Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11

itSCS Oub III INC lIOAI HdIu.
"Hello," cried Grandfather when he
heard it. "In six weeks we shall have
frost"
What's frost?" asked Kenneth, who
rs so young that there are still some
things he doesn't understand.
"Frost?" repeated Grandfather.
"Why frost is-Oh, that you'll have to
ask Katy-did; she knows"
So late, late that night, when, all the
house was still, Kenneth crept out into
the yard and up to the trees. Katy
did! Katy-did!" he called softly.
"She didn't, She didn't" came back
to him excitedly. aid Katy-did popped
her head over the edge of leaf and
looked at him.
"Why-ee!" cried Kenneth in his sur
prise. you're a regular old LADY,"
Il can't help it if am" snapped
Katy-did. And that's not the sub
ject under discussion anyway. The
question is, did she or didn't she?
You may take whichever side you like
and I'll take the other"
Il don't care whether she did or
not" cried Kenneth impatiently 81
want to know"
"Oh! That's a different matter
Why didn't you say so?" and Katy-did
tripped down the bark of the tree with
wonderful agility. For as she came
near the ground Kenneth could see
that she was really a very old lady
wrinkled and brown, and bent over;
but her eyes were bright and snappy,
and she had quick nervous little way
with her that showed she was full of
energy.
Now" she began briskly, what do
you want to know?"
Her directness was catching.
What's frost?" Kenneth asked
promptly.
"Frost?" she repeated. "Why frost
is-come on with me and I'll show
you"
So Kenneth trotted along by her
side. After a while he ventured a
question, "Is it very far?" he asked.
about six weeks" she answered.
Now Kenneth was not in the habit
of countine distances by weeks, and so
he really knew no more about it than
ne did before. But Katy-did seemed
so confident that she had given him all
the necessary information that he
hardly liked to tell her he didn't I'M
derstand. So he trudged along be
side her and was very quiet.
Presently she said, This is the Fall
we're going through now"
"Indeed?" asked Kenneth politely.
Who's falling?-I mean" and the
little old woman looked at him so
sharply that he stopped abashed.
Nobody that know Of" she re-
torted sharply It's part of the year
don't you know? It'F on the road
to winter, just after yor get past sum
mer. There he is, now!" and she
waved her hand at somebody far ahead
of them, and high up over their heads.
Il thought we'd probably find him at
work up in the trees; this is his busy
season. and he has to do a good share
of the work himself--you know how
hard it is to get trusty servants"
Kenneth nodded his head as if he
knew all about it, but he didn't Then
he asked, Whats he doing?"
Look at him and see!" said the
Katy-did. "They always thi k things
grow without any trouble for any
body. But they don't. Leaves are
only just one little bit of the things
that have to be kept in order, and they
have to be painted twice every year
every single leaf has to be painted
twice."
20 dear" cried Kenneth. What a
lot of work."
81 should think it vas, But it has
to be done. Spring. does it first, but
she never will use anything but green's.
and green's fade, You know, so Jack
always has to do it again after a
while. But here we are" And she and
Kenneth came to a stop under the tree
which was being painted. Way up in
the tiptop branch was a little swing
that looked like a cobwcb; and n he
busy that he never noticed them at all
dressed in white, who was so very
busy that h enever noticed them at all
until Katy-did called out to him and
asked him if they might come up
Then he looked down at them, and
bowed them a round and Jolly face.
Sure" he answered breezily.
Come right up"
So Katy-did and Kenneth walked up
the bark of the tree-something which
Kenneth had never tried to do before.
and which he found was surprisingly
easy. When they reached the very top
branch, and were right by the side of
the little painter, Kenneth cried out
why. it is a cobweb!"
of course it is" sale Katy.did.
What did you think it was?" And
then she went on, indicating the man
in the swing: And this is Frost
Jack, l call him"
oh" said Kenneth.
The man in the swing nodded at him
and smiled. Sorry can't stop my
work. but I'm in hurry just this pres
emf moment"
That's all right" Kenneth politely
assured him, and then he watched
him at his work. He used a toadstool
for a palette-and very good palette
il was. too: his brush~s were soft.
fuzzy pussy willows: and his colors
yraro rod and ys1I0yvs AID browns