The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-22

no the roof of the rambling old farm
house. were roses and hOneysuchies anu
purplo-howerlng wisterias. At the other
end were treliscs covered wlth siaPo-
zines which even rose bugs and poor
seasons we're rarely able 90 render un-
TRUTHFUL No matter how sharp the sea-
son or Imperative the work, MI. rogers
generally managed 10 spare Few days
TO his lawn and grape-vnes:
But this year seemed as though IL mus.
be an exception. Rain had iaileh ai ln,,,,
continuously through April ana carry
May, and now summer was nearly Oh
them and the spring Work was not mar
done Mr.. Rogers had extra HANDS anu
DE commenced early and worked late'
INT do the best he could, the work re-
rnainrd behlndhand. Sometimes he paus-
ed al the corner Of the house and looked
irrceolutely at the lawn and the grape
vines and tho strawberry bed, ana theh
shook his head and hurried away 10 the
fields with a plOw or a harrow or seeder.
Mrs Rodgers went out and trimmed
some Of the hydrangeas and rose-bushes;
but there was an acre OF shubbery ana
flowers. and another acre Of small run,
and what little che could do mado small
impression.
Don't you think you could spare man
for a week or ten days. John? she asked
one evening. THE peonies are getting
root-bound and need lifting and reset
ting. They have not done well for several
years; and the day-liliies and anemones,
and. IN fact, nearly all the herbaceous
plants are getting too thick and outght
10 be divided and then you know the
hedge has got 20 be pruned, and so have
the hydrangeas and deutzias and altheas.
And then
There are the grape-vines and straw
berry plants and currant bushes, ne
Interrupted, lugubriOusly. ION, yes, l
know. But there are the seed potatoes
NH
them in ar once they will spoil And the
cabbage and caullfiOwer plants are get
ting almost too large TO set. Few more
days waiting and they will DO lost. And
lt Is time the corn was planted, ana the
beets and carrots ought 10 be In, ana II Is
almost too late for the onions and pars-
nips. And TO cap IL all, there isn't an
other hand in the whole neighborhood 10
be hired. 1 could use u dozen extra men
Just now lie looked at her whimsically;
then his gaze wandered across TO where
sourteen-yesr-old Charley was bending
school out Friday7" he asked, sud
denly
Eyes. sir"
"Well, how would you like 10 give up
your visit to Uncle Robert. and spend a
few weeks on the lawn, and IN the hover
and fruit gardens2 Your mother could
show you what 20 DO.
Charley looked a little dubious.
Il don't know much about pruning
shrubs and dividing bulbs" he demurred
but IL YOU think can be any help, I'm
willing 10 stay
"All right. I'll trust you to be careful.
IT will be good practice. And remember,
If you do q good job, IL may mean that
bicycle you have been wanting
Charleys face flushed at the implied
promise; and the quick glance he flashed
across the table at his father settled the
half-formed resolution In that gentle
mans mind.
Saturday morning Charley donned an
old suit Of clothes and went among the
shrubbery with his pruning shears. Mr.
Rogers remained with him for half an
hour or so, and then went 10 the field 20
look after his men. Occasionally during
the forenoon Mrs. Rogers came out 10 see
how the work progressed, or 10 give some
advice. But Charley had not been brought
up on farm and in the midst Of pro-
fusion of shrubs and flowers and. fruits,
not TO have a general idea OF their needs.
He had never done any pruning or trans
planting or dividing, but he had seen such
work done time and time again, ana ne
was quick and bright enough TO do il
fairly well with very little showing. When
Mr.. Rogers came back at noon he look
ed tho work over approvingly.
'YOu are doing first rate, Charles he
said but I'm afraid you won't be able
10 finish II all In season. 1t Win take at
least week Tor you 10 90 your pTuhlhs'
and then therell be two or three weeks
OF dividing and transplanting. Can't you
think of some boy that 1 can hire to help
yOu?"
Charley looked doubtful.
Most Of the farm boys are busy" he
answered: then, hesitatinely, there's
Seth Hopkins"
Mr.. Rogers face darkencd.
Worse than no help at ALL" he decla-
red shortly They're a disreputable lot,
the Hopknses. The old mans in prison.
and the two Oldest boys ought 20 be with
him. Seth's following close in their foot
steps"
or" urged Charley impetuously. "Seth's
too good n fellow to follow them. You
know he saved me from drowning when
was a little chap. and live always
felt as though l ought to do something
for him"