The Washington herald., 1911-03-05

Ing from which the average country dwsller Is barred
From Ferguson's example, too they profted much
Here was man who asked for but the plainest fare
who ministered to his simple needs with his own
hands; who worked out as a laborer only when he
needed money to buy books and magazines, and who
saw to it that the major portion of his waking time
was for enjoyment He loved to loaf long afternoons
in the shade with his books be up with the dawn
and away over the hills.
On occasion he accompanied Dede and Daylight on
deer hunts through the wild canyons and over the
rugged sleeps of Hood Mountain, though more often
Dede and Daylight were out alone. This riding was
one of their chief joys. Every wrinkle and crease in
the hills they explored they came to know every
secret spring and hidden dell in the whole surround
ing wall of the valley. They learned all the trails
and cowpaths, but nothing delighted them more than
to essay the roughest and most impossible rides,
where they were glad to crouch and crawl along the
narrowest deer runs, Bob and Nab struggling and
forcing their way along behind.
Back from their rides they brought the seeds and
bulbs of wild flowers to plant in favoring hooks on
the ranch Along the foot trail which led down the
side of the big canyon to the intake Of the water pipe
they established their fernery. 1t was not formal
affair, and the ferns left to themselves. Dede
and Daylight merely introduced new ones from time
time, changing them from wild habitat to an
other. 1t the with the wild lilac, which
Daylight had sent to him from Mendocno county.
part of the wdness Of the ranch and after
being helped for left to its own de-
vices. They used to gather the seeds Of the Cali
fornia poppy and scatter them over their acres
so that the orange colored blossoms spangled the
fields of mountain bay and prospered in flaming
drifts in the fence along the edges the
clearings.
Dede who had fondness for cat-tails, established
fringe of them along the meadow stream, where
they were left to fight it out with the water
And wien the latter was threatened with extinction
Daylight developed of the shaded springs into his
water cress garden and declared war upon any invad
Ing cat-tail. On her wedding day Dede had discov-
cred long dogtooth violet by the zigzag trail above
the redwood spring. and here she continued to plant
more and more The open hillside above the tiny
meadow became a colony of Mariposa lilies. This
due mainly to her efforts, while Daylight, who rode
with a short handled axe on his saddle bow cleared
the little manzanita wood the rocky hill of all its
dead and dying and overcrowded weaklings.
They did not labor at these tasks. Nor were they
tasks Merely in passing, they paused, from time to
time and lent hand to nature. These flowers and
shrubs grew of themselves, and their presence was
no violation of the natural environment The
and the woman made effort to introduce flower or
shrub that did not of its own right belong Nor did
tbev nrotect them from their enemies. The horses
and the colts and the cows and the calves at past
IRE among them them and flower or shrub
had TO take its chance. But the beasts were not
,iceabIv destructive for they were few in number
and the ranch was large. On the other hand, Day
LIGHT could have taken in fully dozen horses to past
,re which would have earned him dollar and half
nor head per month. But this he refused to do, be-
ouse of the devastation such close pasuring would
produce.
rorp,sou came over to celebrate the housewarming
hat followed the achievement of the great stone fire.
,1ace Daylight had ridden across the valley more
hon once TO confer with him about the undertaking
nd he was the only other present at the sacred func
i'm Of lighting the first fire. By removing partition
,,rrgbt had thrown two rooms into one, and this
roc the big living room where Dede's treasures
,oood-ber books and paintings and photographs, her
iono. the Crouched Venus, the chafng dish and all
$ ctterng accessories. Already in addition to her
vn wild animal skins. those of deer and coyote
nd one mountain lion which Daylight had killed.
he tanning he had done himself slowly and labori-
usIy, in frontier fashion.
He handed the match to Dede, who struck it and
pbted the fire. The crisp manzanita wood cracked
; the flames leaped up and assaied the dry bark Of
,e larger logs. Then she leaned In the shelter Of
Or husbands arm and the three stood and looked in
reathIess suspense. When Ferguson gave Judgment
was with beam;ng face and extended hand
."she draws! By crickey, she draws" he cried.
he shook Daylights hand ecstatically and Daylight
nook his with equal fervor, and bending kissed Deds
, the Iips. They were as exultant the success
their simple handiwork any great captain at an
,tonishing victory In Fergusons eyes was actually