d have to clear out the boggy ground and dig -down until we struck solid earth again; then leave that for our basis -to build on,” explained Mrs. James. - -“Do you think Sam can do all of that? I know you and I could never -accomplish it alone,” ventured Norma. - -“I would have Mr. Ames go over the area and tell us what he thought of -it. He can give us an idea of what it will cost to clear out the -jungle, and clean up the bog from the bottom of the depression. If it -does not cost too much, I think I will start the work at once.” - -“It would be just wonderful if we could make our dreams of a water -garden come true this year. I was afraid I would have to wait for next -summer before I could try anything so elaborate,” sighed Norma -delightedly. - -“Now that we know where the creek starts, Norma, suppose we walk -around by the road and climb the fence to get into the fringe of woods -on the other side of this area. I’m curious to find out if this -depression extends far across to the other boundary line of this farm. -I only hope it does, for that will give us a wonderful expanse of -water to plan for, and the spring can fill it just as easily as if it -were a tiny little puddle. The height of the dam we will have to build -at the far end of the depression, will be determined by the depth of -the water we wish to have in the lake.” - -“Oh, Jimmy! Will we have a real dam, too?” cried Norma. - -“Of course! That is what will back up the water and fill the -depression. If there is no dam, the water will go right on running -away as it now does.” - -The two now started for the road in order to gain the far side of the -briar area, but Frances was seen coming from the barn in the -automobile. They reached the gateway about the same time and Mrs. -James asked: “Where are you going, Frances?” - -“Over to Dorothy Ames’s to see if she can come over and advise Janet -about some pigeons. Dot raises them, you know, and we want her to find -a suitable place for Sam to start the cote.” - -“Then I wish you would stop at the other Ames’s farm and see if Mr. -Ames is home. If he can come over for a half hour, I’d like very much -to ask him about some work to be done here,” said Mrs. James. - -“I’ll not only stop and ask him, but we’ll stop and bring him back -with us, if he can get away,” agreed Frances. - -While the two were waiting for Frances to reappear with Farmer Ames, -they talked eagerly of the lake they could already visualize in the -place where bog and weeds now stood. - -“If we build a dam, Jimmy, that means we will have a water falls, too, -doesn’t it?” was Norma’s eager question. - -“Yes, and I will want a bridge, too, over the lake.” - -“Oh, how lovely! Maybe we can build a bridge like I’ve seen in -magazines, where the large estates have landscape gardeners beautify -the grounds. I’ve seen Japanese gardens with the loveliest bridges and -islands in the lakes! I’d like a bridge with stone lanterns and -Japanese idols and temples on it.” - -Mrs. James laughed. “I’d like them, too, but I will be contented with -a rustic bridge of cedar, for the time being. We may be able to have -the upright posts heavy enough to hold up an iron lantern on its top, -but the temple and little gods are out of the question, because they -cost so much in the city.” - -“Another thing, Jimmy, we can transplant lots of wild fruit and berry -bushes from those woods on the other side of the fence, and grow them -in groups on the banks of our lake. And we must group rocks in such -places where they will be most effective, and then plant the fern and -plants that will need moisture and shade. Oh, it will be perfectly -lovely when it is finished!” - -When Frances brought Farmer Ames back with her, the experienced man -heard Mrs. James’s plans and wishes to start a lake. At first he -laughed heartily at such a suggestion, but the more he looked at the -disgraceful briar patch and thought of the beautiful spot a water -garden would make, right there he changed his laughter to serious -ideas. - -“The old tenant never tilled that ground because it was so boggy and -he claimed it was sour. So he just let it go like this, all the ten -years he lived on the farm,” explained Mr. Ames. - -“One thing I want you to find out now, is this: Just where is that -spring located, and how much muck will have to be dug out before you -strike hard ground to build on,” said Mrs. James. - -“I kin tel you that in a very short time. I’ve got on my rubber boots, -so I kin plunge right in now,” agreed Mr. Ames. - -So he thrashed down the reeds and briars in his way and went into the -marsh. The two anxious watchers on the high ground could see that his -feet sank to a depth of about ten inches, or more. But that did not -say that he had struck solid hard ground. He might have to dig out -another six to ten inches of muck soil before solid earth could be -reached. - -Finally Mr. Ames shouted to the anxious gardeners: “I’ve struck the -spring itself! Here’s where it bubbles up.” - -“It’s almost in the middle of the area, isn’t it?” called Mrs. James -delightedly. - -“Yeh, and it makes quite a little way for itself until it gets clogged -with dirt and tangle of debris. Then it spreads all over the place and -causes the bog. It looks like an easy job to clean out a little ditch -to run the water along to the creek, until we are ready to flood the -whole area,” said Ames. - -He prodded about some more and then he came out again. “I should say, -Mis’ James, that that fixin’ ought to be right easy.” - -“You do! How far over can we extend the water?” - -“The land doesn’t begin to rise again until you get close to the -fringe of bushes, over there—this side Natalie’s fence.” - -“Splendid! Just what I hoped for!” cried Mrs. James, clasping her -hands eagerly. - -“And how far down past the house can we run it, Mr. Ames?” added -Norma. - -“Well, up hereabouts, where the roadway drops down to this hollow, it -will be wider than down by the house, you know. In plain words, the -head of the lake would be about where the fence divides the land from -the main road. It will sort of round itself off before it gets to the -clump of pine trees, and on t’other side it will round quite sharp -instead of having any corner where the side fence joins the front -fence of the property lines. - -“Right across from the lawn to that side will be the widest part of -the pond, and from there down to the end of the briar patch it will -gradually narrow in until it reaches the place where you intend having -the dam set,” Mr. Ames explained. - -“How much work will it be to cut down the jungle and dig up the -roots?” asked Mrs. James anxiously. - -“If you mean for me to do it, I could start in with your man Sam to -help me and clean off the weeds and the roots in about two days’ -time.” - -Norma could hardly believe it, but she said nothing, for Mrs. James -was speaking again. “And then how long do you suppose it will take to -scrape off the bog and muck and reach hard pan?” - -“Umph! That’s not easy to figger on, ’cause some of the bog might be -made by deep roots that hold on for dear life to the soil underneath. -But Sam and I ought to be able to clean out the stuff in another two -to four days—all depends.” - -“We’ll do it, Mr. Ames! Even if I have to pay for the work out of my -own money—we’ll have this lake without any delay. I wish you’d come -and start work to clear the weeds just as soon as you can,” declared -Mrs. James. - -“Can you spare Sam all day tomorrow, if I come over to work?” asked -the farmer. - -“Yes, not only Sam, but Norma and I are going to help in this work. -Perhaps some of the other scouts will join us, and every one can find -something to do in the clearing of the place. While you are throwing -out the muck, I intend to convey it to places conveniently near where -it can be well mixed with manure and be ready to spread out on the -floor of the pond as soon as you are ready for it. Yes, you come over -in the morning, and we will be ready for you, Mr. Ames,” said Mrs. -James. - -That evening the scouts sat under the group of pine trees listening to -Mrs. James describe her vision of a water garden. Each one had -something to say, and every one wanted to help with the interesting -development of the lake. So the work was detailed off in order to give -every one a certain contract to fulfill. - -There were large and picturesque rocks to haul, to pile up or group, -in order to add to the natural beauty of the garden. Frances suggested -a way to haul these rocks. - -“We’ll get a chain and tackle from Ames and fasten the fingers of the -clutch about a rock. The chain can be hooked to the back of the car -and then I’ll drive while the rock is being dragged along the road to -the lakeside.” - -“You’ll have a dreadful hard job dragging an uneven rock over the dirt -road. It will gouge up the ground and half bury itself all along the -way. It would be much easier if we could wheel the rocks in some way, -instead of dragging them over the road,” said Janet speculatively. - -“Maybe we can borrow that old truck from the station man, at Four -Corners, and hook the handle to the automobile and just pull it along -with the rocks on it,” ventured Norma. - -“That’s a good idea! I’ll drive in first thing in the morning and get -it. Si Tompkins will ask the man for me. We won’t hurt it any more -than trunks and ploughs and other things it has to move from the -baggage cars to the farmers’ carts,” said Frances. - -“Oh, no one will worry about hurting it,” laughed Natalie. “It is in -such a battered state that nothing more can injure it.” - -“Well, that’s settled, then. Some of you scouts will see to it that -the rocks are delivered on the shores of the lake,” said Mrs. James. -Then she went on: “Some will have to dig up the bushes and young trees -in the woodland stretch, over on the other side, and carefully -transplant them in suitable pits dug to receive them on the shores of -the pool.” - -A group of scouts was told off for this work and Janet with a number -of friends were ordered to bring well-rotted cow manure from Ames’s -farm and mix it with the soft muck which would be cleared out of the -hollow. Small heaps of this mixture would be left at intervals all -around the lake, so it could be readily shovelled back and spread out -to form a rich soil under the water where water lilies, Egyptian lotus -and iris could be planted. - -“Another task that must be attended to is the carting of nice white -sand to the fence line in front; so it can be used when the lake -bottom is all finished. The sand must be spread out about an inch in -depth, all over the compost soil, to keep the water clear. I’m going -to hire Ames’s cart and farm horse to do this work. The sand from a -pit half a mile down the road is just the kind we will need, so a few -of you scouts can drive there and attend to this branch of work,” said -Mrs. James. - -But the majority of the scouts were chosen to help work on the -clearing of the land. Not only were they willing to drag away the -tough roots of old nettles and reeds, but they offered to help dig out -the bog and carry the muck up from the hollow to heap it where Mrs. -James would designate. - -When Hester Tompkins went home that night and told her parents of the -plan to turn the wild briar patch into a water garden, they thought it -was splendid, and offered to assist in the work in any way Mrs. James -needed them. So the next morning found Mrs. Tompkins ready to go with -Hester to walk to the farm and begin to work for the future lake. - -Mr. Tompkins had no trouble in borrowing the heavy truck from the -baggage office at the station, and when Frances started for Green -Hill, pulling the truck behind the automobile, several of the natives -stood laughing. But the store keeper suggested a better way to help -than by standing there laughing at nothing. - -“I say! we husky men pitch in and help them gals root up the rocks -they want for their garden. We all own crow bars, and we know how to -handle a rock, so let’s pitch in, says I, eh?” - -Most of the men had heard of the scouts’ farming and other work at -Green Hill and every one wanted to inspect the place and see what -these girls could do, so they agreed to join Si Tompkins and help -collect the rocks for the garden. Had it not been for the strength and -experience these men had to pry the rocks out of their resting places -and remove them to the water garden which they were meant to beautify, -it is doubtful if the girls could have finished that work quite so -speedily. - -When Mrs. Tompkins reached the house at Green Hill, she was welcomed -by the girls because they knew she could advise them in many ways that -would help the work along faster and better. - -As Mrs. James led the way to the briar patch, Mrs. Tompkins said: -“Have you planned to have a Japanese garden, or just a pool?” - -“Norma said yesterday, how she would love to have a real Japanese -water garden similar to those she has seen in magazines. But I told -her we could not afford the money for the decorative lanterns, and -temples and seats such as a Japanese garden called for.” - -“Why, they won’t cost very much extra—only for the cement, you know,” -said Mrs. Tompkins. - -Norma and Mrs. James gazed in surprise at their visitor and Norma -said: “What cement do you mean?” - -“Why, the cement for the concrete. And the work is so interesting, -too, you ought to try it before you count the cost.” - -“You don’t mean that we can _make_ the temples and other objects?” -exclaimed Mrs. James. - -“Of course! You didn’t mean to hire them made, did you?” was the -lady’s retort, as much surprised as her two hostesses. - -“I never dreamed of it! I don’t know a thing about concrete,” was Mrs. -James’s dismayed answer. - -“I’ll show you. As long as you are going to build a dam to back up the -pond, you may as well order a few extra bags of cement and build your -seats and bridges and other things so they will last.” - -“I thought I would try and have some sort of a bridge of rustic wood, -but I was pondering how to erect the pillars or posts so they would be -firm and strong enough to hold up the span,” said Mrs. James. - -By this time the three reached the edge of the area where Ames and Sam -were already ditching a narrow outlet used to drain the marsh of the -spring water. Mrs. James pointed out where she wanted a bridge to be, -and Mrs. Tompkins nodded, then suggested: - -“Don’t try to span the entire water with one bridge, Mrs. James. When -Ames gets the marsh all cleaned out and it is dry enough for us to -work in, we will mix the concrete and make a few islands in the lake. -The largest one can be in the direction of the widest diameter of the -lake, which is near the roadway that passes the place. Our bridge will -run from here to that island. Then from the other side of that island -we will build another smaller bridge to span the distance to an island -nearer the other side, but further down near the dam. Then a third -bridge can span that water from the island to the opposite shore. What -do you think of my suggestions?” - -“Oh, perfectly fine, but think of all the work in making the islands?” -said Mrs. James. - -“No more work than if you had to construct three solid piers for the -bridge if you spanned the entire width of the lake. The concrete base -we use for the islands will not have to be molded or clean-cut, you -know. It will be poured on the floor of the marsh first then the -thicker concrete will be piled on top of that when it is hard. We will -embed rocks in this second layer so the mass will harden together and -form as fine a foundation as one can want. In the crevices of the -rocks and all over the concrete foundation, we will throw the rich -soil you are planning to prepare, and in this we can plant our bushes -and flowers. - -“On the smaller islands we will not have room for bushes or shrubs, -but the ferns and water plants can grow there. Besides, a planting of -cat-tails in the soil around the islands will make them look much -larger than they really are, and still show glimpses of the water -glistening through their stalks.” - -“Dear me, I’m so glad you came to advise us, Mrs. Tompkins, that I -want to hug you for it!” exclaimed Norma enthusiastically. - -The two women laughed and Mrs. James added: “Norma was so keen about -having temples and seats and Japanese lanterns that I felt sorry for -her disappointment. Now she can have them all and more, too.” - -“I wanted to have those cute little dwarf pines in the stone jars on -the bridge, you know, like they have in pictures, but Jimmy said the -stone objects cost too much,” explained Norma. - -“Let me tell you right here that the crooked little pines and cedars -that you see growing in or near the water in the finest of Japanese -gardens are not planted in the water nor in the soil of the water -garden. They are planted in large galvanized or other metal buckets so -they will be waterproof, and these pails are sunken into the ground, -or hidden by reeds and ferns that grow up about the outer edges of the -pail to screen it. The water generally reaches up to within an inch of -the top of the pail so that the plant and the soil it is in never get -wet from the lake. Quite often, the pails holding the trees are placed -in the jardinieres of concrete, but do not show from the outside. They -can be easily lifted out and given the care they need, and then -replaced again. If they were planted right in the concrete posts they -could not be taken out and attended to as they require it.” - -“Then we can get some metal pails and have trees growing on our -bridge, too!” declared Norma eagerly. - -“You can buy some of the ordinary stable pails that Si keeps in stock. -They are large and heavy and will never rust,” said Mrs. Tompkins. - -“If you haven’t ordered your water lilies, or iris, or the lotus and -cat-tail seeds yet, I think I can get them for you from a gardener -over White Plains way, and save you money, too. He will give me a lot -of plants for nothing, because I’ve given him plenty of valuable -advice for nothing in the past. - -“As for the cement—order that from White Plains at once so you won’t -be delayed after the clearing is done. In fact, if I were in your -place, Mrs. James, I’d let Frances drive over and bring back as many -bags at a time as she can comfortably carry in the car. The bags can -be wrapped in paper to keep the car clean.” - -“I wish I knew half as much as you do, Mrs. Tompkins, because I’d -think myself something, then,” sighed Mrs. James. - -Mrs. Tompkins laughed. “The more you really know, the more you -discover how little you have actually understood. Then the fact of one -human’s insignificance dawns upon you.” - -“Well, we sure are glad you gave us all this advice, even if you do -consider yourself an insignificant human,” said Norma in so earnest a -tone that the others laughed merrily at her. - -Frances drove Mrs. Tompkins back to Four Corners and got the metal -pails to carry back to the farm. She then wrote down the address of -the store where she was to go for the cement and finally started back -for Green Hill. - -Rachel spread a long table, constructed of several boards, placed -across two trestles on the side lawn that evening, and then called -every one to supper. It was her greatest delight to invite company to -dinner or supper and this occasion was an unusual one to treat the men -from Four Corners who had remained and helped with the work all that -afternoon. - -Hands and faces were washed at the hydrant where the garden hose was -generally attached. Rachel provided towels and soap for every one, and -a merry group of girls and farmers were soon splashing freely in order -to hurry their toilets and sit down on the boxes that stood in rows -beside the long plank table. - -Perhaps it was the feast, or it may have been the merry scouts as they -entertained these middle-aged villagers that made Si Tompkins declare -as they were ready to go home: “Boys, shall we help the gals out again -tomorrer? They’ve got a powerful lot of rocks to haul, yet!” - -And that is how the scouts secured such desirable workers in doing the -very heaviest part of the entire work on the water garden. - -After the men had gone and the dishes were all in the kitchen, the -girls began to carry away the boards that had been in the cellar and -were used for swing shelves in winter time, Mrs. James remarked to -Miss Mason: “I wonder if goldfish will thrive in such a pond?” - -“Why, of course! Didn’t you know that they are an absolute necessity -for the health of your plants and the purity of the water? They eat up -all the insect pests and mosquito larvae that grow on the water. But -you won’t want to place any gold fish in the water until it is all -settled and cleared from the work and soil.” - -“Isn’t it funny, Jimmy, how I started out with a meek idea for a -little rookery or a pool garden, and you had such great ambitions that -we adventured into the bog. Now just see what is growing out of our -infant plan! A great pond with islands and bridges and temples and -everything!” exclaimed Norma, her eyes shining. - -“We may end by holding a Japanese flower show in the garden this -fall,” added Janet teasingly. - -“Not unless my flowers and plants grow better than they seem to at -present. I really suppose they were planted too late to have much -courage this summer, but next year they’ll pay me back,” said Norma. - -“You talk as if you liked Green Hill and was coming back!” laughed -Natalie, pleased as could be at the idea. - -“Coming back! Of course we are—if Jimmy and you will only let us! You -didn’t think I was raising Susy for you to own next year, did you?” -demanded Janet anxiously. - -Mrs. James laughed: “We still have plenty of time in which to discuss -next year, girls, so don’t let us argue about it, at this early date.” - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - THE RAIN INTERFERES. - - -Every scout at Green Hill went to sleep that night with radiant -visions of working on the water garden the next day, and _perhaps_, -seeing it nearing its completion by evening. But the day dawned and -very few of the scouts could crawl out of bed. The unusual work that -had brought many dormant muscles into play the day before caused backs -and limbs to stiffen and ache, so that they cared little when they -heard the rain pattering heavily upon tents and roof. - -“Dear me! Do you suppose Mr. Ames will work in the rain?” asked Norma -impatiently when she saw the steady downpour. - -“He worked in the water up to his knees all day yesterday so I -shouldn’t think the rain would frighten him away,” said Janet. - -“But he had on hip boots that kept his feet dry. If he works in the -rain he will be drenched in no time,” explained Belle. - -“Besides, this rain will fill up the hollow so that the marsh will be -very unpleasant to dig in,” added Mrs. James. - -“I don’t see why the horrid old rain couldn’t stay away for a few -days, until we got the lake finished,” grumbled Norma. - -“The farmers will be so glad for this rain. We haven’t had any in so -long they feared their crops would suffer from the drought,” ventured -Mrs. James mildly. - -“Oou-ch! Oo-oh!” came from Natalie, at this moment, and every one -turned to ask what was the matter. - -“Oooh—a stitch in my back that cramped me all up!” sighed the girl, -bending over in order to crawl to the couch by the window. - -That started a comparison of aches and cramps and pains that lasted -until Rachel served the nice hot breakfast. She always had some remark -to make on the progress of work at the farm, and now she said: “I -declare! You scouts ain’t done any more experimentin’ on dat new churn -we got, and I ain’t got no moh time to make your butter dan I’se got -to fly! Seems to me you-all can work dat churn on a day like dis.” - -“Rachel is right, girls! This is the sort of weather to make scouts -look after house work. Now some of you can play with the churn while I -experiment with a cake recipe I got from a farmer’s wife last week,” -said Belle. - -“If the cake is a success, who is going to eat it?” asked Janet. - -“If the scouts in this part of the country weren’t so famished when -cake was mentioned, I’d say you all could have a party with it,” -laughed Belle. - -“I’d say Belle had better finish her experiment first and then talk of -parties later. Maybe no one will want to risk their lives with a bite -of the cake after she has it baked,” added Natalie. - -With teasing and laughing, the breakfast was finished and Janet, -Natalie and Frances decided to do the churning that day, Belle said -she would be occupied all morning in the kitchen, and Norma decided to -put on her raincoat and oilskin cap and go out to see how the flower -beds were looking. - -Sambo’s dog, Grip, had not evinced any desire to bother anyone at -Green Hill Farm because he was seldom to be found about the place, -excepting at such times as when he rushed home for a meal or to sleep -at night. The scouts of Patrol Number One said they often found him -roaming about the woodland down by the stream, and Farmer Ames said he -visited them at odd times and begged for a drink of water. Then he -would wag his tail and scamper away again. - -Sam grinned whenever any one of the girls asked him “what good was a -dog like that?” And he generally said apologetically: “Dat Grip ain’t -never had such a good time afore, so he don’t know how to enjoy it all -at once.” - -But Grip disliked the rain and so he lounged about the house and -followed the girls to the cellar when they went to try the churn. And -he was still prowling about in the corners when he heard Rachel call -his name. That always meant something to eat, so he rushed up the -cellar stairs in great haste. - -Norma had gone out to her garden and the first thing she saw was a -rank growth of weeds coming up where the seeds had been planted. This -would never do, so she leaned down to pull them up. As she bent over -the ground a dreadful odor came from it. She had to straighten up and -turn away her nose because the smell was so unpleasant. - -She examined everything near the flower garden to see if a dead cat, -or rabbit, or other creature, was hidden in some corner, but nothing -could be seen. When she turned back to the flower beds again, the odor -was still there—overpowering to her delicate sense of smell. - -“I’ll go and ask Jimmy if she used a new kind of compost on the ground -without my knowledge.” So saying, Norma turned to go in by the kitchen -way, but she saw Grip on the stoop very busy with a huge soup bone. - -The moment he saw Norma place a foot on the lower step, he grumbled at -such interference with his repast, and taking a firm hold on the bone -with both jaws, he dashed off the stoop and ran towards Norma’s -garden. - -She stood watching him without any special motive in doing so, when -suddenly she saw him burrowing a hole in her flower bed. She shouted -and ran to stop such depredations, but Grip was pawing away with both -front feet just as fast as he could, and the dirt flew out from under -the active paws and scattered about for a radius of more than ten -feet. - -“Get out! Stop that, you rascal!” shouted Norma, now close enough to -catch hold of his tail and try to pull him away. - -But Grip had dropped the bone in the pit already made, and now tried -to nose the soil back over it, while defying the drag Norma had on his -appendage. - -“Now I know what that awful smell is, you old tramp!” exclaimed Norma, -angrily, as she gave up tugging at his tail, and instead ran to the -cellar to get her garden tools. - -The three girls in the cellar listened to her story of how Grip made a -store room of her garden, and as they laughed appreciatively at the -dog’s preference for a flower garden in which to save his future -meals, Norma got her tools and went out. - -With a little judicious hoeing and raking, she soon unearthed several -well-decayed bones and chunks of raw meat which Grip could not finish -at his meals, but planned to save them for a day of famine. - -Norma tied a handkerchief about her nose as she dug up the odoriferous -morsels and carried them on the shovel, held at arm’s length, down the -lane to the barn yard where a compost heap was started for next year’s -planting. - -“There now! One book said that old bones and meat, as well as green -garbage was excellent to mix in a compost heap before winter time, as -it would all mature together.” - -With this satisfaction of having performed a good deed, Norma returned -to her flower garden to continue the weeding that had been so -unpleasantly interrupted. - -But Norma discovered that the same muscles in her hips and back that -had ached so dreadfully all night, began aching again, with the -bending over the flower garden to weed, so she had to give up all -hopes of gardening that day. Having put her tools away in their -accustomed place, she went to the kitchen to offer her services to -Belle. - -“You can stir up the chopped almonds if you will,” said Belle, busily -engaged in beating the cake batter. - -“Where is it?” asked Norma, looking on the table for a dish of nuts. - -“On the stove—in the frying pan,” returned Belle. - -“Goodness sake! Do you fry the nuts before you use them?” asked Norma, -amazed at this way of making a nut cake. - -“No, I do not fry nuts but I fry that mixture,” explained Belle. “You -see this is a recipe a woman way back in the country gave me. She -never has any nuts so she uses this counterfeit, and no one ever knows -the difference.” - -“What is it?” was Norma’s question, as she sniffed the mixture she was -supposed to stir to keep from scorching. - -“I cracked a lot of cherry stones that came from the pitter when -Rachel canned those cherries, and the meat was soaked in a -tablespoonful of alcohol to extract the flavor. Then I took a cupful -of grape nuts cereal and soaked it in some cream. When it was soft I -added the flavoring to taste, and now you are about to brown the whole -thing in butter to keep the chopped nuts soft enough to chew like real -nut-meat when it is in the cake. See?” - -“Well, I never! What a fake!” laughed Norma. - -“The woman told me of all sorts of fakes the bakers do to make -customers believe they are getting first-class food stuffs. She told -me how they used egg coloring to make the cakes and things look yellow -as if plenty of eggs were used in them. Then she told me of the -substitute for milk, which many bakers used because milk costs so much -these days. Lots of them actually use a substitute for sugar and -hardly any of them use vanilla bean, or real lemon, or genuine fruit -extracts for their flavoring. It all is made of synthetic preparations -that counterfeit the real flavors and are so much cheaper.” - -“Huh! That’s why it pays to cook and bake at home, isn’t it?” said -Norma. - -“Yes, but even then, Norma, I found out that you have to know what you -are buying or you get a counterfeit extract or baking powder, that is -very injurious to eat. If one does not know this deception, one pays -for the real thing and doesn’t get it.” - -“I think someone ought to put a stop to such things!” was Norma’s -amazed rejoinder to Belle’s disclosures. - -“You’d think so, wouldn’t you, but the food adulterers go right on -their merry way, coining money out of their poor imitation articles, -and the ignorant public go right on buying what they believe to be -pure goods. One really has to know all sorts of things these days to -keep ahead of the tricksters.” - -“Well, Belle, I guess the girl scout teachings and work will turn out -housekeepers who can get ahead of any of these clever counterfeiters, -eh?” said a voice just then, as Mrs. James came in to the kitchen to -see how the cake was getting on. - -The need of Norma’s assistance was soon over, for the cakes were -poured into gem pans and quickly shoved into the oven to bake. Then -Mrs. James told the girls that she had seen a tenant move in to one of -Norma’s bird-flats. - -“Oh where—when?” cried Norma, rushing to the back door in order to -look out. - -“A bluebird selected the flat facing the field and I saw them both -carrying material for a nest. Even the rain had no dampening effect on -their ambition to settle down in your cheese box apartment,” laughed -Mrs. James. - -The other girls who were in the cellar heard the excited voice of -Norma as she talked about her new tenant, and all three dropped the -paddle and ran upstairs to watch the bird nest building. - -“Hey, dere! You’se can’t stop churnin’ like dat, once you starts it -goin’!” shouted Rachel, catching hold of two of the girls just in time -to prevent their escape to the back stoop. - -Belle had hurried out after Norma at the news about the bluebirds, but -Mrs. James called her back as she laughingly said: “Those nut cakes -won’t take more than a few minutes to bake and I’m here pining away -for a taste of one.” - -“Oh, goodness! I forgot all about the cakes in my excitement over the -birds,” cried Belle, as she ran back to open the oven door and see how -the cakes were doing. - -“I wish we had all taken the time to hang our bird houses up,” -remarked Janet, as she started for the churn again. - -“Let’s do it as soon as this work is done, Janet. Sam hasn’t anything -much to do today and he can help. All those large houses are still -waiting to be hung in quiet nooks,” said Natalie. - -So the remaining bird houses were placed that day and the girls felt -that the least the birds could now do was to come and live in them. -The rain ceased directly after dinner, and by two o’clock the sun -shone feebly from behind the banked-up clouds. But it was clear enough -to allow the work on the lake to continue, so the scouts from camp -came up and joined the girls from the house. - -“I had an idea this morning when I pondered the hold-up this rain made -for us,” remarked Mrs. James, when all were ready to begin work. “If -we had ditched the narrow strip which is going to drain the bog out -into the little creek this rain would not have interfered with our -working on the lake hollow. We can dig on that drain now, and then the -ground in the depression will dry all the sooner.” - -“That’s what we will! We’ll begin near the barn where the little creek -passes, and ditch the place deep enough to carry off all the surplus -water not standing in the marsh,” agreed Miss Mason. - -No more time was lost by the scouts that day and soon they were -digging and picking and shoveling for dear life. Many willing hands -make light work, too, so the length of ground that had been left to do -when Ames stopped digging the day before, was now finished and the -last spadeful of soil was finally thrown out. Then the water that had -flooded the bog area began to run out and the workers were delighted -to think how dry the erstwhile marsh would be by the following -morning. - -As they started back for the house, after completing this important -bit of work, Miss Mason said: “I tried to think of something this -morning that we might do to help complete the water garden, but I -couldn’t remember a thing. While we were digging, it came to me quite -clearly that on just such a day was a good time to take up the bushes -and young trees you wanted transplanted to the strip of ground along -the field fence. The soil will have clung to the roots and the soil -where we transplant the bushes will have been moist enough to help the -roots take hold.” - -“Why can’t we go for some now?” asked Norma eagerly. - -“You scouts all complained of aching backs and cramped muscles, so I -thought you would not care to work any more today,” explained Miss -Mason. - -“But all my aches went away when I started to dig again,” confessed -Janet and the others admitted to the same sudden cure. - -So they voted to find and dig up as many berry bushes or wild grape -vines or other fruit-bearing plants for the birds as they could find -and carry away before supper time. - -Consequently, there was quite a brave showing of bushes and vines -along the fence line before twilight that evening. One of the girls -discovered a small mulberry tree which was taken up with all its -wide-spreading roots. But it took the combined help of four scouts to -carry it safely from the woodland to the field. - -The scouts at the house needed no alarm clock to rouse them the next -morning, as every one was eager to see how much of the marsh had been -drained out by the ditch they had dug. Rachel said they would have -time to run out and look around before she would have breakfast ready, -so out they went—all making for one objective, the front lawn where -the marsh could best be inspected. - -“Well, well! Who’d have thought a little thing like that ditch would -make such a difference!” exclaimed Norma, the first to reach the -place. - -“It certainly looks encouraging, doesn’t it?” declared Janet, as she -saw the clumps of bog now sticking up without any water in sight -anywhere, excepting the tiny stream that ran from the spring in the -middle of the area. - -“Girls, how far down shall we build the dam?” asked Mrs. James. - -“We’ll have to put it where it will best back up the water, won’t we?” -asked Janet. - -“We can build it where we like, if we want to expand our lake any -larger or longer than we had first planned for.” - -“If we could have an irregular shore line on the lake, and at that end -where the dam is to be, have it taper off from a lake into something -like a natural looking stream and then place the dam almost opposite -the dining room windows so the music of the water falls will be heard -as we sit at the table, I would like that immensely,” suggested Norma. - -“If we had the stream above the dam stretch along as far as that, I -see no reason why I should not have my water fowl swim and spend their -summer days in the lake. They won’t have very far to waddle to reach -the pond, if the dam is so far down towards the barn yard,” said Janet -eagerly. - -Every one laughed, because Janet planned all things to fit in with her -stock’s pleasure and benefit. But Mrs. James added: “Girls, I think -Janet’s idea of having ducks and geese swimming in the stream and lake -is a good one, as live water-fowl always make the lake look more -picturesque. A swan would be entirely too large for so small a body of -water, but the ducks and geese will be just the right size.” - -“You said you wanted to put goldfish in the water, but Janet’s -water-fowl will eat them up the moment they see them,” said Natalie, -grinning at her own astuteness. - -“If we stock the goldfish in the lake from the first and only permit -Janet’s goslings to swim about at first the fish will get accustomed -to keeping out of their way and the goslings will not be experienced -enough to snap them up at every turn. Then the adult ducks can be -allowed to come to the lake when the fish are practiced in dodging -their natural enemies,” suggested Norma. - -“Or better still, why not have Janet select ducklings instead of grown -ducks from Mr. Ames, just as she has the goslings instead of grown -geese? Then all the little things can swim about in one happy family, -and not eat each other up,” remarked Mrs. James. - -“That’s just what I’ll do! I’ll have Mr. Ames exchange the six big -ducks I just bought for twenty-four ducklings, as they are four times -cheaper than a grown duck.” - -“Why didn’t you take little ones, in the first place, if they are so -much cheaper. They don’t eat half as much, either?” was Norma’s -surprised question. - -“Oh, but they do eat—more than big ducks. They can’t pick for -themselves and so I would have to feed them cornmeal and cracked corn. -But the main reason I chose the big ducks was because Ames said little -ducklings were so hard to raise. If I had a nice clean pond of water -where they could swim and bathe, he said it would be different, but -that ditch running past the barn, was too small and scummy for ducks, -he said. With the lake we plan to now have, the ducklings will thrive -and enjoy themselves and not be so hard to rear,” explained Janet at -length. - -“You all spoke of moving the dam down to the barn to accommodate -Janet’s fowl, but I say why not let Janet move her duck and geese -coops up nearer the place where the dam had best be built, and the -water fowl will appreciate it just the same,” said Belle. - -“As usual, Belle’s voice in the matter carries the vote,” laughed Mrs. -James. - -“Well, then, let’s choose a site opposite the dining room window as I -suggested and dig a winding stream from the lake to the water falls, -to make it look picturesque. Then the little stream that runs from the -falls to the stream down by the woodland will take its own course in -getting there,” declared Norma. - -“How high are we going to have the dam, Jimmy?” asked Frances. - -“I do not know, but Mr. Ames is going to measure the highest depth of -the lake over by the pines and then gauge it from that point down to -the point opposite the dining room windows, as Norma just said. The -difference between the highest point at the pines and the lowest point -down by the ditch will be the height we must build the dam.” - -“Dear me, I can see myself swinging in a hammock under those pine -trees, with a box of candy, dreaming away the hours while listening to -the musical tinkle of the water fall, eh, girls?” said Mrs. James, -clasping her hands and rolling her eyes as they had often seen Norma -do when she was particularly romantic. - -The girls laughed and Janet retorted: “When anyone finds Jimmy taking -life easy, it will be time to feel her pulse and take her temperature. -Nothing but a fatal illness will ever stop her from being in six -places at one time, and superintending every one on Green Hill Farm, -while looking after her own affairs, too!” - -The laugh that followed this remark was unceremoniously interrupted by -Rachel’s call to breakfast. While the girls were concentrating their -thoughts on doing full justice to Rachel’s culinary art, Sam knocked -meekly at the door that led out to the side porch. - -“Come right in, Sam,” called Mrs. James, and he came in bowing -politely. - -“I come to tell Miss Norma ’bout dis grass. Tompkins got dat new -lawnmower from Noo York last night, and tol’ me to say it is waitin’ -foh Frances to cart home. Jus’ as soon as it ’rives, dat grass it -ought’a be mowed or it won’t be no good no more.” - -“Thank you, Sam. Frances will bring the mower when she goes for the -mail and then Norma will start at once to cut the grass,” replied Mrs. -James, smiling at Sam. Having delivered his message, he bowed again -and went out. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - VARIOUS UNDESIRED TASKS. - - -The addition of a cow and a calf, the two swarms of bees, the goslings -and Rhode Island Red chickens increased the interest of the girls in -their farm life, but it also increased Janet’s work and -responsibilities. Then Natalie’s vegetables grew so well that lettuce -was an every-day side dish at meals now; and soon, there would be new -string beans, beet tops to cut and cook and radishes. - -Meantime, Norma’s asters had recovered from their almost fatal dose of -Paris Green and the heliotrope that Mrs. Tompkins had sent the amateur -florist to replace the one she had killed with the poison was blooming -well and wafting its sweet incense upon the breezes, to be carried -everywhere about the house. - -While the girls were still at breakfast, Mr. Ames drove in at the side -gate. Janet sat facing the open window and was the first to see him. - -“Oh, he’s got the dump cart and old Ben!” cried she. - -“He must be planning to use the cart for something,” said Norma. - -But a lively breeze carried an odor far different from the heliotrope -blooming in Norma’s garden. - -“Oo-oh! Close the door and windows—hurry up, Nat!” called Janet, -holding her breath while the girls ran to close the windows. - -“Ames brought the compost for the water garden,” was Mrs. James -undisturbed statement. - -“Of course, he had to bring it some time, but he did not have to stop -with it directly under the dining room windows,” said Natalie, in an -injured voice. - -“Some one had better run out and direct him where to dump the cart -load or he will leave it right here, just as he did that other load of -fertilizer that he brought for Norma’s flower gardens,” said Belle -anxiously. - -“If you girls will excuse me, I’ll go and tell him what to do with -it,” said Mrs. James, rising and going out. - -Then the cart was soon rolling away from that side of the house, and -Mrs. James showed Farmer Ames where to leave the old well-rotted cow -manure that was to be thoroughly mixed with the mucky marsh soil -before spreading it out on the floor bottom of the lake. - -“I brung the cart ’cause I figgered the gals would want to use the -hoss and cart to get the sand and small rocks for the garden,” -explained Ames, as he mopped his brow, after finishing his work on the -compost. - -“Oh, yes, they will be glad to know they can use it,” said Mrs. James, -but at the same time she wondered how to manage so small a cart and so -many scouts—for every one of them would wish to ride and cart sand. - -Mr. Ames found Sam waiting to help, so the two went to the hollow that -was to be a lake and were agreeably surprised to find the water -drained out and the bogs standing free and ready to be removed. Mrs. -James had forgotten to tell Ames what the girls had accomplished the -previous evening with work on the ditch near the barn yard. - -Frances drove to Four Corners immediately after breakfast and Janet -had to take care of her stock. Natalie had to weed her garden that -morning, as she had given it no attention for the past four days and -Rachel warned her about the weeds growing higher than the corn and -beans. - -It was Norma’s and Belle’s turn to milk Sue and prepare the milk for -the morning, but both the girls preferred to work on the water garden. -When Belle slipped into the kitchen to offer Rachel a quarter if she -would do the milking, Mrs. James overheard it and came out. - -“No, indeed, Belle! Norma and you must do your work even if you detest -it and want to fuss around in the bog. Besides this milking, Norma has -to cut the lawns when Frances brings back the mowing machine from Four -Corners. She agreed to attend to this work, long before we dreamed of -having a water garden. So now it will have to be done, you know.” - -Norma pouted but said nothing, for the fact was too obvious to be -denied. So Belle and she reluctantly went to the barn yard where Sue -waited impatiently to be milked. She had been waiting for more than an -hour already and was not apt to be very quiet during milking when she -had been kept from her cool pasture so long after sun-up. - -“You start the milking, Belle, and I’ll mix the mush for her,” -suggested Norma, going to the barn to get the meal. - -Belle looked for the stool but could not see it, so she grumbled to -herself: “Oh, well! I’ll milk without a seat. Sue always stands still -these days and Norma will be holding the pan of mush for her to eat, -anyway.” - -Janet was very busy in the pig pen, trying to dig out a pool for her -pigs to bathe in. Now that the cement was on hand, and she had heard -how to mix concrete, she was going to build a fine bath for them. So -she merely glanced up when Belle and Norma came to the barn yard to -milk the cow. - -Belle stooped upon her heels and sat the pail in position, but before -she could start milking, Sue gave a vicious kick with a hind foot and -sent the pail against the fence of the pig pen. It was badly dented -when Belle picked it up and shook it at the cow. That attracted -Janet’s attention, and she left the pool-digging and leaned on the -fence to watch her companions try to milk Sue. - -Norma brought the pan of mush from the barn and hurried with it to -Sue’s nose. But Norma had not quite overcome her old timidity of a -cow, and Sue’s eyes this morning looked very suggestive of evil. Then, -too, those two horns were very long and very curved and very sharp on -the ends! - -So Norma stood as far on one side as she well could and still manage -to hold out the tin pan of corn and bran meal mixed in warm water to -keep Sue in a good humor while she was being milked. Being so intent -on the cow’s next move, Norma did not notice that Belle was not seated -on the stool. - -The pail was placed in position again, and Belle again squatted to -begin milking. All went well for a few minutes but a horse fly lit on -Sue’s leg and took a good hard nip out of it. Instantly the cow kicked -rebelliously and switched her tail to try and wipe the pest away. This -time the pail rolled over and the contents foamed away in a little -stream. - -Janet laughed aloud and called to Belle: “Try, try again!” - -“Don’t waste futile words—can’t you see that I am trying again _and -again_!” - -Norma momentarily forgot her dread of Sue in watching Belle pick up -the pail and plank it down hard upon the ground, then squat to try the -milking once more. But the horse fly still clung to the cow’s leg and -kept the bovine victim aware of its presence, so that Sue finally -switched her tail fiercely and suddenly turned her head to see if she -could frighten it away by the bobbing of her horns. - -This was so unexpected to Norma, that when she saw the big eyes and -lolling tongue of the cow staring her right in the face, she dropped -the pan and screamed. At the same time she tried to spring backwards -out of Sue’s reach, but stumbled over a board and measured her length -on the ground. - -The switch of the tail, the banging of the tin pan, the scream of -Norma, all made Belle jump but she was squatting on her heels and -could not balance, so she went right over backwards. Janet leaned over -the fence of the pig pen and fairly screamed with mirth at the sight -of her two friends stretched out on the barn yard ground. - -But Farmer Ames had sent Sam to the barn to get an extra pickaxe and -he now arrived in time to see the trouble Belle was having in trying -to milk the cow. So he sat down and in a few minutes the stream of -milk was flowing freely and the horse fly flew away to find a better -resting place without so many disturbing mortals always about. - -“Now, then,” said Sam, when he had finished the task. “You gals can -lead her to pasture in the field, but be careful and not tether her -near them beehives, or she’ll get stung and run away again like she -did afore.” - -With Sue secured in the pasture lot, Norma and Belle felt that the -hardest work of the day was finished. So they walked back to the house -eagerly planning for the water garden. They went in at the side door -of the porch, to get their sun bonnets, but Norma heard Frances call -out as she drove the car past the door: - -“I’ve left the lawn mower out here for you, Norma! Jimmy said you were -to try and see if you can cut the lawn with it.” - -“Dear me! I forgot all about the old grass! I suppose that will take -all day, now!” exclaimed Norma impatiently. - -But Belle had no condolences to offer, so Norma went through the -kitchen and flew down the stoop steps to look for the new mower—_she_ -called it “that _old_ mower!” - -Frances had left it on the gravel path just around the corner of the -house, and Norma, in hurrying along this path, ran into it and stubbed -her toe against the wheel. - -“Ouch! Who left this old machine right in my way?” she demanded -angrily as she limped over to the porch and sat on the lower step to -hold her foot and rock back and forth. - -But no one heard her wail so she got up after a time and limped back -to the lawn mower. She looked it over and in spite of her annoyance, -she admitted that the machine looked very smart and capable in its -crimson paint and gold trimmings. Then she took hold of the handle and -tried to push it over to the grass. - -Rachel heard the click of the knives and came to an upper window to -look out. When she saw Norma pushing the mower through the grass -without having any effect on the long blades, she called out. - -“Dat hay is so long by dis time, dat it’ll take Ames’s scythe and a -day’s cuttin’ to chop it down fairly well for dat mower to go in and -cut.” - -Norma now glanced up at the head stuck out of the window and said: -“Did you leave that mower right where any one could fall over it?” - -“Now, Honey, I ain’t Gen’l Washerton who neber tol’ a lie—but I kin -say dis much—if it’ll help dat toe enny, I diden shove the mower in -your way, but I knows who did do it!” - -“Who! I’m going to tell them what I think of them!” said Norma, with a -flushed face. - -“I ain’t goin’ to tell—see!” and Rachel quickly drew her laughing face -out of sight, and Norma stood fuming for nothing. - -About this time, Janet ran along the lane and called to Norma. Being -only too glad to leave the mower in the uncut grass and find an excuse -to go with Janet to help her in some work, Norma met her half way. - -“Say! I just had a fine idea about the pigs’ bathing pool. If I make a -concrete bath in the present pen, I will have to keep filling it with -water every day. But if I move the pen over to the little brook, they -can swim about and bathe as much as they like, and the water will -always be clean, because it will run off continually, you see. Don’t -you think it would be a simpler matter to move the pig pen than to -carry water every day?” - -“Of course, but what will you do with the pigs while you are moving -the pen and house?” asked Norma. - -“Why, I won’t do anything with them, I’ll just build a new house and -pen. Jimmy thinks this one will prove to be too weak, anyway, as soon -as the pigs grow big and strong.” - -“How long before that will be?” asked Norma wonderingly. - -“It won’t be long now that I have started a regular course of feeding. -This morning I gave them a lot of greens from Nat’s garden—the ones my -hens scratched up, you know. Then I fed them enough corn and other -stuff to satisfy them for once. I’ve made up my mind to overfeed -rather than underfeed them, hereafter.” - -“Well, I think the plan of moving the pig pen is best as long as you -say you will need a stronger house and fence in the near future,” was -Norma’s careful judgment. - -“That’s what I think! Let’s go and ask Jimmy what she says about it. -I’m most anxious to give them a regular bathing pool, and if she -thinks a pen near the brook will be all right, I’m going to start it -at once,” declared Janet. - -But Mrs. James vetoed the plan of having the pen on the banks of the -brook for several reasons, the principle one being: “The pigs, when -they are larger, will root in the water and burrow a hole under the -fence and get out by way of the brook. You will be in constant race to -catch them again. But you might run an iron pipe from our water falls -down to a site nearer the falls than the present pen is. That will -furnish all the water you will need in a pool. Or you can attach a -hose to the old hydrant in the barn yard and fill a concrete pool that -way.” - -“Is the grass all cut, Norma,” continued Mrs. James, turning to the -girl. - -“Oh, no! Rachel says it is much too long to run the mower through. I -tried it but it wouldn’t budge. Rachel says it needs a scythe and a -strong man to cut it down now as it is almost hay.” - -Mrs. James smiled but said nothing, so the girls looked over the work -that Ames and Sam had accomplished since morning. As they remarked at -the amount of bog and muck that had been taken up out of the hollow, -Mrs. James added: - -“Yes, and you girls can mix it with the cow manure if you have nothing -else to do. I was about to go for the wheel-barrow and bring a load of -the compost to the first little heap of muck.” - -“What shall we mix with it?” asked Belle, and Norma said: “What shall -we use?” - -“One of you can borrow Ames’s fork while the other goes for our own -digging fork in the barn. I will wheel as much of the fertilizer as is -meant to be mixed in one of the pyramids of marsh muck, and one of you -can fork it in thoroughly. The next load I will wheel to the second -heap of muck and then the other girl can mix the two fertilizers -together. In this way, we ought to be through with all the different -heaps that Ames is shoveling up on the bank by the time he is finished -cleaning out the swamp.” - -Janet and Norma had not hankered for this particular kind of -gardening, but they liked it better than doing some tiresome task that -had become monotonous because of daily repetition. Norma was forking -over the muck with an earnest goodwill when the cries from Janet -caused every one on the farm to race for the barn yard to find out -what dire thing had happened there. - -This was the time Janet discovered Seizer, one of the three little -pigs dead from overeating and the tomato vines she had fed them that -morning. - -It took a full hour to calm Janet’s regrets and cries, but the -distressing circumstance cooled the girls’ ardent eagerness to finish -the water garden that day without fail. - -When Farmer Ames laid aside his tools that evening, however, and went -to get Ben and the cart, he said to Mrs. James: “Well, it looks as if -that work would be finished tomorrow!” - -This was so encouraging to Norma that she began to reconsider her -recent hasty decision that flower gardening was a waste of time unless -one had money and help to do the work right. - -Directly after supper, that evening, Norma sat down to write a few -lines home. The other girls were planning to do likewise for each one -needed money to conduct her business undertaking. - -“Dear Mother and Father:” Norma began. - -Then she sat chewing the end of the pen holder and frowned at the road -in front of the house. The sight must have been inspiring, for a -moment later she resumed her writing and kept steadily on until the -letter was finished. - -She told her parents of the coming of Sam and his dog; of the drive -across country in search of a cow, and how they got one from Miss -Jipson, and how the man Folsom tricked them with little Susy, but how -Mrs. James squared accounts with him afterward. - -She used several sheets of paper to tell how Janet’s chickens escaped -and dug up Natalie’s precious vegetables and how Rachel fooled Janet -into believing the old Leghorn hens were laying eggs every day, while -all this time Sam was sent regularly to put the eggs from the farmer -in the nests. Then she described how Janet thought she had poison-ivy -rash all over her, but discovered it was all the fault of the chicken -lice that infested her hens, and on the brood hen she had handled so -much. - -The scratching pen had moved rapidly across the sheets of paper while -Norma smilingly told these stories of Janet and Natalie, but when she -began to describe some of her own woes in flower gardening, she lost -her smile and trouble sat heavily upon her brow. She told how she -killed her best heliotrope plant by using four times the strength of -poison to kill the bugs; how the dog planted his old bones in the -finest seedling bed and half of the shoots were rooted out; how -Janet’s hens dug up the rest of them the morning they escaped from -Natalie’s vegetable gardens. The most recent complaint was the lawn -grass. It grew so fast and shot up so tall that no mower was yet made -that could plow through it. Norma did not add here that she had -postponed mowing the lawns for more than a week, because she was so -interested in landscaping the strip of ground beside the fence and -making a water garden. - -The story of Seizer’s sudden death and the cause of it, followed next -in order, but scanty room was given to the account of Janet’s violent -grief and the funeral she insisted upon having. She wrote the minutest -description of how she helped ditch the bog and drain the spring water -away from the lake. And how they prepared the rich soil that was going -to be spread over the bottom of the lake to grow the lilies, iris and -lotus, as well as other water plants. The islands, the bridges and the -rocks were described and then followed the glad news that Mr. Ames -thought the work would be completed in another day. - -Just as Norma was going to end her letter she remembered she had said -nothing of the bird houses and bees which played an important part in -her flower gardening. But she mentioned the facts and said she would -tell them all about the bird flats when next she wrote. As usual, she -signed herself a loving daughter, then she added a postscript—to her -the most important part of the letter: - -“P. S.—Got Daddy’s check. Many thanks. Can use another soon, for my -plants for fall and next spring planting.” - - - - - CHAPTER X - - THE WATER GARDEN COMPLETED. - - -Farmer Ames brought another cartload of manure the next morning, so -the muck heaps could all be mixed and finished that day. The scouts -from camp had asked to be allowed to help the work along this last -day, and Mrs. James gladly accepted their offers. - -Breakfast was early, so a long day could be given to the various tasks -to be done before the water could be turned into the reservoir. The -cement was waiting beside a wooden trough that Sam had quickly -constructed, the gravel that had been carted the day before was in a -pile, and the sand for the concrete work had also been brought from -the pit down the road. - -Mr. Ames had selected such lumber at the barn as he could use and -hitched the boards to Ben’s harness; the horse was driven over to the -site for the new dam and the planks were then roughly framed up to -make two standing partitions with about a foot of space between. - -As breakfast was over at such an early hour, Rachel felt justified in -taking the spare time to visit the scene of work, and give her opinion -on the water garden which was to be. She stood with her hands on her -large hips and surveyed the wide depression for a while, then spoke to -Mrs. James and any one who was concerned. - -“’Pears to me you-all is goin’ to a hull lot of trouble jus’ to fill -dis holler wid water. Diden you-all know dat you cud stop up the crick -down by the barn and back all the water you want into this place?” - -“But the reeds and briars had to be removed, Rachel,” said Mrs. James. - -“Jus’ chop ’em down wid a sickle—da’s all,” was the lofty reply. - -“We had to get the roots out, too,” added Mrs. James. - -“Diden you know dey woul’ rot ef dey was under water a long time?” -asked the maid, with astonishment at such ignorance. - -“They would sprout before they would decay, and we had to clean off -the bog so the roots would come out with the marsh muck,” was Mrs. -James’s patient reply. - -Rachel made no further comment for she was too intent on watching the -girls carrying the well-mixed soil from the banks back into the hollow -again. Here they carefully spread out the enriched soil to the depth -of about twenty inches. - -“Well—sus!” ejaculated Rachel. “Dem gals is carryin’ all dat muck back -where Ames tuk it from all dis week!” - -“It has been so thoroughly mixed with manure that it is now ready to -use for plants. All the roots and rocks have been cleared out of it -while it was spread out upon the banks.” - -Rachel felt that her valuable advice had been ignored in this -direction, so she walked along until she came to the piles of rocks. -Some had been rolled into place where they were to be left, but many -were piled up waiting to be artistically arranged in various spots. - -“I ain’t never hear tell of plantin’ rocks fer a garden, but nuttin’ -is queer dese days, ’cause the hull world is gone clean crazy!” -commented Rachel scornfully. - -Norma and Natalie overheard her remark and laughed. Then Rachel looked -back at Mrs. James and said: “I s’pose growin’ rocks is one of dese -gals’ crazes—and you let ’em do such stunts?” - -“You wait until the garden is finished and then judge if the rocks -look crazy where we intend putting them,” laughed Mrs. James, hoping -to quiet Rachel’s fault-findings. - -But the maid took offense at being told to waive judgment for the time -being and turned away to stride back to the house without another word -or look for the gardeners. - -There was too much to be done, however, for anyone to pay the least -attention to Rachel’s wounded pride, and soon the scouts were bustling -about like bees at a hive. The wooden mold, or frame, for the dam was -completed and Ames now gave his attention to the islands. - -“You show me about where you want them made,” said he to Norma and -Mrs. James. “I sent Sam to the barn to bring some more small boards -for more frame-ups.” - -The three most interested ones now descended to the floor of the -hollow and prospected carefully before locating the main island which -was to be in the wildest part of the pool. The distance from the bank -to the desired spot, had to be taken into consideration, as the rustic -bridge must not have piers or supports in the center of it—the -foundations on either end were to be sufficient to uphold it. When the -location was finally decided upon, Mr. Ames drove his crowbar into the -hard ground to mark the site. - -The sites for the two smaller islands were next considered and -located, before the farmer paid any attention to Sam who had been -trying to attract notice from the three in the depression. - -“Now—whad do you want?” bawled Farmer Ames, going toward Sam as he -spoke. - -“I ain’t found no board what’s big enough for making islands,” shouted -Sam. - -“I told you to fetch all the strong boards you could find, ’cause I’ll -make them big enough!” - -Sam went back to do as he was told, and Mr. Ames came up out of the -hollow to start mixing the materials for the concrete. The scouts all -stood around during this interesting process, as they wished to learn -how to do the work in order to be able to build whatever they needed -in the future. - -A temporary floor of heavy planks was laid and upon this the farmer -proposed mixing the cement. He took a bag of cement, added a barrow -full of fine sand, another barrow full of gravel and scrap junk,—such -as bits of iron, trap-rock, slate and other hard sharp splinters—and -mixed all thoroughly together. Before he began adding water to this -preparation, he called to Sam to carry the boards he had brought from -the barn down to the place where the largest island was to be built. - -A number of boards were adjusted to form a frame about the size of the -basis for the island, and these were braced and fastened in place to -keep them from being pushed outwards once the concrete was poured into -the mold. Then the farmer called to Sam to help him in mixing the -cement and other materials. The water was slowly added and Sam kept -mixing with a steel hoe, until the composition was the required -consistency to easily pour. - -When Mr. Ames gave the word, every one helped filling buckets and pans -and boxes and carrying them over to the island. They were quickly -emptied into the large mold, and the scouts ran back for more -concrete. Here and there Mr. Ames pressed a rock or a number of -smaller stones into the soft preparation, and as this hardened and -set, the rocks became embedded as firmly as if cast that way by -Nature. - -When the concrete reached the top edge of the board mold Mr. Ames -topped it off with a rim of rocks, and into this hollowed center, more -concrete was poured until the mold was filled still higher. Its full -height from the floor of the basin now reached to about thirty inches, -and this was considered high enough. The large rocks were now placed -as Mrs. James directed, so that the effect was one of Nature’s -handiworks. In between the crevices and hollows made by the large and -jagged rocks, the soil would be filled when the concrete was set. And -in this soil the vines and plants or shrubs would be planted. - -The side of the island nearest the shore had been kept smooth and flat -as the concrete rose higher about the rocks, and upon this wide flat -wall the end of the rustic bridge was to be laid. - -The two smaller islands were now formed in the same way, Mrs. James -being careful to superintend the sides which had to be left smooth for -the bridges to rest upon. - -It took all morning and into the middle of the afternoon to finish the -concrete work on the islands, but once they were done, the scouts felt -that the hardest part of the water gardening was completed. Mr. Ames -then began work on the concrete dam, but was concerned to discover -that all the sand had been used for the islands. - -“Somebody’s got to drive Ben to the sand pit and fetch a load of sand -for the dam. And then git more for the covering of that soil, ’cause -you said you wanted at least an inch of white sand spread over the -muck to keep the water clear and clean,” said Farmer Ames. - -“Let me drive Ben and get the sand!” exclaimed Janet. - -“Norma and you can drive Ben, and we girls will use the car to reach -the place. Then all hands can shovel and fill the cart the sooner. We -can then fill baskets or bags and put them in the car and bring them -here to help out for the concrete work. By that time you can have Ben -back at the pit again, and fill the cart a second time,” suggested -Frances eagerly. - -This was a very good plan and the scouts all approved heartily of it, -especially so because it offered a possibility of sport. So Norma and -Janet climbed to the seat of the cart and made Ben quit his feast on -the luscious lawn grass. - -Mr. Ames stood smiling while he watched the merry scouts jump into the -automobile and call for Frances to hurry and get off. Then he turned -to Janet who was chirping to Ben to make him go faster to keep up with -the car. - -“If you saw away at Ben’s mouth like that he will balk and never move -a step. He knows a woman is drivin’ when you do that way, and he takes -a mean advantage of you for it,” laughed Ben’s owner, as the two girls -in the cart endeavored to inspire the easy-going horse with more -ambition. - -Then he turned to Mrs. James and said: “While I have to wait for that -sand, Sam and I may as well begin placing the posts for the bridge -ends. I brought my post-hole digger over this morning in case we had a -need of boring holes in the ground.” - -Mrs. James had never seen a post-hole digger at work, so she watched -curiously while the wonderful tool bored the holes the required size -of the posts. It worked after the manner of an augur, but it bored the -hole in the ground instead of through wood. The holes were made so -rapidly that Mrs. James was amazed, and Mr. Ames laughed at her -expression. - -“I don’t s’pose anyone brought the railroad ties I told you of the -other day?” ventured Farmer Ames. - -“Yes, Si Tompkins had them given him by the station agent who said he -was glad to have them moved out of his way. He even offered to help -get them over to the farm, as they had cluttered the ground ever since -the new ties had been laid down a few months ago. So they were left by -the fence just outside the front gate,” explained Mrs. James. - -Ames and Sam then brought in several posts—or ties—and fixed them -securely in the holes; earth and gravel were tamped down in the holes, -and when it was well filled, the posts were as firm as if they had -grown there. - -Still no sight nor sound of the cart with sand could be had, so Mrs. -James suggested that Ames and Sam help her build an artistic flight of -steps from the clump of pines down to the place where the bridge would -span the water to the first island. - -As there were enough railroad ties for this purpose, as well as for -bridge supports, Mrs. James felt that she need not stint herself in -the use of them. So she marked out the line she wished the steps to -follow. They were to curve gracefully down to approach the bridge -indirectly, and not straight down from the high knoll of pine trees to -the lake edge. - -Sam and Mr. Ames cut out the solid ground where the steps were to be -set, beginning at the bottom near the bridge posts. The ties were set -for treads, the flat side facing upward and when it was fitted in -place, Sam took it up again while Ames poured a smooth foundation of -concrete on the ground. Then the log was replaced and pressed down to -make the cement bite into the rough wood. At the final securing of -each log, enough concrete was filled in back of it, to form a solid -wall of cement when it hardened, and this made the basis of the back -of the step, or riser, for the next tread. - -As Mrs. James wanted the steps to be shallow in order to use the more -and curve the flight more artistically before coming to the bridge, it -was easier to build the concrete risers at the back of each log. The -moment the two men had finished with a step, Mrs. James carried large -stones and rocks to the spot and pressed them firmly in at the sides -where the concrete oozed up and out, and these would not only keep the -logs from loosening and moving out of position, but also help the -rustic appearance of the entire flight. Back of these rocks she -purposed having vines and shrubs to grow and droop over the rocks and -ends of the logs. - -The building of the picturesque steps took the rest of the afternoon, -and when Mrs. James realized how late it was, with no report from the -sand-diggers, she began to feel anxious about them. - -Then, just as she ordered Sam to hurry away and learn what had -happened to detain them, the car came in sight, far down the road. - -“Oh, Jimmy! Such a time as we have had with that Ben!” exclaimed -Norma, the moment the girls were within calling distance. - -Mrs. James, Ames and Sam stood leaning over the fence, anxiously -awaiting further news, but so many scouts wanted to tell the story -that nothing could be made of the account. Finally Norma was appointed -to tell the experiences, so she began. - -“All the way to the sand pit that lazy Ben had to be coaxed and -_coaxed_, because he kept turning his head backward to look at the -lawn just as long as the place was in sight. Then he got a little pep -into his ‘Amity Ketchum manners’ and gamboled for a little distance.” -The laughter which greeted Norma’s description of Ben’s style of -laziness interrupted her for a moment. - -“Well, after all the scouts had been digging sand and filling every -receptacle we had taken with us Ben arrived at the pit. We began -filling the cart and soon had it full, but then he refused to start -back. We coaxed and pulled and pushed with might and main, but all to -no good. Ben just stood and _balked_. - -“Then Janet got a willowy hickory and cracked him soundly to induce -him to change his mind. He started suddenly and ran three paces, and -as suddenly stopped short, almost breaking my neck, because I was -driving. I was sitting on top of the sand heaped in the cart and at -the sudden start and stop, a lot of the sand slid off the back of the -cart, toppling me backwards with it. - -“Of course, I let go of the reins and will you believe it! At the -moment Ben felt the reins dangle about his feet he gave a jump that -rolled more sand, and me with it right off the back of the cart into -the road. Then he galloped on down the road with no one driving, or to -stop him. - -“Frances jumped in her automobile and started to speed after Ben. She -never waited for any one of the scouts to jump in to help coax Ben -back to duty again, but tore along the road until she had passed him -and then turned to block the road with the car. - -“Ben must have laughed in his sleeve—or whatever a nag uses for a -covert laugh—when he saw Frances waiting for him. He stopped where he -was, turned about so abruptly that the cart upset and almost threw him -from his feet, too. - -“Now there he was! The cart couldn’t right itself, and he wouldn’t -budge again to try to turn it right side up. The whole side road was -blocked by the cart and horse so that Frances could not pass the -obstruction and come back for us to help turn the cart up again. So -she had to _walk_ back to call on us to go and help Ben out of his -troubles. - -“All the sand was dumped when the cart went over, so we led Ben back -to the sand pit and filled the cart again. This time the horse made no -attempt at balking, but started humbly along the road until we came -out on the main road. He ambled slowly along and we were all rejoicing -in the vain belief that soon we would be at Green Hill, with enough -sand for you to work with, while we could return to the pit for -another load. - -“But Ben knew of a nice ford down by the wooden bridge, and before I -knew that he intended turning down there for a drink, he had left the -main road and was descending the steep bank. I tried to keep my -balance on the sand pile in the cart, but the unexpected angle made me -slide and I alighted on Ben’s broad back instead of remaining seated -where I had been. - -“A great deal of the sand slid out and fell into the stream, when Ben -tilted the cart so sharply on the bank. I wish you could have heard -those unsympathetic scouts laugh when they came up in the car and saw -me straddling Ben and clutching on to his old harness for all I was -worth!” - -The scouts shouted with laughter at remembrance of the funny sight, -and the three adults who had anxiously awaited the coming of the -sand-diggers, also laughed heartily at Norma’s story. - -“But that is not all, Jimmy! When Ben finished drinking he refused to -go on again. We began coaxing and threatening again, but all to no -avail. So there we were. I could not slide back to the cart because I -would have fallen into the water. And Ben would not go on, because he -liked the running water about his feet. The girls could not help us -because the cart was pitched at such an angle that the least shove to -urge Ben onward would have thrown it over again and perhaps thrown Ben -and me with it. - -“Suddenly Frances had a brilliant idea—or she thought it was. She -drove the car across the bridge and then backed it down the other side -of the ford until it reached the water. Then she carefully steered -until it should reach Ben’s nose. It was her plan to tie a rope to -Ben’s head and let the scouts in the back seat hold the leading hold. -Then start the car up the slope on the side opposite Ben, and thus -haul him across the stream whether he wanted to go or not. - -“Well! Ben would not budge, but the car did. And both the scouts who -held for dear life to the end of the rope in order to drag Ben along, -were dragged half way out of the car and were left dangerously near to -being pulled over into the water, but they let go of the rope. It had -stripped the skin from their palms, and left Ben just where he had -been before the attempt at coercion had been made. - -“After a conference held with the girls in the car and me seated on -Ben’s back eager to abdicate in honor of anyone who wanted my throne, -Frances said we would have to use the chain and tackle which had been -left in the box under the rear seat of the automobile. This could be -hooked to the cart and then the cart would start through the ford, -dragging the cart upon Ben’s heels so that he would _have_ to move! - -“Just as we had everything ready to give the signal for the engine to -be started, Ben suddenly reconsidered his ultimatum and started -through the water of his own accord. - -“But the chain pulled the cart so far off his proposed trail that the -rear wheel clutched with the rear side wheel of the car, and there we -were, hard and fast, with Ben trying to go forward and only causing -the wheels to lock the tighter. Frances had to get out of the car, -into the stream, and get hold of Ben’s bit to try and back him again. -Meantime I took advantage of my golden opportunity and jumped from my -perch into the front seat of the automobile. - -“Well, Jimmy! Had it not been for a nice good man who drove past in -his runabout at this time, we would still be marooned in the creek. -But, thank goodness, here we are with as much sand in the cart as -could stand all this pitching and sliding.” - -When Norma ended her tale, Mrs. James and her companions laughed -heartily at the tricks played by Ben. Mr. Ames laughed loudest of any, -because he understood his horse so well. But enough sand was brought -in to supply the first mixture of concrete in the morning, and Mr. -Ames promised to furnish a bait for Ben to prevent another such delay -in carting more sand. - -The next morning when Ames appeared with Ben and another cart full of -manure for the lake soil, he also produced a feed bag of oats. “If Ben -acts up again, just hold this bag under his nose and he will go for -it. Don’t let him get any, but just tease him along the road until you -bring him where he is to stop.” - -“My goodness!” laughed Frances. “Do you have to get out and walk ahead -of him when you are alone and he balks?” - -“He never balks when I drive. He seems to know the minute a female -gets hold of the reins and then he balks,” explained Ames. - -So the scouts started for the sand pit again, but Ben was on his good -behavior that day, and no one needed to use the oats bag under his -nose to induce him to run. In fact, he was over-eager to reach the -farm when the girls were ready to return, and all the sand piled up -high on the cart was thrown off before the horse turned in at the side -gate of Green Hill. - -When Mrs. James took account of stock of sand, she said: “We will save -time and labor by leaving Ben to mow the grass on the lawns, and use -the baskets and the empty cement bags to bring in the sand in the -automobile.” So another load was brought in that fashion, always -carefully protecting the inside of the car by covering it well with -old sheets and newspapers to keep it clean. - -The concrete work of the dam was now finished and left to harden -within the side walls of timber. Farmer Ames had made a door opening -at the bottom of the wall so the water could be drained out of the -lake at any time. Now he devoted all of his time, and thought, to the -building of a good stout door for this opening, and had Sam help him -build two grooves in which it was to slide. When this particular kind -of work was finished, Sam was sent to the store at Four Corners for a -heavy chain and rings, such as were generally used to hold a bull in -the pasture lot. Ring bolts and screws and nuts had been brought from -Ames’ own tool house that day. So that afternoon the sliding door of -the dam was completed and hung so that it was readily raised and -lowered at will. The heavy chain was secured to a sturdy chestnut post -set in concrete at one side of the dam, and Mrs. James was shown just -how to use the outfit that worked the door at the bottom of the dam. - -While Ames and Sam had been making the door of the dam, the scouts had -dug up various shrubs and plants in the woods and had planted them in -groups about the lake shore. Mrs. James and Miss Mason had turned -their attention to finding and digging up small pines, spruce and -cedars, and bringing them to the garden where they were planted in the -heavy metal pails and sunken in between the rocks on the islands, and -at various places on shore. - -Most of the planting and arrangement of rocks and other picturesque -details was now completed, and all the following day was to be devoted -to the construction of the bridges. For this purpose, the heavy planks -that had been used in the molds for the concrete, were to be utilized -for the flooring of the bridges. The largest planks for the longest -bridge and the other shorter boards for the smaller and shorter -bridges. - -The rustic rails and decorative brackets for the bridges were to be -made of knotty pine or cedar trees found in the woods. - -As the next day would be Saturday, the enthusiastic lake gardeners -were very anxious to have the work all completed and the water -diverted into the lake proper, so it might fill up by Sunday, when Mr. -Marvin and their parents were expected to motor to the farm for a -short visit. - -It was dark on Friday night, before the scouts could be persuaded to -stop work and come in for supper. Rachel had called many times, that -everything was being ruined by waiting so long for someone to eat -supper, but such warning had no effect until night virtually halted -all further work. - -While talking eagerly, as they all sat about being served by the -attentive Rachel, one of the scouts spoke of the time it would need to -find proper trees and then cut them down and lop off the branches to -leave a rustic effect on the trunks. - -“What a pity we don’t know of a rustic furniture maker where we might -be able to buy our material ready trimmed,” said Norma, thoughtfully. - -At this suggestion, Mrs. James sprang up and ran over to her desk. She -hastily scanned the pages of a Business Directory for White Plains, -and then laughed joyfully. “I’ve found it!” - -The girls waited eagerly for her to explain. “I’ve found the name and -address of a man who builds rustic lawn furniture to order. He is -located at North White Plains, and his shop is back of his home, so -that I can telephone him now and find out if he can supply us with any -such material as we want for our bridges. If he can, Frances can drive -me over there early in the morning and we can carry back as much as -will go in the car.” - -“I’ll see to it that all we may have need of will go in the car, all -right!” declared Frances, to the satisfaction of her audience. - -Mrs. James soon had the man on the wire and told him what was needed -at once, for the bridges. He replied that he had had a new supply of -rustic wood delivered the day before, and he was sure that everything -she desired in the way of posts for the hand-rails, large brackets to -fasten to the supporting posts underneath the foot-bridge, and also -all kinds of trim for the edges and ends of the bridge, could be found -in the carload which came from the pine forests in Middle New York -State. - -This was such encouraging news that the scouts could not restrain -themselves, and such a babel followed that Rachel ran from the room -with both hands placed over her ears. When she reached the kitchen -where Sam sat eating his supper, she said: “My sakes! Them scouts is -enough to make me deef!” - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - THE JOY OF GOOD CONSTRUCTION. - - -Mrs. James and Frances drove away from Green Hill early on Saturday -morning and reached the manufacturer of rustic garden furniture before -eight o’clock. The materials needed were quickly selected and -purchased, and the man had his men carry it to a small auto truck and -load it. He had expected to deliver it at the farm without delay, so -Mrs. James said nothing about taking any with her in the touring car. - -The man supplied the right kind of nails to be used on the wood, -because he said: “You will find it difficult to drive ordinary nails -through the resinous wood. But this kind of nail is made on purpose -for such work.” - -It took all day with every one working breathlessly, to complete the -bridges and other work that remained to be done. But once the -picturesque bridges were finished, and a few tubs of hydrangeas placed -at each end of the bridges, they added so much to the beauty of the -picture that no one begrudged the work they had caused. - -“Well, gals! Are we ready to remove the temporary block we made at the -spring to turn the water down the other way?” called Mr. Ames from the -side of the spring where the ditch had thus far kept the lake hollow -dry. - -“Oh, wait just a minute!” cried Norma, as she hurriedly ran from one -island to the other to make sure that the plants were well in the -soil. Mrs. James and Miss Mason assured themselves that the water -plants were safely planted wherever they had designed them to be. Then -the footprints left in the white sand that covered the rich soil on -the bottom of the lake site, were carefully raked out and patted down, -as the three inspectors backed out and reached the steps that led down -from the pines. - -“Now—all ready! Let it come!” cried Norma, clapping her hands -excitedly. - -Sam and Ames now shovelled away the temporary bank of soil that had -kept the stream from overflowing, and in a few moments the wooden gate -which served as a dam for the spring, was hauled up and the water was -allowed to find its own channel out over the smooth sand in the bottom -of the depression. - -Every one stood breathlessly watching, as the small stream of water -trickled out over the glistening sand and began spreading in every -direction. It seemed to take such a long time to dampen the sand -before sinking down into the soil. But not a sign of water was to be -seen and the scouts finally grew impatient. - -“If you gals would only go off and attend to something else for the -day, you’d be surprised when you come back tonight, to find what the -spring has done during your absence,” advised Mr. Ames. - -“Because ‘a watched kettle never boils,’” laughed Miss Mason. - -“But there isn’t anything interesting to do!” declared Natalie. - -“I know of a vegetable garden that has been neglected all week, and we -need lots of food for tomorrow,” remarked Mrs. James. - -“And I can tell of a camp where no work has been done since this -absorbing water garden was started,” added Miss Mason. - -“Don’t remind me of a barn yard where cattle are starving for lack of -attention!” laughed Janet, starting away to do the chores required of -a stock grower. - -Norma alone remained after every one else had gone to their individual -tasks, and after sweeping the log steps clean with an old broom that -had been used about the lake, she walked slowly away from the -fascinating scene, going backwards to be able to watch the trickling -water from the spring just as long as she could. - -Mr. Ames was hitching Ben to the cart when Norma reached the lawn. She -stumbled in the rank growth of grass and said: “Mr. Ames, can’t you -spare me a few more hours this afternoon, to mow down this hay? I -can’t make the mower run through it, and it really is a shame to leave -it this way for Sunday, when all the folks are expected from the -city.” - -“If I only had the scythe here I could stop and cut it, but it takes -Ben so long to go home and back again.” - -“I’ll send Frances over with the car—just wait until I ask Jimmy if it -will be all right.” So saying Norma raced away. - -Frances had already brought the car out of the barn in order to drive -to the post office and bring Mrs. Tompkins back with the extra plants -she had promised Norma and Mrs. James. So she willingly drove Norma to -Ames’ farm to get the scythe. When the farm hand went to get it, he -asked Norma: - -“Do you want the single or double-handed blade?” - -“I’m sure I don’t know, Jim, so I’ll take them both,” was Norma’s -answer. - -On the way back to Green Hill, Norma explained to Frances: “I’m glad I -took both, because now Sam can use one while Ames uses the other -scythe.” - -Frances laughed and replied: “We ought to have a dozen at work in -order to get that lawn down to a decent growth again.” - -“Leave all joking aside, Frans, don’t you believe Si Tompkins will -loan us his scythe to use for a few hours? Ask him, anyway, and I’ll -try my hand at it. I can swing it first class, Mr. Ames says.” - -So Frances promised to do her best in coaxing the store keeper to loan -her the scythe, although he had sworn never to let it go out of his -hands again, as it always came back with nicked edges and broken end, -so that it needed grinding anew at his expense. - -When the car returned from Four Corners, Norma found not only a scythe -and a hand sickle in the car, but Mrs. Tompkins had been able to -secure a goodly sized mulberry tree with all the soil packed about the -roots, and two smaller Russian mulberry trees. She also had several -other desirable shrubs and trees for planting about the lakeside or by -the fence that divided the pasture from the house garden. - -Mrs. James and Norma assisted Mrs. Tompkins in planting the trees and -shrubs and then Norma went over to help Sam and Mr. Ames in cutting -the grass. Frances had brought the hand sickle for her own use, -thinking it would be great sport to swing the blade as she had seen -Ames do. - -Norma soon had the trick of using the large scythe, but she had not -the strength of muscle to swing it properly and prevent the blade from -cutting in irregularly. Thus, when her work was finished the grass -looked as if it had been hacked off by a dull-toothed rake, while -Ames’ and Sam’s grass was evenly cut and trimmed. - -“There now, Norma! I reckon you can run the lawn mower over this -grass, all right,” declared the farmer, when the lawns had been cut -down. - -“We’ll try it before you leave,” retorted Norma, sending Sam for the -mower without delay. - -This time Norma found the lawn mower ran nicely and easily through the -grass, cutting and tossing the tiny green blades in every direction. -This was fascinating employment because it was quickly done and not -laborious, so she kept on mowing long after Mr. Ames had gone, and Sam -had been sent to milk the cow for the evening. - -The three large lawns were mowed close that evening, before Norma was -called to supper. Mrs. Tompkins had taken the scythe and sickle and -was driven home again by Frances; the shrubs and trees the florist had -brought to the farm made a fine showing as they stood outlined against -the pale rose-tinted western sky. - -So completely absorbed had every one been in the individual tasks -assigned them that none had time to go and visit the lake and learn -how much water had poured into the basin to make a showing for the -morrow. But the scouts from camp came up to the house about eight -o’clock Saturday evening and announced that they had come “to sound -the depths of the sea.” - -In another moment, every girl had scampered from the side porch and -was running to the front of the house to have a look at the lake. - -“Did you ever! The water has actually soaked through the soil at the -bottom and is almost an inch above the sand!” exclaimed Norma, -joyously, as she danced up and down at the revelation. - -“Let’s see—how many hours did it take to do that?” said Janet, trying -to figure out how much water they might look for by morning. - -“You can’t judge that way, ’cause you don’t know how long it took to -soak through the soil, nor how much water that soil displaces,” said -Norma very wisely. - -“Better let the water do its work while we curb our impatience about -it,” advised Mrs. James laughingly. - -“But do you think the water will be as high as the dam before the -folks arrive, Jimmy?” asked Norma anxiously. - -“I should say it will,” was Mrs. James’s guarded answer. - -“Too bad we haven’t any goldfish to put in now,” sighed Janet. - -“So your ducklings and goslings could feast,” laughed Belle. - -“No, but I’ve got a big surprise for you all tomorrow when the lake is -ready,” was Janet’s reply. - -“I know! She has a gondola ‘boat-bird’ to sail about the lake,” teased -Miss Mason, who had read the story of the “boat-bird” written about -the East Side children of New York. - -In spite of all the coaxings Janet refused to share her secret, but -told them all to wake up early enough in the morning to see the -surprise she had ready for them. - -They all walked slowly back to the porch after this, and having had -such a strenuous day’s work, no one objected when Mrs. James suggested -that they retire early that night. - -Unknown to the other girls, Janet had taken Rachel’s alarm clock and -set it to ring half an hour before the usual time. The clock was -placed under her pillow so its alarm, in the morning, would be muffled -enough to prevent the other sleepers from rousing. - -Hence she was up and out before any one else in the house awoke. And -she had managed to get Sam out of bed, in order to have him help her -in finishing the surprise she had planned for every one. Two very good -and fanciful coops had been made by Janet, at odd times during the -week, the trimming and fancy touches being of rustic woodwork similar -to the trim on the bridges, the difference being that Janet’s trim was -of wild grapevine that twisted and curled artistically and the thin -bark of which made it look much daintier than that of cedar or pine. - -Sam helped to convey these two elaborate coops from the barn over to -the shore near the dam where the day before Janet had cleared two -places and poured soft concrete over the ground to make a dry floor -for the coops to stand upon. They were both delighted to find the -water had filled the lake. Janet told Sam to go back to the barn with -her and help carry the goslings and ducklings to their new palatial -residences. - -As the little fellows had been shut in since their evening meal, they -were clamoring for something to eat when Janet and Sam reached the old -coops. It did not take long to coax them into a box with a hole made -in the cover, for the corn meal they sniffed inside the box made them -fight to get out of the coop and into the boxes. They were then -speedily carried over to the new houses where plentiful breakfasts of -mush and cracked corn were spread in the little lath-fenced yards, and -here they were left to enjoy life. - -Janet and Sam stood back to watch what the little water fowl would do -when they went prospecting outside of the coops. The breakfast kept -many too busy for a time to indulge in any curiosity, but a few ducks -wandered forth and went bobbing their heads towards the lake. - -Janet tiptoed anxiously after them, and when the little ducklings -launched themselves forth upon the surface of the water, Janet almost -screamed with delight. They looked so pretty and were so in keeping -with the entire scene that even Sam laughed and rubbed his hands with -satisfaction. - -“Dear me, I wish I could wait to see the geese go swimming, too,” -cried Janet, longingly. “But I’ve got to run to the house and get the -rest out of bed to make them come and see the lake!” - -“I’ll wait here, Janet, and see dat no harm comes to our birds,” said -Sam, sitting down on a stump to wait and watch. - -“All right, Sam—I’ll be back in a little while. I’ll get the girls to -come out to the pines on the knoll and there they can see the whole -effect, with the fowl on the lake,” cried Janet, starting to run back -the way she came by way of the barn. - -“Why don’t you cross the bridge, Janet, and save time!” called Sam, -wondering at her preference. - -“Oh! So I can! I forgot all about that bridge, Sam!” laughed Janet, -turning and running for the little bridges which had not been walked -upon since the water began flooding into the lake. So Janet was the -first foot passenger to cross them. - -She reached the center of the large bridge and stood to have a look -over the scene and see how her water fowl looked as they played about -in the water at the lower end of the lake. The whole picture as it -appeared from the pretty bridge, so filled Janet with joy and -excitement that she couldn’t bear to lose another moment from calling -her friends to come out and see the entire scene. - -Soon after Janet had left the house, after rousing Sam, Mrs. James -heard a strange sound in her sleep. As it was near her usual rising -time, she awoke and turned over to listen. Her room was directly over -the dining room so the windows overlooked the dam. - -She sat up in bed with hearing strained, to determine what that -unfamiliar sound could be when suddenly it dawned upon her that it was -the water that fell from the top of the dam to the log and concrete -base on the ground. - -In another second, she was out of bed and over by a window. Then the -sight that met her eager eyes was so beautiful that she drew in her -breath suddenly with a gasping sound. She forgot the girls in her -satisfaction over the demonstration made by the lake. It was so much -more beautiful than she had pictured it would be, that it really -seemed like a vision to her. - -Then she remembered how delighted the girls would be to see this -wonderful result of their labors and persistent work. So she ran and -called Norma first, then Natalie and next Janet—but Janet was out and -gone! Then she remembered what had been said about a secret surprise -to be sprung on them that morning. - -Norma and Natalie both rushed to the window at the same time, Frances -and Belle following to take their places at the other window. For a -few moments not a word was said because the four girls were so -astonished at the beautiful view before them. Then there was a chorus -of excited girlish voices, and Norma rushed away to dress and hurry -down to the lakeside. - -Janet came in before the girls were dressed and urged them to hurry -and see what she had done to surprise them all. But Norma said -impatiently: “Can’t you see how we are racing to get on our things! My -fingers are so trembly I can’t button a single dud!” - -Janet laughed and helped her fasten her clothes, then the two ran -downstairs and out to the pines. Here the others soon joined them, and -all stood gazing in rapt admiration at the sheet of water which was -the result of landscaping—thus turning an unsightly marsh and briar -patch into this most picturesque lake. - -The girls crossed and recrossed the bridges, often stopping midway on -them to gaze and admire, over and over again, the results of their -work and planning. Janet’s goslings were fearless and swam about the -lower end of the lake as if they had always lived beside the water and -enjoyed its freedom. But the ducklings kept closer to the shore at -first and seemed too timid to venture across the lake as the goslings -did. - -“Janet’s water fowl add the finishing touch to the picture,” said Mrs. -James, as she stood beside the decorative coops and smiled at Janet. - -“No, not the finishing touch, Jimmy, because the goldfish will add -that!” declared Norma jealously. - -Sam had been sent post-haste to Solomon’s Seal Camp to break the news -that the water was overflowing the dam and the lake was wonderful! -This had the desired effect, so that every scout in Patrol One was -running up the woodland path before breakfast had been started. - -The “Ohs” and the “Ahs” that came from the scouts from camp, and the -repeated visits across the bridges to every place on the shores that -they had had anything to do with during the week consumed more than an -hour. Rachel had trailed about after the scouts as they visited the -familiar bushes and shrubs, and walked up and down the flight of -steps, or sat upon the bank smiling at the happy faces, until Sam came -running across the lawn with dire news for his aunt. - -“Aunt Rachel! Oh, Aunt Rachel!” gasped he, breathlessly, “Dat saucepan -of milk what you put on the fire for cocoa done gone and run over and -now it’s smokin’ and burnin’ to beat the band!” - -Rachel’s two hands flew up above her head and she cried “Oh Laws-ee! -And dis Sunday, too! And all dem folkses acomin’ to visit the place! -And the hull house smoked and smellin’ like eberyt’ing! Oh, _oh_, oh!” - -She had already started to rush for the kitchen by the time she had -finished her lament, but she suddenly stopped and sent her nephew a -look that should have gone to the marrow of his bones. - -“Say, yoh Sambo! Ain’t you got sense enough to take dat saucepan of -milk f’om dat fiah?” - -“Suah I did, Aunt Rachel,” eagerly came from Sam, “but dat don’t -remove all the smoke and smell from the house!” - -However, the odor of scorched milk was all gone before the city -visitors arrived that afternoon to spend an agreeable hour with their -daughters. But long ere the city tourists reached the farm at Green -Hill, every inhabitant at or about Four Corners had walked or been -driven to the place on the road where a fine view of the entire lake -could be had. - -The scouts hovered around listening to the honeyed words of praise and -admiration that came from the frank lips of the country folk, and many -a farmer’s wife returned from that visit with minds firmly made up to -do away with similar unsightly briar patches or marshy ground near -their homes. Thus the landscaping that Norma and Mrs. James undertook -to do had a corresponding good effect on many families about Four -Corners, because they went to work to beautify hitherto ugly spots -near their houses. - -The Tompkins’ family were invited to remain to dinner that Sunday, as -they had been so instrumental in helping the work along. The scouts of -Patrol One were also persuaded to have dinner with their friends, and -Miss Mason consented on the condition that they all be allowed to help -with the dinner work. - -Consequently Rachel did not find the dinner as much work as if she had -had to prepare one for her own family, without the help the scouts -gave. Natalie and Miss Mason went to the vegetable gardens to pull -radishes and lettuce for salad, and there they saw enough green string -beans large enough to gather for a vegetable for that noon’s dinner. - -Frances and Belle drove over to Farmer Ames and persuaded him to kill -two of his largest fowl for them to carry back to cook for a -fricassee. This afforded enough chicken soup for the first course and -the meat with dumplings added, provided plenty of meat. The string -beans, young beet tops and new potatoes made a fine course; and the -lettuce salad with radishes came next. Rachel made a large rice -pudding the day before, and cooled it in the cellar. As she had -intended sending half of it to camp for the scouts, she now had plenty -for every one. - -As was customary at these large gatherings, the table was set on the -back lawn under the old apple tree, and the seats were made of wide -boards placed across soap boxes, for the young folks to use, while the -adults had chairs brought from the dining room. - -The city relatives did not arrive until three o’clock and before that -time the dinner dishes were all washed and out of the way, the -Tompkins’ family had started homeward and the scouts of Patrol One had -departed for camp. So the girls at the house had ample time to make -elaborate toilets to receive their families. - -When the visitors finally did arrive in several large touring cars, -they were as astonished at finding a lake all made by their girls as -the girls themselves could have hoped for. Every place on the farm was -visited and discussed, from the two beehives to the newly mowed lawns. -The transplanted trees, shrubs and wild bushes that stood along the -fence by the field to supply the birds and bees with plenty of food -were wondered at, but Mr. Marvin said he did not see how they could -live after being interfered with in July. He believed they must be dug -up in late fall, to be successfully transplanted. - -“Oh, we expect them to die off after a time, but that won’t do any -harm, for we will have had the effect of certain trees in certain -groups and places, and we can easily supplant them with the same kind -and size, late in the fall. All we need now is to coax the birds to -nest in the houses and these food trees will bring them,” explained -Norma. - -“Besides, we have already chosen certain shrubs and trees in the woods -to take the place of any that may die. We tied red flannel ribbons on -them to mark them, and Jimmy wrote the class and other information on -tags which we tied to their trunks in case the leaves are all off -before we can dig them up,” added Janet. - -“Oh! do you expect to visit the farm on weekends this fall?” asked Mr. -Wardell, rather pleased at the idea of having Janet get a few days in -the country every week. - -“Week-ends! Why, Father! We intend remaining on the farm until all the -fall work is finished,” declared Janet. - -“You don’t mean that you will stay on after school opens?” was Mrs. -Wardell’s amazed question. - -“Why, certainly, Mother! We will _have_ to stay if we intend -prospering with our business, next spring,” said Janet. - -Every one had crowded around the three speakers and now Mr. Marvin -said teasingly: “Perhaps you will change your minds—once you get back -to New York, and will not want to return to Green Hill next summer.” - -The five girls gasped at such a ridiculous statement and Janet and -Norma retorted at the same time: “Not come back! you haven’t the -slightest idea of what we have at stake here!” - -The adults laughed heartily at this answer and then Norma’s parents -took up the catechism. Said Mr. Evaston: “What about school when it -opens in the fall?” - -“Oh, we are all going to commute to New York with Natalie. She has to -stay here until snow flies, you know, to have everything in fine order -for us next year.” - -This seemed to amuse the elders still more than Janet’s remarks, and -Mrs. Evaston said: “Haven’t you any regrets about leaving your fathers -and mothers all alone in New York?” - -Frances replied: “Our parents all have automobiles and whenever they -are lonesome, Jimmy will be glad to have them visit _us_ at Green -Hill.” - -Before the laugh this remark occasioned had died away, Janet added -pertinently: “That’s a fine plan, Frances. We can make the adults pay -board and room by the day, and make much more money than we are -getting from us girls by the week, you know.” - -Mrs. James flushed and interpolated with: “You will give your families -the impression that I am mercenary, girls!” - -But the prolonged laughter that followed Janet’s suggestion and Mrs. -James’ discomfited reply must have reassured the hostess. Then Norma -said seriously: - -“Even if the other girls do go back to the city, in September, I could -not leave so early, because Mrs. Tompkins says my bulbs, and roots and -bushes that I expect to transplant this fall for next season’s -growing, have to be in the ground before November, but not earlier -than the last of October or they will rot.” - -“And Sue! We have to remain to look after the cow just as long as the -weather is warm enough for her to pasture outdoors,” ventured Belle. - -“To say nothing of my pigs, Belle. I can’t go away and leave them -half-grown. I must stay here and take care of them until they can be -sold to the butcher,” added Janet. - -That reminded the girls of Seizer, and forthwith the sad story of his -early demise was told in pathetic words, but the city elders could not -sympathize in such a loss and they smiled in an amused manner. Well -for them that Janet did not see the smiles! - -The discussion over the girls’ determination to remain at Green Hill -until all outdoor work was impossible because of the cold weather, and -their statements that they must return in spring to be able to proceed -with their farm work, caused Mr. Marvin to laugh and make a suggestion -that really bore fruit in after days. - -“If these country life scouts stick to their farm work so seriously as -they are now doing, they will drag us all from our lives as cliff -dwellers in New York and land us on farms of our own at Four Corners.” - -The very idea of such a preposterous outcome of their daughters’ -present experiments, made the parents laugh heartily, but the girls -exclaimed eagerly: “Oh, that would be splendid!” - -Janet added laughingly: “Maybe we scouts will save enough money from -our farm work to pay for the farms our families will have to live -upon!” And the other girls laughed merrily at the very suggestion. - -“Who knows!” Mr. Marvin said, still joking about it all. “I may be -able to lay out Green Hill into small farms and sell them off to our -girls for your future homes.” - -“You couldn’t do better!” retorted Janet quickly. - -“I choose the water garden for my farm site!” was Norma’s instant -decision, causing every one to laugh at her funny choice of a farm. - -Natalie now said very seriously: “You old fogies can joke and laugh -all you like, but you don’t know the times you are all missing by -staying in New York, while we are enjoying the farm.” - -“If rosy cheeks and an over-supply of energy and vitality is a -criterion of life on the farm, I will say that you girls certainly -demonstrate the advisability of every one in cities moving out to -farms,” laughed Mr. Marvin, looking approvingly at his ward’s healthy -color and bright eyes. - -“Not only that, but you all just wait until the season ends, and then -see the money we will have on hand,” bragged Janet. - -“I am so glad to hear it! Then you can repay me all the advance loans -I have made to you, from month to month, since we opened an account on -a farm allowance basis,” said Mr. Wardell. - -The other fathers laughed appreciatively at his remark, for they had -all had similar experiences with their daughters. But the scouts paid -no attention to such suggestive words as repaying advanced loans for -farm uses, and the elders refrained from starting to collect damages -at that time. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - THE PIGEON COTE. - - -The pleasure of looking at the lake and enjoying its water falls and -the water fowl that played about in the lower end most of the time, -did not wear away in a few days, but the desire to constantly stand on -the shore and gaze at the water, began to pall in a few days’ time. -The scouts never ceased to love and appreciate the spot; and almost -every evening the three girls from the village, the scouts from the -camp, and the girls from the house, met under the pines to enjoy the -cool of the evening on the lake shore. - -Janet had added pigeons to her stock by this time, but they would not -remain at Green Hill. The first day she allowed them their freedom, -she watched with pleasure as they flew up in the blue sky. But then -they made straight for Dorothy Ames’s farm where they had been reared. - -Janet wailed and got Frances to drive her over to Dot’s house without -delay. There were her pigeons strutting about with the others, and -pecking deliberately at the corn on the ground. They were taken -captives again that night and brought back to Janet. - -In a few days she let them out of the coop again and again they flew -in a bee-line for home. The girls laughed at this escape, but Janet -was angry and asked Dorothy what could be done to keep them at home to -attend to their business of raising a family. - -Dorothy now made a suggestion that sounded well but it meant more -carpenter work. “You might try a small cote for the different kinds, -Janet, and see if they will stay if they have to keep house alone in -pairs.” - -Janet spoke of this idea when she returned to Green Hill, and Norma -eagerly added: “Oh, that is just what Mrs. Tompkins told me today. She -says we ought to have our pigeons separated from each other, because -the pouters and fantails never agree, and the tumblers and the common -pigeons always peck at each other and are dissatisfied in having to -live together.” - -“I suppose that means I must start a lot of carpentry work again, and -build separate houses,” sighed Janet. - -“No, Mrs. Tompkins showed me a cote she made for her ordinary pigeons, -and it looked fine!” said Norma. “She took a big sugar barrel and -after making separate rooms in it, had it mounted on top of a tall -pine tree that had been blasted by lightning. - -“Now I looked around our back yard, Janet, and I found a high -telegraph pole that had been split off near the top. As no one uses it -now for wires, or other needs, we can use it for a pigeon cote. I know -just how to fix that barrel, and all you have to do is to have Frances -bring one from Tompkins’ store. I asked him to save a good one for us -and he said he would.” - -“Well, that isn’t so bad, if you will make one cote, and some of the -other girls make another, and so on, until I have enough ready for a -dozen pairs of pigeons,” laughed Janet, relieved and optimistic once -more. - -Mrs. Tompkins said that the birds didn’t mind _feeding_ on one common -ground, and they even flew into the chicken yards to eat the corn that -is scattered for the hens, but they object to _living_ in the same -quarters. “That is why they fly home again—to get away from their -neighbors.” - -“What snobs they must be!” remarked Natalie. - -The girls laughed, and Mrs. James said: “It is because they never -learned the Golden Rule. Maybe it will be our work to teach our -pigeons to be socialists.” - -“I’d rather build separate coops and let them live their lives their -own way,” retorted Janet. - -“Mrs. Tompkins says that once you get the female to set on her eggs -and keep the male penned in with her until the squabs are out, they -will never try to fly away again. But she often keeps hers in prison -for months before they will start raising a family and settle down in -their new home,” said Norma. - -So the sugar barrel was brought home from the store and Norma began -work on it exactly as she had been shown. Janet and the other girls -assisted, and in a day’s time the cote was ready to be mounted on the -old telegraph pole. - -It had been partitioned off inside to make several coops. There were -three floors in the barrel, and each floor was divided into two -apartments. The doors opened outward so that no one door came directly -in line with the others, and this was done to keep the birds as much -apart as possible. - -Perches and a running-board were placed at each door; and there were -perches projecting out beyond each end of the “verandah.” Then a -narrow roof was fastened over each door to keep the rain from beating -in at the opening. - -“If only we had a nice cone-shaped roof on the top of the barrel like -Mrs. Tompkins has on hers,” sighed Norma, looking at the flat top of -the barrel head. - -“Girls! I have it!” cried Janet, jumping up and starting for the barn -yard as if on wings. - -The other girls watched her go and waited wonderingly until she -returned with a large tin cone in her hands. - -“There, I bet it will fit on top just as we want it to!” laughed -Janet, inverting the cone and capping the barrel as if it had been -made for it. - -“What is it? Where did you get it?” questioned the curious girls. - -“I remembered seeing it kicked about the harness room, and Sam said it -was an old broken hopper that had once belonged to a feed chopper. The -pipe and funnel are missing, so it was worthless to the old tenant -when he moved away.” - -Norma looked in the hole at the top and said: “We can cork it up with -a bit of fitted wood, Janet.” - -“Sam can do that to a dot, ’cause he loves to whittle,” added Natalie. - -“We ought to paint the cote before it is mounted on the pole, Janet,” -suggested Belle. - -“I am sure we have enough paint left over from the bird houses to do -this barrel,” was Frances’ idea. - -So Janet ran down to the cellar and brought out the several cans of -paint, with a little in each tin. “Not enough of one shade to go -around, though,” said she, after examining the tins. - -“Listen, girls! Let’s mix all the paints in one pail, and add enough -turpentine or oil to thin it out as we need it. But keep the green -paint separate to use to trim the cote and roof.” - -“Sam has some brown-red paint at the barn that will do to paint the -roof red. It will look better if it is a contrasting color from the -trimming,” suggested Janet. - -“All right, Jan, you run and bring the red-brown can while we mix -these other paints together and see what color it makes,” said Natalie -eager to experiment. - -Janet went for the red roof paint, while her friends mixed the other -paints thoroughly together, and then called on Mrs. James to bring -them some oil and turpentine. She went to the kitchen catch-all closet -and found the two bottles, then took them over to the busy girls. - -“Don’t use much linseed oil, girls, as it will keep the paint from -drying quickly. Turpentine dries almost instantly,” said Mrs. James, -handing the bottles to Norma. - -When the mixing was finished the girls were delighted to find that the -tiny bit of russian blue in a can, the small amount of ivory black, -the dab of scarlet, and the half pail of flake white paints made a -soft grey almost like a dove’s tipped wings. This was applied to the -barrel sides and bottom; and then Janet returned with the red-brown -paint. - -The cone was fastened to the top of the barrel and when it was painted -no one would have known what it had been before it became a roof on -the pigeon cote. Then the verandahs and perches and roofs over the -doors were painted green, and the stakes that projected from the top -and bottom of the barrel were also painted green. - -“It will take until tomorrow to dry, girls,” said Mrs. James, when the -painting was finished. - -“Meantime, we are going to Tompkins’ store and see how soon we can get -some more sugar barrels. This cote is so pretty it will be a -decoration to our back garden,” said Janet. - -“And when we go to the store, remember to get some more wire netting -to nail these projecting stakes in order to keep the birds in their -prison until the family is started,” reminded Norma. - -When the cote was dry and the wire was fastened about it to keep the -inmates from flying away, Sam was called upon to climb the long ladder -and saw off the end of the telegraph pole, so the cote would be about -twenty feet above the ground. - -This was no trouble for him, for he had been sawing so much since the -day he tried to square off the clothes pole that he soon had the high -pole evenly sawed and ready for the cote. - -Several heavy iron brackets had been secured at the store to insure -the safety of the cote once it was on top of the pole. Then Sam -climbed the ladder again and the girls hoisted the barrel cote up to -him by means of a rope and pulley. - -At last the nice-looking cote was up and it looked very good, too. Sam -suggested that the old grey pole be painted a dove color but Janet -discovered that there was no paint left in the can. Some one had -kicked it over in their zeal to pull the barrel up to the top of the -pole, and the remaining paint had trickled out upon the ground. - -“Oh, that pole is near enough the grey color of the cote,” called -Natalie impatiently. - -“We can give it a coat of paint next year, if we think it will look -better,” added Janet. - -“But Norma wanted it to look good for the rest of this summer,” -ventured Mrs. James. - -“Yes, it is in _my_ garden, and I don’t want any old things to ruin -the appearance of my flowers,” admitted Norma. - -“Why won’t a lot of vines look fine, if you train them to climb up the -pole?” asked Belle. “I’ve seen the poles in country gardens covered -with morning glories and other vines!” - -“That’s just what I will do, Jimmy!” declared Norma, turning to her -adviser for approval. - -That same day, Janet brought home her prodigal pigeons for the fifth -time, but this time two pairs of the ordinary kind were placed in -Norma’s cote and left there to start housekeeping. When the ladder was -finally removed and the girls stood smiling at the fine result of -their work, and the way the pigeons would have to remain at home after -this, Rachel walked across the grass. - -“I’m wonderin’, Honey, how you-all is goin’ to feed dem birds, ef day -is wired in dat away?” - -The girls gazed at each other in blank astonishment, and Mrs. James -had to sit on the inverted butter tub and laugh. No one had given a -thought of how the birds were going to be fed. - -Sam had started for the barn yard with the ladder, but he was suddenly -recalled. He dropped the ladder to come back and see what was wrong, -but Janet called out: “Bring the ladder with you.” - -When he had rejoined the group, Rachel laughingly said: “Dese wise -pigeon trainers done gone and forgot how to feed dem birds, Sam!” - -Then her nephew laughed as loud and as long as Mrs. James had done. -Still that did not solve the problem of feeding the pigeons, so Sam -wiped his eyes and studied the cote from where he stood. Finally he -made a brilliant suggestion. - -“You hoisted dat coop like it was a fedder, and I don’t see what’s to -hinder you f’om hoistin’ corn and feed to the roof and den yankin’ on -the rope to turn over the tin what holds it. Let the cracked corn and -other feed roll down onto the piazza floors for the pigeons to pick -up.” - -“That’s a great idea, but how about the drinking water?” demanded Mrs. -James. - -“Well, I dun’no about dat. Let someone else remember a great idee for -dat,” was Sam’s reply, as if he had performed his duty in thinking of -a way to settle the feed problem. - -“Now that it is up and the birds living in the cote, I don’t see what -else you can do except to leave the ladder against the pole and have -Sam climb up twice a day to feed them,” remarked Frances. - -“Water once a day, and feed night and mornin’,” said Sam, as if -learning a lesson by memory. - -“We’ll just have to leave it that way until I see Mrs. Tompkins and -ask her what can be done,” said Norma resignedly. - -“Do they only need corn while they are caged?” asked Janet anxiously -of every one. - -“Mrs. Tompkins said we had best give them the same sort of food they -would get if they were flying about at liberty. They need grit and -lime and sand mixed in a dish and placed where they can get all they -want of it. We must sprinkle sand and gravel over the floor of the -promenade, too, for them to scratch in, all they like. When the hen -bird lays her eggs and starts brooding over them, the male bird will -feed and care for her. As soon as the little ones are hatched we can -remove the wire and let them have their liberty,” said Mrs. James. - -“Suppose the pair on one floor of the house start a family, before the -other birds think of it, and you remove the wire. They will fly away -again, just as they did from the barn,” said Janet. - -“We won’t take away the wire from the front of the coops unless all -the birds settle down to raising their families. Only one pair of -birds will be given their liberty at a time,” said Norma. - -Several barrels were secured from Tompkins’ store after that, but the -others were small half-barrel sizes which the girls preferred, because -they would only have to have two families in one cote, and that would -simplify the troubles of a flat owner. - -The new cotes were placed upon much lower posts and poles, too, so the -problem of feeding the pigeons while they were in captivity was easier -to solve. - -Sam had found a small American flag in the roadway one day, and this -he stuck in the top of Norma’s large cote, where it flew patriotically -and made the pigeons sit with heads on one side eyeing this emblem of -their native land. - -In about a week’s time after the first pair of pigeons were kept -captives, Sam shouted one morning: “The lady bird done gone laid two -aigs! Hurrah!” - -The news was so thrilling that every scout in both the patrols had to -climb that ladder and have a peep at the expectant mother, but the -male bird scolded and snapped at their faces so daringly, that they -really saw nothing after they had reached the top of the ladder. So -each one came down again. - -The day after Norma had finished her cote for the pigeons she began -turning her full attention to her flowers, once more. Not that she had -neglected them past all hope, but they had not been the sole ambition -of her time during the extra diversions of water gardening and -cote-building. - -It was during the week that followed the parents’ visit to Green Hill, -that Janet went with Frances and Belle for a visit to a distant -farmer’s who advertised young squabs for sale cheap. Janet decided -that it would be far easier to raise some other owner’s squabs than to -try to keep enough pigeons on hand to hatch out the young birds at -home. - -When she returned from that shopping trip, she plainly showed that she -had made a daring venture. Frances and Belle were hardly able to keep -from laughing at what they knew, so Mrs. James said: - -“Come, tell us what it is all about, Janet!” - -“Well, I’ve gone and bought a ewe and two dear little twin lambs!” -declared she, with the air of a king who can do no wrong. - -“Oh, really!” exclaimed the two girls who had remained at home. “How -cute they must be?” - -But Mrs. James seemed concerned. “How can you take care of them, -Janet? Are they grown enough to feed themselves?” - -“Oh, no, but that is the cutest thing about them, Jimmy! You should -see them follow the mother about and try to get a drink. She actually -cuffs them over the ears when she thinks they have no need of more -milk,” laughed Janet. - -“When are they coming here?” asked Norma eagerly. - -“The man said he would deliver them tomorrow morning. I only paid him -for the squabs, Jimmy, as I had no money left. I wonder if you can -loan me the price of the ewe and lambs?” - -“Certainly, Janet. But do not neglect Susy now that you have a few new -toys. Poor Susy went hungry this morning because you forgot all about -her. So Sam gave her her breakfast.” - -“Oh, my darling Susy!” cried Janet, turning to run for the enclosure -where the calf was kept. - -“All that endearment won’t do any good now, Janet,” laughed Belle. - -“All the stuff you fed Seizer that morning did him more harm than -good,” added Frances, hoping to impress Janet with her serious -responsibilities. - -The ewe and lambs arrived the next morning, and the man left them in -the pasture lot with Sue, although neither member of Janet’s -increasing family cared a fig whether there were lambs to gambol about -the field or not. - -Sam and Janet hastily constructed a shed and yard for the lambs and -the ewe, and that night they were closed in to sleep upon the nice -fresh straw. - -In the morning, when Janet went to gather the new-laid eggs, she -stopped to have a peep at the lambs. They were constantly running -after the big ewe, but she kept out of their reach and slyly managed -to dodge their every effort to get at her. - -Janet hurried back to the house and reported on the ewe and lambs, -then added: “They were blatting so pitifully I wonder if anything is -wrong?” - -Thereupon every one started for the barn yard to visit the lambs. Just -as Mrs. James reached the fence of the enclosure, a harrowing sight -was presented to the interested watchers. The ewe had slipped back and -forth so many times to elude the lambs, and they kept jumping about to -reach her and nurse from her, for they were hungry, when the old one -suddenly turned and butted her solid forehead against the nearest -lamb. - -It was instantly flattened against the side of the shed, while the old -ewe turned her attention to the other teaser. The butted lamb bleated -such mournful cries that the girls felt like crying for it. While the -ewe was dealing justice to the second little lamb, the first one -managed to creep up unawares behind her and try to snatch a drink of -milk. - -The ewe then kicked lustily and sent the little wobbly thing sprawling -out on the ground. - -“Oh, you inhuman mother, you!” shrilled Janet angrily. - -“Isn’t she horrid to her children?” added Natalie. - -“We’ll just _make_ her feed those darlings!” declared Norma, as she -saw Sam crossing the yard, and beckoned him to come over. - -When the story of the wicked mother had been told Sam, he said wisely: -“Mebbe she wants to wean ’em.” - -“But she just can’t, Sam, until they are old enough to feed -themselves,” returned Janet. - -“I’se seen lambs fed in a bottle till they was big enough to pick fer -themselves,” ventured Sam. - -“A bottle? Like a baby?” chorused the interested girls. - -“Yeh, onny some bigger, ’cus a lamb wants more at one feedin’, you -know.” - -“Oh, that will be fun. Let’s send to Four Corners for the rubber -nipples and the bottles,” laughed Belle. - -The girls were so interested in this new idea that they left Mrs. -James still watching the ewe and lambs, while they rushed to the house -to ask Rachel questions. - -“Have you got a big bottle that we can use to nurse the lambs?” asked -Natalie, quite out of breath when she reached the door. - -“We need two bottles, Rachel!” added Janet. - -“How big mus’ they be?” asked Rachel. - -“Oh,—how big, Sam?” - -“Big nuff to hold about a pint each, Aunt Rachel.” - -“I got some catsup bottles what hol’ a little more’n a pint a piece, -Sam,” said Rachel. - -“Them will do, where are they?” returned Sam. - -“On the swing-shelf, down cellar. You kin git ’em,” replied Rachel, -going back to her baking. - -Sam soon produced the bottles from the cellar, and then said: “Now all -you want is them rubber nipples.” - -So all four girls accompanied Frances on a special trip to Four -Corners to buy the nipples from Tompkins. - -“But I only got one nipple left in stock, gals,” was Mr. Tompkins’ -disconcerting reply. “You see, Four Corners ain’t had no baby fer nigh -onto a year now and my old customer what used to buy them moved away -in winter.” - -“Well, we will take the one, and have to telephone to White Plains for -more,” said Janet anxiously. - -“I’d better drive there for more, Janet,” suggested Frances. - -“Oh, yes, but we will take this one with us, Mr. Tompkins.” - -While Janet was paying for it, she told Mr. Tompkins about the need -for it. When he heard how the ewe refused to allow the twins to nurse, -he said there was something wrong as he had never heard of a mother -ewe who weaned such little lambs. - -“I’ll run over this noon and see what ails her,” said Mr. Tompkins. -“Meanwhile, you feed the lambs with a bottle.” - -The girls found ample exercise and fun in trying to catch a lamb and -feed it, but once the captive got hold of the nipple, it drank the -bottle empty of milk without stopping. It would choke and sputter -exactly like an infant, and this pleased the girls immensely. - -By the time the girls had finished holding the frisky lambs securely, -while another girl held the bottle in its mouth, they all had kicked -shins from tiny hoofs, and their hands and faces were dirty from the -nosing the lambs gave them. But this was considered awfully cute of -the lambs, and the girls ran back to the house, when the feeding was -over, to wash their hands and faces. - -That morning the old ewe kept quiet and only moved when the lambs -teased her beyond endurance. Then Mr. Tompkins came at noon, and the -girls escorted him to the barn yard to hear him pass judgment. - -“Why, that ewe will come down with milk fever if she don’t let them -lambs nurse right off!” declared he, as he tried to get a grip on the -ewe and examine her. - -“Here, Sam! Sit on her head while we make these lambs nurse out this -caked milk!” said Mr. Tompkins, as he held down the ewe until Sam got -over the fence and did as he was told. - -The lambs went to work hungrily, but the ewe resented it so that she -tried to kick and butt, and finally Mr. Tompkins said: “Gals, I don’t -believe she is the mother of these twins. Who sold you the three?” - -Janet forgot the man’s name but she described the farm where he lived. -“Why, the old rascal! He tol’ me himself, a few days ago, how his best -ewe died leaving a pair of twins to raise by hand. And a crank mother -lost her lamb and wouldn’t help out the starving twins! So he palmed -them off on you to bother with, eh! Well, we will all go and get him -and make him do what’s right!” threatened Tompkins furiously. - -Frances got the car out again, and the girls, with Mr. Tompkins to act -as their representative, started off for the farm. - -After a time, Mr. Tompkins said: “Ain’t you drivin’ the wrong road?” - -“No, we went this way, all right,” said Janet. - -“But the man I mean lives the other way,” said Tompkins. - -Just then a farmer’s wagon came in sight, and as the automobile came -opposite it, Janet shouted eagerly: “That’s the man! He sold us the -lambs!” - -“Why he ain’ the man I was talking of at all!” said Mr. Tompkins, -chagrined at his mistake. - -The farmer pulled in his horses and began, before the girls could -scold him: “I found my man made a mistake, gals. He picked the wrong -mother for them twins. I never knew it until I found the other mother -feverish, and then I saw we had a wrong lamb for her. I got the right -mother in a box in the wagon and I’ll carry my other mother home with -me.” - -As this explained the whole trouble satisfactorily, the exchange was -soon made and the little twins were quickly snuggled by their right -mother, while the starving little lamb back on the other farm would -soon have its own mother again. - -Then Janet explained how the ewe had butted the poor little lambs when -they wanted to nurse from her and how they got the bottles ready to -care for the hungry little dears. - -The farmer laughed and said: “If you think the mother had a temper -because she butted the lamb, you ought to see what the real mother of -these twins did to my man when he tried to make her nurse the lamb -that was left behind. He was stooping to draw the lamb over to her -side when the old ewe lowered her head and in another moment the handy -man was assisted over the fence!” - -After the family reunion of lambs and ewe, the twins grew like weeds, -and were able to run about the field after the mother and be weaned in -two weeks’ time. But all this belongs to Frances’ book which follows -this one. - -A strict account was kept of Sue’s expenses and the income from the -milk and butter and cheese, also the skim-milk which Janet bought for -the pigs and calf, and at the end of the two weeks, dating from the -Saturday the cow arrived at Green Hill, a corporate meeting was held -to discuss dividends and future expenses of Sue. The profit showed -such encouraging signs of growth that the girls began counting how -long it would take to pay off the borrowed money with which they paid -for Sue, and then begin to have something left to divide between the -stockholders. - -When Janet heard how much the skim-milk had cost her in the past two -weeks, she gasped. “Why, Jimmy! If those pigs go on eating like this, -the pork will be worth more than two dollars a pound when fall comes.” - -The other girls laughed, and Natalie said: “Then you ought to feed -David and Jonathan more of my tomato vines and let them follow in -Seizer’s steps.” - -“Well, I am thankful I am not the sole owner of the cow, too. If we -have to pay Nat for all the cabbages and turnips the cow ate when she -got in the garden the other day, we won’t have any profits to divide,” -said Janet, giggling. - -“That’s an item I forgot to charge up,” said Mrs. James. - -“But I am to be reimbursed in some way, for my loss, am I not?” asked -Natalie. - -As is commonly the case at large stockholders’ meetings, a -disagreement on debts and dividends took place and after a long time -given to explanations about how much Sue cost for keep and the income -on her first product and the by-products, the meeting adjourned -without anything definite having been decided upon. - -During the second week of July, the eight girl scouts of Patrol Number -Two attended a council meeting of the Solomon Seal Patrol One, at -which they were informed that Headquarters in New York City had -admitted the Patrols as a first-class Troop, and now the members could -start an intensive drive to win badges and be awarded honors for the -tests given in the handbook. - -At this meeting, Miss Mason enrolled the eight Tenderfeet as scouts in -regular standing, and immediately after this welcome information, the -eight girls whispered eagerly to each other of individual plans for -advancement. Then Frances declared herself aloud to all present: - -“I take this occasion to let you all know that henceforth you shall -not know me as a jitney conductor, because I have decided to take up -other lines as well. Not that the car is going out of commission—far -be it from me to allow Amity Ketchum to again resume dominion over -Four Corners’ helpless travellers—but I am going to study insects and -the birds, this summer, and take tests. - -“I have watched many insects and find they are so very interesting, -and there is so much to learn about their habits and lives, that I -believe they will afford me plenty of pastime and, if I write down -everything I discover, just as Janet told her stock story in the -diary, I can give you scouts many entertainments. - -“Besides the insects, I find the birds about this section of -Westchester are very wonderful and rare for the usual temperate -climate. One of the old natives at Bronxville, where Belle had me -drive her the other day in search of a Colonial cupboard for sale, -said that very few sections of the Northern States could boast of so -many tropical birds as nested about the woods in the immediate -vicinity of Bronxville. Yet they seldom went farther North than that -line, and seemed to keep within a definite line all about that -section. - -“Belle planned to study bird-life at first in connection with her -antique research, but she believes forestry and art will combine -better with her special line of business. Then, too, Belle likes -domestic science, and will follow that as a recreation.” - -When Frances concluded her speech, the scouts applauded and Mrs. James -said, smilingly: “Belle ought to speak now.” - -Belle jumped up instantly and remarked laughingly: “All I can say is -that it will be wise for you scouts to keep on good terms with me, -after I have experimented more with my domestic science; as I can -either treat you well with my finished products or kill you off with -heavy biscuits and doughnuts, if you make me an enemy. That’s all.” - -When she sat down, the scouts laughed heartily and Janet swore -friendship from that moment on, in order to insure her life, she said. - -The Captain now said: “If there is nothing more to take up for -discussion, we will proceed with the scout exercises.” - -Then Janet jumped up and called for attention. “We have a most -important matter to discuss but we cannot plan or talk with Jimmy and -you present. Now, which shall we do—adjourn this meeting in order to -discuss our own business, or excuse you two undesirable attendants -until we have concluded our conference?” - -Miss Mason laughed and retorted: “I am not accustomed to hearing so -frankly that my company is not wanted, so I shall leave without asking -to be excused.” - -Mrs. James took the Captain’s arm and nodded her head approvingly, as -she added: “Them’s my sentiments, too.” And the two departed from the -Council but every one knew what the topic of general interest was. - -As the two ladies walked slowly away, the Captain turned and called -out: “Plan all you like, girls, but don’t spend any money on our -double birthday!” - -Corporal Janet tossed her head at that, and beckoned to the scouts to -draw closer so they could confer without a word being heard by the two -principals in the case. - -“First, I want to know how many have thought of a novel idea for -entertainment at the party on the sixteenth?” asked Janet. - -So many girls raised a hand that Janet laughed, and then said: “We’d -better begin at this end and go right around the circle. Even if one -of us hasn’t thought out a finished plan, our general discussion may -launch something that will be an improvement on someone else’s -suggestion. Now you begin, May.” - -“My idea of entertaining the Captain and her Lieutenant was this: To -invite all the people about Four Corners to a Scout Council and -entertain them in ways that will show them how valuable scouting is. I -have thought of many ways in which we can entertain strangers, and at -the same time, advertise our scout organization.” - -“That’s a good idea, May, but would you include _every_ one about Four -Corners, without reservations?” asked Janet. - -“Of course! How could we discriminate?” - -“I was thinking of Amity Ketchum—would you invite him?” teased Janet. - -There was a general murmur of dissent at this and May had to brave the -flash of many eyes as she said: “Even our enemy, for he needs -something good and intelligent more than any one I know of.” - -Several scouts applauded this sentiment, and Janet continued: “What -are some of your ways for entertaining, May?” - -“There are so many, it is hard to decide on any—there are the stars to -talk about; the wildwood vegetation to describe and its uses -demonstrated; the signs and signals and blazes of scoutdom to -illustrate; demonstrating how a scout camps—pitches tent, digs -latrines, makes fire without matches, finds bedding from the trees, -etc.; and many other vastly interesting things, besides doing our -exercises applied to various needs.” - -“Let the Troop Scribe make a note of this plan, as it sounds good to -me, eh, girls?” was Janet’s decision. - -“Yes, indeed, it is!” they chorused. - -The second scout was one who had not been able to think of any novel -plan for the birthday party, but when she heard May’s idea expressed, -she was able to amend the motion by saying: “Why not make a full -afternoon and evening of the entertainment, and invite Four Corners to -the woods for our share in teaching them scout life, and then let them -invite us to the village school-house for the evening, where we can -give a regular party with ice cream and lots of Belle’s domestic -science cakes?” - -Every one laughed at the last suggestion but they also approved of it. -Janet then offered the suggestion for debate, and finally it was -decided by the “yeas” that were it possible to interest enough Four -Corners’ folk, the three village scouts of Patrol Number Two would be -delegated to ascertain all about the hiring of the school-house for -the evening of the sixteenth. - -Norma sat next to the girl who amended May’s motion and now she said: -“My party plan is very simple in comparison to May’s, as it was an -idea to go for a fine long hike in the woods and take along enough -floor and cooking needs to have a gypsy dinner in the woods. I thought -we could spend the day and return home at evening and celebrate at the -house with singing and games.” - -“Sounds inviting, Norma, but who will keep awake to sing and play in -the evening after a long day on the hike?” was Natalie’s query. - -The scout next to Norma now amended the proposition with: “Why not -ride somewhere and play gypsy when we arrive there? Then we won’t be -so weary with walking and can sing or play as Norma suggested, when we -come back home?” - -“We all can’t crowd in the automobile,” said Frances. - -Then the girl next to the first amender spoke up and said: “My idea -was very similar to the one just announced, but I had thought of using -several farm wagons, such as Ames has, and filling the bottom with -straw for a straw ride to the hills.” - -“That, too, sounds alluring, so we will have the scribe jot that -amended plan down for future consideration,” said the Corporal. - -The next two scouts had thought of gathering together at Solomon’s -Seal Camp and having refreshments and games. But these ideas were not -approved, so the turn came to Natalie to speak. - -“Well, I must say, that it is disappointing to be in the last row of -spectators at the death of the fox,” began she laughingly. “Here am I -with as good a plan as the others, but it has been minced up by the -girls who proposed and those who amended the others.” - -The scouts smiled sympathetically—or at least, those girls did who had -not yet spoken. Natalie continued: - -“I planned for a morning of hiking in the country; coming home to a -fine dinner out on the lawn under the trees, then a general council -and other gathering at Camp, with our relatives in attendance, and an -evening given over to whatever form of fun we all decided on. I -thought the supper could be served at camp for all who came.” - -“Jot that down, Scribe, for discussion,” said Janet, turning to -Frances who came next. - -“My idea was along the same lines, but I thought to ask Mr. Marvin and -a friend of his who would have a touring car, to drive out from the -city and take us all for an auto trip in the afternoon, and then we -would invite them to sup and an evening’s entertainment in return,” -explained Frances. - -Janet turned to the Scribe and said: “Add to that last memo ‘Frans -says call for two autos from Marvin.’” - -Belle’s turn came next and she said, languidly: “I never got past the -idea of baking a huge birthday cake with two great wax candles on top -of it.” - -This idea caused a laugh, and Janet approved it at once. “We won’t -need to discuss that, Belle—it is decided upon that you bake the best -and largest cake Rachel can accommodate in the oven, and decorate the -frosting so elaborately that the two monster candles will look all the -funnier on top of it.” - -Two of the scouts had ideas for each girl making an individual gift -and presenting it at a Council held in the afternoon. Janet amended -this to the giving of gifts made by the donor, to be held in the -evening. - -One of the scouts had a plan for giving an amateur performance, the -play to be written by one of the members, and the acting to take place -in the woods with natural scenery. - -“That’s fine! We might try Hiawatha or a play written along such -lines. We must get our heads together and invent a new play something -like Hiawatha, so we can use the stream and the tent and the clearing -in the acts. The play can be part of the afternoon’s entertainment to -the Four Corners’ people,” exclaimed Janet eagerly while the other -scouts all felt agreed on the suggestion. - -The next scout had conferred with her neighbor and had agreed to write -the play with her. So she was put down as the playwright. The rest of -the girls had simple plans for entertainment that would fall in line -with the greater ones, but those already jotted down were now -discussed thoroughly, and a programme made up for the time being. This -would be revised as necessity called for. When more than an hour had -passed by and the Captain, with her Lieutenant, returned to camp to -find all the scouts’ heads close together still, the former called -out: - -“Council is adjourned for the day!” - - The End. - - - - - The Girl Scouts Series - - BY EDITH LAVELL - - A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author - of wide experience in Scouts’ craft, as Director of Girl - Scouts of Philadelphia. - - Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. - - PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. - - THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL - THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP - THE GIRL SCOUTS’ GOOD TURN - THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CANOE TRIP - THE GIRL SCOUTS’ RIVALS - THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH - THE GIRL SCOUTS’ VACATION ADVENTURES - THE GIRL SCOUTS’ MOTOR TRIP - - For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt - of price by the Publishers - - A. L. 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Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website 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/old/67091-0.zip b/old/67091-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3178230..0000000 --- a/old/67091-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/67091-h.zip b/old/67091-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d5b8097..0000000 --- a/old/67091-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/67091-h/67091-h.htm b/old/67091-h/67091-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 87b806e..0000000 --- a/old/67091-h/67091-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6662 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<head> - <meta charset="UTF-8" /> - <title>Norma: A Flower Scout, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy—A Project Gutenberg eBook</title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - <style> - body { margin-left:8%; margin-right:8%; } - p { text-indent:1.15em; margin-top:0.1em; margin-bottom:0.1em; text-align:justify; } - h2 { text-align:center; font-weight:normal; page-break-before: always; - font-size:1.0em; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; } - h2.nobreak { page-break-before: avoid; } - div.section { page-break-before:always; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:4em; } - div.chapter { page-break-before:always; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:4em; } - table.toc {} - table { page-break-inside: avoid; width:100%; } - table.tcenter { border-collapse:collapse; padding:3px; - margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em; - margin-left:2em; } - td { vertical-align:top; } - td.c1 { text-align:right; padding-right:0.7em; } - td.c2 { font-variant:small-caps; } - div.cbline { margin-left:1.4em; text-indent:-1.4em; } - div.blankline { width:100%; height:0.7em; } - .wi001 { margin-left:15%; width:70% } - .wi002 { margin-left:37%; width:25% } - .x-ebookmaker .wi001 { margin-left:5%; width:90% } - .x-ebookmaker .wi002 { margin-left:35%; width:30% } - .caption { text-indent:0; padding:0.5em 0; text-align:center; font-size:smaller; } - .mt01 { margin-top:1em; } - .mb01 { margin-bottom:1em; } - h1 { font-weight:normal; font-size:1.4em; } - .tn { background-color:#FFFFDD; font-size:0.9em; border:1px solid silver; margin-top:1.8em; margin-left:5%; width:90%; } - .tn ol li { padding-right:1em; } - </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Norma: A Flower Scout, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Norma: A Flower Scout</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 3, 2022 [eBook #67091]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT ***</div> - -<div class='section'> - -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<h1>NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT </h1> -</div> -<div id='i001' class='mt01 mb01 wi001'> - <img src='images/illus-001.jpg' alt='' style='width:100%' /> -<p class='caption'>The hostess would dig up a small plant and place it carefully in the basket.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='section'> - -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div style='font-size:1.4em;'>NORMA:</div> -<div style='font-size:1.4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-style:italic;'>A FLOWER SCOUT </div> -<div>By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY</div> -<div style='margin-top:1em;font-variant:small-caps;'>Author of </div> -<div style='font-size:0.9em;'>“Natalie: A Garden Scout,” “Janet: A Stock-Farm </div> -<div style='font-size:0.9em;'>Scout,” “The Blue Bird Series,” “The Five </div> -<div style='font-size:0.9em;margin-bottom:1em;'>Little Starrs Series.” </div> -</div> -<div id='i002' class='mt01 mb01 wi002'> - <img src='images/illus-002.jpg' alt='' style='width:100%' /> -</div> -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div style='font-size:0.9em;'>Endorsed by and Published with the Approval of </div> -<div style='margin-bottom:1em;'>NATIONAL GIRL SCOUTS </div> -<div>A. L. BURT COMPANY</div> -<div style='margin-bottom:1em;'>Publishers New York </div> -<div style='font-size:0.8em;'>Printed in U. S. A. </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='section'> - -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div style='font-size:1em;'>The Girl Scouts </div> -<div style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:1em;'>Country Life Series</div> -<div>A SERIES OF STORIES FOR GIRLS</div> -<div>By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY</div> -</div> -<div style='text-align:center; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto'> -<div style='display:inline-block; text-align:left;'> -<div class='cbline'>NATALIE: A GARDEN SCOUT</div> -<div class='cbline'>JANET: A STOCK-FARM SCOUT</div> -<div class='cbline'>NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT</div> -</div> -</div> -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div>Copyright, 1925</div> -<div style='margin-bottom:0.7em;'>By A. L. BURT COMPANY </div> -<div style='font-size:0.9em;'>NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT </div> -<div style='font-size:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.7em;'>Made in “U. S. A.” </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='section'> - -<div style='text-align:center'>CONTENTS</div> -<table class='toc tcenter' style='margin-bottom:3em'> -<tbody> - <tr><td class='c1'>I</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chI'>Norma’s Letter Home.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>II</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chII'>Mrs. Tompkins Coaches Norma.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>III</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chIII'>An Automobile Is Donated.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>IV</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chIV'>Building Bird Houses.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>V</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chV'>Mignonette and Chrysanthemum.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>VI</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chVI'>Flower Days and Legends.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>VII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chVII'>The Rock and Water Garden.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>VIII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chVIII'>The Rain Interferes.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>IX</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chIX'>Various Undesired Tasks.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>X</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chX'>The Water Garden Completed.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XI</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXI'>The Joy of Good Construction.</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXII'>The Pigeon Cote.</a></td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' title='I—Norma’s Letter Home.' id='chI'> - <span style='font-size:1.4em;'>NORMA: A FLOWER SCOUT</span><br/><br/> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER I</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>NORMA’S LETTER HOME.</span> -</h2> -<p style='text-indent:0'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>“Dear Folks at Home:</span></p> - -<p>“Here I am at Green Hill, just as much at home after a few hours’ -time, as if I had been here for years. But, oh, Mother! Such an -arrival as we three girls experienced! I wish you could have seen us -when we finally reached the farm. How Daddy would have laughed! But -you, Muzzer, would have wept at the sight of my shoes, they were so -covered with mud. And you would have reminded me that you had just -paid fifteen dollars for them, downtown. But it was not my fault—that -mud. It was Amity Ketchum’s fault. I’ll tell you about it.</p> - -<p>“When Belle Barlow, Frances Lowden and I jumped from the poky local -train that stopped at Four Corners on signal only, we looked all -around for some sort of a hack to take us and our luggage to Green -Hill. We remembered what Mrs. James had told us about the lazy driver -who took them to the farm when they arrived, but he was not to be seen -when we got there.</p> - -<p>“Then we went to the ticket-office to ask the agent about some sort of -a conveyance, but the place was closed and not a soul anywhere about -the building. We looked at each other and laughed.</p> - -<p>“‘There’s but one alternative, girls—walk!’ declared Belle, in her -usual calm superior manner.</p> - -<p>“The drizzle that was sifting down when we left New York had become a -fine rain at Four Corners, making the roads muddy and full of small -pools. We had our suitcases and smaller traps to carry, as well as -hold up our umbrellas to keep our new straw hats from becoming -discouraged and droopy. Can you picture us?</p> - -<p>“As Frances remarked after we had hiked for a hundred yards and -suddenly caught a squall of wind sweeping over the fields: ‘The -luggage acted as ballast and anchorage at the same time, to keep us -from flying up in the air with temper.’ Struggling along in spite of -handicaps, we finally reached the Post Office store.</p> - -<p>“Now what do you think! There sat that lazy Amity Ketchum tilted back -in an old wooden chair, his feet crossed on top of a small cylinder -stove, discussing present-day politics. If the three of us had not -felt so aggrieved, we must have laughed outright at the sight of the -solitary hackman in the profession at Four Corners, absolutely -regardless of trade, or the difficulties his clients must experience -on such a day, with their misplaced confidence in Amity causing them -such free exercise as we were having.</p> - -<p>“Why will doting parents misname their progeny as this man Amity was -named, Mother? He is so far from being amiable that his name should -suggest just the opposite of what ‘Amity’ means. We girls learned from -the store keeper that Amity Ketchum was the local Jehu, so Belle spoke -to him in rather an imperious tone.</p> - -<p>“‘Why were you not at the station to meet this train, as we wired you -to do?’</p> - -<p>“Amity carefully lifted one foot after the other, from the cold -stove-top to the floor, and slowly turned around in his chair to stare -at us. Then he actually ignored us and replaced his feet on the -fireless stove, and tilted back the chair and resumed his discussion -where he had abruptly interrupted himself to take a good look at -Belle. This made the other country men, who were lounging about the -place, grin at us as if we were big sillies. But Belle was furious. I -knew Amity was in for it when she said in her most cutting voice:</p> - -<p>“‘I believe you are the driver of that sorry-looking freak standing -outside that goes by the name of Cherub. Was ever a beast as that, or -a man like you, so contrarily named? Why, just look at the poor excuse -called Cherub! His coat of fur has not been shorn for countless moons, -and the size of his hoofs must have caused the holes in the road which -are now filled with water like miniature lakes. Then give a thought to -those queer tufts of hair growing from above the hoofs—like the -Scotchman’s precious emblem that swings from his belt. And the -vehicle! ye gods, what a rare picture for the movie camera! Its wheels -running at different angles from each other in the most independent -way, and the dashboard that was broken through by the last passenger, -several weeks ago, still dangling to trip the Cherub’s heels. Well! -Four Corners must sit up, now, and take notice. A group of <i>live</i> -young people have come to stay, and sleepers like this driver and his -spirited steed, will be left behind unless he churks up a bit.’</p> - -<p>“Amity Ketchum had never experienced any controversy with the natives -over his indolent habits, as they accepted him and his profession just -as he was. But Belle’s denunciation caused his lower jaw to drop and -render him speechless, while the farmers who had nothing to do on a -rainy day, laughed heartily at Belle’s words.</p> - -<p>“We turned to go out, but Frances suddenly had a brilliant idea. -‘People like you seldom appreciate what you have until you lose it. If -some other young farmer about here would start a cab line for Four -Corners, we would send him all the patronage we will have daily at the -farm.’</p> - -<p>“But no one rose to this tempting bait, so we poor bedraggled girls -had to plod onward to Green Hill, carrying our bags and umbrellas as -before, with injured pride weighting us down.</p> - -<p>“Well, we finally reached the farm where Mrs. James and Natalie and -Janet were eagerly watching for us. They had heard the engine whistle -an hour before, and wondered what delayed us so. We described our -differences of opinion with the hackman, much to Mrs. James’s -amusement, and the girls’ hilarious laughter. But Rachel who stood in -the doorway, listening, was furious. She declared that if she only -owned an automobile she’d telegraph for her nephew, Sambo, to come -right out to Four Corners and earn a decent living by taxi-cabbing in -Four Corners. But her suggestion inspired Frances who is writing a -letter to her Father about some scheme she has in mind. ‘She won’t -tell us a thing about it until she hears,’ she said.</p> - -<p>“Now that the unpleasant walk is over and we are comfortable again, we -can laugh at the incident. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have -missed the fun for anything, as it will prove to be one of the -laughable experiences of our summer at Green Hill. There goes the -dinner call, folkses—I’ll have to finish this letter later.” * * *</p> - -<p>“It is now supper time, dear folks, and I am sitting in my room to add -a few lines to this letter. This noon, directly after dinner—every one -in the country has dinner at noon and supper at night—so we fell into -the same customs at the farm. Right after dinner, Natalie informed us -three girls that we were all invited to visit Solomon’s Seal Girl -Scouts’ Camp. This is the group of girls I told you about, that Miss -Mason organized last year, and now has in camp at the woodland of the -farm.</p> - -<p>“We had a most interesting visit with the girl scouts. They did so -many stunts for us that it would fill a book were I to try and write -it all for you now. The object of the meeting was to discuss the plan -of having Mrs. James form a second Patrol of Solomon’s Seal scouts. -Miss Mason’s scouts form Patrol Number One, and we girls will be -Patrol Number Two. Then we can apply at the National Headquarters in -New York City for a charter which officially registers us as a Troop.</p> - -<p>“It was decided that we girls, being five, and the three girls Natalie -and Janet know, and asked to join the Patrol, will comprise the -membership of the new Patrol. But we will be Tenderfeet for a month, -before we can call ourselves regular scouts.</p> - -<p>“This evening, after supper, we sat talking about the work Natalie and -Janet are doing on the farm. Natalie started a vegetable garden soon -after she arrived at the farm, and now you ought to see those beds! -Really, you would be amazed to see how the cuttings and seeds Natalie -planted are growing. She says she is going to sell the produce to the -scouts at camp, and to Rachel, for the house-table. If there is more -than enough to supply these needs, she is going to send it to New York -to friends to buy. In this way she expects to earn enough money during -the summer to pay for her own board and keep. Then Jimmy (Mrs. James, -you know) can save the cost of Nat’s board and deposit it in the bank -for her future.</p> - -<p>“When Janet found Natalie was working for a living in such a -delightful way, she, too, got the idea of starting something to earn -her living this summer, and save the board money that her folks send -every week to Jimmy, for a future college education. Janet started a -stock farm. She bought three darling little pink pigs and some -chickens. She expects to sell the eggs the hens lay, and sell the -broilers the setting hens will soon hatch out for her. This will bring -in ready money every day, and in a short time she will be able to buy -a cow, a calf, a lot of ducks, geese and turkeys, and maybe some sheep -and everything else that belongs to stock work on a farm.</p> - -<p>“You really won’t believe how much money Janet will have by the end of -this summer, all cleared out of the stock investment. But she proved -it to me by showing me the actual figures on paper. Eggs are so -expensive now, and broilers, too, always bring a fancy price in the -market. Then, when she sells the milk, butter and cheese from the cow, -the squabs from the pigeons, the ducks, geese and turkeys at -Thanksgiving time, she will be repaid for her labor during the summer. -The three pigs will fatten and grow without any care or cost to Janet, -as they just eat whatever is left from the house; but pork brings -awfully high prices when sold, so Janet will clear about a hundred and -fifty dollars on her three pigs, when she sells them to the butcher. I -wish I had been here first, and had had the opportunity to start a -stock farm such as Janet has.</p> - -<p>“But I suppose I would have made a failure of it, as I love to dream -and idealize things. And Janet certainly can’t sit and idealize pigs -and cows and such creatures, because I watched her tonight—she almost -cried because she forgot to feed the pigs their supper, and they -squealed unmercifully for hours until she mixed the corn-meal mush and -carried it to them.</p> - -<p>“It was suggested by Jimmy that I cultivate flowers in the beds -already laid out but, thus far, nothing is planted in them. There are -several hardy shrubs and flowers that come up every year which were -left here by the former tenant, but they need pruning and cleaning out -before they will look tidy and thrifty. Jimmy says she will help me -all she can in the flower-gardening, so I have decided to try it, -anyway.</p> - -<p>“Natalie told me that Mrs. Tompkins, the wife of the man who owns the -post office store, offered to give them all the slips and cuttings we -needed to plant around the house at Green Hill. I am sending to a -large seed store in New York, for a catalogue of their seeds and -flowers, and will choose those which will grow quickly, as it is July -and several months have been lost before I got here.</p> - -<p>“Nat said that Mrs. Tompkins has the most beautiful flower gardens -back of the house! I am going there to visit her and see her flowers. -Jimmy thinks this work is just suited to my temperament, as I always -loved flowers, and feel quite enthusiastic over the prospect of -growing them and taking care of them. I couldn’t see where any profit -could come to me out of the work of planting and watching over the -flowers, but Jimmy says there are as many ways for me to dispose of my -flowers for money, as it is possible for Natalie to sell vegetables, -or Janet to sell stock.</p> - -<p>“Before you see your dreamy Norma again, she will be a professional -floriculturist. As a beginning in the business, Mrs. James authorized -me to take charge of the landscaping of the grounds about the house. I -am also going to have charge of the lawns. To keep the grass cut short -and the edges trimmed neatly, and the people from walking across the -grass and wearing footpaths over the lawn. I am to be paid for all -garden or lawn work, the same as Farmer Ames charges the household for -his time. Jimmy also told me that I shall be paid for any work I am -asked to do about the place, whether it is helping Natalie weed or -plant her vegetable gardens, or doing odd jobs.</p> - -<p>“But the flower beds will be all my own to do with as I like, so there -will be no pay for planting or raising flowers. It is such fascinating -work—this flower seeding and planting, that I count every moment as -wasted when I am not doing something to improve the garden or lawns.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. James is the heart of everything at Green Hill Farm, from Rachel -as house-worker, down to the dog, Grip, who belongs to Sam, the handy -man; everything turns to her for advice and help. What would we all do -without her?” * * *</p> - -<p>“10 P. M.—I was interrupted in my letter just as I finished the last -paragraph. The girls called me to hurry downstairs and walk with them -to Four Corners. I went, but Mrs. James and I stopped to visit Mrs. -Tompkins’s gardens while the other girls went on, with Hester -Tompkins, to see Nancy Sherman and Dorothy Ames about forming a scout -patrol. I can’t go to sleep without telling you about Mrs. Tompkins’s -flowers, so I am sitting up to write, but all the others are fast -asleep.</p> - -<p>“I never thought the plain old earth could produce such lovely colors -and the delicate perfumes Mrs. Tompkins’s flowers have. She has a -large area devoted to her flowers, and there I saw almost every kind -of plant, blossom, shrub, vine or tree that grows north. She says it -is because she loves them so much that they bloom and thrive so -splendidly for her.</p> - -<p>“I believe that I could love flowers that way, too, and maybe they -will bloom and thrive successfully for me, too. I told Mrs. Tompkins -that I knew of no pleasanter way to live than to see such lovely -rewards as the flowers, for one’s time and patience.</p> - -<p>“She looked at me very searchingly, for a minute, and then said: -‘Norma, I think you will be a successful florist if you keep at the -work. But you cannot slight such a calling once you undertake to grow -the plants.’</p> - -<p>“I wish you could see the great basketful of slips, roots and cuttings -that I brought home from Mrs. Tompkins’s gardens tonight. I am going -to get up at sunrise in the morning and plant them. Jimmy and I were -visiting Mrs. Tompkins for almost two hours, yet it seemed like ten -minutes.</p> - -<p>“Now that this letter is finished, it can be mailed in the morning and -I am free to start my garden work. Don’t be alarmed if you do not hear -from me again for a long time as I will not have much time to spare -once I begin gardening and landscaping the farm. When it begins to -look like a real picture garden I want you both to come out and see -what I can do. But do write often,</p> - -<div style='text-align:right; margin-right:4em;'>To your loving</div> -<div style='font-variant:small-caps; text-align:right;'>Norma.</div> -<p>P. S.—If you possibly can send me my two months’ allowance in advance, -I would be very grateful, as I want to buy seeds and bulbs, and lots -of things for my work. Please send it <i>at once</i>.</p> - -<div style='font-variant:small-caps; text-align:right;'>Norma.</div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chII' title='II—MRS. TOMPKINS COACHES NORMA.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER II</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>MRS. TOMPKINS COACHES NORMA.</span> -</h2> -<p>The foregoing letter was sealed and mailed that forenoon when Farmer -Ames drove past on his way to the general store. But there may be some -readers who have not met Natalie and her friends at Green Hill Farm, -and so, are not aware that Natalie left New York City with Mrs. James, -her valuable companion and friend, and Rachel, the old southern cook -who had been with the Averills for many years, to live on a farm in -Westchester County that had been left the girl by her mother.</p> - -<p>The old Colonial house on the farm was large and comfortable, so -Natalie’s four school chums had agreed to spend the summer there, and -board with Mrs. James. This income would help pay current expenses of -housekeeping, and the girls could enjoy the freedom of country life -and be happy in each other’s company.</p> - -<p>All the amusing incidents that occurred to Natalie when she launched -her plan and started a vegetable garden to help defray expenses, and -the still more ludicrous experiences Janet had after she began her -stock farm, are told in the two preceding volumes of this country life -series, namely: “Natalie: A Garden Scout,” and “Janet: A Stock-Farm -Scout.”</p> - -<p>The same day that Norma’s letter went to her parents, a letter written -by Frances Lowden was also mailed at Four Corners. In Frances’s letter -she begged her parents to leave the automobile at the farm when they -went to Colorado for the summer months. The reason for wanting the car -at Green Hill was explained in the other volumes; that Frances -proposed running a jitney as her business venture that summer, and -thus put Amity Ketchum out of his profession for the time being.</p> - -<p>How this venture succeeded and how Frances added to this undertaking -the other branches of work that won her the badges in scoutdom, is -told in full in her book which follows this one.</p> - -<p>The preceding evening, while four of the girls called on Nancy Sherman -and Hester Tompkins to make an appointment for the meeting of the two -scout patrols, Mrs. James took Norma and introduced her to Mrs. -Tompkins, the flower lover.</p> - -<p>“I trust we are not disturbing you, Mrs. Tompkins, but I wanted to -introduce Norma to you, as I think you two will be very close friends -after you get acquainted with each other’s ideals,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you came in, as Hester just went out to visit Nancy Sherman -for a little time this evening, and I am quite alone. I was just on -the point of going out to my garden and watch the bud on a -night-bloomer. I hope it opens tonight.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, then, let us go with you, as Norma is going to start the flower -gardens at the farm, and will be very grateful to you for any hints or -helps you can give her,” explained Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad to find someone who is interested in my hobby,” was Mrs. -Tompkins’ reply, as she smiled at Norma. “Come right out and let me -introduce you to my favorites in the flower beds.”</p> - -<p>Norma and Mrs. James followed their hostess out to her large gardens, -and Mrs. Tompkins began describing various plants as they passed them.</p> - -<p>“You’ll find that most of my flowers in the beds nearest the house are -all of the old-fashioned variety, because they give out such sweet -perfume. I love to sit by my back window and smell their refreshing -odors. It is payment in full for all the time I give to their food and -growth.”</p> - -<p>The two visitors walked slowly along the neat footpath and stopped -frequently to stoop and smell of a bright blossom, or admire a -wonderful color of a flower.</p> - -<p>“I try to use good judgment in the arrangement of my plants, too, as -well as to group the colors so they will blend instead of fight with -each other. Sometimes, I have great difficulty in this arrangement, as -a flower will open and surprise me with an entirely different color or -shade than I expected. Quite often, the bees, or birds, will carry a -germ from one flower to another when they visit it to sip the nectar, -and this fertilization of the seed, after the flower dies, is made -manifest in a totally different color in the next production of the -plant.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, how interesting! I never knew such things happened in a flower -garden,” exclaimed Norma.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins laughed at the girl’s very evident interest. “You will -find stranger and more absorbing things happening in a flower garden, -than this very common occurrence. Because you see, it really depends -upon the breezes, the bees, or the birds—sometimes, on a creeping -insect or caterpillar—to carry pollen and the fertilizing germs from -one flower to another. And Nature seldom errs in her judgments, -either.”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Tompkins,” now asked Mrs. James, “do you know anything of the -quality of the soil in the flower beds at Green Hill?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid I am not well enough acquainted with it to render any -verdict on it now. But I could visit you and examine it, so as to give -you an intelligent answer on what flowers it will raise. The last -tenant of the farm did not waste much time, or money, on the floral -side of the grounds. His hobby was vegetable growing and the barn -yard, and his wife cared little for gardening, so the beds were -generally neglected.</p> - -<p>“Fortunately, there is no danger of spoiling soil when it is not -planted, and it is a very easy matter to enrich it so that any plant -will thrive in it. The only impossible soil is what is known as ‘hard -pan,’ but we find little of that around here.”</p> - -<p>“I forked over some of the dirt in one of the beds and found it was -rather dry and lacking in richness. Now this may be due to a sandy -soil, or it may mean the soil is impoverished and needs more -vitalizing properties before we plant the flowers,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“If the ground was well manured early this spring or if you use good -barn yard manure this fall, the beds will show a fine condition by -next spring. I should use about a half-barrel full of manure to a -square yard of the soil. But that will not do you any good for -immediate planting. I would have to see the soil before I prescribe -now for it,” explained Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“If Janet adds to her poultry business and buys pigeons and other -feathered fowl very soon, we can use that manure for the beds. I’ve -heard that poultry manure is best for flowers,” ventured Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what I do,” returned Mrs. Tompkins. “I believe poultry -manure is one of the best to be had for any purpose with plants, as it -is rich in nitrogen, easily stored and handled, and does not contain -the grain or weed seeds that stall manure has and always reproduces -when used in the garden. I remove any droppings from the perches and -the floor of the house where the fowl roost; then I sweep the floors -of all the coops, and use a fine tooth rake to clean out the poultry -yards. These I throw in the box where that particular compost is kept. -If I have any waste vegetable matter from the gardens or the kitchen -garbage, I mix that with the poultry manure and leave it to decay -thoroughly.</p> - -<p>“I have learned that such a compost heap, far enough from the house to -prevent any disagreeable odors from reaching us, will attract the -chickens when they are at large, each day, to exercise. They will -scratch in the heap and mix it better than I can. You do not need -nearly as much poultry manure as you would of stall manure.”</p> - -<p>“What kind of manure can we use now that will not burn the plants -Norma may wish to raise?” asked Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“As I said before, I had better test the soil before I commit myself -to reply. If the soil is damp, she’d better use some wood ashes from -the fire-places, to furnish the potash and improve the condition of -the soil. Bone dust makes a good fertilizer that can be used at most -times, but it does not provide any humus to the ground. I think I -should use a fine bone dust for present needs, but use a coarse powder -for spring or fall enriching.”</p> - -<p>Norma now interrupted this conversation by exclaiming: “Oh, what a -beautiful bed of gladiolis! In New York we would have to pay a dollar -for six of those stalks.”</p> - -<p>“I’m very fond of my gladiolis, and so are my bees and birds, -especially the humming-birds. They hover in and out of the blossoms as -long as there is one to hold honey or nectar. My July flowering -gladiolis are planted in early spring and produce magnificent spikes -of flowers right through to frost time. I plant many of the bulb in -late autumn and protect them from the frost with straw sweepings from -the stable.”</p> - -<p>One corner of the garden was a mass of gorgeous color produced by -great peonies. Mrs. James pointed at them and remarked about their -size and the sweetness which she could smell as far away as she was.</p> - -<p>“I am justly proud of them,” smiled Mrs. Tompkins. “I was careful to -plant them where they would be protected from the east wind. They love -a deep fertile soil and will thrive well in a sunny sheltered garden. -You can grow them from seed, but you will wait a long time before -enjoying the flowers. If you transplant a well-rooted plant, you will -have flowers the following season.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t suppose we can plant any roots so late as this?” queried -Norma, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“No, it would merely kill the plant and the root would dry up in the -ground.”</p> - -<p>The iris, the phloxes, the pinks, lavender, portulacae and many other -old-fashioned flowers were discussed, and for each one, Mrs. Tompkins -had a valuable lesson to give Norma. As they went along the paths, -Norma carrying a flat-bottomed basket, the hostess would dig up a -small plant which had sprung up from a seed beside the older plant, -and place it carefully in the basket. Thus by the time the three had -covered the length of the paths in this section of the garden, Norma -had almost a full basket of young slips and roots to take home for her -own gardens. Then they walked over to a garden well enclosed with -hedges, both low and high.</p> - -<p>It brought forth a simultaneous exclamation of admiration, as Mrs. -James and Norma saw that this large garden contained all kinds of -roses, from the single American Beauty standing upright and queenly, -to the tiny bush prolific with pink blooms. The hedges, too, were well -worth admiring and seeing.</p> - -<p>On the side nearest the other flower-beds, the low hedge was comprised -of hyssop, rosemary and lavender. On either side were hedges of roses, -thickly grown and kept well-trimmed, but back of the riot of color and -perfume of the rose garden proper, stood dark green privet and back of -that a row of dwarf cedars. This effectually screened the barns, but -what really covered the grey, unpainted buildings were the luxuriant -vines and creepers which were trained up over the roof, and hung in -festoons from gables and dormer windows set in the roof.</p> - -<p>Standing, as the visitors now did, beside the low hedge of flowers, -and gazing across the roses to the taller hedge of cedar and then up -at the tangle of green vines, the effect was lovely. And so thought -the woman who had accomplished this effect.</p> - -<p>After Norma had inhaled the perfume and sighed in an ecstasy of -pleasure at the beautiful roses glowing before her, Mrs. Tompkins -retraced her steps toward the house, as the twilight was falling and -the dew began to gather on the foliage of the plants.</p> - -<p>Norma carried the basket as if it were filled with frail creations of -mist, but she asked questions, nevertheless.</p> - -<p>“Why do you have table oilcloth spread out over the basket, Mrs. -Tompkins?”</p> - -<p>“To keep the soil from drying and to keep the roots and plants moist -after they are placed in the basket. The oilcloth keeps the air from -circulating about the roots and soil.”</p> - -<p>“Then why have such a shallow basket. Would not a deep one keep away -the air?”</p> - -<p>“If we used a deep basket you would have to reach down into it and, -perhaps, break a delicate stem, or catch your sleeve, or leaves of -other plants, while you are removing a plant or root. By having such a -shallow basket, one is not tempted to place other plants with their -soil, on top of those in the bottom, as might be the case if one used -a deep basket.”</p> - -<p>As the three reached the back piazza which was completely hidden under -vines, Norma remarked aloud: “It’s a wonder Mrs. Tompkins never went -into the florist business, instead of keeping all these wonderful -flowers and her valuable knowledge about them, to herself.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins smiled. “I’ll tell you something that I seldom speak of. -I have had many tempting offers of large salaries and easy hours, to -take charge of private greenhouses owned by millionaires who like to -raise prize flowers; and also from commercial florists to superintend -their greenhouses, because I have won quite a reputation for myself -through my successful floriculture. But I stayed at home to work with -my own garden and with my old-fashioned tools and ways.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Mrs. Tompkins! Didn’t you want fame and riches?” cried Norma, -scarcely able to understand why one should refuse such wonderful -gifts.</p> - -<p>“Well, maybe I am queer, but I love flowers from a different -standpoint than these growers of fancy and freakish plants,” explained -Mrs. Tompkins. “It would hurt me to see the boss cutting all my young -and glorious buds and blossoms to sell to a city market. I would see, -in my mind’s eye, all my pets being sold to cold individuals for -decorating their homes for parties, or to pin at their waist, without -a thought for the sweet life of the flowers. And naturally, I would -scold the owner of the greenhouse for such wholesale destruction. Now -put me in charge of a rich man’s greenhouses, and tell me to produce a -giant rose or chrysanthemum with which to win a prize and a newspaper -comment! I couldn’t do it. I love all flowers so that I would fight to -protect them. In my own home garden, I am ruler and no one tells me to -strive for a prize, or sell my blossoms for money. And my flowers know -I love them, so they really race with each other to see which one can -offer me the finest blossoms.”</p> - -<p>Norma laughed delightedly at this explanation, and Mrs. James nodded -her head understandingly, as she murmured: “That is the way I could -love the flowers if I allowed myself to specialize with them. And -because I think Norma is much the same, I wanted her to try the flower -gardening and then come and meet you.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am that way!” declared Norma. “The other girls always laughed -at me when I refused to pin flowers at my girdle, because I said they -would droop and die so quickly. That’s why they dubbed me ‘Sentimental -Norma.’ But it wasn’t that I hated to wear them, but that I couldn’t -bear the thought of how much longer the flowers would have lived and -shed their fragrance abroad, had they been able to remain on the -plant. Then the bees and birds and all Nature would have benefited -more than by cutting the flower to please one person.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins now learned from Norma’s guileless remark how idealistic -and poetical the girl really was. She stepped forward and placed one -hand on the tangled waves of hair and said: “I see we are going to be -very good friends, Norma.”</p> - -<p>Norma smiled up at the plain-faced woman and Mrs. James showed her -satisfaction at the way Norma was accepted by their hostess. The other -girls who had gone to Nancy Sherman’s had not yet returned to the -Tompkins house, so the three flower lovers sat on the narrow front -piazza and waited for them.</p> - -<p>Twilight had given way to grey evening, and the frogs began croaking, -and the little lizards chirping over in the meadow across the road as -the three friends sat and talked of various things pertaining to -floriculture.</p> - -<p>“If you find the soil in any section of your garden of a clay nature, -you will need to lighten it. Sand generally needs rich farm yard -manure to strengthen it. This must be dug under and well mixed for -about two feet in depth. As I said a while back, it is too late in the -season to make use of farm yard composts of any kind, unless you use -it in the water with which you soak the plants after sundown, at -night. I keep a hogshead of water in a back corner of my garden, in -which I soak manure from the barn yard and stalls. I add a small -quantity of the compost to this water every time I add water in any -quantity. This keeps it always at about the same degree of -nourishment.”</p> - -<p>“We have a few lily-of-the-valley plants along the side of the house -where the driveway comes in. But they do not seem to be thriving,” -said Mrs. James. “Can you tell me what to give them?”</p> - -<p>“That’s because they are in the wrong location; now they are facing -the southern sun and are exposed to the rays as well as to all the air -that reaches the piazza. You must dig them up this fall, Mrs. James, -and place them in a shady northeast bed. Plant them on that northeast -side of the house where the stone wall sticks out like a buttress. I -never knew why that freak of an out-thrust was there. But <i>now</i> I know -why it is there—to protect and shade your lily-of-the-valley plants.”</p> - -<p>Norma and Mrs. James smiled at this interpretation, and Mrs. Tompkins -continued: “It would be a pity if Norma had to go back to the city -before she had had time to plant her bulbs for next year’s flowers. -The daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths and other bulbs, which need -fall or early winter planting, and the hardy vines and shrubs which -beautify a place so wonderfully, have to be planted in the fall when -the sap is all out of the wood.”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Tompkins, do you think I could ever grow such lovely flowers at -Green Hill, as you have back there in your gardens?” asked Norma, -yearningly.</p> - -<p>“Why not? Perhaps better ones; for you have soil, right exposures and -finer surroundings than I ever had here at Four Corners. You must -understand that plants are living things and they really appreciate -their environment as much as we do. But the most important factor with -them is the warmth of creative love—not the mortal selfish kind, but -the divine eternal unselfish love. That is why you read of a scraggy -little plant half-dead in the pot, that began to revive and flourish -when cared for by a bed-ridden child whose days were passed in a -tenement cellar. That plant needed not the sunshine and air of nature, -as much as the beams of love and devotion and sacrifice from a human -soul.”</p> - -<p>“When you visit us at Green Hill, Mrs. Tompkins, I am going to show -you an eye-sore that spreads all the way from the barn yard end of the -farm to the road that runs past the northeast corner of the property. -Perhaps you can suggest a remedy for that disgrace,” said Mrs. James -earnestly.</p> - -<p>“There is no ill in Nature. It is what man makes of his opportunity. I -know the spot you speak of, and I often wished I had the right to go -in there and work my will in that depression.”</p> - -<p>“Then it is yours to do as you will with it, only let Norma and me act -as your aides in doing it,” laughed Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“If we three consolidated and began alterations on the grounds of -Green Hill, few people would recognize the place in a year’s time,” -rejoined the hostess, smilingly.</p> - -<p>“We’ll do it!” declared Norma eagerly.</p> - -<p>“When you remember the rolling, artistic natural grades of the farm, -and the sheltered, as well as exposed areas for planting, is it not a -wonder the former tenant could not see the beauty in flower-growing?” -said Mrs. James musingly.</p> - -<p>“Will you come over the first thing tomorrow morning?” asked Norma -anxiously.</p> - -<p>The ladies laughed and Mrs. Tompkins replied: “I’ll try to drive over -when Farmer Ames goes back home.”</p> - -<p>The other girls now joined the three people on the piazza and Hester -said: “We’re all going to join the scout patrol, Mother, and there -will be lots of fun after this, all summer through.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chIII' title='III—AN AUTOMOBILE IS DONATED.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER III</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>AN AUTOMOBILE IS DONATED.</span> -</h2> -<p>Norma left the basket of plants in the cool cellar for the night, but -she was up in the morning before anyone was astir in the house, in -order to get the plants in the ground before the sun rose high. She -was busily engaged in digging holes with a kitchen coal-shovel and -planting the roots carefully as Mrs. Tompkins had shown her when Mrs. -James came out and saw her at work.</p> - -<p>“Ha! the early bird catches the flowers!” called Mrs. James, as she -ran across the grass and joined Norma at the garden.</p> - -<p>“I planted the young sweet williams and the chicken feet, and the -pinks, all along that border, you see,” said Norma.</p> - -<p>“Very good, but you did not entrench any manure in the soil, did you?”</p> - -<p>“No, because I thought we would buy some bone dust as Mrs. Tompkins -said, and spread it over the top after the flowers are in the ground.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James advised and suggested, as Norma dug and planted -industriously, until she had all of the slips and plants that were -given her the evening before, in the ground. Then the two walked along -the grass-overgrown road that ran down to the stream. The old rail -fence on one side, that separated the house grounds from the pasture -lot, was not a beautiful thing to look at. And the strip of weed-grown -wild-grass that stretched between the fence and the badly kept road -made the spot still more uninteresting.</p> - -<p>“Norma, since the first day I moved to the place, I’ve been eager to -reclaim this awful strip of land, so I asked Natalie to plant a few -rows of corn, or beans, or even potatoes all along here. But she -wouldn’t waste time over it, she said. Now let’s you and I beautify -it.”</p> - -<p>“Nothing I’d like better, Jimmy. What would you suggest?”</p> - -<p>“What would <i>you</i> suggest!” countered Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“We could simply overwhelm that old rail fence with creepers. -Convolvulas, moon-flowers, clematis, and Virginia creepers, to say -nothing of trumpet vines, will glorify the old grey rails. What do you -think?”</p> - -<p>“Splendid! And they all will grow even though it is July; the trumpet -vine and Virginia creeper may object but the others will make a good -showing in a few weeks, and before August we will have the old fence -hidden under a mass of foliage and flowers.”</p> - -<p>“Their roots are not large, either, and they will not absorb the -nourishment from the soil which will be needed by the other plants we -will plant along there,” added Norma.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t any idea of what to plant. The weeds have to all come out -first, and then we may find that the soil is so dry and poor that it -will need entrenching, as Mrs. Tompkins described, yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve been thinking of it, while I was digging this morning, Jimmy, -and I thought a border of squatty old-fashioned plants such as tansy, -tarragon, rue and chervil, exactly like Mrs. Tompkins has about that -board fence that screens her gardens from the grocery yard, would look -fine. Then, between the border and the vines on the fence, we could -plant all kinds of geraniums, in red, white or pink. They will grow, -too, because they take root and will stand transplanting at any time -of the summer season. If we shelter them for the first few days, to -protect them from the hot rays of the sun, and keep the roots well -watered in early morning and in the evening, they ought to take hold -at once.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure they will, Norma, and I can see how pretty the effect of -such massed plants will be,” responded Mrs. James. “And way down -there, opposite Natalie’s vegetable gardens, we can add some more -hollyhocks for next year. Those few now growing there look so forlorn -and lonesome, trying to lean against the old fence.”</p> - -<p>“We might plant some sun flowers right away—they will grow now, and -bloom before September. That will give the lonely hollyhocks a -<i>little</i> company, and provide feasts for the birds, too.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll try it!” declared Mrs. James, and then just as Rachel’s welcome -call for breakfast sounded over the lawn, and the two went towards the -house to wash before appearing at the table, Rachel gave a whoop and -stood waving her arms, as she gazed across the drying-lawn back of her -kitchen.</p> - -<p>“Dem fowls ’scaped from the barn yard, Natalie, and is eating yor -greens as fas’ as they kin!” was the cook’s warning cry to the girls -within the house.</p> - -<p>In less than a minute, four girls streamed out of the back door and -followed in the wake of the southern mammy, as she hurried down the -pathway to the vegetable gardens. Norma and Mrs. James trailed after -the four girls, but the trespassing hens and rooster were shooed away -from the forbidden ground by the time the last two in the procession -arrived on the scene.</p> - -<p>“Now Janet, you’ve just <i>got</i> to get some wire and keep those horrid -chickens in a yard,” wailed Natalie, when she saw the damage they had -done to the tender tops of her greens.</p> - -<p>So, soon after the breakfast, Janet started for Four Corners to -purchase a roll of chicken wire for the runway. Belle and Frances -offered to go with her and help carry the roll back to the house. -Norma had too much to do with her flower gardening to think of leaving -the work, so she was hard at her self-appointed tasks when the Lowdens -drove up in their touring car and stopped in front of the house.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James was indoors helping Rachel, when Mr. Lowden came along the -side road and stopped back of Norma. The first inkling she had of -anyone being near her was, when she heard a man’s amused voice asking -“How is your garden growing?”</p> - -<p>Then Norma eagerly explained what she was doing, and all that Natalie -and Janet had already accomplished. That made her remember something. -“Oh, Janet had to go to buy chicken-wire to keep her chickens from -gobbling Natalie’s greens, so Frances and Belle went along to help her -carry the roll of wire back.”</p> - -<p>“Where did they go for it?” asked Mr. Lowden.</p> - -<p>“All the way to Four Corners, and a roll of wire ought to be rather -heavy before they finish this mile, don’t you think, Mr. Lowden?” -suggested Norma.</p> - -<p>Frances’ father laughed, and said he would drive down the road and -help them with the burden. Then he went out to tell his wife and send -her in to the house to visit Mrs. James, while he went for the three -girls and the chicken wire.</p> - -<p>The object of the Lowdens’s early visit was soon told. And they were -fully repaid for their offer to leave the touring car for the girls of -Green Hill Farm to use during the summer while the owners were -vacationing in the Rockies, by such happy faces and excited -declarations of how good the Lowdens were, etcetera.</p> - -<p>When it came time for the Lowdens to start for the train that left -Four Corners at noon every day, Frances asked who of the girls would -like to drive with her to the station. Janet simply had to begin that -horrid chicken fence, and Natalie had to mend her broken plants and -smooth the scratched-up soil; Belle said someone ought to help poor -Janet, so Norma spoke up:</p> - -<p>“I’d love to go with you, Frans, if you will leave me at Mrs. Tompkins -and call for us on your way back. Jimmy and I invited her to visit us -today and advise us with the landscaping about the house.”</p> - -<p>“Sure! Jump in and I’ll drop you as we pass the store. You can have -Mrs. Tompkins all ready to come back with me when I stop for you,” was -Frances’s willing reply.</p> - -<p>The trip was soon made, and Norma, with Mrs. Tompkins, were welcomed -by Mrs. James who was waiting on the side porch. Frances left the car -under the great oak that grew beside the corner of the driveway near -the front fence corner, and then ran to the barn yard to see what -Janet was doing. But she was soon drafted into service with Belle and -the three forgot the three floriculturists at the house, for a time.</p> - -<p>Norma and Mrs. James escorted their visitor across the lawns to the -garden that had been planted that morning. “Oh, but you should have -placed inverted flower-pots over the little plants during the hot -sunshine, Norma,” said Mrs. Tompkins anxiously.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t forget it, Mrs. Tompkins, but I had none. I hunted down in -the cellar, in hopes of finding some old ones, but I didn’t see a -one.”</p> - -<p>“In that case, you should have made cornucopias of paper—brown paper -if you have it, or newspaper if there is no heavier kind on the place. -I’ll show you how to do it if you get me the paper,” offered the -visitor.</p> - -<p>Rachel had several sheets of brown paper in the kitchen which she had -folded and saved for a need, and now Norma was handed it, while Rachel -felt that this gift privileged her to join the flower growers and -listen to their talk. But she soon wearied of it and started for the -barn yard to find if the company there was more interesting.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins formed cones of the papers, some larger, some smaller, -according to the size of the plant to be covered, and when these cones -were placed in an inverted manner over the plants they were secured to -the ground by means of sticks or stones placed at the edge of the -paper.</p> - -<p>The three then walked over to the strip of weeds that grew all along -the fence-line, and Norma explained what she had suggested in flowers, -for that strip. Mrs. Tompkins exchanged looks with Mrs. James, and -said, smilingly: “Our flower scout is improving wonderfully in the few -lessons she’s had.”</p> - -<p>Shouts and laughter reaching them from the farm yard now attracted the -visitor’s attention, and she looked over in that direction. Norma -explained what was going on there: “Janet has to fence her chickens in -because they scratch up Nat’s garden and eat the tops from her -greens.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins laughed, but she said: “I wouldn’t want a garden of any -kind, if I had no living creatures about it to make it companionable. -To me, the bees, birds, pigeons and chickens, yes, even cats and dogs, -help make my gardens more lovable, for these domestic animals love -flowers and sweet-smelling things just the same as we do.”</p> - -<p>“I never looked at it in that light,” murmured Norma.</p> - -<p>Just then a shout for Mrs. James came ringing across the farm from the -direction of the barn yard, so that lady hastily excused herself and -ran down the lane to see what was wanted of her. She did not return to -Norma or Mrs. Tompkins, so they walked on and talked of their favorite -subject—flower culture.</p> - -<p>“I have watched many times, and do you know, Norma, not a cat or dog, -or other creatures that wandered into my gardens, ever ruined a plant -for me! I have seen them scoop out a slight depression in the soft -soil to sleep in. But they always curled up in the little hole and -never disturbed the roots or vines. Then when they had had their nap -they would get up and walk silently away. I generally smoothed out the -spot and that was all the trouble it gave me.”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Tompkins, it must be your sublime faith that the creatures won’t -injure your flowers, that keeps them from doing any harm,” remarked -Norma. “Just like Daniel when he was in the lion’s den, you know. If -he had wavered and thought to himself: ‘Oh, I wonder if God really -will bother to keep the lions’ jaws closed’ maybe he wouldn’t have -come out of that experience quite so remarkably.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins laughed heartily at the comparison, and added: “I see -you know something of the Scriptures, Norma, so I can say, and you -will understand, the line that goes thus: ‘Faith is the substance of -things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ I trust to my -faith in <i>good</i> creatures and hope that they will respond to my loving -faith in them, and sure enough! the evidence of such things generally -appears to me.”</p> - -<p>“Why can’t I encourage the same sort of faith in my ideals for a -garden, Mrs. Tompkins? I know a garden of flowers <i>must</i> be good -because flowers are beautiful things created by God. So I can hold to -my faith until I see the evidence appear, eh?”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins smiled and nodded, then added: “I want to say, that in -speaking of entertaining the little feathered angel birds, in my -flower garden, I also entertain them in beneficent ways unseen by me. -For bees and birds are necessary and valuable for your flowers. The -bees have panniers on their legs where they carry the pollen to the -hives, and many a tiny bit of pollen falls from these well-packed -panniers to fall into the heart of the blossom from which the bee is -gathering nectar. In this bit of pollen lies the secret of the -fertilization of other flowers.</p> - -<p>“Can you picture my flower garden without the darling humming-birds -and bees that buzz and sing about it all day long?”</p> - -<p>“I wish we could coax all the different birds in the county to live on -the farm. I’d love it!” declared Norma fervently.</p> - -<p>“You can have them, if you will work to attract them,” was Mrs. -Tompkins’s reply.</p> - -<p>“Jimmy said that she never saw so many different kinds of wild song -birds in any place, as she has seen since coming to Green Hill. She -told me that the only regret is that she has not built any bird houses -to offer them for homes.”</p> - -<p>“Why lose any more time, then? Begin to fix up some bird houses at -once, and you will see what a difference they will make about your -place.”</p> - -<p>“I thought we would have to send to the city and buy the houses,” -ventured Norma.</p> - -<p>“Goodness, no! You can use empty starch boxes such as Si throws on the -woodpile, or cheese boxes, or even soap boxes, if they are not too -large and heavy. You can fix partitions inside, and then nail perches -on the outside under the entrances, then, last of all, you nail the -cover on the box again and paint it. If you want a real fancy house, -get some bark from a fallen tree and nail it on the outside with wire -brads.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll get the girls to help me and we’ll do it at once,” promised -Norma eagerly. “You ask your husband to save some of those boxes for -us, will you, Mrs. Tompkins?”</p> - -<p>“I certainly will! and now that I come to think of it, I saw Si empty -another cheese box this morning. That makes two you girls can have, -for I saved one a few weeks ago in case any of the neighbors asked me -for one to use for the birds.”</p> - -<p>“How do you make that kind, Mrs. Tompkins?” asked Norma.</p> - -<p>“For wrens you always cut a small hole so the sparrows can’t crawl in -and annoy them. A wren is touchy and won’t live in a nest where she is -annoyed by her enemy, the sparrow. A bluebird or a martin needs a -doorway a little larger than the wren’s. And the robin, or the blue -jay, or an oriole, needs the door still larger. A cat bird, and birds -of his size, needs the largest holes to their nests, of any of these -others.</p> - -<p>“So you cut the hole according to the bird you expect to rent your -house to. The more modern improvements you offer a tenant the sooner -you rent the apartment. Most birds like a cozy home, with enough room -to build a good substantial nest therein, but not so large that it -will feel like poking in the corners every night to make sure there -are no tramps lurking about. The tenants like a safe perch upon which -they can rest when they alight before entering their home. And they -even like a little promenade deck in front of their house, so the -mother can exercise now and then, and still have safety and security -from cats, or fighting birds that disagree with the smaller ones. A -roof to shed water and shade the doorway is also a boon to the tenant; -then give them a fine bird-bath near the house, and feeding grounds -throughout the cold weather and you will be amazed at the beautiful -song birds you can secure for your houses.”</p> - -<p>“Shall we nail the boxes to the tree trunks?” asked Norma.</p> - -<p>“Better not, as cats can climb a tree and will frighten the birds even -if they do not kill them. I should swing the house by means of a stout -wire, from a bough, or nail the house to a strong slat and then nail -the slat to the main trunk, or large bough of the tree. If you place a -bird house under the eaves of your house, you can use the slat and -nail it securely to the ledge of the window, but keep the house out -towards the eaves where it will be far enough away from the window to -insure privacy to the birds.”</p> - -<p>“Dear me, I wish Janet had thought of keeping bees. I will speak to -her about it, and if she doesn’t try it, I will do it myself. I want -bees, and birds, and butterflies, and everything, to enjoy my flowers -as much as I shall myself,” sighed Norma.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins was too wise to suggest that Norma had better try and -grow a flower garden before she planned for the friendly visitors to -such a garden. But she said, <i>apropos</i> of bees: “I’m looking for a -swarm of my bees almost any day, now. If you girls decide to start a -bee-hive, just send me word and I’ll keep the new swarm for you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, do! Even if the others won’t, I’m going to have them for my -garden flowers,” cried Norma eagerly.</p> - -<p>At this moment, Frances called to Mrs. Tompkins: “I’ve got to rush to -the store for more wire nails and an extra hammer, for Janet’s work. -If you are ready to go home, I’ll drive you back.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, must you go so soon?” asked Norma when Mrs. Tompkins nodded her -head at Frances.</p> - -<p>“Soon! Why, child, I have been here more than an hour.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, I’ll jump in with you and get those boxes for the bird -houses,” declared Norma.</p> - -<p>So the boxes were found and placed in the automobile while Frances was -waiting for the nails and hammer at Four Corners’ general store. When -Norma came out of the house, where she had gone at Mrs. Tompkins’s -invitation, she carried a bottle of tiny brown seeds and several -pasteboard boxes. One small pill box that had held pepsin pellets at -one time now had six precious nasturtium seeds in it. Another box held -a quantity of morning glory seeds, and still another had sun flower -seeds in it. A paper packet held sweet pea seeds and these Norma was -told to soak in warm water for quickest results after planting.</p> - -<p>Frances was ready to start back to the farm just about the time when -Norma came out with the seeds in her hands. As she turned to wave a -hand at her generous friend, the latter said: “Remember to soak all -the seeds but the nasturtiums. They are better dry, when planted. And -plant them in the morning after they have soaked through the night.”</p> - -<p>The tonneau was piled high with starch boxes, two round cheese boxes -and other small boxes that would make good bird houses, so Norma sat -in front beside Frances and chattered of all the birds they would soon -have about Green Hill, once the apartments were ready for their -occupancy.</p> - -<p>When she got home, the boxes were piled beside the side door leading -to the cellar, and then Norma carried her seeds indoors to soak, as -Mrs. Tompkins had advised her to do. The small pill box containing the -six rare nasturtium seeds was left on the living room table while -Norma soaked the other seeds in cups filled with warm water. These -cups were placed under the steps of the porch to be out of harm’s way.</p> - -<p>Norma now picked up the pill box and wondered where to keep it for the -night. It might be damp under the porch steps, and the seeds might be -spilled if the box was left on the living room table. So she decided -to hide it in the pantry closet where the china was kept. She would -put it on a shelf that she could easily reach, and shove it against -the side wall just inside the door that opened to the dining room. So -here the box was left.</p> - -<p>Nothing more could be done that evening in the flower gardens, so -Norma joined the other girls when they came from the barn yard talking -about the fence they had built. As Janet had forgotten the pig’s extra -meal of milk that morning, the milk had soured, and Rachel had made -sour-milk pancakes of it for supper.</p> - -<p>These were a favorite dish with all the girls, and Rachel mixed an -extra lot of batter. Smeared thickly with butter and with white clover -honey poured over them, they were so delicious that the hungry girls -did full justice to them. But Rachel still had so much batter left, -after the girls had finished supper, that she baked it into cakes for -herself. She, too, was overfond of sour-milk pancakes with pure honey -on them.</p> - -<p>She ate and ate, until she could hardly breathe, and then she sighed -because the last pancake had to be put away on the pantry shelf. She -sought for a safe corner in which to hide it from Mrs. James’s -searching eye, for fear of being laughed at for saving it for her -breakfast.</p> - -<p>In pushing the plate in the corner, Rachel found the pill box, and -always having enough curiosity to cause her useless trouble, she -carried the box to the kitchen window to see what it said on the -cover. Then she carried it back and placed it on the shelf.</p> - -<p>The supper dishes were washed and put away where they belonged, but -Rachel found it hard to finish her tasks, because she was taken with -such indigestion pains. She drank a glass of hot water, hoping to -relieve her difficulty in breathing. But it got worse. She sat down -every few moments until a cramp had passed, and every time she began -again to do the dishes, she had to gasp for breath.</p> - -<p>Suddenly she remembered the pill box that said: “Pepsin pills for -indigestion.”</p> - -<p>“Dat means despepsy like what I got so bad,” muttered Rachel, going -for the box.</p> - -<p>She brought it out to the daylight and laboriously read the -directions: “Take two pills, if attack is severe. If not relieved, -repeat dose in half hour.”</p> - -<p>“Humph! I’se got it so bad, I reckon I’d better take all foh at one -time—like it say, repeat dose.” So Rachel took four of the six rare -seeds. She replaced the box on the shelf and in a short time the gas -disappeared and she felt better. She sat on the stoop for a time to -enjoy the cool breezes, and then finding she was feeling as well as -ever again, she walked out on the lawn to meet the girls who had spent -the evening at Solomon’s Seal Camp.</p> - -<p>They told Rachel all about the stories of the stars and the legends of -the constellations that the scouts had told them, and so interested in -some of these myths was Rachel that she forgot to speak of the pills -she had taken from the box in the pantry.</p> - -<p>Early before breakfast the next morning, Norma and Mrs. James were -planting the seeds which had been soaked through the night. They -planted them where the soil was richest, and planned to dig up the -tiny shoots when they came up, and transplant them over by the fence -which would be all ready for the vines by that time.</p> - -<p>“Now I’ll go and get the wonderful nasturtium seeds, Jimmy,” said -Norma, when the swollen wet seeds were all planted.</p> - -<p>She ran to the pantry and got the box. She ran out again with it in -her hand and did not open it until she stopped in front of Mrs. James. -Then she carefully lifted the cover from the box to show her companion -the six queer shrivelled seeds that would bring forth such beauty. To -her amazement she saw but two.</p> - -<p>“I know Mrs. Tompkins gave me six!” she exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t drop any on your way over here, did you?”</p> - -<p>“No, I never removed the lid until I got here.”</p> - -<p>“That’s very strange! I wonder if there are any field mice in the -house. I’ve heard they love nasturtium seeds,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Jimmy, if a mouse got the seeds, wouldn’t the cover be off, or a hole -eaten into the box?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, of course it would! And the cover was on when you picked it up?”</p> - -<p>“It was on exactly as I left it last night, and just as I showed it to -you this minute.”</p> - -<p>It was a mystery, but a sad one for Norma as she had been so proud of -those six Oriental nasturtium seeds. The main subject of conversation -at the breakfast table that morning was the strange disappearance of -four seeds from the pill box. Rachel brought in another plate of toast -while Norma described minutely the place on the shelf where she had -hidden the box the night before.</p> - -<p>Rachel thumped the plate on the table and dropped into an empty arm -chair. Her eyes bulged and her mouth sagged open in dismay. Finally -she gasped in awe-struck tones:</p> - -<p>“Mis’ James, what yoh think will happen to me ef I swallowed dem foh -pills?”</p> - -<p>“What four pills, Rachel?” was the puzzled reply.</p> - -<p>“Why dem foh seed pills in dat dyspepsy box. I got such cramps las’ -night, I had to take somefin and dat was all I could fin’.”</p> - -<p>The girls almost had hysterics from laughing at her confession, and -Janet managed to say: “Norma will have to pour water down your throat -every day before sun-up, and every evening after sunset, Rachel, to -make the vine grow luxuriantly.”</p> - -<p>“Janet—yoh don reely mean dat, does yoh?” was Rachel’s dread question.</p> - -<p>“Sure, Rachel! You’ll have the finest Oriental vine coming out of your -mouth in a few days that Norma ever saw!”</p> - -<p>But Mrs. James hushed Janet’s foolish teasing and assured Rachel that -she would feel no ill effects at all, from the wrong dose of seeds.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chIV' title='IV—BUILDING BIRD HOUSES.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER IV</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>BUILDING BIRD HOUSES.</span> -</h2> -<p>The day Norma discovered where her four precious seeds had gone was -the day Sambo arrived at Green Hill, and just before he made his -appearance, the dog, Grip, was found on the high road and brought home -to the farm to live. Soon after his introduction to Mrs. James, the -dog saw his rightful master coming in at the gate and welcomed him as -only a lost dog can welcome a master found.</p> - -<p>Norma spent most of her spare time that day in weeding the strip of -garden alongside the old rail fence. Sam was ordered to help in this -work after dinner, and Mrs. James came out to dig up roots and snags -which would not come out by hand-pulling. The entire strip, running -from the great oak tree near the front gate, down to the old -hollyhocks that grew opposite Natalie’s corn field, was cleared of -weeds and the ground was dug up and ready to be well mixed with -manure.</p> - -<p>As the girls were going in the automobile, the next day, to buy a cow, -Sam was told to use the manure left near the vegetable gardens, to -spade under in the soil alongside the rail fence. The cow was -purchased and Janet also bought a little calf, a deed which she felt -was reckless because of her meager finances since she began stock -farming. But Susy, the calf, was too cute to leave behind, so she was -to be brought the same time the cow was delivered at the farm.</p> - -<p>The party got back to the house just before two o’clock, but Rachel -had not expected them any sooner, so the dinner was just ready when -the car drove in at the gate and stopped by the side porch.</p> - -<p>Rachel bustled out of the side door, consumed with curiosity. “Did -you-all git a cow?” she asked almost before the car had stopped.</p> - -<p>“Not only a fine cow, Rachel, but a darling calf, too!” exclaimed -Janet, the pride of proprietorship sounding in her voice.</p> - -<p>“I jus’ finished dinneh, so you-all come right in and eat,” said -Rachel, anxious over her charges because they had gone long past the -usual dining hour with nothing to eat.</p> - -<p>While the autoists washed and brushed up before sitting down at the -table, Rachel stood talking to Norma about the garden. “Sam done gone -and futilised dat soil so fine dat you kin grow any t’ing in it, now. -When you done dinneh you just go and see how smood it looks.”</p> - -<p>“That’s good, Rachel, because I found some lovely bushes growing down -the road a bit that I want to dig up and plant along that fence line. -If we begin keeping bees, we will need plenty of blossoms all summer -through, and these bushes will provide flowers now, and berries later, -for the birds.”</p> - -<p>While the girls were getting ready for dinner, the girl scouts from -camp could be heard laughing and talking eagerly as they approached -the house. In a few moments, not only the camping scouts, but Nancy -Sherman, Hester Tompkins and Dorothy Ames, with them, came up the -porch steps and greeted the returned tourists.</p> - -<p>“We came to see if you found a cow?” was the general question.</p> - -<p>Then it became necessary to describe every lap of the journey much to -the delighted interest of all the audience. When they heard the -corporation cow would arrive Saturday morning, they all cheered -lustily, but Mrs. James said seriously:</p> - -<p>“You haven’t any habitable shed for the cow, nor for the calf, to go -in. If I were you girls I would commence without delay and construct a -decent cow-shed for Susy, and partitioning off a stall in the barn as -a home for the cow.”</p> - -<p>This was decided upon after discussing the pros and cons of a cowshed -or a first class barn stall for a cow. The latter choice won because -it was much easier to partition off a stall than to build an entirely -new shed and fence in a yard.</p> - -<p>It seemed that once Janet started adding to the stockyard creatures, -she lost all count of money and squandered what allowances might come -to her in the next two months, or three. Mr. Ames had offered to trust -her for payment, and that was her undoing, for she not only bought the -twenty goslings the day she exchanged the old Plymouth Rock hen for -the Rhode Island Reds, but she also chose a few guinea hens, five -pairs of pigeons, and spoke for half a dozen ducks.</p> - -<p>Norma had not had any time to devote to her flower beds that day, -because she wished to help build the home for Sue, but when the girls -trooped back to the house, Miss Mason saw the heap of boxes lying near -the cellar door.</p> - -<p>“What are all those for?” asked she, of anyone who would answer.</p> - -<p>“Bird houses. Mrs. Tompkins says we ought to make them at once and get -them up if we hope to coax any birds to our farm,” explained Norma.</p> - -<p>“Good idea! Do any of you girls know how to build one?” asked the -Captain.</p> - -<p>“I never made one, but Mrs. Tompkins told me just how to do it. She -says flowers need birds and bees about to keep them healthy,” returned -Norma.</p> - -<p>“She’s right, too, because birds are a gardener’s right-hand helper in -catching destructive insects on the plants. If Natalie had more birds -about the farm, she wouldn’t have any potato bugs on her vines,” -remarked Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m going to clean all those beetles off as soon as I get -time,” said Natalie, in justification of her procrastination.</p> - -<p>“Now that we all whetted an appetite for sawing and hammering, what do -you girls say to our working on the bird houses until it is time to go -back to camp?” asked Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>This suggestion met with approval from all, and soon there was a -medley of sounds—laughing, talking, hammering, sawing and scuffling of -feet on the stone floor of the cellar, for that is where the bird -boxes were being constructed. Mrs. James insisted that the scouts from -camp remain to sup with them and finish the work on the bird houses -afterward.</p> - -<p>Of course, they were pleased at the invitation—even though it was -proper to refuse to stay, in a tone that meant they would, if the -invitation was repeated. So they all remained to enjoy some of -Rachel’s famous supper dishes, and then completed the bird houses that -evening before going back to camp.</p> - -<p>Miss Mason and Mrs. James superintended the carpentry and kept up a -pleasant fire of good suggestions, at the same time.</p> - -<p>“I’m delighted that we will have enough bird houses to try to induce -some of the lovely birds I have seen about here to come and nest in -our trees, but I think we ought to provide a bird bath on the lawn -where the newcomers can drink and bathe without going down to the -stream. I fear they may be enticed to stay away, if they compare -conveniences with our environment and down by the stream,” said Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>“It ought to be an easy matter to build a nice concrete bird-bath,” -said Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to experiment on one, after we finish these houses and get -them properly placed,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll help you make one, if you say so, although I am almost as -ignorant of how to mix concrete as this box. Still, we can use our -intelligence, you know,” laughed the Captain.</p> - -<p>“I know what to do!” exclaimed Norma, now. “I’ll go and ask Mrs. -Tompkins in the morning. <i>She’ll</i> know and tell us what to do.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James and the house scouts laughed, and the former said: “Norma -runs to her Oracle for everything, now.”</p> - -<p>“We might experiment with a feeding station, too, if you want to -attract and hold the birds about the house until they get acclimated -to their new quarters. Then they will remain late into the fall and -return early in the spring,” was Miss Mason’s suggestion.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what kind of birds we can coax to our houses?” queried -Natalie, boring a hole in one of the boxes with an augur.</p> - -<p>“I’ve seen wrens, bluebirds, robins, thrashers, cat birds, orioles and -many not so familiar, flying about the farm, so that ought to be a -fair idea of the kind we may hope to house very soon,” replied Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>“<i>One</i> bird we can depend on coming and trying to crowd out all the -others,” giggled Natalie.</p> - -<p>“Yes, the English sparrow,” agreed Janet. “I wish we could raise the -rent on them, or do some other restrictive act that would warn them -from the premises.”</p> - -<p>“The only way I know of is to keep the doors of the nests small enough -for a wren and too small for a sparrow. All the other birds will fight -off the sparrows, but the wren won’t—they just move away,” explained -Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Look at this hole, is it about the right size, Jimmy?” asked Norma as -she finished the boring in the wood.</p> - -<p>“Speaking of the wren, I want to tell you a little story of one I -found nesting under the eaves of my brother’s country house. Its nest -was dangerously near the rose trellis where a cat could climb up and -get it, but it wanted to be near the people in the house, and that was -the only available spot where a nest would perch. So we built a -special corner bracket and shelf for it, and when Jenny laid her eggs -we very gently and carefully moved the nest to a safe place, before -she had really started brooding over them. We knew she would not -abandon the eggs because of the moving, but we felt much easier when -we realized she was safe.”</p> - -<p>“I remember some wrens who always built their nests as close to our -back doors as they could get without actually lodging right on the -doorstep,” laughed Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“What dear little things they are!” sighed Norma tenderly.</p> - -<p>This remark attracted several girls’ attention to Norma and then they -stopped their own work to go and see what she was making.</p> - -<p>“Well! of all things—just look at Norma’s palace!” exclaimed Janet -admiringly.</p> - -<p>That brought the other girls around her and she had to explain just -what she was doing with the cheese box. “I am following Mrs. -Tompkins’s suggestions and plans for my bird house. You see I divided -the inside of the box into five flats, and at each apartment I bored a -hole. Because they are of different sizes, I hope to have different -birds as tenants in it.</p> - -<p>“When the partitions were fastened inside, I nailed the cover on the -cheese box again. The two large barrel covers that Mrs. Tompkins gave -me make the bottom and roof. Because the barrel head is larger than -the cheese box, it provides a nice little balcony all around the -house. And the other head that is on top for a roof, projects far -enough over the cheese box to keep the rain from driving in at the -open doors of the apartments.”</p> - -<p>“But, Norma, how are you going to keep the water from coming through -that flat roof and soaking the birds inside the box?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p>“You just wait! I found a fine roof for my house, this afternoon, but -I am not ready, yet, to roof the building. I want to nail some -brackets on the bottom so the house can be nailed to a pole, then I -will roof it and paint it green with white trimmings.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly, Norma finished the house and then got out a basket filled -with straw. An upright stick was fastened in the center of the top of -the house and to this a wire netting was tacked, so that the edges -overlapped the eaves of the roof, and the top fitted close to the -upright. Upon this wire net Norma wove her thatched roof, which, when -finished, looked very attractive and rustic.</p> - -<p>“It looks great but it is going to be a dreadful work to fasten it in -a tree, because it is so big and bulky,” said Janet.</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to place it in a tree. It is going to be mounted on an -old clothes pole that Rachel never uses. I’ve chosen the site of the -house already,” laughed Norma.</p> - -<p>“And you said you were going to paint it?” asked Natalie.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I bought a can of green paint and a smaller one of white lead at -the store yesterday. When it is on the pole I am going to paint the -house and the pole, too.”</p> - -<p>Norma then went to inspect the work of her companions. She found they -had divided the starch boxes into four rooms, a room for each nest. -But each opening was so placed that no bird need meet his neighbor, in -coming to or going from his home. Under each door was a perch, or -platform, for the birds to alight upon before entering the door of -their house. Some of these perches were made by boring a tiny hole -under the doorway and sticking a meat skewer firmly in. When the -inside work was completed, the cover was shoved onto the starch boxes -and nailed fast. A slat was attached to the bottom so the house could -be nailed to a tree trunk and yet be out of reach of any prowling cat.</p> - -<p>“I’m curious to know who will draw that other cheese box as their -lot,” said Belle, as she added the finishing touches to her soap-box -apartment house.</p> - -<p>“Well, if no one else applies for it, I shall attach it for my own -pleasure,” said Mrs. James. “But I warn you girls now—I propose -building a modern flat-house with every conceivable convenience in it -for my tenants. They will have sleeping porches, hot water day and -night, elevator service, telephones, parquet floors—in fact, -everything one looks for in a first-class modern apartment. So don’t -feel jealous when you find the birds flock to rent my rooms, because -you must remember my investment of labor will be twice as heavy as -yours, and I deserve having the best tenants apply for my flats.”</p> - -<p>The girls giggled at Mrs. James’s explanation, and Janet said: “What -will you do if a sparrow or a blue jay applies for rooms?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll ask him for references. If he can’t produce high-class -references from other landlords, I’ll have none of him.”</p> - -<p>The girls laughed at the reply, and Janet retorted: “The day of rent -profiteers is past. You’ll be hauled into Court if you ask high -rents.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’ll fill my flats on a co-operative plan. That is best, anyway, -I think. I will provide the house, and the tenants will provide the -harmony,” said Mrs. James, smiling at her own foolishness.</p> - -<p>“You’re too lenient with your tenants, Jimmy,” remonstrated Norma. “If -any applicant asks me what form of rent my co-operative plan demands, -I’ll say the tenant has to pay me in helping me keep my plants clear -of insects.”</p> - -<p>“You two have so much to say I can’t get in a word. Now keep quiet, -and let us have a word to say,” begged Frances.</p> - -<p>“What do you want to talk about?” laughed Belle.</p> - -<p>“Here’s my bird house. Six flats made out of a soap box. Where shall I -secure it to a tree?” asked Frances.</p> - -<p>“Did you intend the flats for bluebirds or martins? The openings are -too large for the wrens,” said the Captain.</p> - -<p>“Every one else seemed anxious to house a wren so I thought I would -try for another kind of bird. It’s all the same to me, who rents the -place, as long as they behave and pay their rent in advance,” -explained Frances.</p> - -<p>“What are your prices? You haven’t any insects to keep from the -plants,” laughed Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>“A song to wake me, a song when I have the blues, and a song at -eventide,” said Frances.</p> - -<p>“You’ll get it, all right. Never fear that your house will be vacant -on those terms,” remarked Janet.</p> - -<p>“I would like one of those soap box houses to be placed near the end -of the farm yard, girls, just where the little brook runs past the old -barn. I have a reason for this, which I will tell you of another day. -If we had two or three houses in that vicinity it would be better than -one,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I saw a thrasher in a brush heap over by that creek, today, while we -were working in the barn yard,” said Janet now.</p> - -<p>“Then we ought to place a house for him in that location,” rejoined -Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it too late in the season for the birds to build in our -houses?” asked Belle. “I thought birds mated and nested in the -springtime.”</p> - -<p>“They do, but storms, winds and other accidents are always breaking -down nests so that the birds have to seek new quarters. These -wanderers we are sure to attract to our houses. Besides these, the -tree swallows, martins and chickadees are generally on the lookout for -better homes than they have built. They will move, at any time, during -the summer season.”</p> - -<p>Finally the boxes were all turned into bird houses of different styles -and workmanship, but all looked substantial and serviceable enough to -suit any particular bird house hunter. Some of the boxes were covered -with the bark from an old tree trunk; others had copied Norma’s plan -of thatching a roof; and some were panelled and balconied, until they -looked very elaborate, indeed.</p> - -<p>“Well, we can’t do any more tonight, girls. Tomorrow morning, if -you’ll come up after breakfast, we will place the bird houses wherever -you choose,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>So good nights were said and the scouts went down the hill towards -camp, while the house girls went slowly upstairs to bed.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chV' title='V—MIGNONETTE AND CHRYSANTHEMUM.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER V</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>MIGNONETTE AND CHRYSANTHEMUM.</span> -</h2> -<p>Norma was out-of-doors before the others, the morning after completing -the bird houses and selected suitable spots for the two large houses -to be placed. The smaller ones belonged exclusively to the scouts and -their locations would have to be decided upon by them.</p> - -<p>Sam came from the kitchen door, yawning and stretching as he came. -When he found Norma already up and busy, going about the back yard, he -hurried over to see if he could help in any way.</p> - -<p>“Yes, you can, Sam. I made that lovely bird house last night but I -need you to saw off that old clothes pole, square across the top, so -we can nail the house on it and brace it firmly with a few wooden -supports from underneath. Can you cut it across squarely?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, ’cause dat ain’t nuttin’ to do!” declared Sam, going for the -hammer and saw.</p> - -<p>Norma carried out the short ladder and placed it against the post, and -when Sam came with the tools, he climbed up to the second from the top -rung and began to look sideways at the top of the pole, while -squinting scientifically to measure its diameter.</p> - -<p>Norma watched patiently for a few moments, then she said: “Why, Sam! -You don’t have to do any measuring or marking to get your right line. -Just saw through that cove that runs around the post where the fancy -acorn top begins. That’s true enough to guide anyone.”</p> - -<p>“Dat’s so, Norma! I didn’t never think of dat way,” admitted Sam, -grinning at his lack of judgment.</p> - -<p>Norma handed him the saw and Sam began to work it across the post. He -had to lift his right arm even with his eyes, to saw in the groove -made by the turning mill when the post was made, and this made the -work the harder for him.</p> - -<p>Norma stood below watching as the saw began to bite into the old wood. -Sam sawed and sawed, and was halfway through the pole when Norma went -to the other side to see how much more he had to do.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Sam! You’re way off the groove on this side of the post!” -exclaimed she anxiously.</p> - -<p>“It look straight enough from dis side,” argued Sam.</p> - -<p>“Get down and look for yourself! Your saw runs up more than an inch on -the back of the post.”</p> - -<p>So Sam climbed down and joined Norma at the back of the pole. He had -left his saw sticking in the cleft so he could better judge where his -mistake was being made. He found matters as Norma had said, but he -couldn’t see what did it. He scratched his head for an intelligent -explanation to shine forth, but none came.</p> - -<p>“I tell you what I got to do!” he declared, going over and taking the -ladder from that side and moving it to the side where the cleft ran an -inch above the groove. “I got’ta saw from dis side, now—see?”</p> - -<p>He now began sawing the post from “this side,” as he said, and again -he sawed and sawed, with might and main, until his face was streaming -and his breath came in short gasps with the effort.</p> - -<p>Norma waited and when he was almost halfway through from “this side” -she went back to the first side to see if he was almost meeting the -first cleft.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Sam! Now you’ve gone and sawed an inch above the <i>old</i> line and -they’ll never meet!” cried Norma anxiously.</p> - -<p>Again Sam got down and walked around to eye his work from Norma’s -position, and then he scratched his head again. This time he frowned -heavily at the problem to be solved.</p> - -<p>“Now, I don’t see how dat saw got so high when I was so careful to -keep it going in the groove around the post,” said he.</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t see, either, especially as I <i>asked</i> you to saw it -<i>square</i> across, before you started,” complained Norma.</p> - -<p>“I know you did, but askin’ ain’t cuttin’, you see.”</p> - -<p>“It looks so simple, Sam—just saw along that little gutter made in the -pole! That would bring the top off and leave the post nice and flat on -top. As it now is, the top won’t come off and no bird house will sit -on a slant.”</p> - -<p>“It <i>do</i> look simple, Norma, I’ll tell the worl’, but it can’t be so -simple as it looks, or I could do it!” declared Sam.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James joined them by this time, and wanted to know what was -wrong. Why did Sam seem so troubled so early in the day?</p> - -<p>The problem was explained but Norma admitted that they found no -solution for it. Mrs. James told Sam to get up on the ladder again and -show her how he had sawed.</p> - -<p>Sam demonstrated his recent method of sawing, and Mrs. James began -laughing. Norma frowned at her uncalled-for mirth, and Sam climbed -from the ladder and stood gazing at her for an explanation.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you see what you have done to cause the saw to run uphill at -the back of the post?”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t! I tried hard to cut in the groove.”</p> - -<p>“Well, first place, you stood below the line you had to cut through. -You had to lift your arm above your shoulder, and that in itself would -tend to draw the saw downward in front, because your arm works back -and forth and does not keep its same position of height. It generally -falls downward as the arm works backward—watch me, and you will see.” -Then Mrs. James sawed slowly and showed both Sam and Norma how easy -and unconsciously the tendency was to have the arm drop from its level -as it worked backward.</p> - -<p>“Another thing is, your saw cut in the groove at the front where you -faced it, but the tough chestnut wood turned the thin edge of the saw -upward because of the slight downward tendency of your arm, as you -drew the elbow back and forth. That was enough to start the saw -glancing upward, and when you reached the center of the pole, you -found you were fully an inch out of the way.</p> - -<p>“Then you started to saw on this side of the post, but you made the -same mistake as before. Had you stood upon the top rung of the ladder, -or used a higher ladder so you could saw the knob of the pole from a -stand even with your waist line, you would have found it much easier -to cut.”</p> - -<p>“Well, now it’s all crooked, what can we do?” asked Norma.</p> - -<p>“Sam can bring out the high step-ladder that we used to rescue Natalie -from the cherry tree, and stand on that. Then he can stand on a step -so he will be <i>above</i> the groove he has to cut. He can start sawing -from a third side of the pole, so the other two clefts will not -interfere with his straight across cut.”</p> - -<p>Sam went for the step-ladder and Mrs. James waited to see that he was -properly started on the work this time, then she went into breakfast.</p> - -<p>The girls were talking over the council meeting Miss Mason had invited -them to attend that morning, and Frances said she would drive to Four -Corners, directly after breakfast, to ask the three girls, and bring -them back to go with the house scouts.</p> - -<p>“At the same time, ask Mrs. Tompkins if she can come, too, as we want -her to give us a little talk on flowers, bees and birds,” said Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>“Oh, can I go with you, Frans?” asked Norma eagerly when she heard her -friend was invited to join the meeting at camp.</p> - -<p>“Of course, if you are ready when I am. I don’t want to wait around -for nothing, while you plant a few more dry sticks in the garden,” -giggled Frances, winking at the other girls.</p> - -<p>But Norma was ready before Frances this time, and had time to direct -Sam how to nail the cheese box bird house on the post. The top was -squared to suit and the house had been brought from the cellar to try -on top of the post and see how it looked.</p> - -<p>“You can go with Frances, Norma, and we’ll see that the house goes up -all right,” promised Mrs. James when she saw the anxiety expressed by -Norma.</p> - -<p>When they neared Four Corners, Norma said to Frances: “You can drop me -at the store so I can see Mrs. Tompkins while you go for Dot Ames and -Nancy Sherman. Then you can pick us up on your way back.”</p> - -<p>It was not yet nine o’clock and Mrs. Tompkins was in her garden -attending to the early duties of a systematic florist, when Norma ran -out and joined her. She had no difficulty in winning Mrs. Tompkins’ -consent to attend a council meeting and tell the scouts some things -about flowers and birds and bees. Then Norma told her about the fine -bird house she had made of the cheese box and how Sam tried to square -off the old clothes pole.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins laughed at the description Norma gave and then said: -“It’s too bad the houses were not up early in the spring. You’d have -them full of song birds now. But they’ll be ready for next year, -anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Will the birds find enough to eat around the house and gardens, -without flying too far away for food?” asked Norma anxiously.</p> - -<p>“They will if you plant the right kind of growing things. Natalie, for -instance, must plant some grain along the fence line on the meadow -side. That will not interfere with any flowers you have there.”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. James and I were planning about that ugly fence and the strip of -garden, just yesterday. We have it all cleared out and manured, ready -to use now.”</p> - -<p>“What did you plan to use there?” asked Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“We are going to plant the vines as soon as they come up from the -seeds you gave me, all along the fence line. Then I want the -old-fashioned border plants all along the edge of the ground where the -drive joins it, and in the center of the long bed we expected to plant -geraniums. All geraniums—to make it look like something that was meant -to be.”</p> - -<p>“But you did not plan to plant them all the way from the road to the -woodland, did you?” was Mrs. Tompkins’s amazed question.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! only from the street down to the line where the vegetable -garden begins. From there on to the stream, we thought we could plant -sunflowers, hollyhocks, dahlias and other tall-growing flowers.”</p> - -<p>“Well, now listen to what I would do with that strip, if it was mine:</p> - -<p>“I’d get Sam to work at the digging, while you girls can help with the -packing of the earth about the roots, and the careful lifting and -removal of the trees and shrubs growing in your woodland. Then watch -while they are being wheeled up to the garden strip where a deep hole -has been made ready to receive them—one by one.</p> - -<p>“Start with a young mulberry tree, if possible, for that fruit is the -most attractive for birds of all kinds. And bees like to hover about -mulberry blossoms, too, and get their nectar there. In my opinion, a -mulberry tree is a necessity if one wants to keep birds and bees -happy.</p> - -<p>“Besides the mulberry tree—or three or four of them, if you can find -them of a size easy to remove from the woods—take the elderberry -bushes, the choke-cherry, dogwood trees, wild black cherry and other -kinds that not only blossom profusely but bear fruit that the birds -like.</p> - -<p>“All these trees and shrubs or bushes can be planted at intervals -along that garden strip by the fence. Then, in between those high -bushes and trees, you can plant the geraniums. The low border flowers -can run all along without a break and the vines at the back where the -old fence is, can also cover that, but your gay geraniums will look -all the gayer and prettier for having the green bushes and trees break -the monotonous streak of color.”</p> - -<p>“That’s splendid advice, Mrs. Tompkins, and I only hope we can find -such trees and bushes.”</p> - -<p>“That is the easiest part of the work, Norma, because the woodland -down by the stream, is full of just such berry bushes and fruit trees. -That is one reason the woods, there, is so full of wild song birds. -And they will move up nearer the house if they find plenty of food and -good lodgings.”</p> - -<p>“Dear me! I wish to goodness we had been on the farm in time to do all -this work before the birds came from the South!” sighed Norma.</p> - -<p>“It will be ready for them next year, at least. Even if these bushes -and trees die off, you can easily replace them with others in the late -fall or early spring. To group them judiciously and know where they -belong, is an important work that can be done now while they are in -full leaf and will show how they look.”</p> - -<p>“It seems a pity to transplant the poor things just to show us how -they look, and then have them die,” remarked Norma.</p> - -<p>“If the soil about the roots is carefully dug and packed on the -outside with straw or strips of burlap to keep it from falling off, -there is no reason why the bushes and trees should fade or die. The -main thing to do is to keep their native soil about the roots, and to -disturb the roots as little as possible. This can be done by digging a -wide enough circle about the trunk, and by having a large enough hole -where it is to go in. I think it is a waste of money to buy fancy -shrubs and decorative bushes, or trees, for the lawn or garden, -because one can find any kind one needs right in the woods.”</p> - -<p>“The reason I mentioned sun flowers along the fence-line, Mrs. -Tompkins, I knew the birds loved to eat their seeds, and they grow -rapidly in any soil without any attention, too.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sun flowers are magnets for the birds, but so are bitter sweet -and clematis, and you know how lovely they would look on a trellis or -growing up the side porch. You can find bitter sweet along the roads -in the countryside, and wild clematis, too. Then you can buy a trumpet -vine, and honeysuckle and Virginia creepers from a florist and have -them well grown by next year. If I were in Janet’s place, I’d hide the -ugly old barn and sheds with rows of sun flowers and castor oil bean -plants. Then I’d train all sorts of vines up the sides of the -buildings until the place was a thing of beauty instead of what it is -today.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell Janet what you said and let her come and take a few lessons -from you, as I am doing,” laughed Norma.</p> - -<p>“If it’s birds you girls want to coax to live about the house, you -can’t have too many fruit or seed-bearing plants around.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a pity the geraniums have no sweet perfume because it seems a -waste of space to plant them just for their looks,” said Norma, as -Mrs. Tompkins went to the mirror to pin on her hat.</p> - -<p>“You’ll find anyone who harbors envy is seldom sweet or lovable, and -geraniums mean ‘envy’ in the directory of flowers.”</p> - -<p>“Really! I never knew that flowers meant anything excepting perfume -and beauty,” exclaimed Norma, deeply interested.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! Every flower has a meaning and many of them have very -interesting legends connected with their history.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, if you would tell us some of those legends at the scout council -today how we would appreciate it!”</p> - -<p>“I will, if you wish it. I will not only give the scouts a talk on -flowers, but I will add a dessert after the heavy meal, to please the -guests who will sit about my table of flowers,” laughed Mrs. Tompkins. -“But they must agree not to feel offended if I tell them their flower -for their natal day and give its meaning. It may not always please, -you know.”</p> - -<p>“How did you learn all these things, Mrs. Tompkins?”</p> - -<p>Norma’s hostess laughed. “You did not think that I could spend so many -years with my flowers without finding out some of the stories that -belong to them, did you? One who grows vegetables tries to discover -all that can be said about them; and a bird fancier, or one who -studies forestry, or bees, or insects, learns their history first; the -legends and tales that belong to almost everything on earth, are read -or heard, and found interesting to the fancier.”</p> - -<p>“If there is a flower for every natal day, tell me what mine is?” said -Norma eagerly, mentioning the date of her birth.</p> - -<p>“Yours is the mignonette and it means ‘loveliness.’ Not because of the -beauty of form or coloring, but because of its character and -qualities. It is a constant bloomer and its perfume is so freely and -generously sent forth that all may inhale and enjoy.</p> - -<p>“In the Orient where this little flower originally came from, it is -called ‘resada’ because the Orientals claim that if one stoops to -inhale its fragrance as it grows upon its lowly stem it has the power -to soothe any pain and drive away most sorrows.</p> - -<p>“I never judge loveliness from looks, Norma, but from qualities. I -know some folks who are so homely that the first time I met them I was -sorry for them. But I soon grew to appreciate the wonderful -characteristics which made them quite lovely to me. And I also have -met people quite the reverse of this desirable kind.”</p> - -<p>“What is your natal flower, Mrs. Tompkins?” questioned Norma.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins glanced at a large garden of healthy green plants, which -as yet were merely stems and foliage. Then she said sadly: “Before I -lost my boy, I used to take the greatest pleasure and pride in my -chrysanthemums, because we worked together and produced some -remarkable specimen. Robert and I won several prizes in the New York -Flower Show with our unusual chrysanthemums. But now, I just let them -grow as I do the rest of the flowers. No one takes the joy and -pleasure in my gardens since Robert was killed.”</p> - -<p>Norma felt the moisture coming into her eyes for this sad mother, for -she had heard from Hester, how her only brother had met his death in -France during the first year of America’s war with Germany. So she -could say nothing, but she waited patiently.</p> - -<p>“I was born in October, the month of the chrysanthemum. And I was -named Chrystine, too. I always admired the lovely large Oriental -flowers, even before I knew they were my birth flowers. Then, when I -succeeded with so many other flowers, I began to try to succeed with -the imperial flowers of China. You know, do you not, that the -chrysanthemum is a native of China, and not of Japan, as so many -people believe?”</p> - -<p>“No, I did not know. I, too, thought it was a Japanese native flower,” -answered Norma.</p> - -<p>“In the year 246 B. C. China was ruled by a very cruel Emperor who -feared nothing but death. But he was in such constant dread of the -spectre that he ordered his physicians to spare no cost and time or -lives to search for the elixir of life which he had been told was kept -in a secret place.</p> - -<p>“A clever young physician, who bore the Emperor no love, perfected a -scheme, and then called at the palace. He told the Emperor that a rare -flower grew on an island far out at sea, but no one had ever been able -to gather it, as it faded instantly and died, if any hand polluted by -any form of sin, touched it or its plant.</p> - -<p>“Then the young man said he would suggest that a number of pure young -men and as many virgins be found and ordered to accompany him in a -boat to sail for this island. There the purest of them all would be -made to gather this flower and bring it to the Emperor who would then -live forever.</p> - -<p>“The physician was fitted out with a vessel and everything needed for -a long voyage and the maidens and young men were found to go with him. -Then the foolish Emperor sighed and waited eagerly for the flower of -life. But nothing was heard of the party for a long time, then when -the Emperor was dead, the news reached China that the voyagers reached -Japan safely and colonized a state with their pure and healthy young -people. This is why the Japanese claim they come of finer stock and -more intelligent natures than other ancient races of the world.”</p> - -<p>“How interesting it is,” ventured Norma, in a whisper so as not to -distract the speaker. “And was that flower the chrysanthemum?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but that is not the legend I meant to tell you when I began. The -pink chrysanthemum means ‘Love’; the white one means ‘Truth’; and the -yellow one means ‘Life’—and all three of them, Love, Truth and Life, -mean Robert to me now, because they stand for the second coming of -Christ, and at that resurrection all who have died in the Lord shall -live in Him again, also. But to understand why this is so, I must tell -you the story of the flower.</p> - -<p>“You probably know that the twenty-fifth of December is not really the -birthday of Jesus, but that the real date is some time in the latter -part of October. The December date was set apart by the Romans at the -revision of our present Calendar. So the chrysanthemum was the natal -flower of our Lord.</p> - -<p>“When the Wise Men sought for the young child, they saw a great golden -star shining in the sky, and this they followed until they came to -Bethlehem of Judea. It had led them over rugged hills and through -shadowy vales, and finally descended before their eyes to rest upon -the lintel of the stable where the Babe was born.</p> - -<p>“As the Wise Men stooped to enter the door, the starry flower fell -into the hand of the first one to pass within. When the wondering man -saw that the blossom was of pure gold and gave forth such a marvelous -perfume, he knew it to be from heaven. So he gave it into the tiny -hand of the Prince of Peace.</p> - -<p>“The Child held the beautiful blossom aloft as if it was a sceptre, -then slowly the petals unfolded and the heavenly star bowed low before -the King of Kings. And to this day you will see the petals of the -golden chrysanthemum curl meekly, as they bowed that night before the -Saviour.</p> - -<p>“But a sigh from the Virgin suddenly wafted the petals away and they -found their places in the midnight sky again. There they radiated -brightness and glory upon all the world and all who would could follow -the pointing of the petals and seek and find the Christ. And so to -this day the shining golden petals in the night sky point the way to -their Lord and King, Christ Jesus.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, what a beautiful story, Mrs. Tompkins! I wish you would tell that -legend to the scouts.”</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t my dear child. I will tell them others, but not this one, -as I feel a reverence for all that belongs to Christ, since Robert -rose from our sight. I told you because I feel there is the same -affinity between you and me as there was between Robert and me, linked -together because of our mutual love for flowers.”</p> - -<p>At this moment, the merry shouts of the girls in the car, interrupted -further conversation and Mrs. Tompkins started for the door. But Norma -caught her hand and whispered: “I’ll not call you Mrs. Tompkins, -hereafter—you shall be chrysanthemum to me, because you truly are a -shining light in the firmament.”</p> - -<p>The woman with the thin refined face, and grey hair held both soft -girlish hands in her hardened ones and smiled sadly: “And you shall be -Mignon for me, hereafter, for truly you soothe away the pain and will -heal my sorrow.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chVI' title='VI—FLOWER DAYS AND LEGENDS.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER VI</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>FLOWER DAYS AND LEGENDS.</span> -</h2> -<p>Frances soon drove the car up to the side porch where the scouts from -the house were waiting for the rest of their patrol to join them, and -after welcoming Mrs. Tompkins and the three girls, they all started -for Solomon’s Seal Camp. On the way past the strip of ground which -Norma had had cleared and manured ready to plant Mrs. James was told -what Mrs. Tompkins had suggested about fruit and flower bushes from -the woods to provide food for bees and birds.</p> - -<p>“That’s a splendid idea, and one that we will carry out without delay, -Norma,” replied Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“It will take all of us scouts working with you to complete such a -large contract on time,” laughed Janet.</p> - -<p>“If the trees are meant for the birds and bees, we will have to bear -our share of the burden of moving them from the woods, because we are -all partners in the bird and bee business, you know, as well as in -Sue’s corporation,” added Natalie.</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I have no objection to these offers of help,” retorted Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, we’ll mention the contract to Patrol One, as soon as we -arrive in camp,” was Belle’s remark. And she did it, too, the moment -welcomes were over. The scouts of Patrol One were very glad to accept -the contract on shares, and they agreed to start seeking for healthy -young trees and bushes without delay.</p> - -<p>Then Norma exclaimed: “And what do you think, girls? I told Mrs. -Tompkins about the geraniums I wanted to plant all along the -fence-bed, and she said that geraniums meant ‘envy.’ Did you ever know -that every flower means something?”</p> - -<p>The scouts admitted that they did not know it, but they also wanted to -know all about the various meanings of well-known flowers. Mrs. James -interrupted, however, with the question: “There are many different -kinds of geranium, Mrs. Tompkins, so the meaning ‘envy’ cannot apply -to them all.”</p> - -<p>“No, because we do not classify the flowers correctly. We call several -flowers ‘geraniums’ which have no right to the name. In the Far East -the geranium is the size of a small tree, but the plants we call by -the same name are nothing like that. Then, too, the spiced flower, and -the rose-geranium are not really proper names for the plants.</p> - -<p>“The tree that really is a geranium in the Far East stood for envy -until Mahomet washed his shirt one day and hung it on the limb of the -geranium tree to dry. In a marvelously short time the garment was dry, -so Mahomet took it from the bush but where the shirt had hung now -blossomed forth a brilliant crimson crown of flowers. And from that -day, the tree was no longer green with envy of its flowering -neighbors, but proud in its own beauty.”</p> - -<p>The two Patrols applauded this unexpected story and Miss Mason added: -“I see our Welcome Entertainer lost no time in beginning her work. -This deserves a badge of honor from us, I say.”</p> - -<p>“We agree, but where is the badge?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p>“We’ll make one and invite Mrs. Tompkins to be our guest, on the day -we present it to her,” returned Miss Mason, smilingly. So the scouts -surmised she had a nice little plan in mind with which to thank Mrs. -Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“I vote that we give Mrs. Tompkins the seat of honor and lose no time -in hearing all the valuable things she can tell us,” suggested Mrs. -James, waving her girls to the grass to seat themselves.</p> - -<p>So the Speaker for the day was conducted to the chair that was the -seat of the Captain at other times and the scouts formed a semi-circle -about her, with ears and eyes and minds open to hear everything she -said.</p> - -<p>“I suppose to be a good instructor, I ought to mention a few things -about the flowers; but you all may know, or a few of you may not know -of them. However, I will only speak of these things in a general way -so you will not need to grow impatient with me,” began Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“First of all, the floriculturist must understand the soil he expects -to plant his flowers, or seeds, in. There are many kinds of compost, -and some kinds are better than others, for certain flowers or soil. -Best of all <i>general</i> flower fertilizers is a well-rotted cow manure, -but it must be six months old, at least, before it is mixed with the -soil. Fresh well-ground bone meal is best for roses, shrubs, trees and -many flowers. Soot taken from our chimneys is splendid for box, privet -and other hedges, especially so for the bay trees which are so -decorative these days. If you mix soot with sulphur, you can stop -mildew which is the bane of many a florist.</p> - -<p>“One reason why country women have good success with the flowers -growing about the kitchen doorstep is because they generally throw the -dish water or Monday’s wash water from the clothes out over the flower -beds. Not that the dirty water helps the flower but the amount of -potash from the soap did the work of fertilizing.</p> - -<p>“Sheep manure is fine, but expensive, for flower beds. Also the -sweepings and rakings of the poultry yard—this is as good as any -compost I know of. The cleanings of the pig pen also mixes well with -the chicken manure, and the combination is excellent.</p> - -<p>“One of the main causes of flower sickness and pests, comes from dry -atmosphere, dewless nights, dry winds or baking sun rays. These sap -the vitality of the plants and check their progress. If you dig up the -soil a few inches and mix in it the fresh clipped grass from the lawn -or a bit of very old manure you can offset this evil.</p> - -<p>“The minute you find mildew on a plant, fight it, or it will spread so -rapidly to other plants that you will find it well nigh impossible to -kill it. In a very short time, your most beautiful flowers will be -nothing but a memory. Powder your diseased plants with soot and -sulphur nor care for their looks as long as you save them in the end.</p> - -<p>“Roses are our sweetest and also the most troublesome of flowers. One -seldom plucks a rose without finding a bug about it somewhere. But all -sorts of bugs can be cleaned off now and kept away by sprinkling the -rose bushes with a water to which a mixture of milk, kerosene and -water has been added. The directions say: Three pints sweet milk, -three pints kerosene, two pints water. Then add this as you need to -wet the bushes, as follows: one pint of mixture to every two gallons -of water. Not only sprinkle all leaves, buds and blossoms, but the -ground about the bush, as well. This wash can be applied every ten -days to two weeks apart, from May to June.</p> - -<p>“The best all-around cure I know of, for removing every sort of insect -or worm, are the birds—plenty of wild birds about your place. To -encourage these feathered helpers, keep away strange cats, provide -plenty of bird houses, give them bathing pools and feeding stations, -as well as berry bushes, fruit trees and plants that will provide -plenty of seeds for them to harvest. One of the favorite foods of the -wild birds are various kinds of growing grain, corn and seed grasses. -The latter are very decorative when grown in clumps and large patches, -and the grain can be made to add to the beauty of a place if properly -grouped.</p> - -<p>“There are very few flowers that cannot be planted in the fall and -left to come up in the spring. All my bulbs are planted in fall and -covered with a straw mixed manure to keep the frost away. Also my -hardy plants and shrubs are planted in the fall. If vines and -self-growing flowers are seeded in the fall and covered with a light -compost, they will come up as soon as the season is conducive. But I -seldom set out my tender plants until after Decoration Day. If I need -an early start for my flowers, I begin them in the hot-beds, or cold -frames.</p> - -<p>“I won’t take any more time now, girls, to go into details about -plants, because we have all summer to ask and answer questions on any -special matter. But I will reply to any query you may wish to ask me -now, before I begin the legends,” said Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>The scouts showed no desire to postpone the telling of the stories -they wanted to hear, so the guest smiled and began.</p> - -<p>“I’ll begin by telling you that Hester’s natal flower is the white -rose—her birthday comes on the first of June. The fairy-tale about the -first white rose is very pretty.</p> - -<p>“One very warm day in the long ago, the Hindu god Vishnu was arguing -with Brahma while both of them floated on the water to cool -themselves. Brahma had said that the lovely lotus in which he was -floating was the fairest flower that ever was seen. Vishnu -contradicted his statement, by saying that he knew of a flower far -more beautiful.</p> - -<p>“Then Brahma said impatiently: ‘I cannot believe what my eyes have -ne’er beheld. Where is this rare blossom thou praiseth?’</p> - -<p>“Vishnu smiled wisely and replied: ‘The lotus is fair, but this flower -that blooms only in my garden of Paradise is incomparable. Nothing -hath ever been seen like unto it.’</p> - -<p>“Then Brahma became curious to see it with his own eyes, and he said: -‘Go to! If thy flower be so wondrous fair that its beauty exceedeth my -lotus, then will I give thee the half of my kingdom. But should it -fail to merit my admiration and my lotus remains the finest flower, -then the half of thy domain becomes mine.’</p> - -<p>“Vishnu agreed to this wager and the two quickly hied them to the -Paradise that surrounded Vishnu’s palace. Brahma was conducted to a -royal banqueting hall to partake of refreshments, but he was too eager -to see the beautiful flower Vishnu had lauded.</p> - -<p>“So the two sought the gardens where the sweetest and loveliest -flowers bloomed all the year round. Then came Vishnu to a circular bed -that was surrounded by a path, and all about this path were wonderful -roses, wafting their perfume everywhere. But all the blossoms turned -the one way—towards the circular flower bed in the center of which -stood a tall, slender, majestic rose plant.</p> - -<p>“Vishnu halted in front of this rose tree that stood apart from its -brethren, as if consecrated for a purpose. And as he lifted his eyes -to the tiny green bud that crowned the top of the bush, the bud began -to grow. Brahma stared in wonderment, but said not a word—so marvelled -he.</p> - -<p>“In a few moments the bud had increased to its full size, which was -thrice the size of a man’s head. And then it began to open its green -doors. Slowly the white leaves of a flower appeared and when full -grown, leaned back upon the stem of the blossom to make room for the -other petals.</p> - -<p>“Finally all the petals had appeared, and the rose seemed full-blown. -Then came such a rare perfume from its heart as would intoxicate the -beholders. And from the heart of the rose, there came slowly and -gracefully a waxen-white goddess of surpassing beauty and fairness. -She stepped daintily from the rose and stood before the bewildered -Vishnu. Brahma was speechless with surprise also.</p> - -<p>“Then spake the queen of the roses and said: ‘Vishnu, because thou -hast honored the flowers in thine own home garden, Nature hath sent me -to be your bride. Henceforth, the white rose shall be a bride’s -flower, and its sweetness and beauty shall ne’er fade.’</p> - -<p>“Thereupon, Brahma admitted willingly that this flower in the garden -of Paradise was the most beautiful in the world, and the half of his -kingdom became Vishnu’s, who now was the greater lord and governed -Brahma and his possessions.”</p> - -<p>When Mrs. Tompkins concluded her story of the white rose, the scouts -applauded delightedly, and then Janet called out: “Tell me my flower, -Mrs. Tompkins, and what is the legend to go with it.”</p> - -<p>“When is your birthday, Janet?” asked the story-teller.</p> - -<p>“August twentieth.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins laughed lightly and replied: “Janet, you have a flower -that is a keynote to your character—daring, frank, stubborn to resist -obstacles and adverse conditions, generous in sweetness and sunny -coloring, but so willing to bloom everywhere that others might be -cheered, that it is not half appreciated. I mean the dandelion, your -natal day flower.”</p> - -<p>The other scouts laughed at Janet’s expression and Mrs. James remarked -significantly: “The dandelion never borrows trouble, skips merrily -over the meadow or roadway, creeps in to smile on the fairest lawns, -lifts its sunny face in the most squalid corners, but is often -trampled under foot, or scorned because of its intrepid stand but bold -assurance.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if that means I am bold because I was impatient to know what my -birth flower was, I have my answer. A dandelion! Pooh!” was Janet’s -scornful rejoinder.</p> - -<p>“Don’t scorn this little flower, Janet, because you say it grows -commonly everywhere. The field and roadside blossoms have the greatest -mission in God’s flower kingdom. Because they are told to brighten and -cheer all climes and creatures. Besides this, the dandelion has a most -interesting construction and its great sweetness offers unlimited -nectar and pollen to the bees and birds. What would they do without -the dandelion?” said Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>Janet felt more resigned at this explanation, and Mrs. Tompkins -continued: “The name of dandelion is not the correct one for this -sunny blossom, but like so many of our English words it became -commonly called the ‘dandelion’ because a foppish young lion of -society who was one of the ‘dandies’ of his day, and used the little -yellow flower as his symbol. It was used on his linen, his crest, and -he always wore one in his button-hole.</p> - -<p>“But the real name of the flower was Sun Lion, because of its -endurance and powers to withstand overwhelming adversities, and -because its face always smiled serenely up at the sun, and turned as -the sun moved across the sky, to always keep its eye open towards it. -This is what made its fine golden petals radiate from the central -point outward—as the sun’s rays shine outward to all.</p> - -<p>“The legend that I have heard of the dandelion comes from Indian lore, -and the moral is quite simple to understand—never procrastinate.</p> - -<p>“The South Wind, who was very fond of wild flowers, took a walk one -day through a woods where he became enchanted with the pretty blossoms -he found growing there. But he loitered so long that he became drowsy -when the sun shone warmly down at noontime. So he found a secluded -shady nook and curled up to have a nap.</p> - -<p>“When he awoke, he found he had slept through the night and now it was -morning again; so he lifted his head and rested it upon his elbow, and -gazed delightedly around him. The woods with its admiring blossoms, -smiled back at him, and out on the meadows the meek and lowly flowers -nodded joyously to greet him.</p> - -<p>“As South Wind smiled back at his admirers, he suddenly saw a happy -little flower maid out on the meadow, dancing for joy and waving about -her a bright sunny cloud of golden hair.</p> - -<p>“South Wind was so enchanted by this bright vision that he decided to -woo her for his bride. But the sun rose higher and reached noontime, -when it shone too warm for South Wind to exert himself very much. So -he said he would defer his wooing until the next day. Then he sought -the cool and shady nook in the woods and soon fell fast asleep again.</p> - -<p>“When he awoke again, it was another day, but still the golden-haired -maid was dancing and smiling in the meadow; and the amorous South Wind -sighed with sentiment and started to rise and woo the captivating -beauty. But again the heat of noonday overcame his good intentions and -he dropped back and took one more nap.</p> - -<p>“He awoke early on the third morn and jumped up with the determination -to go and win the fair maid <i>that</i> day without fail. So he blew -himself quickly out of the alluring woods and reached the meadowland -where he had watched the golden-haired dancer. As he softly approached -the figure which now stood still in the grass, he smiled, for he -pictured the greeting such a spirited maid would give him—the South -Wind!</p> - -<p>“He reached the figure, but what was his chagrin when he saw the -wonderful golden hair had faded to grey, and the youth of the charming -dancer had turned to old age upon a bended stem! Poor South Wind knew -it was because of his delay in wooing and winning the object of his -love, while youth and beauty remained, that now filled his heart with -bitter disappointment. He sighed heavily with his sorrow, and his -breath blew over the grey head of Sun Lion and at that breath of love -lost, the whitened hair fell from her crown and were lightly wafted, -here and there, and far away, leaving the old head shorn of all its -covering, and bent low in useless regrets.”</p> - -<p>This story met with more appreciative applause than the white rose -legend, and then so many girls called for their natal flowers and the -legends to go with them, that the Captain held up a hand for patience. -When quiet reigned once more, Mrs. James said:</p> - -<p>“I propose that we hear from our hostess of Green Hill Farm. Perhaps -she has a favorite natal flower and a pretty legend to go with it.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Natalie—what is your birth date?” asked Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“My birthday is on the eleventh of June?” said the girl eagerly.</p> - -<p>“June eleventh has the field daisy for its flower. It means -‘optimism.’ There are many stories in connection with the daisy—or -Marguerite, as it is known in France. But the story that is claimed to -be a true one, tells how Marguerite of heathen times, was driven from -her father’s home in Antioch because she would not renounce the -Christian faith and bow low to the pagan god. She loved the daisy and -it became her flower after her martyrdom.</p> - -<p>“There is a legend, or myth, about the daisy that says: ‘Once the -dryads were dancing on the great Green of the world, when the god of -spring passed by and stopped to watch the dance. The dryads were so -merry and gay in the abandon of their whirl that they did not see the -god of spring creep up and await his opportunity to spring forward and -catch up the sweetest of them all—a modest lovely little form which -had attracted his eye.</p> - -<p>“‘Just as the god snatched the beauteous maiden from her companions, -she lifted her head and called to heaven for help. Instantly she was -turned into the lovely little daisy that always lifts its head toward -heaven and greets the sun with smiles.’”</p> - -<p>When the girls’ applause for this tale died out, Norma suggested -eagerly: “Now we ought to hear Jimmy’s natal flower and its legend.”</p> - -<p>“I already know my natal flower, and my birthday being so near at hand -I think I will ask to be excused from the publicity such a revelation -will make just now,” laughed Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Tell us what your flower is, if you know it?” demanded Natalie -eagerly.</p> - -<p>“It is the honeysuckle—not the wild but the clinging vine,” returned -Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Ha! That means devotion, doesn’t it. Quite true of your -characteristics, too,” remarked Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James flushed, but smiled with thanks at the delicate compliment, -then added: “Is there a legend to go with it?”</p> - -<p>“It is a love story of Old England, but not claimed to be true. It -goes like this: A sweet little country maid would not look at the -uncouth lads of her village, so they stood aside and sighed in vain.</p> - -<p>“But a handsome young gallant rode through the dale, one morn, and -spied the lovely discontented rural maid as she stood beside the door -of her humble home-cottage. He tarried in the village long enough to -woo the girl who had appealed so strongly to his senses, but when he -had won her love and she was dreaming of her wedding day, he realized -how tiresome she would be in his gay life of London.</p> - -<p>“So he told her ruthlessly one moonlight evening that he could not wed -because he had wearied of her love. The maid cried out brokenly that -she would not let him leave her. But he sprang away from her -outstretched hands and ran for his horse which had been hidden behind -the trees. Before he could reach it, however, the jilted maid ran -after and caught his body in her embrace. She sank upon her knees, -while she still clung desperately to his waist and hands and begged -him to remain with her yet a little while.</p> - -<p>“He was just about to tear away her clinging fingers so he could -escape, when the moon rode out from behind the black cloud that had -veiled its face hitherto. The broken-hearted maiden cried to the moon -to help her keep her lover always beside her, and instantly, an icy -finger of moonlight touched the callous youth and turned him into a -slender tree. About the trunk of the tree there twined the arms of the -girl in the form of the honeysuckle, but every tear she wept produced -a splash of a flower that shed sweetest fragrance upon the air.”</p> - -<p>“That is a very romantic little story, but not one that I can claim as -an appropriate one for myself,” laughed Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Now that Jimmy has had her flower and its legend, I think we ought to -hear one for Miss Mason, too,” declared Janet.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes!” chorused the scouts eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Well, girls, my birthday happens to be soon, and I feel the same as -my Lieutenant does—that it will give the date too much publicity if -you all hear it, just now,” retorted Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I know when Jimmy’s is. If yours is near that time it ought to be -the honeysuckle, too,” said Natalie.</p> - -<p>“Just to compel the Captain to reveal the date of her birth, I will -tell you, scouts, that my birthday is on the sixteenth of July—very -imminent, you see,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Why! how interesting! That is my birthday, too!” exclaimed the -Captain.</p> - -<p>“Ho! A double birthday, then,” exclaimed Norma.</p> - -<p>“And one we must celebrate without fail,” added Janet.</p> - -<p>“Yes, indeed! Our two grand masters of the lodge having a birthday on -the same day!” laughed Natalie.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have the party, all right, to celebrate, but the Captain has no -legend coming to her. She’ll have to take some of Jimmy’s honeysuckle -and share the romance with her,” said Norma.</p> - -<p>The scouts laughed merrily and when the teasing had subsided somewhat -the Captain said: “We ought to know what Solomon’s Seal means—in a -legend, I mean.”</p> - -<p>But the girls were clamoring for their own birth flowers, so that Miss -Mason’s words were lost. Mrs. Tompkins replied to most of the requests -for the names and meanings of the various natal flowers, and the -scouts heard that June the fifth had Verbena for its flower and its -meaning was “discretion.” The Crocus for March seventh meant -cheerfulness. The Canterbury Bell in August stood for gratitude. And -the April Violet meant modesty. One of the scouts heard that the -snapdragon meant presumption but she was the most retiring one of all -the Patrol, so this called out a general laugh at her expense. Then -Frances was told that her flower was the proud and disdainful -sunflower and again the scouts laughed heartily for they declared that -the flower dictionary was wrong. Frances should have had the fuchsia -instead, which means “mad ambition.”</p> - -<p>Two hours had passed in this interesting form of story-telling and now -Mrs. Tompkins said she must be starting back home or her husband would -send out the secret detective force of Four Corners to locate her.</p> - -<p>The very idea of Four Corners having any such force made the scouts -laugh gayly, but Miss Mason said anxiously: “Oh, you must not think of -leaving the scout gathering until we have had our refreshments, Mrs. -Tompkins.”</p> - -<p>This part of the programme was unexpected by Patrol Two, but -nevertheless very acceptable. Short shrift was made of the cakes baked -by the scouts that morning; and the birch lemonade concocted from the -essence distilled from macerated birch, made a delicious drink.</p> - -<p>As the scouts of Patrol Number Two left camp and started for the -house, one of the members of Patrol One called out: “Don’t forget the -celebration on the sixteenth! We’ve got to get together very soon and -plan for it.”</p> - -<p>And Natalie, speaking for her scouts, called back: “No, we won’t -forget!”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chVII' title='VII—THE ROCK AND WATER GARDEN.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER VII</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>THE ROCK AND WATER GARDEN.</span> -</h2> -<p>Late that afternoon, when the girls were engaged with their various -pursuits, Norma called Mrs. James to join her over at the rail fence. -Here the two paced off the strip of ground and tied strings on the -rails opposite which they planned to plant the wild berry and flower -bushes from the woods.</p> - -<p>This done, Norma said: “Now let’s go over to the barn yard and decide -where to plant the sun flowers and other bushes from the woods.”</p> - -<p>This was finally done, also, and then Mrs. James walked slowly from -the barn to the edge of the tiny brook that ran all along the edge of -the barn yard and found its outlet in the woodland stream. Norma -followed, wondering why her companion paused so often to study the -environment and why she turned to allow her eyes to rove over the -rivulet and its weedy sides.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been thinking, Norma, that this unsightly spot on the farm ought -to be redeemed in some way. Not only does this insignificant creek -afford many stagnant places where mosquitoes breed, but the briars and -weeds growing so thickly on its banks keep scattering their seeds -every fall and causing more work for us the following season.”</p> - -<p>“What were you thinking of doing with it, Jimmy?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ve been thinking a great deal of what you said yesterday, -Norma, about wishing to build a rock garden with ferns and plants that -grow well in such soil, and then when you had time to figure out the -plans and cost of building a miniature water garden, you wanted to -take up that interesting work.</p> - -<p>“I have always had a desire to build a water garden, too, but I never -really got so far as to see it done. I felt the wish to make one -revive the moment you spoke of planning one. And just now when we -crossed this undesirable patch of ground, I started wondering if we -could not divert this stream into something for our garden.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, but I had no idea of having my water garden over by the barn -yard, Jimmy,” exclaimed Norma, greatly disturbed. “I wanted it to be -on the front lawn, or near enough to the house so we could all enjoy -its refreshing looks whenever we passed by it or sat on the porch.”</p> - -<p>“That is my intention, too. I want to find out the source of this tiny -creek, because it must have a source somewhere, you know. I do not -remember any brook or water passing over the main road in front of the -house, do you?”</p> - -<p>“No, but we may have overlooked its being there. There may be a large -drain pipe under the road, to conduct the creek from one side of the -road to our side. I’ll go and find out.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll both go and see just where this water has its birth. Now that -I’ve given a thought to it, I’m as curious as can be, to locate its -origin,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>So the two hurried past the house and out to the road. Here they -walked for some distance past the corner post of the farm-line, but -could not find anything that might possibly be a spring or creek that -would finally form the tiny rivulet they were investigating.</p> - -<p>So they retraced their steps and again reached the little ford over -the barn yard lane, where the stream crossed.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to break our way into this jungle of shoulder-high weeds -and briars, if we expect to find the source of the creek,” remarked -Mrs. James, pinning her short skirt tightly about her and beginning to -bend down the weedy stems that obstructed the way.</p> - -<p>Norma followed closely in her tracks and after a slow progress through -the stubborn undergrowth, the two came to a spot almost opposite the -house, but about three hundred yards away from it.</p> - -<p>“Why, the creek turns sharply towards the house here, Norma, but the -jungle spreads further afield,” said Mrs. James, as she turned to the -left to follow the stream.</p> - -<p>They now reached a point in the course of the creek that was not a -hundred feet away from the front corner of the house, but the reeds -and briars had always hidden the small stream winding its way through -the jungle. Mrs. James was elated at discovering a natural supply of -water so near the front lawns and stepped out to proceed, when -suddenly her foot sank in a soft bog.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” exclaimed she, quickly pulling her foot out and stepping back. -Norma was just about to advance, but she, too, jumped back to avoid a -collision.</p> - -<p>“What is it—a water snake?” called Norma anxiously.</p> - -<p>“No, a mire. I went right down in a marsh. But it is not possible to -determine how large an area the mire covers, because the undergrowth -is so dense. Let’s go back and try to enter the place from the -front-lawn side.”</p> - -<p>So the two hastened back the way they had come, and tried to continue -their investigations from the front lawn side of the briar patch.</p> - -<p>The two stood on a slight elevation of ground at the front corner of -the lawn, where stood a group of giant pines which had done service as -silent sentinels for more than a century. They made one of the -artistic scenic effects on the farm, with their wide-spreading limbs -tipped with flat fans of aromatic green shading the lawn and road.</p> - -<p>“From this slight knoll, the ground slopes naturally to this -depression that is now covered with that tangled undergrowth,” said -Mrs. James, pointing generally at the area under discussion. “You can -see that the ground rises very gradually from the depression until it -is on a level with the main road again. From the spot where I went -down in the marsh, over to the property line of our farm, is more than -a hundred yards across, and it is all such a jungle that no one ever -bothered to investigate the possibilities of doing anything with it. -At least, that is what I think, because this place has been -uncultivated for years, as one can see.”</p> - -<p>Norma listened intently and followed with her eyes, the various -directions pointed out, but wondered what could be done.</p> - -<p>“Now I am almost convinced that that creek finds its source somewhere -in that bog. I believe that the spring we will discover there is not -only the cause of that bog and the rank growth of weeds and briars, -but it also furnishes the tiny stream of water that trickles past the -barn. If this is so, Norma, then our hardest problem is already -solved. In building a water garden the question of water supply is the -greatest thing.</p> - -<p>“One can run a pipe line from the house to any locality, and one can -divert a nearby stream into a pool, and then lead its overflow away -again, but that means a lot of work and expense. If we can find that -the spring is located in, or near, this depression of ground, we not -only have solved our difficulty of water supply, but we also have a -natural pool formed by this slight hollow that is nicely graded all -around to form the banks of our lake.”</p> - -<p>“But, Jimmy, those roots will grow up again even if we cut off the -tops of the weeds, and the bog will be horrid if it is underneath our -pool,” was Norma’s disappointed reply.</p> - -<p>“We’d have to get help and dig out the roots to prevent their decaying -when under water. And we’d have to clear out the boggy ground and dig -down until we struck solid earth again; then leave that for our basis -to build on,” explained Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Do you think Sam can do all of that? I know you and I could never -accomplish it alone,” ventured Norma.</p> - -<p>“I would have Mr. Ames go over the area and tell us what he thought of -it. He can give us an idea of what it will cost to clear out the -jungle, and clean up the bog from the bottom of the depression. If it -does not cost too much, I think I will start the work at once.”</p> - -<p>“It would be just wonderful if we could make our dreams of a water -garden come true this year. I was afraid I would have to wait for next -summer before I could try anything so elaborate,” sighed Norma -delightedly.</p> - -<p>“Now that we know where the creek starts, Norma, suppose we walk -around by the road and climb the fence to get into the fringe of woods -on the other side of this area. I’m curious to find out if this -depression extends far across to the other boundary line of this farm. -I only hope it does, for that will give us a wonderful expanse of -water to plan for, and the spring can fill it just as easily as if it -were a tiny little puddle. The height of the dam we will have to build -at the far end of the depression, will be determined by the depth of -the water we wish to have in the lake.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Jimmy! Will we have a real dam, too?” cried Norma.</p> - -<p>“Of course! That is what will back up the water and fill the -depression. If there is no dam, the water will go right on running -away as it now does.”</p> - -<p>The two now started for the road in order to gain the far side of the -briar area, but Frances was seen coming from the barn in the -automobile. They reached the gateway about the same time and Mrs. -James asked: “Where are you going, Frances?”</p> - -<p>“Over to Dorothy Ames’s to see if she can come over and advise Janet -about some pigeons. Dot raises them, you know, and we want her to find -a suitable place for Sam to start the cote.”</p> - -<p>“Then I wish you would stop at the other Ames’s farm and see if Mr. -Ames is home. If he can come over for a half hour, I’d like very much -to ask him about some work to be done here,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I’ll not only stop and ask him, but we’ll stop and bring him back -with us, if he can get away,” agreed Frances.</p> - -<p>While the two were waiting for Frances to reappear with Farmer Ames, -they talked eagerly of the lake they could already visualize in the -place where bog and weeds now stood.</p> - -<p>“If we build a dam, Jimmy, that means we will have a water falls, too, -doesn’t it?” was Norma’s eager question.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and I will want a bridge, too, over the lake.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, how lovely! Maybe we can build a bridge like I’ve seen in -magazines, where the large estates have landscape gardeners beautify -the grounds. I’ve seen Japanese gardens with the loveliest bridges and -islands in the lakes! I’d like a bridge with stone lanterns and -Japanese idols and temples on it.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James laughed. “I’d like them, too, but I will be contented with -a rustic bridge of cedar, for the time being. We may be able to have -the upright posts heavy enough to hold up an iron lantern on its top, -but the temple and little gods are out of the question, because they -cost so much in the city.”</p> - -<p>“Another thing, Jimmy, we can transplant lots of wild fruit and berry -bushes from those woods on the other side of the fence, and grow them -in groups on the banks of our lake. And we must group rocks in such -places where they will be most effective, and then plant the fern and -plants that will need moisture and shade. Oh, it will be perfectly -lovely when it is finished!”</p> - -<p>When Frances brought Farmer Ames back with her, the experienced man -heard Mrs. James’s plans and wishes to start a lake. At first he -laughed heartily at such a suggestion, but the more he looked at the -disgraceful briar patch and thought of the beautiful spot a water -garden would make, right there he changed his laughter to serious -ideas.</p> - -<p>“The old tenant never tilled that ground because it was so boggy and -he claimed it was sour. So he just let it go like this, all the ten -years he lived on the farm,” explained Mr. Ames.</p> - -<p>“One thing I want you to find out now, is this: Just where is that -spring located, and how much muck will have to be dug out before you -strike hard ground to build on,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I kin tel you that in a very short time. I’ve got on my rubber boots, -so I kin plunge right in now,” agreed Mr. Ames.</p> - -<p>So he thrashed down the reeds and briars in his way and went into the -marsh. The two anxious watchers on the high ground could see that his -feet sank to a depth of about ten inches, or more. But that did not -say that he had struck solid hard ground. He might have to dig out -another six to ten inches of muck soil before solid earth could be -reached.</p> - -<p>Finally Mr. Ames shouted to the anxious gardeners: “I’ve struck the -spring itself! Here’s where it bubbles up.”</p> - -<p>“It’s almost in the middle of the area, isn’t it?” called Mrs. James -delightedly.</p> - -<p>“Yeh, and it makes quite a little way for itself until it gets clogged -with dirt and tangle of debris. Then it spreads all over the place and -causes the bog. It looks like an easy job to clean out a little ditch -to run the water along to the creek, until we are ready to flood the -whole area,” said Ames.</p> - -<p>He prodded about some more and then he came out again. “I should say, -Mis’ James, that that fixin’ ought to be right easy.”</p> - -<p>“You do! How far over can we extend the water?”</p> - -<p>“The land doesn’t begin to rise again until you get close to the -fringe of bushes, over there—this side Natalie’s fence.”</p> - -<p>“Splendid! Just what I hoped for!” cried Mrs. James, clasping her -hands eagerly.</p> - -<p>“And how far down past the house can we run it, Mr. Ames?” added -Norma.</p> - -<p>“Well, up hereabouts, where the roadway drops down to this hollow, it -will be wider than down by the house, you know. In plain words, the -head of the lake would be about where the fence divides the land from -the main road. It will sort of round itself off before it gets to the -clump of pine trees, and on t’other side it will round quite sharp -instead of having any corner where the side fence joins the front -fence of the property lines.</p> - -<p>“Right across from the lawn to that side will be the widest part of -the pond, and from there down to the end of the briar patch it will -gradually narrow in until it reaches the place where you intend having -the dam set,” Mr. Ames explained.</p> - -<p>“How much work will it be to cut down the jungle and dig up the -roots?” asked Mrs. James anxiously.</p> - -<p>“If you mean for me to do it, I could start in with your man Sam to -help me and clean off the weeds and the roots in about two days’ -time.”</p> - -<p>Norma could hardly believe it, but she said nothing, for Mrs. James -was speaking again. “And then how long do you suppose it will take to -scrape off the bog and muck and reach hard pan?”</p> - -<p>“Umph! That’s not easy to figger on, ’cause some of the bog might be -made by deep roots that hold on for dear life to the soil underneath. -But Sam and I ought to be able to clean out the stuff in another two -to four days—all depends.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll do it, Mr. Ames! Even if I have to pay for the work out of my -own money—we’ll have this lake without any delay. I wish you’d come -and start work to clear the weeds just as soon as you can,” declared -Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Can you spare Sam all day tomorrow, if I come over to work?” asked -the farmer.</p> - -<p>“Yes, not only Sam, but Norma and I are going to help in this work. -Perhaps some of the other scouts will join us, and every one can find -something to do in the clearing of the place. While you are throwing -out the muck, I intend to convey it to places conveniently near where -it can be well mixed with manure and be ready to spread out on the -floor of the pond as soon as you are ready for it. Yes, you come over -in the morning, and we will be ready for you, Mr. Ames,” said Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>That evening the scouts sat under the group of pine trees listening to -Mrs. James describe her vision of a water garden. Each one had -something to say, and every one wanted to help with the interesting -development of the lake. So the work was detailed off in order to give -every one a certain contract to fulfill.</p> - -<p>There were large and picturesque rocks to haul, to pile up or group, -in order to add to the natural beauty of the garden. Frances suggested -a way to haul these rocks.</p> - -<p>“We’ll get a chain and tackle from Ames and fasten the fingers of the -clutch about a rock. The chain can be hooked to the back of the car -and then I’ll drive while the rock is being dragged along the road to -the lakeside.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll have a dreadful hard job dragging an uneven rock over the dirt -road. It will gouge up the ground and half bury itself all along the -way. It would be much easier if we could wheel the rocks in some way, -instead of dragging them over the road,” said Janet speculatively.</p> - -<p>“Maybe we can borrow that old truck from the station man, at Four -Corners, and hook the handle to the automobile and just pull it along -with the rocks on it,” ventured Norma.</p> - -<p>“That’s a good idea! I’ll drive in first thing in the morning and get -it. Si Tompkins will ask the man for me. We won’t hurt it any more -than trunks and ploughs and other things it has to move from the -baggage cars to the farmers’ carts,” said Frances.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no one will worry about hurting it,” laughed Natalie. “It is in -such a battered state that nothing more can injure it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s settled, then. Some of you scouts will see to it that -the rocks are delivered on the shores of the lake,” said Mrs. James. -Then she went on: “Some will have to dig up the bushes and young trees -in the woodland stretch, over on the other side, and carefully -transplant them in suitable pits dug to receive them on the shores of -the pool.”</p> - -<p>A group of scouts was told off for this work and Janet with a number -of friends were ordered to bring well-rotted cow manure from Ames’s -farm and mix it with the soft muck which would be cleared out of the -hollow. Small heaps of this mixture would be left at intervals all -around the lake, so it could be readily shovelled back and spread out -to form a rich soil under the water where water lilies, Egyptian lotus -and iris could be planted.</p> - -<p>“Another task that must be attended to is the carting of nice white -sand to the fence line in front; so it can be used when the lake -bottom is all finished. The sand must be spread out about an inch in -depth, all over the compost soil, to keep the water clear. I’m going -to hire Ames’s cart and farm horse to do this work. The sand from a -pit half a mile down the road is just the kind we will need, so a few -of you scouts can drive there and attend to this branch of work,” said -Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>But the majority of the scouts were chosen to help work on the -clearing of the land. Not only were they willing to drag away the -tough roots of old nettles and reeds, but they offered to help dig out -the bog and carry the muck up from the hollow to heap it where Mrs. -James would designate.</p> - -<p>When Hester Tompkins went home that night and told her parents of the -plan to turn the wild briar patch into a water garden, they thought it -was splendid, and offered to assist in the work in any way Mrs. James -needed them. So the next morning found Mrs. Tompkins ready to go with -Hester to walk to the farm and begin to work for the future lake.</p> - -<p>Mr. Tompkins had no trouble in borrowing the heavy truck from the -baggage office at the station, and when Frances started for Green -Hill, pulling the truck behind the automobile, several of the natives -stood laughing. But the store keeper suggested a better way to help -than by standing there laughing at nothing.</p> - -<p>“I say! we husky men pitch in and help them gals root up the rocks -they want for their garden. We all own crow bars, and we know how to -handle a rock, so let’s pitch in, says I, eh?”</p> - -<p>Most of the men had heard of the scouts’ farming and other work at -Green Hill and every one wanted to inspect the place and see what -these girls could do, so they agreed to join Si Tompkins and help -collect the rocks for the garden. Had it not been for the strength and -experience these men had to pry the rocks out of their resting places -and remove them to the water garden which they were meant to beautify, -it is doubtful if the girls could have finished that work quite so -speedily.</p> - -<p>When Mrs. Tompkins reached the house at Green Hill, she was welcomed -by the girls because they knew she could advise them in many ways that -would help the work along faster and better.</p> - -<p>As Mrs. James led the way to the briar patch, Mrs. Tompkins said: -“Have you planned to have a Japanese garden, or just a pool?”</p> - -<p>“Norma said yesterday, how she would love to have a real Japanese -water garden similar to those she has seen in magazines. But I told -her we could not afford the money for the decorative lanterns, and -temples and seats such as a Japanese garden called for.”</p> - -<p>“Why, they won’t cost very much extra—only for the cement, you know,” -said Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>Norma and Mrs. James gazed in surprise at their visitor and Norma -said: “What cement do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“Why, the cement for the concrete. And the work is so interesting, -too, you ought to try it before you count the cost.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean that we can <i>make</i> the temples and other objects?” -exclaimed Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Of course! You didn’t mean to hire them made, did you?” was the -lady’s retort, as much surprised as her two hostesses.</p> - -<p>“I never dreamed of it! I don’t know a thing about concrete,” was Mrs. -James’s dismayed answer.</p> - -<p>“I’ll show you. As long as you are going to build a dam to back up the -pond, you may as well order a few extra bags of cement and build your -seats and bridges and other things so they will last.”</p> - -<p>“I thought I would try and have some sort of a bridge of rustic wood, -but I was pondering how to erect the pillars or posts so they would be -firm and strong enough to hold up the span,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>By this time the three reached the edge of the area where Ames and Sam -were already ditching a narrow outlet used to drain the marsh of the -spring water. Mrs. James pointed out where she wanted a bridge to be, -and Mrs. Tompkins nodded, then suggested:</p> - -<p>“Don’t try to span the entire water with one bridge, Mrs. James. When -Ames gets the marsh all cleaned out and it is dry enough for us to -work in, we will mix the concrete and make a few islands in the lake. -The largest one can be in the direction of the widest diameter of the -lake, which is near the roadway that passes the place. Our bridge will -run from here to that island. Then from the other side of that island -we will build another smaller bridge to span the distance to an island -nearer the other side, but further down near the dam. Then a third -bridge can span that water from the island to the opposite shore. What -do you think of my suggestions?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, perfectly fine, but think of all the work in making the islands?” -said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“No more work than if you had to construct three solid piers for the -bridge if you spanned the entire width of the lake. The concrete base -we use for the islands will not have to be molded or clean-cut, you -know. It will be poured on the floor of the marsh first then the -thicker concrete will be piled on top of that when it is hard. We will -embed rocks in this second layer so the mass will harden together and -form as fine a foundation as one can want. In the crevices of the -rocks and all over the concrete foundation, we will throw the rich -soil you are planning to prepare, and in this we can plant our bushes -and flowers.</p> - -<p>“On the smaller islands we will not have room for bushes or shrubs, -but the ferns and water plants can grow there. Besides, a planting of -cat-tails in the soil around the islands will make them look much -larger than they really are, and still show glimpses of the water -glistening through their stalks.”</p> - -<p>“Dear me, I’m so glad you came to advise us, Mrs. Tompkins, that I -want to hug you for it!” exclaimed Norma enthusiastically.</p> - -<p>The two women laughed and Mrs. James added: “Norma was so keen about -having temples and seats and Japanese lanterns that I felt sorry for -her disappointment. Now she can have them all and more, too.”</p> - -<p>“I wanted to have those cute little dwarf pines in the stone jars on -the bridge, you know, like they have in pictures, but Jimmy said the -stone objects cost too much,” explained Norma.</p> - -<p>“Let me tell you right here that the crooked little pines and cedars -that you see growing in or near the water in the finest of Japanese -gardens are not planted in the water nor in the soil of the water -garden. They are planted in large galvanized or other metal buckets so -they will be waterproof, and these pails are sunken into the ground, -or hidden by reeds and ferns that grow up about the outer edges of the -pail to screen it. The water generally reaches up to within an inch of -the top of the pail so that the plant and the soil it is in never get -wet from the lake. Quite often, the pails holding the trees are placed -in the jardinieres of concrete, but do not show from the outside. They -can be easily lifted out and given the care they need, and then -replaced again. If they were planted right in the concrete posts they -could not be taken out and attended to as they require it.”</p> - -<p>“Then we can get some metal pails and have trees growing on our -bridge, too!” declared Norma eagerly.</p> - -<p>“You can buy some of the ordinary stable pails that Si keeps in stock. -They are large and heavy and will never rust,” said Mrs. Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“If you haven’t ordered your water lilies, or iris, or the lotus and -cat-tail seeds yet, I think I can get them for you from a gardener -over White Plains way, and save you money, too. He will give me a lot -of plants for nothing, because I’ve given him plenty of valuable -advice for nothing in the past.</p> - -<p>“As for the cement—order that from White Plains at once so you won’t -be delayed after the clearing is done. In fact, if I were in your -place, Mrs. James, I’d let Frances drive over and bring back as many -bags at a time as she can comfortably carry in the car. The bags can -be wrapped in paper to keep the car clean.”</p> - -<p>“I wish I knew half as much as you do, Mrs. Tompkins, because I’d -think myself something, then,” sighed Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins laughed. “The more you really know, the more you -discover how little you have actually understood. Then the fact of one -human’s insignificance dawns upon you.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we sure are glad you gave us all this advice, even if you do -consider yourself an insignificant human,” said Norma in so earnest a -tone that the others laughed merrily at her.</p> - -<p>Frances drove Mrs. Tompkins back to Four Corners and got the metal -pails to carry back to the farm. She then wrote down the address of -the store where she was to go for the cement and finally started back -for Green Hill.</p> - -<p>Rachel spread a long table, constructed of several boards, placed -across two trestles on the side lawn that evening, and then called -every one to supper. It was her greatest delight to invite company to -dinner or supper and this occasion was an unusual one to treat the men -from Four Corners who had remained and helped with the work all that -afternoon.</p> - -<p>Hands and faces were washed at the hydrant where the garden hose was -generally attached. Rachel provided towels and soap for every one, and -a merry group of girls and farmers were soon splashing freely in order -to hurry their toilets and sit down on the boxes that stood in rows -beside the long plank table.</p> - -<p>Perhaps it was the feast, or it may have been the merry scouts as they -entertained these middle-aged villagers that made Si Tompkins declare -as they were ready to go home: “Boys, shall we help the gals out again -tomorrer? They’ve got a powerful lot of rocks to haul, yet!”</p> - -<p>And that is how the scouts secured such desirable workers in doing the -very heaviest part of the entire work on the water garden.</p> - -<p>After the men had gone and the dishes were all in the kitchen, the -girls began to carry away the boards that had been in the cellar and -were used for swing shelves in winter time, Mrs. James remarked to -Miss Mason: “I wonder if goldfish will thrive in such a pond?”</p> - -<p>“Why, of course! Didn’t you know that they are an absolute necessity -for the health of your plants and the purity of the water? They eat up -all the insect pests and mosquito larvae that grow on the water. But -you won’t want to place any gold fish in the water until it is all -settled and cleared from the work and soil.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it funny, Jimmy, how I started out with a meek idea for a -little rookery or a pool garden, and you had such great ambitions that -we adventured into the bog. Now just see what is growing out of our -infant plan! A great pond with islands and bridges and temples and -everything!” exclaimed Norma, her eyes shining.</p> - -<p>“We may end by holding a Japanese flower show in the garden this -fall,” added Janet teasingly.</p> - -<p>“Not unless my flowers and plants grow better than they seem to at -present. I really suppose they were planted too late to have much -courage this summer, but next year they’ll pay me back,” said Norma.</p> - -<p>“You talk as if you liked Green Hill and was coming back!” laughed -Natalie, pleased as could be at the idea.</p> - -<p>“Coming back! Of course we are—if Jimmy and you will only let us! You -didn’t think I was raising Susy for you to own next year, did you?” -demanded Janet anxiously.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James laughed: “We still have plenty of time in which to discuss -next year, girls, so don’t let us argue about it, at this early date.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chVIII' title='VIII—THE RAIN INTERFERES.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER VIII</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>THE RAIN INTERFERES.</span> -</h2> -<p>Every scout at Green Hill went to sleep that night with radiant -visions of working on the water garden the next day, and <i>perhaps</i>, -seeing it nearing its completion by evening. But the day dawned and -very few of the scouts could crawl out of bed. The unusual work that -had brought many dormant muscles into play the day before caused backs -and limbs to stiffen and ache, so that they cared little when they -heard the rain pattering heavily upon tents and roof.</p> - -<p>“Dear me! Do you suppose Mr. Ames will work in the rain?” asked Norma -impatiently when she saw the steady downpour.</p> - -<p>“He worked in the water up to his knees all day yesterday so I -shouldn’t think the rain would frighten him away,” said Janet.</p> - -<p>“But he had on hip boots that kept his feet dry. If he works in the -rain he will be drenched in no time,” explained Belle.</p> - -<p>“Besides, this rain will fill up the hollow so that the marsh will be -very unpleasant to dig in,” added Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see why the horrid old rain couldn’t stay away for a few -days, until we got the lake finished,” grumbled Norma.</p> - -<p>“The farmers will be so glad for this rain. We haven’t had any in so -long they feared their crops would suffer from the drought,” ventured -Mrs. James mildly.</p> - -<p>“Oou-ch! Oo-oh!” came from Natalie, at this moment, and every one -turned to ask what was the matter.</p> - -<p>“Oooh—a stitch in my back that cramped me all up!” sighed the girl, -bending over in order to crawl to the couch by the window.</p> - -<p>That started a comparison of aches and cramps and pains that lasted -until Rachel served the nice hot breakfast. She always had some remark -to make on the progress of work at the farm, and now she said: “I -declare! You scouts ain’t done any more experimentin’ on dat new churn -we got, and I ain’t got no moh time to make your butter dan I’se got -to fly! Seems to me you-all can work dat churn on a day like dis.”</p> - -<p>“Rachel is right, girls! This is the sort of weather to make scouts -look after house work. Now some of you can play with the churn while I -experiment with a cake recipe I got from a farmer’s wife last week,” -said Belle.</p> - -<p>“If the cake is a success, who is going to eat it?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p>“If the scouts in this part of the country weren’t so famished when -cake was mentioned, I’d say you all could have a party with it,” -laughed Belle.</p> - -<p>“I’d say Belle had better finish her experiment first and then talk of -parties later. Maybe no one will want to risk their lives with a bite -of the cake after she has it baked,” added Natalie.</p> - -<p>With teasing and laughing, the breakfast was finished and Janet, -Natalie and Frances decided to do the churning that day, Belle said -she would be occupied all morning in the kitchen, and Norma decided to -put on her raincoat and oilskin cap and go out to see how the flower -beds were looking.</p> - -<p>Sambo’s dog, Grip, had not evinced any desire to bother anyone at -Green Hill Farm because he was seldom to be found about the place, -excepting at such times as when he rushed home for a meal or to sleep -at night. The scouts of Patrol Number One said they often found him -roaming about the woodland down by the stream, and Farmer Ames said he -visited them at odd times and begged for a drink of water. Then he -would wag his tail and scamper away again.</p> - -<p>Sam grinned whenever any one of the girls asked him “what good was a -dog like that?” And he generally said apologetically: “Dat Grip ain’t -never had such a good time afore, so he don’t know how to enjoy it all -at once.”</p> - -<p>But Grip disliked the rain and so he lounged about the house and -followed the girls to the cellar when they went to try the churn. And -he was still prowling about in the corners when he heard Rachel call -his name. That always meant something to eat, so he rushed up the -cellar stairs in great haste.</p> - -<p>Norma had gone out to her garden and the first thing she saw was a -rank growth of weeds coming up where the seeds had been planted. This -would never do, so she leaned down to pull them up. As she bent over -the ground a dreadful odor came from it. She had to straighten up and -turn away her nose because the smell was so unpleasant.</p> - -<p>She examined everything near the flower garden to see if a dead cat, -or rabbit, or other creature, was hidden in some corner, but nothing -could be seen. When she turned back to the flower beds again, the odor -was still there—overpowering to her delicate sense of smell.</p> - -<p>“I’ll go and ask Jimmy if she used a new kind of compost on the ground -without my knowledge.” So saying, Norma turned to go in by the kitchen -way, but she saw Grip on the stoop very busy with a huge soup bone.</p> - -<p>The moment he saw Norma place a foot on the lower step, he grumbled at -such interference with his repast, and taking a firm hold on the bone -with both jaws, he dashed off the stoop and ran towards Norma’s -garden.</p> - -<p>She stood watching him without any special motive in doing so, when -suddenly she saw him burrowing a hole in her flower bed. She shouted -and ran to stop such depredations, but Grip was pawing away with both -front feet just as fast as he could, and the dirt flew out from under -the active paws and scattered about for a radius of more than ten -feet.</p> - -<p>“Get out! Stop that, you rascal!” shouted Norma, now close enough to -catch hold of his tail and try to pull him away.</p> - -<p>But Grip had dropped the bone in the pit already made, and now tried -to nose the soil back over it, while defying the drag Norma had on his -appendage.</p> - -<p>“Now I know what that awful smell is, you old tramp!” exclaimed Norma, -angrily, as she gave up tugging at his tail, and instead ran to the -cellar to get her garden tools.</p> - -<p>The three girls in the cellar listened to her story of how Grip made a -store room of her garden, and as they laughed appreciatively at the -dog’s preference for a flower garden in which to save his future -meals, Norma got her tools and went out.</p> - -<p>With a little judicious hoeing and raking, she soon unearthed several -well-decayed bones and chunks of raw meat which Grip could not finish -at his meals, but planned to save them for a day of famine.</p> - -<p>Norma tied a handkerchief about her nose as she dug up the odoriferous -morsels and carried them on the shovel, held at arm’s length, down the -lane to the barn yard where a compost heap was started for next year’s -planting.</p> - -<p>“There now! One book said that old bones and meat, as well as green -garbage was excellent to mix in a compost heap before winter time, as -it would all mature together.”</p> - -<p>With this satisfaction of having performed a good deed, Norma returned -to her flower garden to continue the weeding that had been so -unpleasantly interrupted.</p> - -<p>But Norma discovered that the same muscles in her hips and back that -had ached so dreadfully all night, began aching again, with the -bending over the flower garden to weed, so she had to give up all -hopes of gardening that day. Having put her tools away in their -accustomed place, she went to the kitchen to offer her services to -Belle.</p> - -<p>“You can stir up the chopped almonds if you will,” said Belle, busily -engaged in beating the cake batter.</p> - -<p>“Where is it?” asked Norma, looking on the table for a dish of nuts.</p> - -<p>“On the stove—in the frying pan,” returned Belle.</p> - -<p>“Goodness sake! Do you fry the nuts before you use them?” asked Norma, -amazed at this way of making a nut cake.</p> - -<p>“No, I do not fry nuts but I fry that mixture,” explained Belle. “You -see this is a recipe a woman way back in the country gave me. She -never has any nuts so she uses this counterfeit, and no one ever knows -the difference.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?” was Norma’s question, as she sniffed the mixture she was -supposed to stir to keep from scorching.</p> - -<p>“I cracked a lot of cherry stones that came from the pitter when -Rachel canned those cherries, and the meat was soaked in a -tablespoonful of alcohol to extract the flavor. Then I took a cupful -of grape nuts cereal and soaked it in some cream. When it was soft I -added the flavoring to taste, and now you are about to brown the whole -thing in butter to keep the chopped nuts soft enough to chew like real -nut-meat when it is in the cake. See?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I never! What a fake!” laughed Norma.</p> - -<p>“The woman told me of all sorts of fakes the bakers do to make -customers believe they are getting first-class food stuffs. She told -me how they used egg coloring to make the cakes and things look yellow -as if plenty of eggs were used in them. Then she told me of the -substitute for milk, which many bakers used because milk costs so much -these days. Lots of them actually use a substitute for sugar and -hardly any of them use vanilla bean, or real lemon, or genuine fruit -extracts for their flavoring. It all is made of synthetic preparations -that counterfeit the real flavors and are so much cheaper.”</p> - -<p>“Huh! That’s why it pays to cook and bake at home, isn’t it?” said -Norma.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but even then, Norma, I found out that you have to know what you -are buying or you get a counterfeit extract or baking powder, that is -very injurious to eat. If one does not know this deception, one pays -for the real thing and doesn’t get it.”</p> - -<p>“I think someone ought to put a stop to such things!” was Norma’s -amazed rejoinder to Belle’s disclosures.</p> - -<p>“You’d think so, wouldn’t you, but the food adulterers go right on -their merry way, coining money out of their poor imitation articles, -and the ignorant public go right on buying what they believe to be -pure goods. One really has to know all sorts of things these days to -keep ahead of the tricksters.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Belle, I guess the girl scout teachings and work will turn out -housekeepers who can get ahead of any of these clever counterfeiters, -eh?” said a voice just then, as Mrs. James came in to the kitchen to -see how the cake was getting on.</p> - -<p>The need of Norma’s assistance was soon over, for the cakes were -poured into gem pans and quickly shoved into the oven to bake. Then -Mrs. James told the girls that she had seen a tenant move in to one of -Norma’s bird-flats.</p> - -<p>“Oh where—when?” cried Norma, rushing to the back door in order to -look out.</p> - -<p>“A bluebird selected the flat facing the field and I saw them both -carrying material for a nest. Even the rain had no dampening effect on -their ambition to settle down in your cheese box apartment,” laughed -Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>The other girls who were in the cellar heard the excited voice of -Norma as she talked about her new tenant, and all three dropped the -paddle and ran upstairs to watch the bird nest building.</p> - -<p>“Hey, dere! You’se can’t stop churnin’ like dat, once you starts it -goin’!” shouted Rachel, catching hold of two of the girls just in time -to prevent their escape to the back stoop.</p> - -<p>Belle had hurried out after Norma at the news about the bluebirds, but -Mrs. James called her back as she laughingly said: “Those nut cakes -won’t take more than a few minutes to bake and I’m here pining away -for a taste of one.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, goodness! I forgot all about the cakes in my excitement over the -birds,” cried Belle, as she ran back to open the oven door and see how -the cakes were doing.</p> - -<p>“I wish we had all taken the time to hang our bird houses up,” -remarked Janet, as she started for the churn again.</p> - -<p>“Let’s do it as soon as this work is done, Janet. Sam hasn’t anything -much to do today and he can help. All those large houses are still -waiting to be hung in quiet nooks,” said Natalie.</p> - -<p>So the remaining bird houses were placed that day and the girls felt -that the least the birds could now do was to come and live in them. -The rain ceased directly after dinner, and by two o’clock the sun -shone feebly from behind the banked-up clouds. But it was clear enough -to allow the work on the lake to continue, so the scouts from camp -came up and joined the girls from the house.</p> - -<p>“I had an idea this morning when I pondered the hold-up this rain made -for us,” remarked Mrs. James, when all were ready to begin work. “If -we had ditched the narrow strip which is going to drain the bog out -into the little creek this rain would not have interfered with our -working on the lake hollow. We can dig on that drain now, and then the -ground in the depression will dry all the sooner.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what we will! We’ll begin near the barn where the little creek -passes, and ditch the place deep enough to carry off all the surplus -water not standing in the marsh,” agreed Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>No more time was lost by the scouts that day and soon they were -digging and picking and shoveling for dear life. Many willing hands -make light work, too, so the length of ground that had been left to do -when Ames stopped digging the day before, was now finished and the -last spadeful of soil was finally thrown out. Then the water that had -flooded the bog area began to run out and the workers were delighted -to think how dry the erstwhile marsh would be by the following -morning.</p> - -<p>As they started back for the house, after completing this important -bit of work, Miss Mason said: “I tried to think of something this -morning that we might do to help complete the water garden, but I -couldn’t remember a thing. While we were digging, it came to me quite -clearly that on just such a day was a good time to take up the bushes -and young trees you wanted transplanted to the strip of ground along -the field fence. The soil will have clung to the roots and the soil -where we transplant the bushes will have been moist enough to help the -roots take hold.”</p> - -<p>“Why can’t we go for some now?” asked Norma eagerly.</p> - -<p>“You scouts all complained of aching backs and cramped muscles, so I -thought you would not care to work any more today,” explained Miss -Mason.</p> - -<p>“But all my aches went away when I started to dig again,” confessed -Janet and the others admitted to the same sudden cure.</p> - -<p>So they voted to find and dig up as many berry bushes or wild grape -vines or other fruit-bearing plants for the birds as they could find -and carry away before supper time.</p> - -<p>Consequently, there was quite a brave showing of bushes and vines -along the fence line before twilight that evening. One of the girls -discovered a small mulberry tree which was taken up with all its -wide-spreading roots. But it took the combined help of four scouts to -carry it safely from the woodland to the field.</p> - -<p>The scouts at the house needed no alarm clock to rouse them the next -morning, as every one was eager to see how much of the marsh had been -drained out by the ditch they had dug. Rachel said they would have -time to run out and look around before she would have breakfast ready, -so out they went—all making for one objective, the front lawn where -the marsh could best be inspected.</p> - -<p>“Well, well! Who’d have thought a little thing like that ditch would -make such a difference!” exclaimed Norma, the first to reach the -place.</p> - -<p>“It certainly looks encouraging, doesn’t it?” declared Janet, as she -saw the clumps of bog now sticking up without any water in sight -anywhere, excepting the tiny stream that ran from the spring in the -middle of the area.</p> - -<p>“Girls, how far down shall we build the dam?” asked Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to put it where it will best back up the water, won’t we?” -asked Janet.</p> - -<p>“We can build it where we like, if we want to expand our lake any -larger or longer than we had first planned for.”</p> - -<p>“If we could have an irregular shore line on the lake, and at that end -where the dam is to be, have it taper off from a lake into something -like a natural looking stream and then place the dam almost opposite -the dining room windows so the music of the water falls will be heard -as we sit at the table, I would like that immensely,” suggested Norma.</p> - -<p>“If we had the stream above the dam stretch along as far as that, I -see no reason why I should not have my water fowl swim and spend their -summer days in the lake. They won’t have very far to waddle to reach -the pond, if the dam is so far down towards the barn yard,” said Janet -eagerly.</p> - -<p>Every one laughed, because Janet planned all things to fit in with her -stock’s pleasure and benefit. But Mrs. James added: “Girls, I think -Janet’s idea of having ducks and geese swimming in the stream and lake -is a good one, as live water-fowl always make the lake look more -picturesque. A swan would be entirely too large for so small a body of -water, but the ducks and geese will be just the right size.”</p> - -<p>“You said you wanted to put goldfish in the water, but Janet’s -water-fowl will eat them up the moment they see them,” said Natalie, -grinning at her own astuteness.</p> - -<p>“If we stock the goldfish in the lake from the first and only permit -Janet’s goslings to swim about at first the fish will get accustomed -to keeping out of their way and the goslings will not be experienced -enough to snap them up at every turn. Then the adult ducks can be -allowed to come to the lake when the fish are practiced in dodging -their natural enemies,” suggested Norma.</p> - -<p>“Or better still, why not have Janet select ducklings instead of grown -ducks from Mr. Ames, just as she has the goslings instead of grown -geese? Then all the little things can swim about in one happy family, -and not eat each other up,” remarked Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“That’s just what I’ll do! I’ll have Mr. Ames exchange the six big -ducks I just bought for twenty-four ducklings, as they are four times -cheaper than a grown duck.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you take little ones, in the first place, if they are so -much cheaper. They don’t eat half as much, either?” was Norma’s -surprised question.</p> - -<p>“Oh, but they do eat—more than big ducks. They can’t pick for -themselves and so I would have to feed them cornmeal and cracked corn. -But the main reason I chose the big ducks was because Ames said little -ducklings were so hard to raise. If I had a nice clean pond of water -where they could swim and bathe, he said it would be different, but -that ditch running past the barn, was too small and scummy for ducks, -he said. With the lake we plan to now have, the ducklings will thrive -and enjoy themselves and not be so hard to rear,” explained Janet at -length.</p> - -<p>“You all spoke of moving the dam down to the barn to accommodate -Janet’s fowl, but I say why not let Janet move her duck and geese -coops up nearer the place where the dam had best be built, and the -water fowl will appreciate it just the same,” said Belle.</p> - -<p>“As usual, Belle’s voice in the matter carries the vote,” laughed Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, let’s choose a site opposite the dining room window as I -suggested and dig a winding stream from the lake to the water falls, -to make it look picturesque. Then the little stream that runs from the -falls to the stream down by the woodland will take its own course in -getting there,” declared Norma.</p> - -<p>“How high are we going to have the dam, Jimmy?” asked Frances.</p> - -<p>“I do not know, but Mr. Ames is going to measure the highest depth of -the lake over by the pines and then gauge it from that point down to -the point opposite the dining room windows, as Norma just said. The -difference between the highest point at the pines and the lowest point -down by the ditch will be the height we must build the dam.”</p> - -<p>“Dear me, I can see myself swinging in a hammock under those pine -trees, with a box of candy, dreaming away the hours while listening to -the musical tinkle of the water fall, eh, girls?” said Mrs. James, -clasping her hands and rolling her eyes as they had often seen Norma -do when she was particularly romantic.</p> - -<p>The girls laughed and Janet retorted: “When anyone finds Jimmy taking -life easy, it will be time to feel her pulse and take her temperature. -Nothing but a fatal illness will ever stop her from being in six -places at one time, and superintending every one on Green Hill Farm, -while looking after her own affairs, too!”</p> - -<p>The laugh that followed this remark was unceremoniously interrupted by -Rachel’s call to breakfast. While the girls were concentrating their -thoughts on doing full justice to Rachel’s culinary art, Sam knocked -meekly at the door that led out to the side porch.</p> - -<p>“Come right in, Sam,” called Mrs. James, and he came in bowing -politely.</p> - -<p>“I come to tell Miss Norma ’bout dis grass. Tompkins got dat new -lawnmower from Noo York last night, and tol’ me to say it is waitin’ -foh Frances to cart home. Jus’ as soon as it ’rives, dat grass it -ought’a be mowed or it won’t be no good no more.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Sam. Frances will bring the mower when she goes for the -mail and then Norma will start at once to cut the grass,” replied Mrs. -James, smiling at Sam. Having delivered his message, he bowed again -and went out.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chIX' title='IX—VARIOUS UNDESIRED TASKS.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER IX</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>VARIOUS UNDESIRED TASKS.</span> -</h2> -<p>The addition of a cow and a calf, the two swarms of bees, the goslings -and Rhode Island Red chickens increased the interest of the girls in -their farm life, but it also increased Janet’s work and -responsibilities. Then Natalie’s vegetables grew so well that lettuce -was an every-day side dish at meals now; and soon, there would be new -string beans, beet tops to cut and cook and radishes.</p> - -<p>Meantime, Norma’s asters had recovered from their almost fatal dose of -Paris Green and the heliotrope that Mrs. Tompkins had sent the amateur -florist to replace the one she had killed with the poison was blooming -well and wafting its sweet incense upon the breezes, to be carried -everywhere about the house.</p> - -<p>While the girls were still at breakfast, Mr. Ames drove in at the side -gate. Janet sat facing the open window and was the first to see him.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’s got the dump cart and old Ben!” cried she.</p> - -<p>“He must be planning to use the cart for something,” said Norma.</p> - -<p>But a lively breeze carried an odor far different from the heliotrope -blooming in Norma’s garden.</p> - -<p>“Oo-oh! Close the door and windows—hurry up, Nat!” called Janet, -holding her breath while the girls ran to close the windows.</p> - -<p>“Ames brought the compost for the water garden,” was Mrs. James -undisturbed statement.</p> - -<p>“Of course, he had to bring it some time, but he did not have to stop -with it directly under the dining room windows,” said Natalie, in an -injured voice.</p> - -<p>“Some one had better run out and direct him where to dump the cart -load or he will leave it right here, just as he did that other load of -fertilizer that he brought for Norma’s flower gardens,” said Belle -anxiously.</p> - -<p>“If you girls will excuse me, I’ll go and tell him what to do with -it,” said Mrs. James, rising and going out.</p> - -<p>Then the cart was soon rolling away from that side of the house, and -Mrs. James showed Farmer Ames where to leave the old well-rotted cow -manure that was to be thoroughly mixed with the mucky marsh soil -before spreading it out on the floor bottom of the lake.</p> - -<p>“I brung the cart ’cause I figgered the gals would want to use the -hoss and cart to get the sand and small rocks for the garden,” -explained Ames, as he mopped his brow, after finishing his work on the -compost.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, they will be glad to know they can use it,” said Mrs. James, -but at the same time she wondered how to manage so small a cart and so -many scouts—for every one of them would wish to ride and cart sand.</p> - -<p>Mr. Ames found Sam waiting to help, so the two went to the hollow that -was to be a lake and were agreeably surprised to find the water -drained out and the bogs standing free and ready to be removed. Mrs. -James had forgotten to tell Ames what the girls had accomplished the -previous evening with work on the ditch near the barn yard.</p> - -<p>Frances drove to Four Corners immediately after breakfast and Janet -had to take care of her stock. Natalie had to weed her garden that -morning, as she had given it no attention for the past four days and -Rachel warned her about the weeds growing higher than the corn and -beans.</p> - -<p>It was Norma’s and Belle’s turn to milk Sue and prepare the milk for -the morning, but both the girls preferred to work on the water garden. -When Belle slipped into the kitchen to offer Rachel a quarter if she -would do the milking, Mrs. James overheard it and came out.</p> - -<p>“No, indeed, Belle! Norma and you must do your work even if you detest -it and want to fuss around in the bog. Besides this milking, Norma has -to cut the lawns when Frances brings back the mowing machine from Four -Corners. She agreed to attend to this work, long before we dreamed of -having a water garden. So now it will have to be done, you know.”</p> - -<p>Norma pouted but said nothing, for the fact was too obvious to be -denied. So Belle and she reluctantly went to the barn yard where Sue -waited impatiently to be milked. She had been waiting for more than an -hour already and was not apt to be very quiet during milking when she -had been kept from her cool pasture so long after sun-up.</p> - -<p>“You start the milking, Belle, and I’ll mix the mush for her,” -suggested Norma, going to the barn to get the meal.</p> - -<p>Belle looked for the stool but could not see it, so she grumbled to -herself: “Oh, well! I’ll milk without a seat. Sue always stands still -these days and Norma will be holding the pan of mush for her to eat, -anyway.”</p> - -<p>Janet was very busy in the pig pen, trying to dig out a pool for her -pigs to bathe in. Now that the cement was on hand, and she had heard -how to mix concrete, she was going to build a fine bath for them. So -she merely glanced up when Belle and Norma came to the barn yard to -milk the cow.</p> - -<p>Belle stooped upon her heels and sat the pail in position, but before -she could start milking, Sue gave a vicious kick with a hind foot and -sent the pail against the fence of the pig pen. It was badly dented -when Belle picked it up and shook it at the cow. That attracted -Janet’s attention, and she left the pool-digging and leaned on the -fence to watch her companions try to milk Sue.</p> - -<p>Norma brought the pan of mush from the barn and hurried with it to -Sue’s nose. But Norma had not quite overcome her old timidity of a -cow, and Sue’s eyes this morning looked very suggestive of evil. Then, -too, those two horns were very long and very curved and very sharp on -the ends!</p> - -<p>So Norma stood as far on one side as she well could and still manage -to hold out the tin pan of corn and bran meal mixed in warm water to -keep Sue in a good humor while she was being milked. Being so intent -on the cow’s next move, Norma did not notice that Belle was not seated -on the stool.</p> - -<p>The pail was placed in position again, and Belle again squatted to -begin milking. All went well for a few minutes but a horse fly lit on -Sue’s leg and took a good hard nip out of it. Instantly the cow kicked -rebelliously and switched her tail to try and wipe the pest away. This -time the pail rolled over and the contents foamed away in a little -stream.</p> - -<p>Janet laughed aloud and called to Belle: “Try, try again!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t waste futile words—can’t you see that I am trying again <i>and -again</i>!”</p> - -<p>Norma momentarily forgot her dread of Sue in watching Belle pick up -the pail and plank it down hard upon the ground, then squat to try the -milking once more. But the horse fly still clung to the cow’s leg and -kept the bovine victim aware of its presence, so that Sue finally -switched her tail fiercely and suddenly turned her head to see if she -could frighten it away by the bobbing of her horns.</p> - -<p>This was so unexpected to Norma, that when she saw the big eyes and -lolling tongue of the cow staring her right in the face, she dropped -the pan and screamed. At the same time she tried to spring backwards -out of Sue’s reach, but stumbled over a board and measured her length -on the ground.</p> - -<p>The switch of the tail, the banging of the tin pan, the scream of -Norma, all made Belle jump but she was squatting on her heels and -could not balance, so she went right over backwards. Janet leaned over -the fence of the pig pen and fairly screamed with mirth at the sight -of her two friends stretched out on the barn yard ground.</p> - -<p>But Farmer Ames had sent Sam to the barn to get an extra pickaxe and -he now arrived in time to see the trouble Belle was having in trying -to milk the cow. So he sat down and in a few minutes the stream of -milk was flowing freely and the horse fly flew away to find a better -resting place without so many disturbing mortals always about.</p> - -<p>“Now, then,” said Sam, when he had finished the task. “You gals can -lead her to pasture in the field, but be careful and not tether her -near them beehives, or she’ll get stung and run away again like she -did afore.”</p> - -<p>With Sue secured in the pasture lot, Norma and Belle felt that the -hardest work of the day was finished. So they walked back to the house -eagerly planning for the water garden. They went in at the side door -of the porch, to get their sun bonnets, but Norma heard Frances call -out as she drove the car past the door:</p> - -<p>“I’ve left the lawn mower out here for you, Norma! Jimmy said you were -to try and see if you can cut the lawn with it.”</p> - -<p>“Dear me! I forgot all about the old grass! I suppose that will take -all day, now!” exclaimed Norma impatiently.</p> - -<p>But Belle had no condolences to offer, so Norma went through the -kitchen and flew down the stoop steps to look for the new mower—<i>she</i> -called it “that <i>old</i> mower!”</p> - -<p>Frances had left it on the gravel path just around the corner of the -house, and Norma, in hurrying along this path, ran into it and stubbed -her toe against the wheel.</p> - -<p>“Ouch! Who left this old machine right in my way?” she demanded -angrily as she limped over to the porch and sat on the lower step to -hold her foot and rock back and forth.</p> - -<p>But no one heard her wail so she got up after a time and limped back -to the lawn mower. She looked it over and in spite of her annoyance, -she admitted that the machine looked very smart and capable in its -crimson paint and gold trimmings. Then she took hold of the handle and -tried to push it over to the grass.</p> - -<p>Rachel heard the click of the knives and came to an upper window to -look out. When she saw Norma pushing the mower through the grass -without having any effect on the long blades, she called out.</p> - -<p>“Dat hay is so long by dis time, dat it’ll take Ames’s scythe and a -day’s cuttin’ to chop it down fairly well for dat mower to go in and -cut.”</p> - -<p>Norma now glanced up at the head stuck out of the window and said: -“Did you leave that mower right where any one could fall over it?”</p> - -<p>“Now, Honey, I ain’t Gen’l Washerton who neber tol’ a lie—but I kin -say dis much—if it’ll help dat toe enny, I diden shove the mower in -your way, but I knows who did do it!”</p> - -<p>“Who! I’m going to tell them what I think of them!” said Norma, with a -flushed face.</p> - -<p>“I ain’t goin’ to tell—see!” and Rachel quickly drew her laughing face -out of sight, and Norma stood fuming for nothing.</p> - -<p>About this time, Janet ran along the lane and called to Norma. Being -only too glad to leave the mower in the uncut grass and find an excuse -to go with Janet to help her in some work, Norma met her half way.</p> - -<p>“Say! I just had a fine idea about the pigs’ bathing pool. If I make a -concrete bath in the present pen, I will have to keep filling it with -water every day. But if I move the pen over to the little brook, they -can swim about and bathe as much as they like, and the water will -always be clean, because it will run off continually, you see. Don’t -you think it would be a simpler matter to move the pig pen than to -carry water every day?”</p> - -<p>“Of course, but what will you do with the pigs while you are moving -the pen and house?” asked Norma.</p> - -<p>“Why, I won’t do anything with them, I’ll just build a new house and -pen. Jimmy thinks this one will prove to be too weak, anyway, as soon -as the pigs grow big and strong.”</p> - -<p>“How long before that will be?” asked Norma wonderingly.</p> - -<p>“It won’t be long now that I have started a regular course of feeding. -This morning I gave them a lot of greens from Nat’s garden—the ones my -hens scratched up, you know. Then I fed them enough corn and other -stuff to satisfy them for once. I’ve made up my mind to overfeed -rather than underfeed them, hereafter.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I think the plan of moving the pig pen is best as long as you -say you will need a stronger house and fence in the near future,” was -Norma’s careful judgment.</p> - -<p>“That’s what I think! Let’s go and ask Jimmy what she says about it. -I’m most anxious to give them a regular bathing pool, and if she -thinks a pen near the brook will be all right, I’m going to start it -at once,” declared Janet.</p> - -<p>But Mrs. James vetoed the plan of having the pen on the banks of the -brook for several reasons, the principle one being: “The pigs, when -they are larger, will root in the water and burrow a hole under the -fence and get out by way of the brook. You will be in constant race to -catch them again. But you might run an iron pipe from our water falls -down to a site nearer the falls than the present pen is. That will -furnish all the water you will need in a pool. Or you can attach a -hose to the old hydrant in the barn yard and fill a concrete pool that -way.”</p> - -<p>“Is the grass all cut, Norma,” continued Mrs. James, turning to the -girl.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! Rachel says it is much too long to run the mower through. I -tried it but it wouldn’t budge. Rachel says it needs a scythe and a -strong man to cut it down now as it is almost hay.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James smiled but said nothing, so the girls looked over the work -that Ames and Sam had accomplished since morning. As they remarked at -the amount of bog and muck that had been taken up out of the hollow, -Mrs. James added:</p> - -<p>“Yes, and you girls can mix it with the cow manure if you have nothing -else to do. I was about to go for the wheel-barrow and bring a load of -the compost to the first little heap of muck.”</p> - -<p>“What shall we mix with it?” asked Belle, and Norma said: “What shall -we use?”</p> - -<p>“One of you can borrow Ames’s fork while the other goes for our own -digging fork in the barn. I will wheel as much of the fertilizer as is -meant to be mixed in one of the pyramids of marsh muck, and one of you -can fork it in thoroughly. The next load I will wheel to the second -heap of muck and then the other girl can mix the two fertilizers -together. In this way, we ought to be through with all the different -heaps that Ames is shoveling up on the bank by the time he is finished -cleaning out the swamp.”</p> - -<p>Janet and Norma had not hankered for this particular kind of -gardening, but they liked it better than doing some tiresome task that -had become monotonous because of daily repetition. Norma was forking -over the muck with an earnest goodwill when the cries from Janet -caused every one on the farm to race for the barn yard to find out -what dire thing had happened there.</p> - -<p>This was the time Janet discovered Seizer, one of the three little -pigs dead from overeating and the tomato vines she had fed them that -morning.</p> - -<p>It took a full hour to calm Janet’s regrets and cries, but the -distressing circumstance cooled the girls’ ardent eagerness to finish -the water garden that day without fail.</p> - -<p>When Farmer Ames laid aside his tools that evening, however, and went -to get Ben and the cart, he said to Mrs. James: “Well, it looks as if -that work would be finished tomorrow!”</p> - -<p>This was so encouraging to Norma that she began to reconsider her -recent hasty decision that flower gardening was a waste of time unless -one had money and help to do the work right.</p> - -<p>Directly after supper, that evening, Norma sat down to write a few -lines home. The other girls were planning to do likewise for each one -needed money to conduct her business undertaking.</p> - -<p>“Dear Mother and Father:” Norma began.</p> - -<p>Then she sat chewing the end of the pen holder and frowned at the road -in front of the house. The sight must have been inspiring, for a -moment later she resumed her writing and kept steadily on until the -letter was finished.</p> - -<p>She told her parents of the coming of Sam and his dog; of the drive -across country in search of a cow, and how they got one from Miss -Jipson, and how the man Folsom tricked them with little Susy, but how -Mrs. James squared accounts with him afterward.</p> - -<p>She used several sheets of paper to tell how Janet’s chickens escaped -and dug up Natalie’s precious vegetables and how Rachel fooled Janet -into believing the old Leghorn hens were laying eggs every day, while -all this time Sam was sent regularly to put the eggs from the farmer -in the nests. Then she described how Janet thought she had poison-ivy -rash all over her, but discovered it was all the fault of the chicken -lice that infested her hens, and on the brood hen she had handled so -much.</p> - -<p>The scratching pen had moved rapidly across the sheets of paper while -Norma smilingly told these stories of Janet and Natalie, but when she -began to describe some of her own woes in flower gardening, she lost -her smile and trouble sat heavily upon her brow. She told how she -killed her best heliotrope plant by using four times the strength of -poison to kill the bugs; how the dog planted his old bones in the -finest seedling bed and half of the shoots were rooted out; how -Janet’s hens dug up the rest of them the morning they escaped from -Natalie’s vegetable gardens. The most recent complaint was the lawn -grass. It grew so fast and shot up so tall that no mower was yet made -that could plow through it. Norma did not add here that she had -postponed mowing the lawns for more than a week, because she was so -interested in landscaping the strip of ground beside the fence and -making a water garden.</p> - -<p>The story of Seizer’s sudden death and the cause of it, followed next -in order, but scanty room was given to the account of Janet’s violent -grief and the funeral she insisted upon having. She wrote the minutest -description of how she helped ditch the bog and drain the spring water -away from the lake. And how they prepared the rich soil that was going -to be spread over the bottom of the lake to grow the lilies, iris and -lotus, as well as other water plants. The islands, the bridges and the -rocks were described and then followed the glad news that Mr. Ames -thought the work would be completed in another day.</p> - -<p>Just as Norma was going to end her letter she remembered she had said -nothing of the bird houses and bees which played an important part in -her flower gardening. But she mentioned the facts and said she would -tell them all about the bird flats when next she wrote. As usual, she -signed herself a loving daughter, then she added a postscript—to her -the most important part of the letter:</p> - -<p>“P. S.—Got Daddy’s check. Many thanks. Can use another soon, for my -plants for fall and next spring planting.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chX' title='X—THE WATER GARDEN COMPLETED.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER X</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>THE WATER GARDEN COMPLETED.</span> -</h2> -<p>Farmer Ames brought another cartload of manure the next morning, so -the muck heaps could all be mixed and finished that day. The scouts -from camp had asked to be allowed to help the work along this last -day, and Mrs. James gladly accepted their offers.</p> - -<p>Breakfast was early, so a long day could be given to the various tasks -to be done before the water could be turned into the reservoir. The -cement was waiting beside a wooden trough that Sam had quickly -constructed, the gravel that had been carted the day before was in a -pile, and the sand for the concrete work had also been brought from -the pit down the road.</p> - -<p>Mr. Ames had selected such lumber at the barn as he could use and -hitched the boards to Ben’s harness; the horse was driven over to the -site for the new dam and the planks were then roughly framed up to -make two standing partitions with about a foot of space between.</p> - -<p>As breakfast was over at such an early hour, Rachel felt justified in -taking the spare time to visit the scene of work, and give her opinion -on the water garden which was to be. She stood with her hands on her -large hips and surveyed the wide depression for a while, then spoke to -Mrs. James and any one who was concerned.</p> - -<p>“’Pears to me you-all is goin’ to a hull lot of trouble jus’ to fill -dis holler wid water. Diden you-all know dat you cud stop up the crick -down by the barn and back all the water you want into this place?”</p> - -<p>“But the reeds and briars had to be removed, Rachel,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Jus’ chop ’em down wid a sickle—da’s all,” was the lofty reply.</p> - -<p>“We had to get the roots out, too,” added Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Diden you know dey woul’ rot ef dey was under water a long time?” -asked the maid, with astonishment at such ignorance.</p> - -<p>“They would sprout before they would decay, and we had to clean off -the bog so the roots would come out with the marsh muck,” was Mrs. -James’s patient reply.</p> - -<p>Rachel made no further comment for she was too intent on watching the -girls carrying the well-mixed soil from the banks back into the hollow -again. Here they carefully spread out the enriched soil to the depth -of about twenty inches.</p> - -<p>“Well—sus!” ejaculated Rachel. “Dem gals is carryin’ all dat muck back -where Ames tuk it from all dis week!”</p> - -<p>“It has been so thoroughly mixed with manure that it is now ready to -use for plants. All the roots and rocks have been cleared out of it -while it was spread out upon the banks.”</p> - -<p>Rachel felt that her valuable advice had been ignored in this -direction, so she walked along until she came to the piles of rocks. -Some had been rolled into place where they were to be left, but many -were piled up waiting to be artistically arranged in various spots.</p> - -<p>“I ain’t never hear tell of plantin’ rocks fer a garden, but nuttin’ -is queer dese days, ’cause the hull world is gone clean crazy!” -commented Rachel scornfully.</p> - -<p>Norma and Natalie overheard her remark and laughed. Then Rachel looked -back at Mrs. James and said: “I s’pose growin’ rocks is one of dese -gals’ crazes—and you let ’em do such stunts?”</p> - -<p>“You wait until the garden is finished and then judge if the rocks -look crazy where we intend putting them,” laughed Mrs. James, hoping -to quiet Rachel’s fault-findings.</p> - -<p>But the maid took offense at being told to waive judgment for the time -being and turned away to stride back to the house without another word -or look for the gardeners.</p> - -<p>There was too much to be done, however, for anyone to pay the least -attention to Rachel’s wounded pride, and soon the scouts were bustling -about like bees at a hive. The wooden mold, or frame, for the dam was -completed and Ames now gave his attention to the islands.</p> - -<p>“You show me about where you want them made,” said he to Norma and -Mrs. James. “I sent Sam to the barn to bring some more small boards -for more frame-ups.”</p> - -<p>The three most interested ones now descended to the floor of the -hollow and prospected carefully before locating the main island which -was to be in the wildest part of the pool. The distance from the bank -to the desired spot, had to be taken into consideration, as the rustic -bridge must not have piers or supports in the center of it—the -foundations on either end were to be sufficient to uphold it. When the -location was finally decided upon, Mr. Ames drove his crowbar into the -hard ground to mark the site.</p> - -<p>The sites for the two smaller islands were next considered and -located, before the farmer paid any attention to Sam who had been -trying to attract notice from the three in the depression.</p> - -<p>“Now—whad do you want?” bawled Farmer Ames, going toward Sam as he -spoke.</p> - -<p>“I ain’t found no board what’s big enough for making islands,” shouted -Sam.</p> - -<p>“I told you to fetch all the strong boards you could find, ’cause I’ll -make them big enough!”</p> - -<p>Sam went back to do as he was told, and Mr. Ames came up out of the -hollow to start mixing the materials for the concrete. The scouts all -stood around during this interesting process, as they wished to learn -how to do the work in order to be able to build whatever they needed -in the future.</p> - -<p>A temporary floor of heavy planks was laid and upon this the farmer -proposed mixing the cement. He took a bag of cement, added a barrow -full of fine sand, another barrow full of gravel and scrap junk,—such -as bits of iron, trap-rock, slate and other hard sharp splinters—and -mixed all thoroughly together. Before he began adding water to this -preparation, he called to Sam to carry the boards he had brought from -the barn down to the place where the largest island was to be built.</p> - -<p>A number of boards were adjusted to form a frame about the size of the -basis for the island, and these were braced and fastened in place to -keep them from being pushed outwards once the concrete was poured into -the mold. Then the farmer called to Sam to help him in mixing the -cement and other materials. The water was slowly added and Sam kept -mixing with a steel hoe, until the composition was the required -consistency to easily pour.</p> - -<p>When Mr. Ames gave the word, every one helped filling buckets and pans -and boxes and carrying them over to the island. They were quickly -emptied into the large mold, and the scouts ran back for more -concrete. Here and there Mr. Ames pressed a rock or a number of -smaller stones into the soft preparation, and as this hardened and -set, the rocks became embedded as firmly as if cast that way by -Nature.</p> - -<p>When the concrete reached the top edge of the board mold Mr. Ames -topped it off with a rim of rocks, and into this hollowed center, more -concrete was poured until the mold was filled still higher. Its full -height from the floor of the basin now reached to about thirty inches, -and this was considered high enough. The large rocks were now placed -as Mrs. James directed, so that the effect was one of Nature’s -handiworks. In between the crevices and hollows made by the large and -jagged rocks, the soil would be filled when the concrete was set. And -in this soil the vines and plants or shrubs would be planted.</p> - -<p>The side of the island nearest the shore had been kept smooth and flat -as the concrete rose higher about the rocks, and upon this wide flat -wall the end of the rustic bridge was to be laid.</p> - -<p>The two smaller islands were now formed in the same way, Mrs. James -being careful to superintend the sides which had to be left smooth for -the bridges to rest upon.</p> - -<p>It took all morning and into the middle of the afternoon to finish the -concrete work on the islands, but once they were done, the scouts felt -that the hardest part of the water gardening was completed. Mr. Ames -then began work on the concrete dam, but was concerned to discover -that all the sand had been used for the islands.</p> - -<p>“Somebody’s got to drive Ben to the sand pit and fetch a load of sand -for the dam. And then git more for the covering of that soil, ’cause -you said you wanted at least an inch of white sand spread over the -muck to keep the water clear and clean,” said Farmer Ames.</p> - -<p>“Let me drive Ben and get the sand!” exclaimed Janet.</p> - -<p>“Norma and you can drive Ben, and we girls will use the car to reach -the place. Then all hands can shovel and fill the cart the sooner. We -can then fill baskets or bags and put them in the car and bring them -here to help out for the concrete work. By that time you can have Ben -back at the pit again, and fill the cart a second time,” suggested -Frances eagerly.</p> - -<p>This was a very good plan and the scouts all approved heartily of it, -especially so because it offered a possibility of sport. So Norma and -Janet climbed to the seat of the cart and made Ben quit his feast on -the luscious lawn grass.</p> - -<p>Mr. Ames stood smiling while he watched the merry scouts jump into the -automobile and call for Frances to hurry and get off. Then he turned -to Janet who was chirping to Ben to make him go faster to keep up with -the car.</p> - -<p>“If you saw away at Ben’s mouth like that he will balk and never move -a step. He knows a woman is drivin’ when you do that way, and he takes -a mean advantage of you for it,” laughed Ben’s owner, as the two girls -in the cart endeavored to inspire the easy-going horse with more -ambition.</p> - -<p>Then he turned to Mrs. James and said: “While I have to wait for that -sand, Sam and I may as well begin placing the posts for the bridge -ends. I brought my post-hole digger over this morning in case we had a -need of boring holes in the ground.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James had never seen a post-hole digger at work, so she watched -curiously while the wonderful tool bored the holes the required size -of the posts. It worked after the manner of an augur, but it bored the -hole in the ground instead of through wood. The holes were made so -rapidly that Mrs. James was amazed, and Mr. Ames laughed at her -expression.</p> - -<p>“I don’t s’pose anyone brought the railroad ties I told you of the -other day?” ventured Farmer Ames.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Si Tompkins had them given him by the station agent who said he -was glad to have them moved out of his way. He even offered to help -get them over to the farm, as they had cluttered the ground ever since -the new ties had been laid down a few months ago. So they were left by -the fence just outside the front gate,” explained Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>Ames and Sam then brought in several posts—or ties—and fixed them -securely in the holes; earth and gravel were tamped down in the holes, -and when it was well filled, the posts were as firm as if they had -grown there.</p> - -<p>Still no sight nor sound of the cart with sand could be had, so Mrs. -James suggested that Ames and Sam help her build an artistic flight of -steps from the clump of pines down to the place where the bridge would -span the water to the first island.</p> - -<p>As there were enough railroad ties for this purpose, as well as for -bridge supports, Mrs. James felt that she need not stint herself in -the use of them. So she marked out the line she wished the steps to -follow. They were to curve gracefully down to approach the bridge -indirectly, and not straight down from the high knoll of pine trees to -the lake edge.</p> - -<p>Sam and Mr. Ames cut out the solid ground where the steps were to be -set, beginning at the bottom near the bridge posts. The ties were set -for treads, the flat side facing upward and when it was fitted in -place, Sam took it up again while Ames poured a smooth foundation of -concrete on the ground. Then the log was replaced and pressed down to -make the cement bite into the rough wood. At the final securing of -each log, enough concrete was filled in back of it, to form a solid -wall of cement when it hardened, and this made the basis of the back -of the step, or riser, for the next tread.</p> - -<p>As Mrs. James wanted the steps to be shallow in order to use the more -and curve the flight more artistically before coming to the bridge, it -was easier to build the concrete risers at the back of each log. The -moment the two men had finished with a step, Mrs. James carried large -stones and rocks to the spot and pressed them firmly in at the sides -where the concrete oozed up and out, and these would not only keep the -logs from loosening and moving out of position, but also help the -rustic appearance of the entire flight. Back of these rocks she -purposed having vines and shrubs to grow and droop over the rocks and -ends of the logs.</p> - -<p>The building of the picturesque steps took the rest of the afternoon, -and when Mrs. James realized how late it was, with no report from the -sand-diggers, she began to feel anxious about them.</p> - -<p>Then, just as she ordered Sam to hurry away and learn what had -happened to detain them, the car came in sight, far down the road.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Jimmy! Such a time as we have had with that Ben!” exclaimed -Norma, the moment the girls were within calling distance.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James, Ames and Sam stood leaning over the fence, anxiously -awaiting further news, but so many scouts wanted to tell the story -that nothing could be made of the account. Finally Norma was appointed -to tell the experiences, so she began.</p> - -<p>“All the way to the sand pit that lazy Ben had to be coaxed and -<i>coaxed</i>, because he kept turning his head backward to look at the -lawn just as long as the place was in sight. Then he got a little pep -into his ‘Amity Ketchum manners’ and gamboled for a little distance.” -The laughter which greeted Norma’s description of Ben’s style of -laziness interrupted her for a moment.</p> - -<p>“Well, after all the scouts had been digging sand and filling every -receptacle we had taken with us Ben arrived at the pit. We began -filling the cart and soon had it full, but then he refused to start -back. We coaxed and pulled and pushed with might and main, but all to -no good. Ben just stood and <i>balked</i>.</p> - -<p>“Then Janet got a willowy hickory and cracked him soundly to induce -him to change his mind. He started suddenly and ran three paces, and -as suddenly stopped short, almost breaking my neck, because I was -driving. I was sitting on top of the sand heaped in the cart and at -the sudden start and stop, a lot of the sand slid off the back of the -cart, toppling me backwards with it.</p> - -<p>“Of course, I let go of the reins and will you believe it! At the -moment Ben felt the reins dangle about his feet he gave a jump that -rolled more sand, and me with it right off the back of the cart into -the road. Then he galloped on down the road with no one driving, or to -stop him.</p> - -<p>“Frances jumped in her automobile and started to speed after Ben. She -never waited for any one of the scouts to jump in to help coax Ben -back to duty again, but tore along the road until she had passed him -and then turned to block the road with the car.</p> - -<p>“Ben must have laughed in his sleeve—or whatever a nag uses for a -covert laugh—when he saw Frances waiting for him. He stopped where he -was, turned about so abruptly that the cart upset and almost threw him -from his feet, too.</p> - -<p>“Now there he was! The cart couldn’t right itself, and he wouldn’t -budge again to try to turn it right side up. The whole side road was -blocked by the cart and horse so that Frances could not pass the -obstruction and come back for us to help turn the cart up again. So -she had to <i>walk</i> back to call on us to go and help Ben out of his -troubles.</p> - -<p>“All the sand was dumped when the cart went over, so we led Ben back -to the sand pit and filled the cart again. This time the horse made no -attempt at balking, but started humbly along the road until we came -out on the main road. He ambled slowly along and we were all rejoicing -in the vain belief that soon we would be at Green Hill, with enough -sand for you to work with, while we could return to the pit for -another load.</p> - -<p>“But Ben knew of a nice ford down by the wooden bridge, and before I -knew that he intended turning down there for a drink, he had left the -main road and was descending the steep bank. I tried to keep my -balance on the sand pile in the cart, but the unexpected angle made me -slide and I alighted on Ben’s broad back instead of remaining seated -where I had been.</p> - -<p>“A great deal of the sand slid out and fell into the stream, when Ben -tilted the cart so sharply on the bank. I wish you could have heard -those unsympathetic scouts laugh when they came up in the car and saw -me straddling Ben and clutching on to his old harness for all I was -worth!”</p> - -<p>The scouts shouted with laughter at remembrance of the funny sight, -and the three adults who had anxiously awaited the coming of the -sand-diggers, also laughed heartily at Norma’s story.</p> - -<p>“But that is not all, Jimmy! When Ben finished drinking he refused to -go on again. We began coaxing and threatening again, but all to no -avail. So there we were. I could not slide back to the cart because I -would have fallen into the water. And Ben would not go on, because he -liked the running water about his feet. The girls could not help us -because the cart was pitched at such an angle that the least shove to -urge Ben onward would have thrown it over again and perhaps thrown Ben -and me with it.</p> - -<p>“Suddenly Frances had a brilliant idea—or she thought it was. She -drove the car across the bridge and then backed it down the other side -of the ford until it reached the water. Then she carefully steered -until it should reach Ben’s nose. It was her plan to tie a rope to -Ben’s head and let the scouts in the back seat hold the leading hold. -Then start the car up the slope on the side opposite Ben, and thus -haul him across the stream whether he wanted to go or not.</p> - -<p>“Well! Ben would not budge, but the car did. And both the scouts who -held for dear life to the end of the rope in order to drag Ben along, -were dragged half way out of the car and were left dangerously near to -being pulled over into the water, but they let go of the rope. It had -stripped the skin from their palms, and left Ben just where he had -been before the attempt at coercion had been made.</p> - -<p>“After a conference held with the girls in the car and me seated on -Ben’s back eager to abdicate in honor of anyone who wanted my throne, -Frances said we would have to use the chain and tackle which had been -left in the box under the rear seat of the automobile. This could be -hooked to the cart and then the cart would start through the ford, -dragging the cart upon Ben’s heels so that he would <i>have</i> to move!</p> - -<p>“Just as we had everything ready to give the signal for the engine to -be started, Ben suddenly reconsidered his ultimatum and started -through the water of his own accord.</p> - -<p>“But the chain pulled the cart so far off his proposed trail that the -rear wheel clutched with the rear side wheel of the car, and there we -were, hard and fast, with Ben trying to go forward and only causing -the wheels to lock the tighter. Frances had to get out of the car, -into the stream, and get hold of Ben’s bit to try and back him again. -Meantime I took advantage of my golden opportunity and jumped from my -perch into the front seat of the automobile.</p> - -<p>“Well, Jimmy! Had it not been for a nice good man who drove past in -his runabout at this time, we would still be marooned in the creek. -But, thank goodness, here we are with as much sand in the cart as -could stand all this pitching and sliding.”</p> - -<p>When Norma ended her tale, Mrs. James and her companions laughed -heartily at the tricks played by Ben. Mr. Ames laughed loudest of any, -because he understood his horse so well. But enough sand was brought -in to supply the first mixture of concrete in the morning, and Mr. -Ames promised to furnish a bait for Ben to prevent another such delay -in carting more sand.</p> - -<p>The next morning when Ames appeared with Ben and another cart full of -manure for the lake soil, he also produced a feed bag of oats. “If Ben -acts up again, just hold this bag under his nose and he will go for -it. Don’t let him get any, but just tease him along the road until you -bring him where he is to stop.”</p> - -<p>“My goodness!” laughed Frances. “Do you have to get out and walk ahead -of him when you are alone and he balks?”</p> - -<p>“He never balks when I drive. He seems to know the minute a female -gets hold of the reins and then he balks,” explained Ames.</p> - -<p>So the scouts started for the sand pit again, but Ben was on his good -behavior that day, and no one needed to use the oats bag under his -nose to induce him to run. In fact, he was over-eager to reach the -farm when the girls were ready to return, and all the sand piled up -high on the cart was thrown off before the horse turned in at the side -gate of Green Hill.</p> - -<p>When Mrs. James took account of stock of sand, she said: “We will save -time and labor by leaving Ben to mow the grass on the lawns, and use -the baskets and the empty cement bags to bring in the sand in the -automobile.” So another load was brought in that fashion, always -carefully protecting the inside of the car by covering it well with -old sheets and newspapers to keep it clean.</p> - -<p>The concrete work of the dam was now finished and left to harden -within the side walls of timber. Farmer Ames had made a door opening -at the bottom of the wall so the water could be drained out of the -lake at any time. Now he devoted all of his time, and thought, to the -building of a good stout door for this opening, and had Sam help him -build two grooves in which it was to slide. When this particular kind -of work was finished, Sam was sent to the store at Four Corners for a -heavy chain and rings, such as were generally used to hold a bull in -the pasture lot. Ring bolts and screws and nuts had been brought from -Ames’ own tool house that day. So that afternoon the sliding door of -the dam was completed and hung so that it was readily raised and -lowered at will. The heavy chain was secured to a sturdy chestnut post -set in concrete at one side of the dam, and Mrs. James was shown just -how to use the outfit that worked the door at the bottom of the dam.</p> - -<p>While Ames and Sam had been making the door of the dam, the scouts had -dug up various shrubs and plants in the woods and had planted them in -groups about the lake shore. Mrs. James and Miss Mason had turned -their attention to finding and digging up small pines, spruce and -cedars, and bringing them to the garden where they were planted in the -heavy metal pails and sunken in between the rocks on the islands, and -at various places on shore.</p> - -<p>Most of the planting and arrangement of rocks and other picturesque -details was now completed, and all the following day was to be devoted -to the construction of the bridges. For this purpose, the heavy planks -that had been used in the molds for the concrete, were to be utilized -for the flooring of the bridges. The largest planks for the longest -bridge and the other shorter boards for the smaller and shorter -bridges.</p> - -<p>The rustic rails and decorative brackets for the bridges were to be -made of knotty pine or cedar trees found in the woods.</p> - -<p>As the next day would be Saturday, the enthusiastic lake gardeners -were very anxious to have the work all completed and the water -diverted into the lake proper, so it might fill up by Sunday, when Mr. -Marvin and their parents were expected to motor to the farm for a -short visit.</p> - -<p>It was dark on Friday night, before the scouts could be persuaded to -stop work and come in for supper. Rachel had called many times, that -everything was being ruined by waiting so long for someone to eat -supper, but such warning had no effect until night virtually halted -all further work.</p> - -<p>While talking eagerly, as they all sat about being served by the -attentive Rachel, one of the scouts spoke of the time it would need to -find proper trees and then cut them down and lop off the branches to -leave a rustic effect on the trunks.</p> - -<p>“What a pity we don’t know of a rustic furniture maker where we might -be able to buy our material ready trimmed,” said Norma, thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>At this suggestion, Mrs. James sprang up and ran over to her desk. She -hastily scanned the pages of a Business Directory for White Plains, -and then laughed joyfully. “I’ve found it!”</p> - -<p>The girls waited eagerly for her to explain. “I’ve found the name and -address of a man who builds rustic lawn furniture to order. He is -located at North White Plains, and his shop is back of his home, so -that I can telephone him now and find out if he can supply us with any -such material as we want for our bridges. If he can, Frances can drive -me over there early in the morning and we can carry back as much as -will go in the car.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll see to it that all we may have need of will go in the car, all -right!” declared Frances, to the satisfaction of her audience.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James soon had the man on the wire and told him what was needed -at once, for the bridges. He replied that he had had a new supply of -rustic wood delivered the day before, and he was sure that everything -she desired in the way of posts for the hand-rails, large brackets to -fasten to the supporting posts underneath the foot-bridge, and also -all kinds of trim for the edges and ends of the bridge, could be found -in the carload which came from the pine forests in Middle New York -State.</p> - -<p>This was such encouraging news that the scouts could not restrain -themselves, and such a babel followed that Rachel ran from the room -with both hands placed over her ears. When she reached the kitchen -where Sam sat eating his supper, she said: “My sakes! Them scouts is -enough to make me deef!”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chXI' title='XI—THE JOY OF GOOD CONSTRUCTION.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER XI</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>THE JOY OF GOOD CONSTRUCTION.</span> -</h2> -<p>Mrs. James and Frances drove away from Green Hill early on Saturday -morning and reached the manufacturer of rustic garden furniture before -eight o’clock. The materials needed were quickly selected and -purchased, and the man had his men carry it to a small auto truck and -load it. He had expected to deliver it at the farm without delay, so -Mrs. James said nothing about taking any with her in the touring car.</p> - -<p>The man supplied the right kind of nails to be used on the wood, -because he said: “You will find it difficult to drive ordinary nails -through the resinous wood. But this kind of nail is made on purpose -for such work.”</p> - -<p>It took all day with every one working breathlessly, to complete the -bridges and other work that remained to be done. But once the -picturesque bridges were finished, and a few tubs of hydrangeas placed -at each end of the bridges, they added so much to the beauty of the -picture that no one begrudged the work they had caused.</p> - -<p>“Well, gals! Are we ready to remove the temporary block we made at the -spring to turn the water down the other way?” called Mr. Ames from the -side of the spring where the ditch had thus far kept the lake hollow -dry.</p> - -<p>“Oh, wait just a minute!” cried Norma, as she hurriedly ran from one -island to the other to make sure that the plants were well in the -soil. Mrs. James and Miss Mason assured themselves that the water -plants were safely planted wherever they had designed them to be. Then -the footprints left in the white sand that covered the rich soil on -the bottom of the lake site, were carefully raked out and patted down, -as the three inspectors backed out and reached the steps that led down -from the pines.</p> - -<p>“Now—all ready! Let it come!” cried Norma, clapping her hands -excitedly.</p> - -<p>Sam and Ames now shovelled away the temporary bank of soil that had -kept the stream from overflowing, and in a few moments the wooden gate -which served as a dam for the spring, was hauled up and the water was -allowed to find its own channel out over the smooth sand in the bottom -of the depression.</p> - -<p>Every one stood breathlessly watching, as the small stream of water -trickled out over the glistening sand and began spreading in every -direction. It seemed to take such a long time to dampen the sand -before sinking down into the soil. But not a sign of water was to be -seen and the scouts finally grew impatient.</p> - -<p>“If you gals would only go off and attend to something else for the -day, you’d be surprised when you come back tonight, to find what the -spring has done during your absence,” advised Mr. Ames.</p> - -<p>“Because ‘a watched kettle never boils,’” laughed Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>“But there isn’t anything interesting to do!” declared Natalie.</p> - -<p>“I know of a vegetable garden that has been neglected all week, and we -need lots of food for tomorrow,” remarked Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“And I can tell of a camp where no work has been done since this -absorbing water garden was started,” added Miss Mason.</p> - -<p>“Don’t remind me of a barn yard where cattle are starving for lack of -attention!” laughed Janet, starting away to do the chores required of -a stock grower.</p> - -<p>Norma alone remained after every one else had gone to their individual -tasks, and after sweeping the log steps clean with an old broom that -had been used about the lake, she walked slowly away from the -fascinating scene, going backwards to be able to watch the trickling -water from the spring just as long as she could.</p> - -<p>Mr. Ames was hitching Ben to the cart when Norma reached the lawn. She -stumbled in the rank growth of grass and said: “Mr. Ames, can’t you -spare me a few more hours this afternoon, to mow down this hay? I -can’t make the mower run through it, and it really is a shame to leave -it this way for Sunday, when all the folks are expected from the -city.”</p> - -<p>“If I only had the scythe here I could stop and cut it, but it takes -Ben so long to go home and back again.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll send Frances over with the car—just wait until I ask Jimmy if it -will be all right.” So saying Norma raced away.</p> - -<p>Frances had already brought the car out of the barn in order to drive -to the post office and bring Mrs. Tompkins back with the extra plants -she had promised Norma and Mrs. James. So she willingly drove Norma to -Ames’ farm to get the scythe. When the farm hand went to get it, he -asked Norma:</p> - -<p>“Do you want the single or double-handed blade?”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I don’t know, Jim, so I’ll take them both,” was Norma’s -answer.</p> - -<p>On the way back to Green Hill, Norma explained to Frances: “I’m glad I -took both, because now Sam can use one while Ames uses the other -scythe.”</p> - -<p>Frances laughed and replied: “We ought to have a dozen at work in -order to get that lawn down to a decent growth again.”</p> - -<p>“Leave all joking aside, Frans, don’t you believe Si Tompkins will -loan us his scythe to use for a few hours? Ask him, anyway, and I’ll -try my hand at it. I can swing it first class, Mr. Ames says.”</p> - -<p>So Frances promised to do her best in coaxing the store keeper to loan -her the scythe, although he had sworn never to let it go out of his -hands again, as it always came back with nicked edges and broken end, -so that it needed grinding anew at his expense.</p> - -<p>When the car returned from Four Corners, Norma found not only a scythe -and a hand sickle in the car, but Mrs. Tompkins had been able to -secure a goodly sized mulberry tree with all the soil packed about the -roots, and two smaller Russian mulberry trees. She also had several -other desirable shrubs and trees for planting about the lakeside or by -the fence that divided the pasture from the house garden.</p> - -<p>Mrs. James and Norma assisted Mrs. Tompkins in planting the trees and -shrubs and then Norma went over to help Sam and Mr. Ames in cutting -the grass. Frances had brought the hand sickle for her own use, -thinking it would be great sport to swing the blade as she had seen -Ames do.</p> - -<p>Norma soon had the trick of using the large scythe, but she had not -the strength of muscle to swing it properly and prevent the blade from -cutting in irregularly. Thus, when her work was finished the grass -looked as if it had been hacked off by a dull-toothed rake, while -Ames’ and Sam’s grass was evenly cut and trimmed.</p> - -<p>“There now, Norma! I reckon you can run the lawn mower over this -grass, all right,” declared the farmer, when the lawns had been cut -down.</p> - -<p>“We’ll try it before you leave,” retorted Norma, sending Sam for the -mower without delay.</p> - -<p>This time Norma found the lawn mower ran nicely and easily through the -grass, cutting and tossing the tiny green blades in every direction. -This was fascinating employment because it was quickly done and not -laborious, so she kept on mowing long after Mr. Ames had gone, and Sam -had been sent to milk the cow for the evening.</p> - -<p>The three large lawns were mowed close that evening, before Norma was -called to supper. Mrs. Tompkins had taken the scythe and sickle and -was driven home again by Frances; the shrubs and trees the florist had -brought to the farm made a fine showing as they stood outlined against -the pale rose-tinted western sky.</p> - -<p>So completely absorbed had every one been in the individual tasks -assigned them that none had time to go and visit the lake and learn -how much water had poured into the basin to make a showing for the -morrow. But the scouts from camp came up to the house about eight -o’clock Saturday evening and announced that they had come “to sound -the depths of the sea.”</p> - -<p>In another moment, every girl had scampered from the side porch and -was running to the front of the house to have a look at the lake.</p> - -<p>“Did you ever! The water has actually soaked through the soil at the -bottom and is almost an inch above the sand!” exclaimed Norma, -joyously, as she danced up and down at the revelation.</p> - -<p>“Let’s see—how many hours did it take to do that?” said Janet, trying -to figure out how much water they might look for by morning.</p> - -<p>“You can’t judge that way, ’cause you don’t know how long it took to -soak through the soil, nor how much water that soil displaces,” said -Norma very wisely.</p> - -<p>“Better let the water do its work while we curb our impatience about -it,” advised Mrs. James laughingly.</p> - -<p>“But do you think the water will be as high as the dam before the -folks arrive, Jimmy?” asked Norma anxiously.</p> - -<p>“I should say it will,” was Mrs. James’s guarded answer.</p> - -<p>“Too bad we haven’t any goldfish to put in now,” sighed Janet.</p> - -<p>“So your ducklings and goslings could feast,” laughed Belle.</p> - -<p>“No, but I’ve got a big surprise for you all tomorrow when the lake is -ready,” was Janet’s reply.</p> - -<p>“I know! She has a gondola ‘boat-bird’ to sail about the lake,” teased -Miss Mason, who had read the story of the “boat-bird” written about -the East Side children of New York.</p> - -<p>In spite of all the coaxings Janet refused to share her secret, but -told them all to wake up early enough in the morning to see the -surprise she had ready for them.</p> - -<p>They all walked slowly back to the porch after this, and having had -such a strenuous day’s work, no one objected when Mrs. James suggested -that they retire early that night.</p> - -<p>Unknown to the other girls, Janet had taken Rachel’s alarm clock and -set it to ring half an hour before the usual time. The clock was -placed under her pillow so its alarm, in the morning, would be muffled -enough to prevent the other sleepers from rousing.</p> - -<p>Hence she was up and out before any one else in the house awoke. And -she had managed to get Sam out of bed, in order to have him help her -in finishing the surprise she had planned for every one. Two very good -and fanciful coops had been made by Janet, at odd times during the -week, the trimming and fancy touches being of rustic woodwork similar -to the trim on the bridges, the difference being that Janet’s trim was -of wild grapevine that twisted and curled artistically and the thin -bark of which made it look much daintier than that of cedar or pine.</p> - -<p>Sam helped to convey these two elaborate coops from the barn over to -the shore near the dam where the day before Janet had cleared two -places and poured soft concrete over the ground to make a dry floor -for the coops to stand upon. They were both delighted to find the -water had filled the lake. Janet told Sam to go back to the barn with -her and help carry the goslings and ducklings to their new palatial -residences.</p> - -<p>As the little fellows had been shut in since their evening meal, they -were clamoring for something to eat when Janet and Sam reached the old -coops. It did not take long to coax them into a box with a hole made -in the cover, for the corn meal they sniffed inside the box made them -fight to get out of the coop and into the boxes. They were then -speedily carried over to the new houses where plentiful breakfasts of -mush and cracked corn were spread in the little lath-fenced yards, and -here they were left to enjoy life.</p> - -<p>Janet and Sam stood back to watch what the little water fowl would do -when they went prospecting outside of the coops. The breakfast kept -many too busy for a time to indulge in any curiosity, but a few ducks -wandered forth and went bobbing their heads towards the lake.</p> - -<p>Janet tiptoed anxiously after them, and when the little ducklings -launched themselves forth upon the surface of the water, Janet almost -screamed with delight. They looked so pretty and were so in keeping -with the entire scene that even Sam laughed and rubbed his hands with -satisfaction.</p> - -<p>“Dear me, I wish I could wait to see the geese go swimming, too,” -cried Janet, longingly. “But I’ve got to run to the house and get the -rest out of bed to make them come and see the lake!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll wait here, Janet, and see dat no harm comes to our birds,” said -Sam, sitting down on a stump to wait and watch.</p> - -<p>“All right, Sam—I’ll be back in a little while. I’ll get the girls to -come out to the pines on the knoll and there they can see the whole -effect, with the fowl on the lake,” cried Janet, starting to run back -the way she came by way of the barn.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you cross the bridge, Janet, and save time!” called Sam, -wondering at her preference.</p> - -<p>“Oh! So I can! I forgot all about that bridge, Sam!” laughed Janet, -turning and running for the little bridges which had not been walked -upon since the water began flooding into the lake. So Janet was the -first foot passenger to cross them.</p> - -<p>She reached the center of the large bridge and stood to have a look -over the scene and see how her water fowl looked as they played about -in the water at the lower end of the lake. The whole picture as it -appeared from the pretty bridge, so filled Janet with joy and -excitement that she couldn’t bear to lose another moment from calling -her friends to come out and see the entire scene.</p> - -<p>Soon after Janet had left the house, after rousing Sam, Mrs. James -heard a strange sound in her sleep. As it was near her usual rising -time, she awoke and turned over to listen. Her room was directly over -the dining room so the windows overlooked the dam.</p> - -<p>She sat up in bed with hearing strained, to determine what that -unfamiliar sound could be when suddenly it dawned upon her that it was -the water that fell from the top of the dam to the log and concrete -base on the ground.</p> - -<p>In another second, she was out of bed and over by a window. Then the -sight that met her eager eyes was so beautiful that she drew in her -breath suddenly with a gasping sound. She forgot the girls in her -satisfaction over the demonstration made by the lake. It was so much -more beautiful than she had pictured it would be, that it really -seemed like a vision to her.</p> - -<p>Then she remembered how delighted the girls would be to see this -wonderful result of their labors and persistent work. So she ran and -called Norma first, then Natalie and next Janet—but Janet was out and -gone! Then she remembered what had been said about a secret surprise -to be sprung on them that morning.</p> - -<p>Norma and Natalie both rushed to the window at the same time, Frances -and Belle following to take their places at the other window. For a -few moments not a word was said because the four girls were so -astonished at the beautiful view before them. Then there was a chorus -of excited girlish voices, and Norma rushed away to dress and hurry -down to the lakeside.</p> - -<p>Janet came in before the girls were dressed and urged them to hurry -and see what she had done to surprise them all. But Norma said -impatiently: “Can’t you see how we are racing to get on our things! My -fingers are so trembly I can’t button a single dud!”</p> - -<p>Janet laughed and helped her fasten her clothes, then the two ran -downstairs and out to the pines. Here the others soon joined them, and -all stood gazing in rapt admiration at the sheet of water which was -the result of landscaping—thus turning an unsightly marsh and briar -patch into this most picturesque lake.</p> - -<p>The girls crossed and recrossed the bridges, often stopping midway on -them to gaze and admire, over and over again, the results of their -work and planning. Janet’s goslings were fearless and swam about the -lower end of the lake as if they had always lived beside the water and -enjoyed its freedom. But the ducklings kept closer to the shore at -first and seemed too timid to venture across the lake as the goslings -did.</p> - -<p>“Janet’s water fowl add the finishing touch to the picture,” said Mrs. -James, as she stood beside the decorative coops and smiled at Janet.</p> - -<p>“No, not the finishing touch, Jimmy, because the goldfish will add -that!” declared Norma jealously.</p> - -<p>Sam had been sent post-haste to Solomon’s Seal Camp to break the news -that the water was overflowing the dam and the lake was wonderful! -This had the desired effect, so that every scout in Patrol One was -running up the woodland path before breakfast had been started.</p> - -<p>The “Ohs” and the “Ahs” that came from the scouts from camp, and the -repeated visits across the bridges to every place on the shores that -they had had anything to do with during the week consumed more than an -hour. Rachel had trailed about after the scouts as they visited the -familiar bushes and shrubs, and walked up and down the flight of -steps, or sat upon the bank smiling at the happy faces, until Sam came -running across the lawn with dire news for his aunt.</p> - -<p>“Aunt Rachel! Oh, Aunt Rachel!” gasped he, breathlessly, “Dat saucepan -of milk what you put on the fire for cocoa done gone and run over and -now it’s smokin’ and burnin’ to beat the band!”</p> - -<p>Rachel’s two hands flew up above her head and she cried “Oh Laws-ee! -And dis Sunday, too! And all dem folkses acomin’ to visit the place! -And the hull house smoked and smellin’ like eberyt’ing! Oh, <i>oh</i>, oh!”</p> - -<p>She had already started to rush for the kitchen by the time she had -finished her lament, but she suddenly stopped and sent her nephew a -look that should have gone to the marrow of his bones.</p> - -<p>“Say, yoh Sambo! Ain’t you got sense enough to take dat saucepan of -milk f’om dat fiah?”</p> - -<p>“Suah I did, Aunt Rachel,” eagerly came from Sam, “but dat don’t -remove all the smoke and smell from the house!”</p> - -<p>However, the odor of scorched milk was all gone before the city -visitors arrived that afternoon to spend an agreeable hour with their -daughters. But long ere the city tourists reached the farm at Green -Hill, every inhabitant at or about Four Corners had walked or been -driven to the place on the road where a fine view of the entire lake -could be had.</p> - -<p>The scouts hovered around listening to the honeyed words of praise and -admiration that came from the frank lips of the country folk, and many -a farmer’s wife returned from that visit with minds firmly made up to -do away with similar unsightly briar patches or marshy ground near -their homes. Thus the landscaping that Norma and Mrs. James undertook -to do had a corresponding good effect on many families about Four -Corners, because they went to work to beautify hitherto ugly spots -near their houses.</p> - -<p>The Tompkins’ family were invited to remain to dinner that Sunday, as -they had been so instrumental in helping the work along. The scouts of -Patrol One were also persuaded to have dinner with their friends, and -Miss Mason consented on the condition that they all be allowed to help -with the dinner work.</p> - -<p>Consequently Rachel did not find the dinner as much work as if she had -had to prepare one for her own family, without the help the scouts -gave. Natalie and Miss Mason went to the vegetable gardens to pull -radishes and lettuce for salad, and there they saw enough green string -beans large enough to gather for a vegetable for that noon’s dinner.</p> - -<p>Frances and Belle drove over to Farmer Ames and persuaded him to kill -two of his largest fowl for them to carry back to cook for a -fricassee. This afforded enough chicken soup for the first course and -the meat with dumplings added, provided plenty of meat. The string -beans, young beet tops and new potatoes made a fine course; and the -lettuce salad with radishes came next. Rachel made a large rice -pudding the day before, and cooled it in the cellar. As she had -intended sending half of it to camp for the scouts, she now had plenty -for every one.</p> - -<p>As was customary at these large gatherings, the table was set on the -back lawn under the old apple tree, and the seats were made of wide -boards placed across soap boxes, for the young folks to use, while the -adults had chairs brought from the dining room.</p> - -<p>The city relatives did not arrive until three o’clock and before that -time the dinner dishes were all washed and out of the way, the -Tompkins’ family had started homeward and the scouts of Patrol One had -departed for camp. So the girls at the house had ample time to make -elaborate toilets to receive their families.</p> - -<p>When the visitors finally did arrive in several large touring cars, -they were as astonished at finding a lake all made by their girls as -the girls themselves could have hoped for. Every place on the farm was -visited and discussed, from the two beehives to the newly mowed lawns. -The transplanted trees, shrubs and wild bushes that stood along the -fence by the field to supply the birds and bees with plenty of food -were wondered at, but Mr. Marvin said he did not see how they could -live after being interfered with in July. He believed they must be dug -up in late fall, to be successfully transplanted.</p> - -<p>“Oh, we expect them to die off after a time, but that won’t do any -harm, for we will have had the effect of certain trees in certain -groups and places, and we can easily supplant them with the same kind -and size, late in the fall. All we need now is to coax the birds to -nest in the houses and these food trees will bring them,” explained -Norma.</p> - -<p>“Besides, we have already chosen certain shrubs and trees in the woods -to take the place of any that may die. We tied red flannel ribbons on -them to mark them, and Jimmy wrote the class and other information on -tags which we tied to their trunks in case the leaves are all off -before we can dig them up,” added Janet.</p> - -<p>“Oh! do you expect to visit the farm on weekends this fall?” asked Mr. -Wardell, rather pleased at the idea of having Janet get a few days in -the country every week.</p> - -<p>“Week-ends! Why, Father! We intend remaining on the farm until all the -fall work is finished,” declared Janet.</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean that you will stay on after school opens?” was Mrs. -Wardell’s amazed question.</p> - -<p>“Why, certainly, Mother! We will <i>have</i> to stay if we intend -prospering with our business, next spring,” said Janet.</p> - -<p>Every one had crowded around the three speakers and now Mr. Marvin -said teasingly: “Perhaps you will change your minds—once you get back -to New York, and will not want to return to Green Hill next summer.”</p> - -<p>The five girls gasped at such a ridiculous statement and Janet and -Norma retorted at the same time: “Not come back! you haven’t the -slightest idea of what we have at stake here!”</p> - -<p>The adults laughed heartily at this answer and then Norma’s parents -took up the catechism. Said Mr. Evaston: “What about school when it -opens in the fall?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we are all going to commute to New York with Natalie. She has to -stay here until snow flies, you know, to have everything in fine order -for us next year.”</p> - -<p>This seemed to amuse the elders still more than Janet’s remarks, and -Mrs. Evaston said: “Haven’t you any regrets about leaving your fathers -and mothers all alone in New York?”</p> - -<p>Frances replied: “Our parents all have automobiles and whenever they -are lonesome, Jimmy will be glad to have them visit <i>us</i> at Green -Hill.”</p> - -<p>Before the laugh this remark occasioned had died away, Janet added -pertinently: “That’s a fine plan, Frances. We can make the adults pay -board and room by the day, and make much more money than we are -getting from us girls by the week, you know.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James flushed and interpolated with: “You will give your families -the impression that I am mercenary, girls!”</p> - -<p>But the prolonged laughter that followed Janet’s suggestion and Mrs. -James’ discomfited reply must have reassured the hostess. Then Norma -said seriously:</p> - -<p>“Even if the other girls do go back to the city, in September, I could -not leave so early, because Mrs. Tompkins says my bulbs, and roots and -bushes that I expect to transplant this fall for next season’s -growing, have to be in the ground before November, but not earlier -than the last of October or they will rot.”</p> - -<p>“And Sue! We have to remain to look after the cow just as long as the -weather is warm enough for her to pasture outdoors,” ventured Belle.</p> - -<p>“To say nothing of my pigs, Belle. I can’t go away and leave them -half-grown. I must stay here and take care of them until they can be -sold to the butcher,” added Janet.</p> - -<p>That reminded the girls of Seizer, and forthwith the sad story of his -early demise was told in pathetic words, but the city elders could not -sympathize in such a loss and they smiled in an amused manner. Well -for them that Janet did not see the smiles!</p> - -<p>The discussion over the girls’ determination to remain at Green Hill -until all outdoor work was impossible because of the cold weather, and -their statements that they must return in spring to be able to proceed -with their farm work, caused Mr. Marvin to laugh and make a suggestion -that really bore fruit in after days.</p> - -<p>“If these country life scouts stick to their farm work so seriously as -they are now doing, they will drag us all from our lives as cliff -dwellers in New York and land us on farms of our own at Four Corners.”</p> - -<p>The very idea of such a preposterous outcome of their daughters’ -present experiments, made the parents laugh heartily, but the girls -exclaimed eagerly: “Oh, that would be splendid!”</p> - -<p>Janet added laughingly: “Maybe we scouts will save enough money from -our farm work to pay for the farms our families will have to live -upon!” And the other girls laughed merrily at the very suggestion.</p> - -<p>“Who knows!” Mr. Marvin said, still joking about it all. “I may be -able to lay out Green Hill into small farms and sell them off to our -girls for your future homes.”</p> - -<p>“You couldn’t do better!” retorted Janet quickly.</p> - -<p>“I choose the water garden for my farm site!” was Norma’s instant -decision, causing every one to laugh at her funny choice of a farm.</p> - -<p>Natalie now said very seriously: “You old fogies can joke and laugh -all you like, but you don’t know the times you are all missing by -staying in New York, while we are enjoying the farm.”</p> - -<p>“If rosy cheeks and an over-supply of energy and vitality is a -criterion of life on the farm, I will say that you girls certainly -demonstrate the advisability of every one in cities moving out to -farms,” laughed Mr. Marvin, looking approvingly at his ward’s healthy -color and bright eyes.</p> - -<p>“Not only that, but you all just wait until the season ends, and then -see the money we will have on hand,” bragged Janet.</p> - -<p>“I am so glad to hear it! Then you can repay me all the advance loans -I have made to you, from month to month, since we opened an account on -a farm allowance basis,” said Mr. Wardell.</p> - -<p>The other fathers laughed appreciatively at his remark, for they had -all had similar experiences with their daughters. But the scouts paid -no attention to such suggestive words as repaying advanced loans for -farm uses, and the elders refrained from starting to collect damages -at that time.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 class='nobreak' id='chXII' title='XII—THE PIGEON COTE.'> - <span style='font-size:1.2em'>CHAPTER XII</span><br /><span style='font-size:1.1em'>THE PIGEON COTE.</span> -</h2> -<p>The pleasure of looking at the lake and enjoying its water falls and -the water fowl that played about in the lower end most of the time, -did not wear away in a few days, but the desire to constantly stand on -the shore and gaze at the water, began to pall in a few days’ time. -The scouts never ceased to love and appreciate the spot; and almost -every evening the three girls from the village, the scouts from the -camp, and the girls from the house, met under the pines to enjoy the -cool of the evening on the lake shore.</p> - -<p>Janet had added pigeons to her stock by this time, but they would not -remain at Green Hill. The first day she allowed them their freedom, -she watched with pleasure as they flew up in the blue sky. But then -they made straight for Dorothy Ames’s farm where they had been reared.</p> - -<p>Janet wailed and got Frances to drive her over to Dot’s house without -delay. There were her pigeons strutting about with the others, and -pecking deliberately at the corn on the ground. They were taken -captives again that night and brought back to Janet.</p> - -<p>In a few days she let them out of the coop again and again they flew -in a bee-line for home. The girls laughed at this escape, but Janet -was angry and asked Dorothy what could be done to keep them at home to -attend to their business of raising a family.</p> - -<p>Dorothy now made a suggestion that sounded well but it meant more -carpenter work. “You might try a small cote for the different kinds, -Janet, and see if they will stay if they have to keep house alone in -pairs.”</p> - -<p>Janet spoke of this idea when she returned to Green Hill, and Norma -eagerly added: “Oh, that is just what Mrs. Tompkins told me today. She -says we ought to have our pigeons separated from each other, because -the pouters and fantails never agree, and the tumblers and the common -pigeons always peck at each other and are dissatisfied in having to -live together.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose that means I must start a lot of carpentry work again, and -build separate houses,” sighed Janet.</p> - -<p>“No, Mrs. Tompkins showed me a cote she made for her ordinary pigeons, -and it looked fine!” said Norma. “She took a big sugar barrel and -after making separate rooms in it, had it mounted on top of a tall -pine tree that had been blasted by lightning.</p> - -<p>“Now I looked around our back yard, Janet, and I found a high -telegraph pole that had been split off near the top. As no one uses it -now for wires, or other needs, we can use it for a pigeon cote. I know -just how to fix that barrel, and all you have to do is to have Frances -bring one from Tompkins’ store. I asked him to save a good one for us -and he said he would.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that isn’t so bad, if you will make one cote, and some of the -other girls make another, and so on, until I have enough ready for a -dozen pairs of pigeons,” laughed Janet, relieved and optimistic once -more.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Tompkins said that the birds didn’t mind <i>feeding</i> on one common -ground, and they even flew into the chicken yards to eat the corn that -is scattered for the hens, but they object to <i>living</i> in the same -quarters. “That is why they fly home again—to get away from their -neighbors.”</p> - -<p>“What snobs they must be!” remarked Natalie.</p> - -<p>The girls laughed, and Mrs. James said: “It is because they never -learned the Golden Rule. Maybe it will be our work to teach our -pigeons to be socialists.”</p> - -<p>“I’d rather build separate coops and let them live their lives their -own way,” retorted Janet.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Tompkins says that once you get the female to set on her eggs -and keep the male penned in with her until the squabs are out, they -will never try to fly away again. But she often keeps hers in prison -for months before they will start raising a family and settle down in -their new home,” said Norma.</p> - -<p>So the sugar barrel was brought home from the store and Norma began -work on it exactly as she had been shown. Janet and the other girls -assisted, and in a day’s time the cote was ready to be mounted on the -old telegraph pole.</p> - -<p>It had been partitioned off inside to make several coops. There were -three floors in the barrel, and each floor was divided into two -apartments. The doors opened outward so that no one door came directly -in line with the others, and this was done to keep the birds as much -apart as possible.</p> - -<p>Perches and a running-board were placed at each door; and there were -perches projecting out beyond each end of the “verandah.” Then a -narrow roof was fastened over each door to keep the rain from beating -in at the opening.</p> - -<p>“If only we had a nice cone-shaped roof on the top of the barrel like -Mrs. Tompkins has on hers,” sighed Norma, looking at the flat top of -the barrel head.</p> - -<p>“Girls! I have it!” cried Janet, jumping up and starting for the barn -yard as if on wings.</p> - -<p>The other girls watched her go and waited wonderingly until she -returned with a large tin cone in her hands.</p> - -<p>“There, I bet it will fit on top just as we want it to!” laughed -Janet, inverting the cone and capping the barrel as if it had been -made for it.</p> - -<p>“What is it? Where did you get it?” questioned the curious girls.</p> - -<p>“I remembered seeing it kicked about the harness room, and Sam said it -was an old broken hopper that had once belonged to a feed chopper. The -pipe and funnel are missing, so it was worthless to the old tenant -when he moved away.”</p> - -<p>Norma looked in the hole at the top and said: “We can cork it up with -a bit of fitted wood, Janet.”</p> - -<p>“Sam can do that to a dot, ’cause he loves to whittle,” added Natalie.</p> - -<p>“We ought to paint the cote before it is mounted on the pole, Janet,” -suggested Belle.</p> - -<p>“I am sure we have enough paint left over from the bird houses to do -this barrel,” was Frances’ idea.</p> - -<p>So Janet ran down to the cellar and brought out the several cans of -paint, with a little in each tin. “Not enough of one shade to go -around, though,” said she, after examining the tins.</p> - -<p>“Listen, girls! Let’s mix all the paints in one pail, and add enough -turpentine or oil to thin it out as we need it. But keep the green -paint separate to use to trim the cote and roof.”</p> - -<p>“Sam has some brown-red paint at the barn that will do to paint the -roof red. It will look better if it is a contrasting color from the -trimming,” suggested Janet.</p> - -<p>“All right, Jan, you run and bring the red-brown can while we mix -these other paints together and see what color it makes,” said Natalie -eager to experiment.</p> - -<p>Janet went for the red roof paint, while her friends mixed the other -paints thoroughly together, and then called on Mrs. James to bring -them some oil and turpentine. She went to the kitchen catch-all closet -and found the two bottles, then took them over to the busy girls.</p> - -<p>“Don’t use much linseed oil, girls, as it will keep the paint from -drying quickly. Turpentine dries almost instantly,” said Mrs. James, -handing the bottles to Norma.</p> - -<p>When the mixing was finished the girls were delighted to find that the -tiny bit of russian blue in a can, the small amount of ivory black, -the dab of scarlet, and the half pail of flake white paints made a -soft grey almost like a dove’s tipped wings. This was applied to the -barrel sides and bottom; and then Janet returned with the red-brown -paint.</p> - -<p>The cone was fastened to the top of the barrel and when it was painted -no one would have known what it had been before it became a roof on -the pigeon cote. Then the verandahs and perches and roofs over the -doors were painted green, and the stakes that projected from the top -and bottom of the barrel were also painted green.</p> - -<p>“It will take until tomorrow to dry, girls,” said Mrs. James, when the -painting was finished.</p> - -<p>“Meantime, we are going to Tompkins’ store and see how soon we can get -some more sugar barrels. This cote is so pretty it will be a -decoration to our back garden,” said Janet.</p> - -<p>“And when we go to the store, remember to get some more wire netting -to nail these projecting stakes in order to keep the birds in their -prison until the family is started,” reminded Norma.</p> - -<p>When the cote was dry and the wire was fastened about it to keep the -inmates from flying away, Sam was called upon to climb the long ladder -and saw off the end of the telegraph pole, so the cote would be about -twenty feet above the ground.</p> - -<p>This was no trouble for him, for he had been sawing so much since the -day he tried to square off the clothes pole that he soon had the high -pole evenly sawed and ready for the cote.</p> - -<p>Several heavy iron brackets had been secured at the store to insure -the safety of the cote once it was on top of the pole. Then Sam -climbed the ladder again and the girls hoisted the barrel cote up to -him by means of a rope and pulley.</p> - -<p>At last the nice-looking cote was up and it looked very good, too. Sam -suggested that the old grey pole be painted a dove color but Janet -discovered that there was no paint left in the can. Some one had -kicked it over in their zeal to pull the barrel up to the top of the -pole, and the remaining paint had trickled out upon the ground.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that pole is near enough the grey color of the cote,” called -Natalie impatiently.</p> - -<p>“We can give it a coat of paint next year, if we think it will look -better,” added Janet.</p> - -<p>“But Norma wanted it to look good for the rest of this summer,” -ventured Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it is in <i>my</i> garden, and I don’t want any old things to ruin -the appearance of my flowers,” admitted Norma.</p> - -<p>“Why won’t a lot of vines look fine, if you train them to climb up the -pole?” asked Belle. “I’ve seen the poles in country gardens covered -with morning glories and other vines!”</p> - -<p>“That’s just what I will do, Jimmy!” declared Norma, turning to her -adviser for approval.</p> - -<p>That same day, Janet brought home her prodigal pigeons for the fifth -time, but this time two pairs of the ordinary kind were placed in -Norma’s cote and left there to start housekeeping. When the ladder was -finally removed and the girls stood smiling at the fine result of -their work, and the way the pigeons would have to remain at home after -this, Rachel walked across the grass.</p> - -<p>“I’m wonderin’, Honey, how you-all is goin’ to feed dem birds, ef day -is wired in dat away?”</p> - -<p>The girls gazed at each other in blank astonishment, and Mrs. James -had to sit on the inverted butter tub and laugh. No one had given a -thought of how the birds were going to be fed.</p> - -<p>Sam had started for the barn yard with the ladder, but he was suddenly -recalled. He dropped the ladder to come back and see what was wrong, -but Janet called out: “Bring the ladder with you.”</p> - -<p>When he had rejoined the group, Rachel laughingly said: “Dese wise -pigeon trainers done gone and forgot how to feed dem birds, Sam!”</p> - -<p>Then her nephew laughed as loud and as long as Mrs. James had done. -Still that did not solve the problem of feeding the pigeons, so Sam -wiped his eyes and studied the cote from where he stood. Finally he -made a brilliant suggestion.</p> - -<p>“You hoisted dat coop like it was a fedder, and I don’t see what’s to -hinder you f’om hoistin’ corn and feed to the roof and den yankin’ on -the rope to turn over the tin what holds it. Let the cracked corn and -other feed roll down onto the piazza floors for the pigeons to pick -up.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a great idea, but how about the drinking water?” demanded Mrs. -James.</p> - -<p>“Well, I dun’no about dat. Let someone else remember a great idee for -dat,” was Sam’s reply, as if he had performed his duty in thinking of -a way to settle the feed problem.</p> - -<p>“Now that it is up and the birds living in the cote, I don’t see what -else you can do except to leave the ladder against the pole and have -Sam climb up twice a day to feed them,” remarked Frances.</p> - -<p>“Water once a day, and feed night and mornin’,” said Sam, as if -learning a lesson by memory.</p> - -<p>“We’ll just have to leave it that way until I see Mrs. Tompkins and -ask her what can be done,” said Norma resignedly.</p> - -<p>“Do they only need corn while they are caged?” asked Janet anxiously -of every one.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Tompkins said we had best give them the same sort of food they -would get if they were flying about at liberty. They need grit and -lime and sand mixed in a dish and placed where they can get all they -want of it. We must sprinkle sand and gravel over the floor of the -promenade, too, for them to scratch in, all they like. When the hen -bird lays her eggs and starts brooding over them, the male bird will -feed and care for her. As soon as the little ones are hatched we can -remove the wire and let them have their liberty,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“Suppose the pair on one floor of the house start a family, before the -other birds think of it, and you remove the wire. They will fly away -again, just as they did from the barn,” said Janet.</p> - -<p>“We won’t take away the wire from the front of the coops unless all -the birds settle down to raising their families. Only one pair of -birds will be given their liberty at a time,” said Norma.</p> - -<p>Several barrels were secured from Tompkins’ store after that, but the -others were small half-barrel sizes which the girls preferred, because -they would only have to have two families in one cote, and that would -simplify the troubles of a flat owner.</p> - -<p>The new cotes were placed upon much lower posts and poles, too, so the -problem of feeding the pigeons while they were in captivity was easier -to solve.</p> - -<p>Sam had found a small American flag in the roadway one day, and this -he stuck in the top of Norma’s large cote, where it flew patriotically -and made the pigeons sit with heads on one side eyeing this emblem of -their native land.</p> - -<p>In about a week’s time after the first pair of pigeons were kept -captives, Sam shouted one morning: “The lady bird done gone laid two -aigs! Hurrah!”</p> - -<p>The news was so thrilling that every scout in both the patrols had to -climb that ladder and have a peep at the expectant mother, but the -male bird scolded and snapped at their faces so daringly, that they -really saw nothing after they had reached the top of the ladder. So -each one came down again.</p> - -<p>The day after Norma had finished her cote for the pigeons she began -turning her full attention to her flowers, once more. Not that she had -neglected them past all hope, but they had not been the sole ambition -of her time during the extra diversions of water gardening and -cote-building.</p> - -<p>It was during the week that followed the parents’ visit to Green Hill, -that Janet went with Frances and Belle for a visit to a distant -farmer’s who advertised young squabs for sale cheap. Janet decided -that it would be far easier to raise some other owner’s squabs than to -try to keep enough pigeons on hand to hatch out the young birds at -home.</p> - -<p>When she returned from that shopping trip, she plainly showed that she -had made a daring venture. Frances and Belle were hardly able to keep -from laughing at what they knew, so Mrs. James said:</p> - -<p>“Come, tell us what it is all about, Janet!”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ve gone and bought a ewe and two dear little twin lambs!” -declared she, with the air of a king who can do no wrong.</p> - -<p>“Oh, really!” exclaimed the two girls who had remained at home. “How -cute they must be?”</p> - -<p>But Mrs. James seemed concerned. “How can you take care of them, -Janet? Are they grown enough to feed themselves?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, but that is the cutest thing about them, Jimmy! You should -see them follow the mother about and try to get a drink. She actually -cuffs them over the ears when she thinks they have no need of more -milk,” laughed Janet.</p> - -<p>“When are they coming here?” asked Norma eagerly.</p> - -<p>“The man said he would deliver them tomorrow morning. I only paid him -for the squabs, Jimmy, as I had no money left. I wonder if you can -loan me the price of the ewe and lambs?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly, Janet. But do not neglect Susy now that you have a few new -toys. Poor Susy went hungry this morning because you forgot all about -her. So Sam gave her her breakfast.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, my darling Susy!” cried Janet, turning to run for the enclosure -where the calf was kept.</p> - -<p>“All that endearment won’t do any good now, Janet,” laughed Belle.</p> - -<p>“All the stuff you fed Seizer that morning did him more harm than -good,” added Frances, hoping to impress Janet with her serious -responsibilities.</p> - -<p>The ewe and lambs arrived the next morning, and the man left them in -the pasture lot with Sue, although neither member of Janet’s -increasing family cared a fig whether there were lambs to gambol about -the field or not.</p> - -<p>Sam and Janet hastily constructed a shed and yard for the lambs and -the ewe, and that night they were closed in to sleep upon the nice -fresh straw.</p> - -<p>In the morning, when Janet went to gather the new-laid eggs, she -stopped to have a peep at the lambs. They were constantly running -after the big ewe, but she kept out of their reach and slyly managed -to dodge their every effort to get at her.</p> - -<p>Janet hurried back to the house and reported on the ewe and lambs, -then added: “They were blatting so pitifully I wonder if anything is -wrong?”</p> - -<p>Thereupon every one started for the barn yard to visit the lambs. Just -as Mrs. James reached the fence of the enclosure, a harrowing sight -was presented to the interested watchers. The ewe had slipped back and -forth so many times to elude the lambs, and they kept jumping about to -reach her and nurse from her, for they were hungry, when the old one -suddenly turned and butted her solid forehead against the nearest -lamb.</p> - -<p>It was instantly flattened against the side of the shed, while the old -ewe turned her attention to the other teaser. The butted lamb bleated -such mournful cries that the girls felt like crying for it. While the -ewe was dealing justice to the second little lamb, the first one -managed to creep up unawares behind her and try to snatch a drink of -milk.</p> - -<p>The ewe then kicked lustily and sent the little wobbly thing sprawling -out on the ground.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you inhuman mother, you!” shrilled Janet angrily.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t she horrid to her children?” added Natalie.</p> - -<p>“We’ll just <i>make</i> her feed those darlings!” declared Norma, as she -saw Sam crossing the yard, and beckoned him to come over.</p> - -<p>When the story of the wicked mother had been told Sam, he said wisely: -“Mebbe she wants to wean ’em.”</p> - -<p>“But she just can’t, Sam, until they are old enough to feed -themselves,” returned Janet.</p> - -<p>“I’se seen lambs fed in a bottle till they was big enough to pick fer -themselves,” ventured Sam.</p> - -<p>“A bottle? Like a baby?” chorused the interested girls.</p> - -<p>“Yeh, onny some bigger, ’cus a lamb wants more at one feedin’, you -know.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that will be fun. Let’s send to Four Corners for the rubber -nipples and the bottles,” laughed Belle.</p> - -<p>The girls were so interested in this new idea that they left Mrs. -James still watching the ewe and lambs, while they rushed to the house -to ask Rachel questions.</p> - -<p>“Have you got a big bottle that we can use to nurse the lambs?” asked -Natalie, quite out of breath when she reached the door.</p> - -<p>“We need two bottles, Rachel!” added Janet.</p> - -<p>“How big mus’ they be?” asked Rachel.</p> - -<p>“Oh,—how big, Sam?”</p> - -<p>“Big nuff to hold about a pint each, Aunt Rachel.”</p> - -<p>“I got some catsup bottles what hol’ a little more’n a pint a piece, -Sam,” said Rachel.</p> - -<p>“Them will do, where are they?” returned Sam.</p> - -<p>“On the swing-shelf, down cellar. You kin git ’em,” replied Rachel, -going back to her baking.</p> - -<p>Sam soon produced the bottles from the cellar, and then said: “Now all -you want is them rubber nipples.”</p> - -<p>So all four girls accompanied Frances on a special trip to Four -Corners to buy the nipples from Tompkins.</p> - -<p>“But I only got one nipple left in stock, gals,” was Mr. Tompkins’ -disconcerting reply. “You see, Four Corners ain’t had no baby fer nigh -onto a year now and my old customer what used to buy them moved away -in winter.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we will take the one, and have to telephone to White Plains for -more,” said Janet anxiously.</p> - -<p>“I’d better drive there for more, Janet,” suggested Frances.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, but we will take this one with us, Mr. Tompkins.”</p> - -<p>While Janet was paying for it, she told Mr. Tompkins about the need -for it. When he heard how the ewe refused to allow the twins to nurse, -he said there was something wrong as he had never heard of a mother -ewe who weaned such little lambs.</p> - -<p>“I’ll run over this noon and see what ails her,” said Mr. Tompkins. -“Meanwhile, you feed the lambs with a bottle.”</p> - -<p>The girls found ample exercise and fun in trying to catch a lamb and -feed it, but once the captive got hold of the nipple, it drank the -bottle empty of milk without stopping. It would choke and sputter -exactly like an infant, and this pleased the girls immensely.</p> - -<p>By the time the girls had finished holding the frisky lambs securely, -while another girl held the bottle in its mouth, they all had kicked -shins from tiny hoofs, and their hands and faces were dirty from the -nosing the lambs gave them. But this was considered awfully cute of -the lambs, and the girls ran back to the house, when the feeding was -over, to wash their hands and faces.</p> - -<p>That morning the old ewe kept quiet and only moved when the lambs -teased her beyond endurance. Then Mr. Tompkins came at noon, and the -girls escorted him to the barn yard to hear him pass judgment.</p> - -<p>“Why, that ewe will come down with milk fever if she don’t let them -lambs nurse right off!” declared he, as he tried to get a grip on the -ewe and examine her.</p> - -<p>“Here, Sam! Sit on her head while we make these lambs nurse out this -caked milk!” said Mr. Tompkins, as he held down the ewe until Sam got -over the fence and did as he was told.</p> - -<p>The lambs went to work hungrily, but the ewe resented it so that she -tried to kick and butt, and finally Mr. Tompkins said: “Gals, I don’t -believe she is the mother of these twins. Who sold you the three?”</p> - -<p>Janet forgot the man’s name but she described the farm where he lived. -“Why, the old rascal! He tol’ me himself, a few days ago, how his best -ewe died leaving a pair of twins to raise by hand. And a crank mother -lost her lamb and wouldn’t help out the starving twins! So he palmed -them off on you to bother with, eh! Well, we will all go and get him -and make him do what’s right!” threatened Tompkins furiously.</p> - -<p>Frances got the car out again, and the girls, with Mr. Tompkins to act -as their representative, started off for the farm.</p> - -<p>After a time, Mr. Tompkins said: “Ain’t you drivin’ the wrong road?”</p> - -<p>“No, we went this way, all right,” said Janet.</p> - -<p>“But the man I mean lives the other way,” said Tompkins.</p> - -<p>Just then a farmer’s wagon came in sight, and as the automobile came -opposite it, Janet shouted eagerly: “That’s the man! He sold us the -lambs!”</p> - -<p>“Why he ain’ the man I was talking of at all!” said Mr. Tompkins, -chagrined at his mistake.</p> - -<p>The farmer pulled in his horses and began, before the girls could -scold him: “I found my man made a mistake, gals. He picked the wrong -mother for them twins. I never knew it until I found the other mother -feverish, and then I saw we had a wrong lamb for her. I got the right -mother in a box in the wagon and I’ll carry my other mother home with -me.”</p> - -<p>As this explained the whole trouble satisfactorily, the exchange was -soon made and the little twins were quickly snuggled by their right -mother, while the starving little lamb back on the other farm would -soon have its own mother again.</p> - -<p>Then Janet explained how the ewe had butted the poor little lambs when -they wanted to nurse from her and how they got the bottles ready to -care for the hungry little dears.</p> - -<p>The farmer laughed and said: “If you think the mother had a temper -because she butted the lamb, you ought to see what the real mother of -these twins did to my man when he tried to make her nurse the lamb -that was left behind. He was stooping to draw the lamb over to her -side when the old ewe lowered her head and in another moment the handy -man was assisted over the fence!”</p> - -<p>After the family reunion of lambs and ewe, the twins grew like weeds, -and were able to run about the field after the mother and be weaned in -two weeks’ time. But all this belongs to Frances’ book which follows -this one.</p> - -<p>A strict account was kept of Sue’s expenses and the income from the -milk and butter and cheese, also the skim-milk which Janet bought for -the pigs and calf, and at the end of the two weeks, dating from the -Saturday the cow arrived at Green Hill, a corporate meeting was held -to discuss dividends and future expenses of Sue. The profit showed -such encouraging signs of growth that the girls began counting how -long it would take to pay off the borrowed money with which they paid -for Sue, and then begin to have something left to divide between the -stockholders.</p> - -<p>When Janet heard how much the skim-milk had cost her in the past two -weeks, she gasped. “Why, Jimmy! If those pigs go on eating like this, -the pork will be worth more than two dollars a pound when fall comes.”</p> - -<p>The other girls laughed, and Natalie said: “Then you ought to feed -David and Jonathan more of my tomato vines and let them follow in -Seizer’s steps.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I am thankful I am not the sole owner of the cow, too. If we -have to pay Nat for all the cabbages and turnips the cow ate when she -got in the garden the other day, we won’t have any profits to divide,” -said Janet, giggling.</p> - -<p>“That’s an item I forgot to charge up,” said Mrs. James.</p> - -<p>“But I am to be reimbursed in some way, for my loss, am I not?” asked -Natalie.</p> - -<p>As is commonly the case at large stockholders’ meetings, a -disagreement on debts and dividends took place and after a long time -given to explanations about how much Sue cost for keep and the income -on her first product and the by-products, the meeting adjourned -without anything definite having been decided upon.</p> - -<p>During the second week of July, the eight girl scouts of Patrol Number -Two attended a council meeting of the Solomon Seal Patrol One, at -which they were informed that Headquarters in New York City had -admitted the Patrols as a first-class Troop, and now the members could -start an intensive drive to win badges and be awarded honors for the -tests given in the handbook.</p> - -<p>At this meeting, Miss Mason enrolled the eight Tenderfeet as scouts in -regular standing, and immediately after this welcome information, the -eight girls whispered eagerly to each other of individual plans for -advancement. Then Frances declared herself aloud to all present:</p> - -<p>“I take this occasion to let you all know that henceforth you shall -not know me as a jitney conductor, because I have decided to take up -other lines as well. Not that the car is going out of commission—far -be it from me to allow Amity Ketchum to again resume dominion over -Four Corners’ helpless travellers—but I am going to study insects and -the birds, this summer, and take tests.</p> - -<p>“I have watched many insects and find they are so very interesting, -and there is so much to learn about their habits and lives, that I -believe they will afford me plenty of pastime and, if I write down -everything I discover, just as Janet told her stock story in the -diary, I can give you scouts many entertainments.</p> - -<p>“Besides the insects, I find the birds about this section of -Westchester are very wonderful and rare for the usual temperate -climate. One of the old natives at Bronxville, where Belle had me -drive her the other day in search of a Colonial cupboard for sale, -said that very few sections of the Northern States could boast of so -many tropical birds as nested about the woods in the immediate -vicinity of Bronxville. Yet they seldom went farther North than that -line, and seemed to keep within a definite line all about that -section.</p> - -<p>“Belle planned to study bird-life at first in connection with her -antique research, but she believes forestry and art will combine -better with her special line of business. Then, too, Belle likes -domestic science, and will follow that as a recreation.”</p> - -<p>When Frances concluded her speech, the scouts applauded and Mrs. James -said, smilingly: “Belle ought to speak now.”</p> - -<p>Belle jumped up instantly and remarked laughingly: “All I can say is -that it will be wise for you scouts to keep on good terms with me, -after I have experimented more with my domestic science; as I can -either treat you well with my finished products or kill you off with -heavy biscuits and doughnuts, if you make me an enemy. That’s all.”</p> - -<p>When she sat down, the scouts laughed heartily and Janet swore -friendship from that moment on, in order to insure her life, she said.</p> - -<p>The Captain now said: “If there is nothing more to take up for -discussion, we will proceed with the scout exercises.”</p> - -<p>Then Janet jumped up and called for attention. “We have a most -important matter to discuss but we cannot plan or talk with Jimmy and -you present. Now, which shall we do—adjourn this meeting in order to -discuss our own business, or excuse you two undesirable attendants -until we have concluded our conference?”</p> - -<p>Miss Mason laughed and retorted: “I am not accustomed to hearing so -frankly that my company is not wanted, so I shall leave without asking -to be excused.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. James took the Captain’s arm and nodded her head approvingly, as -she added: “Them’s my sentiments, too.” And the two departed from the -Council but every one knew what the topic of general interest was.</p> - -<p>As the two ladies walked slowly away, the Captain turned and called -out: “Plan all you like, girls, but don’t spend any money on our -double birthday!”</p> - -<p>Corporal Janet tossed her head at that, and beckoned to the scouts to -draw closer so they could confer without a word being heard by the two -principals in the case.</p> - -<p>“First, I want to know how many have thought of a novel idea for -entertainment at the party on the sixteenth?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p>So many girls raised a hand that Janet laughed, and then said: “We’d -better begin at this end and go right around the circle. Even if one -of us hasn’t thought out a finished plan, our general discussion may -launch something that will be an improvement on someone else’s -suggestion. Now you begin, May.”</p> - -<p>“My idea of entertaining the Captain and her Lieutenant was this: To -invite all the people about Four Corners to a Scout Council and -entertain them in ways that will show them how valuable scouting is. I -have thought of many ways in which we can entertain strangers, and at -the same time, advertise our scout organization.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a good idea, May, but would you include <i>every</i> one about Four -Corners, without reservations?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p>“Of course! How could we discriminate?”</p> - -<p>“I was thinking of Amity Ketchum—would you invite him?” teased Janet.</p> - -<p>There was a general murmur of dissent at this and May had to brave the -flash of many eyes as she said: “Even our enemy, for he needs -something good and intelligent more than any one I know of.”</p> - -<p>Several scouts applauded this sentiment, and Janet continued: “What -are some of your ways for entertaining, May?”</p> - -<p>“There are so many, it is hard to decide on any—there are the stars to -talk about; the wildwood vegetation to describe and its uses -demonstrated; the signs and signals and blazes of scoutdom to -illustrate; demonstrating how a scout camps—pitches tent, digs -latrines, makes fire without matches, finds bedding from the trees, -etc.; and many other vastly interesting things, besides doing our -exercises applied to various needs.”</p> - -<p>“Let the Troop Scribe make a note of this plan, as it sounds good to -me, eh, girls?” was Janet’s decision.</p> - -<p>“Yes, indeed, it is!” they chorused.</p> - -<p>The second scout was one who had not been able to think of any novel -plan for the birthday party, but when she heard May’s idea expressed, -she was able to amend the motion by saying: “Why not make a full -afternoon and evening of the entertainment, and invite Four Corners to -the woods for our share in teaching them scout life, and then let them -invite us to the village school-house for the evening, where we can -give a regular party with ice cream and lots of Belle’s domestic -science cakes?”</p> - -<p>Every one laughed at the last suggestion but they also approved of it. -Janet then offered the suggestion for debate, and finally it was -decided by the “yeas” that were it possible to interest enough Four -Corners’ folk, the three village scouts of Patrol Number Two would be -delegated to ascertain all about the hiring of the school-house for -the evening of the sixteenth.</p> - -<p>Norma sat next to the girl who amended May’s motion and now she said: -“My party plan is very simple in comparison to May’s, as it was an -idea to go for a fine long hike in the woods and take along enough -floor and cooking needs to have a gypsy dinner in the woods. I thought -we could spend the day and return home at evening and celebrate at the -house with singing and games.”</p> - -<p>“Sounds inviting, Norma, but who will keep awake to sing and play in -the evening after a long day on the hike?” was Natalie’s query.</p> - -<p>The scout next to Norma now amended the proposition with: “Why not -ride somewhere and play gypsy when we arrive there? Then we won’t be -so weary with walking and can sing or play as Norma suggested, when we -come back home?”</p> - -<p>“We all can’t crowd in the automobile,” said Frances.</p> - -<p>Then the girl next to the first amender spoke up and said: “My idea -was very similar to the one just announced, but I had thought of using -several farm wagons, such as Ames has, and filling the bottom with -straw for a straw ride to the hills.”</p> - -<p>“That, too, sounds alluring, so we will have the scribe jot that -amended plan down for future consideration,” said the Corporal.</p> - -<p>The next two scouts had thought of gathering together at Solomon’s -Seal Camp and having refreshments and games. But these ideas were not -approved, so the turn came to Natalie to speak.</p> - -<p>“Well, I must say, that it is disappointing to be in the last row of -spectators at the death of the fox,” began she laughingly. “Here am I -with as good a plan as the others, but it has been minced up by the -girls who proposed and those who amended the others.”</p> - -<p>The scouts smiled sympathetically—or at least, those girls did who had -not yet spoken. Natalie continued:</p> - -<p>“I planned for a morning of hiking in the country; coming home to a -fine dinner out on the lawn under the trees, then a general council -and other gathering at Camp, with our relatives in attendance, and an -evening given over to whatever form of fun we all decided on. I -thought the supper could be served at camp for all who came.”</p> - -<p>“Jot that down, Scribe, for discussion,” said Janet, turning to -Frances who came next.</p> - -<p>“My idea was along the same lines, but I thought to ask Mr. Marvin and -a friend of his who would have a touring car, to drive out from the -city and take us all for an auto trip in the afternoon, and then we -would invite them to sup and an evening’s entertainment in return,” -explained Frances.</p> - -<p>Janet turned to the Scribe and said: “Add to that last memo ‘Frans -says call for two autos from Marvin.’”</p> - -<p>Belle’s turn came next and she said, languidly: “I never got past the -idea of baking a huge birthday cake with two great wax candles on top -of it.”</p> - -<p>This idea caused a laugh, and Janet approved it at once. “We won’t -need to discuss that, Belle—it is decided upon that you bake the best -and largest cake Rachel can accommodate in the oven, and decorate the -frosting so elaborately that the two monster candles will look all the -funnier on top of it.”</p> - -<p>Two of the scouts had ideas for each girl making an individual gift -and presenting it at a Council held in the afternoon. Janet amended -this to the giving of gifts made by the donor, to be held in the -evening.</p> - -<p>One of the scouts had a plan for giving an amateur performance, the -play to be written by one of the members, and the acting to take place -in the woods with natural scenery.</p> - -<p>“That’s fine! We might try Hiawatha or a play written along such -lines. We must get our heads together and invent a new play something -like Hiawatha, so we can use the stream and the tent and the clearing -in the acts. The play can be part of the afternoon’s entertainment to -the Four Corners’ people,” exclaimed Janet eagerly while the other -scouts all felt agreed on the suggestion.</p> - -<p>The next scout had conferred with her neighbor and had agreed to write -the play with her. So she was put down as the playwright. The rest of -the girls had simple plans for entertainment that would fall in line -with the greater ones, but those already jotted down were now -discussed thoroughly, and a programme made up for the time being. This -would be revised as necessity called for. When more than an hour had -passed by and the Captain, with her Lieutenant, returned to camp to -find all the scouts’ heads close together still, the former called -out:</p> - -<p>“Council is adjourned for the day!”</p> - -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div style='margin-top:1em;font-variant:small-caps;'>The End.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='section'> - -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div style='font-size:1.2em;'>The Girl Scouts Series </div> -<div>BY EDITH LAVELL</div> -</div> -<blockquote> -<p>A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide -experience in Scouts’ craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of -Philadelphia.</p> - -</blockquote> -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div>Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. </div> -<div>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</div> -</div> -<div style='text-align:center; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto'> -<div style='display:inline-block; text-align:left;'> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ GOOD TURN</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CANOE TRIP</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ RIVALS</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ VACATION ADVENTURES</div> -<div class='cbline'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ MOTOR TRIP</div> -</div> -</div> -<blockquote> -<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by -the Publishers</p> - -</blockquote> -<div style='text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; '> -<div>A. 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