New-York tribune., 1909-06-06
A VINE CLAD PORCH
Woodland Runners That Brought
Disaster to One Family.

az was awfuy superior when we were se''ins
ready to go into the country to IVe' salu 'ie
young married woman to the friend she naop me. me-
since becoming inhabitant Of Long lsiahu-
said my husband: Now. most city people iiidHo
spectacIes of themselves when they start 10 10
farmers getting into all kinds Of fixes, just De-
cause they won't take the trouble to find out ABOUT
things and learn the right way. There were the
Browns who laboriously planted their Ds eaIu
early In March, to get a good start ana INC
Burtons, who bought a blooded calf at q iaOulouS
price and brought it up a bottle. only 10 Hhu
that it was the kind that doesn't give milk. now
we won't make any breaks like that wen take
up our new life scientifically, studying everything
and being sure of our ground always before we
act
wed been on the new place about month
when John remarked that he thought the house
looked bare Need some vines he said. I'll stop
at Green & Leafy's on my way home tonight and
order some woodbine ivy, or whatever the
proper thing is
Don't do that JOHN admonshed him. When
1 was walking in the woods yesterday saw guam
titles of the Ioveest vines growing wild III just
take Mary and Wen dig up some of those vines and
plant them around the house. You're so ready to
spend money, I declare we'd never save a thing
If II wasn't for me-
well. Mary and I started out that day-Mary's
maid, straight city product who never saw
grass, l guess before she ours. We spent
hours tore our clothes and got dreadfuy heated
but came home with plenty of vigorous young
vines We planted them. and they throve-oh. yes
they throve. And ali the timC-well, talk about
warming a viper in your bosom and having it turn
and sting you! Wait till you hear what those
vines that I nursed and watered and labored over
did
When I went after the vines wore gloves, and
so did Mary. 1 began the summer by being caretul
of my hands and Mary mortally afraid OF
'varmints' But time went on we got careless
and one evening John and Mary and 1 went out,
gIoveless and happy. to garden. Among other jobs
we fixed strings and trained those vines UP the
way they should go.
..Tbat night I dreamed dreadful dreams OF being
hrotIed on a grIdron for a giants dinner. At In
tervals I was vaguely conscious Of John moaning
and tossing his pillow. When walked in the
morning l became aware that something was the
matter with me Ny face and hands burned Ike
fire and there was a cushion of flesh around one
Owe looked in the glass; well, was a sight!
Red as a beet puffed. covered with eruptlons- |
looked at John; he was the same we dreSseu
with pain and went down to the Kitchen ana theIe
q Mary groaning in a corner. She hau IT, w.
w%atever 1t was. 1 telephoned the doctor TO come
rricl, as we we're all taken with some hortlo4e
disease Really. I frightened
..rta doctor came; he looked at US Poison
ivy.' he said No wonder. You've got II ua',su 4s
nm all around your house Curious taste. oE 'ne
vav-baying poison ivy for tame or uo'heS''0
vine ~. about
znendng money. Ny dear. the doctor came III e $.
times I've q tender skin, and I was confined 70
-. -, es,-areI davs with that eruption and tne
fever it gave me. John was such sisht 'nat h He
couldn't go to business. and Mary's hands were -
had that we had to get another girl IN 10 cooA-
But John never reproached me. johns an aheei-
.That was two years ago. and II has taken al
,bt time n get rid OF the poison ivy never saw
such a determined plant. Cut II down IN one p'ac7
and Il pops up in another But went on 'he pl IN
ciple OF smothering the beast by cutting OH 10
lungs. that Is TO say leav's and aiter ''Hs'
hard struggle I won out against the IVY
soon after our poisoning Mrs. Wilson our near
est neighbor came over bringing vine that looked
areadfullv like the poison ivy. told her 70 take
It away. but she assured me solernniy that II was
a Virginia creeper and harmless she poln'eo
,,. the differences between that and the Ivy, ana
saw az once that II takes the slightest tronD7
one can distinguish which IS which. The ivy mas