Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-08-16


on the stepladder and leveled the top
piece, which I nailed down. Then,
while was cutting a semicircle out of
the wire, for the arch, she nailed the
trellis strips across the piers, grasping
the hammer halfway up to the head,
and frowning earnestly as she tapped
with little, short jablike blows. She
was so intent on this task that I
| laughed aloud.
"What are you laughing at?' said
she.
"You," said I. "You drive a nail as
If 1t were an abstruse problem in diff
ferential calculus"
cit is, for me-" she answered, quite
eoberly. II don't suppose I've driven
dozen nails in my life-only tacks in
the plaster to hang pictures on. And
It's very important to drive them right,
because this is a rose treIlis.''
when first came here" said 1, 'I
was pretty clumsy with my hands, too.
I'd lost my technique, as you might
say. I remember one afternoon when
I was trimming the orchard that 1
didn't think single thought beyond
the Immediate problem each branch
presented. And yet 1t was immensely
stimulating. Personally, I believe that
the educational value Of manual dex-
terity has only begun to be appreci-
ated."
Miss Goodwin marked off the place
for the next strip, and started mailing
At the last blow she relaxed her frown.
MAYBE" she said. "No, probably.
But the manual work, 1t seems to me,
has got to be connected up in some
way with-well, with higher things. 1
can't think Of word for it, because
my head is so full of the ny group.
You, for instance were saving your
| own orchard, and you were working
for better fruit, and more beautiful
trees, and lovely home. You saw the
work in its higher relations, its rela-
lions to the beauty Of living"
"And your nails?' / asked.
81 see the aqueduct Of roses" she
smiled.
you will see them, trust" said l.
"You shall see them. You must stay
| till they bloom"
Her brow suddenly clouded, and she
shook her head. "I-1 shall have to
go back to the U.s." she said. "But
l shall know the roses are here. You
must send me a picture Of them"
Somehow I was less enthusiastic
over the next arch, but her spirits soon
came back, and she sawed the next
batch Of stripping with greater preci-
sion and skill In the use Of the saw
and a more reckless show Of stocking.
"See!' she cried, chow much I'm i'm
proving! I didn't splinter any Of the
ends this timer
Fine" said 1. "You can tackle the
f1rewood in the orchard soonp'
"Hooray" cried the girl, as the
fourth was finished. How we are set.
ting on" =: - :; i.
81 could never have done it alone"
said I. you have really been great
help"
ooh, 1 hope so!" she exclaimed. 81
haven't had so much fun in years"
We looked into the vegetable gar
den, and saw that Mike had gone, and
Joe, too. Ny watch and the length
ening shadows warned me it was ap-
preaching six. Hot and pleasantly
tired, we packed up the tools on the
barrow, and wheeled them to the shed.
"Now shall we go and hear the her
mit?" I asked.
She nodded, and we went down
through the orchard, past the pool
where the iris buds were already show
ing a spike Of greenish white, through
the naples, and into the pines. There
we stood, side by side, in the quiet
hush Of coming sunset, and waited for
the fairy horn. A song sparrow was
singing out by the road, and the thin,
sweet fittings of Peabody came from
the pasture But the thrush was silent.
"Please sing, Mr.. Thrush she plead
ed, looking at me after she spoke, with
a wistful little smile Of apology for her
foolishness. 81 want so to hear him
again." she said. owe don't hear
thrushes in New York, nor smell pine
trees, nor feel this sweet, cool silence.
Oh, the good pines!'
Gle will sing tomorrow" said [.
'There is no opera on Thursdays
Her eyes twinkled once more. per
haps he has that terrible disease, sud
den indisposition,' she laughed.
"Come, we must go home to supper.
It will take me hours to get clean"
Out in the open, she looked at her
hands. "See, I've begun to get calluses,
tool" she exclaimed, holding out her
palms proudly.
you've got blisters," said I. "No
work for you tomorrow! Let me see.
[ touched her hand as we paused be-
meath a blossoming apple tree, with the
fragrance shedding about us. Our eyes
met, too, as 1 did so. She drew her
hand back gently, as the color came to
her cheeks We walked on in silence,
as far as the pump. Mike had finished
milking, and had gone home. The