Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-25
sa*ss*ss%*H.s,..ss. ssas.sss.s -
From Lucile's Diary
ss************..-s,.....-.*

Brownhurst is Tie httIe suD-.bd
town where .s Nodines live. .Geo.e
CT to surpr.A them. anu / w.Ift u
/ on Inursu4y BY the uOrniAs IS IN
Leaving my suitcase in The stat a..
| stro.Ied thru The village to then neI
y home III the most casual way
Why, Lucille" CaroI-AIs NuGlA'
Enchanted when she looked up I.U.l
the young carrots she MIS- THINNING
anu SAN IAe standing by her ssdc
where dad you crop from
Prom the dail and smoky town.
answered.
Ny glance travelled from the masses
of purple and white lilac bloom that
hedged II the Tar end OF the s--dcu 10
The Iorset-Me-nUts and IAIes OF the
valley that bordered the path. aren't
you lucky to live IN this PARADISE
Yes, lucky to i've anu work IN II. -
said Carol, rising from her knees and
pulling OH her earthly gloves. 'and i
am veiy glad to share ii with you Tor
little While. Lucille. because you
do look rather pale and worn
1t was SIMPLY OF Carol to welcome
me with an allusion to my pailor. /
am sure that look much fresEer and
younger than she does. despite her
saunted country life.
AS soon as my suitcase comes up
from the station III put on my land
army uniform and help you all the
afternoon" | told her. Il designed my
own uniform. The knickerbockers and
Norfolk jacket are awfully chic"
Il dare say" said Carol, but don't
get into them this afternoon, Lucille,
tQsxksasEhN be working in Tie gar.
Afa9ssE1 SO to the Red Cross atter
lunch"
You'll excuse me from that, won't
you? That wouldn't be any chanse for
me- | might IS well be home II I'm
folding sauze. You understand how
feel, don't you?"
Yes. perfectly. Lucille. You can
rest and read while I'm at the Red
Cross. Make yourself at home in
every way"
Thank you. Carol" replied CRATE
fully, and | did invite my soul for
two hours in the afternoon. Then,
becoming bit bored, | went out
doors to find something to do. | was
delighted TO see in the wood lot be
hind the garden an enormous pile OF
leaves.
Just the thing" | said to myself
gayly IN have a lovely big bonfire.
and get rid OF all this heap for Carol.
| lighted it Immediately. tor ! adore
the pungent odor OF burning leaves.
| had a rake to stir them and had
been enjoying myself hugely when l
heard Carol calling me eXcitedly.
How did they get on fire." she
asked breathlessly as she came run
ming TO my side.
Il lighted them Isn't it a glorious
bonfire?"
"Oh. Lucille. why did you do that?'
ITO burn them for you. OF course"
But Tom and were saving them
for compost. Rotted leaves enrich the
soil wonderfully. and now they're
just about all gone. Oh, dear, what
will Tom say? We must put out the
fire before any more Of the trees are
injured
'Injured?" repeated
Yes. don't you see, Lucille, that all
the tender young foliage in the trees
around this fire is getting frizzled and
wilted? We can carry water from the
pump. The garden hose won't reach
so far"
Carrying pals and pals of water
did not appeal to me as very in
teresting form of exercise, but, OF
course. had to- help her put out the
fire, Tom came home while We were
still at it, and he looked question
at Carol.
They got lighted by-by mistake"
she explained.
And look at those trees. don't
believe they will ever recover. Our
efforts at scientific gardening don't
seem to be highly successful he re-
marked GROSSLY, He took the pail
from Carol. Dear. you look all in.
Iii finish up this fire in short order"
He scarcely greeted me at all, and
neither of them appeared to notice
that | was almost exhausted. 1t is
really trying TO be with people who
are so selfishly wrapped up in each
other as are the Nodines.
Carol went to bed Immediately al
ter dinner, because, as Tom explained,
the smoke had hurt her eyes and
made her head ache. He apologlzed
1or having TO devote his time to some
blue prints, and / had