Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-20

| town and near got chewed up by Bud
by the super-watch dog, and then was
almost flooded out of bed because the
attic storage tank ran over? Not that
l didn't have a perfect alibi on both
counts. ! did But neither registered
with Auntie.
Still. this fore-breakfast sod-turn-
in idea comes straight from Wee Ever
try that for an appetizer? Go on, give
1t whirl. Ought to be willin' to try
old guy said that, I understand I'd
like to find the spot where he's laid
away. l think I'd go plant a cabbage
| on his grave. Anyway. he's got some
| little tribute like that comm from me.
Just turnin' up sod with a spade in
the dewey morn. Listens kind of ro-
mantle. don't it? And you might like it
first rate Might agree with you. AS
for me. I've discovered that my system
don't demand anything like that. Posi-
lively. ! gave it a good try-out and
the reactions wasn't satisfactory.
You see. it was this way: There's
narrow strip down by the road where
our four-acre estate sort of pinches
out, and Wee had planned to do some
fancy landscape gardenin' on it-a bed
Of cannas down the middle. l believe,
and then rows Of saliva, and gerani-
ums and other things. She had it all
mapped out on paper. Also the bulbs
and potted plants had arrived and
were Teduy 10 We put H.
But it happens that Dominick, our
official gardener, had all he could
jump to just then plantin' beans and
peas and corn, and the helper he de-
pended on to break up this roadside
strip had gone back on him.
How provoking." says Wee. Il am
so anxious to get those things in. If
the ground was ready ! would do the
planting myself. | just wish'-and
then she stops.
r hot 20
your wish?"
"Oh. nothing much. Torchy," says
she. But If / were strong enough to
dig up that sod l wouldn't have to
wait for any pokey Italian.
Why couldn't ! do it?' suggests
reckless.
YOU" says Wee. and then smokers.
Say. if she'd come poutin' around,
or said right out that she didn't see
why / couldn't make myself useful
that gardenn' was way out OF my
line. But when she snickers-well, you
know how it is
"Yessum, Me-" says l. 1T amt any
art. is it. just stirrin up the ground
with spade? And how do you know,
Wee, but what I'm the grandest little
digger ever was? Maybe it's a talent
I've been concealin' from you all
along"
But it's rather hard work. turning
old sod. and getting out all the grass
roots and rocks says she. 1T takes
Huh" says /. Feel of that right
arm
yes" says she. II believe you are
strong, Torchy. But when could you
| find the time?''
/, I'D make it," says l. "All I got to
do is to roll out of the cot an hour
or so earlier in the morning. Wouldn't
six hours do the job? Well. two hours
! a day for three days. and there you
are Efficiency stuff. That's me. Lead
me to it." :.
| Wee gazes at me admirin. Arm I
| you splendid, Torchy." says she. And
I'm sure the exercise will do you lot
of good. p"
the habit and by the end of the sum
mer I'll be a regular Sandow. Now
! where's that kitchen alarm clock
Let's see. M-m-m-m! About $50 will
do for starter. eh?'
Oh. I'm determined cuss when !
get going Next mornin the sun and
me punched in at exactly the same
| time and I don't know which was
most surprised But there I was asso-
ciatin' with the twitterin' little birds
| and the early worms, and to snow !
was just as happy as they We're
| huns a merry song as ! SWINGS OUT
| through the dewey grass with the
! spade over my shoulder.
4 Say, there's no fake about the grass
being dewey at that hour, either.
i hadn't gone more'n dozen steps
/ through it before my feet were as
soggy as If I'd been wadin' in a b.2ok.
i I don't do any stallin' around. same
as these low brow labor gangs.
pitches right in earnest and impetuous'
4 maxim the dirt fly. Why. I had the
busy little bee lookin' like he was
!: loafin' on a government contract.
! I was just about gettin' my second
wind and was putin in some heavy
ticks when l hears somebody tootin' a
motor horn out in the road. | looks uI
to find that it's that sporty neighbor OF
mine, Nick Barrett who now and then
INDUCES in a fad for an early spin In
his stripped roadster He has collected
his particular chum. Norris Bagby, and
!. IL expect they're out to burn up the
macadam before the traffic cops go or
duty.
: whats the big idea, Torchy?" sings
: out Nick. Going to bury cat, or some
thing?"
Nothing tragic like that" says
Gust subbin' in for the gardener. Pull
ling a little honest toll. such as maybe
Iyou've read about but haven't met"