Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

point, and is rarer than charity, ar
least that is what they told me.
81 think 1t would be cheaper In
MARBLE" said Stella And it looks
to me as if you could make the bench
out Of one plank"
eve want another bench on the sun.
dial lawn" said I, wisely.
you do now" said she.
But If l hadn't got two planks,"
said 1, land had spoiled the first one,
then we'd have had to wait two or
three days again."
"Oh, that was the reasonw she
smiled.
1 sawed one Of the planks into one
six-foot and two two-foot lengths, and
rounded the edges Of the long piece for
the top. Then, on the two short
lengths we carefully drew from the
picture the outline of the supports on
the marble original, and went to work
with rip saw, Ratchet and drawknife
to carve them out. The seasoned
chestnut worked hard, and we were
half a day about our task. The next
day we put the three pieces together
with braces and long screws, planned
and sandpapered the wood till we had
1t smooth, and then painted it with
white enamel paint. While the first
coat was drying, we made a deep
foundation of coal ashes and fat stones
for the bench to rest on, and the next
afternoon, when the second coat, which
Stella had applied before breakfast,
was nearly dry, hove the heavy thing
on a wheelbarrOw, and carted 1t
around the road to the point where it
was to go. We put a little fresh ce-
ment on the foundation stones to hold
the two legs, and with Mixes aid the
bench was lifted over the stone wall.
through the hedge of ash-leaf naples,
put in place, and leveled. Stella how
cred near, with the can of paint, to
cover our fingermarks and give the top
a final glistening coat
"There," | cried, as the Job was
done, 1--WE have our pool and our gar
den bench! We have some of our
flowers planted for next year! We
have our bit of lawn! Let's go up the
orchard to the front door and see low
1t looks"
I left the wheelbarrow forgotten In
he road, and we ran up the slope to-
yether, turned at the door, and gazed
back. The pool shimmered In the aft
ernoon sun. We could hear the water
linking over the dam. Beyond the
pool was the dark semicircle Of fresh
mold that was to be green grass
backed by blossoms against the shrub
berry, and finally, at the very rear, now
stood the white bench, from this dis
lance cleaning like marble.
Fine! 1t looks fine!" l cried.
Stella's eyes were sQuinted judi
cially. ooh, DEAR" she said, II wish
there was cedar, a tall, slender dark
cedar, just behind the bench at either
end. And, John, do you know, we
ought to have some goldfish in the
pool?"
sighed PROFOUNDLY. "You are real
gardener" said 1. Nothing is ever
fnishedw
I'm afraid I am" she answered.
"But we will have the goldfish, won't
wew
Eyes, and the cedars, too" I replied.
"Ill ask Mike when is the best time
to put 'em in."
Mike was sure that spring was the
best time, and there were some good
ones up in our pasture
ooh, dear, spring is the best time
for everything, it seems to me, and
here it's only July!' cried Stella. "WeII,
I'm going to draw a plan OF
the pool garden, and hang it over my
desk"
She got paper and pencil and drew
the plan, while | lay under an orchard
tree listening to the tinkle Of the wa
terfall and watching her while Buster
game and licked my face.
II think your arrangements of iris
on the edge is rather formal" l was
saying, 'and 1t would be rather more
decorous, if not decorative, for you to
sit upon the bench, and" when we
heard motor rumble over the bridge
at the brook, and the engine stop by
our side door.
CTO be cOntinued.)