Part 31 (2/2)

”Where's the spoon?” she said, glancing round the table. There was none immediately available. ”Here!” she cried, ”this'll do.” She s.n.a.t.c.hed a large spoon from the pitcher of thick cream, held it dripping for a moment in obvious uncertainty, then with sudden decision she cried ”Never mind,” and with swift but effective application of lip and tongue she cleansed the spoon of the dripping cream, and, stirring the apple sauce vigourously, pa.s.sed the bowl to Cameron. For a single moment Cameron held the bowl, uncertain whether to refuse or not, but before he could make up his mind Mandy caught it from his hands.

”Oh, Ma!” she exclaimed in a horrified tone.

”What's the matter?” exclaimed her mother. ”A little cream won't hurt.”

But Mandy set the bowl at the far end of the table and pa.s.sed another to Cameron, who accepted it with resolute determination and continued his breakfast.

But Perkins, followed by Webster and Tim, rose from the table and pa.s.sed out into the yard, whence his voice could be heard in explosions of laughter. Cameron in the meantime was making heroic attempts to cover up the sound by loud-voiced conversation with Haley, and, rendered desperate by the exigencies of the situation, went so far as to venture a word of praise to Mrs. Haley upon the excellence and abundance of her cooking.

”She ain't got no chance,” said her husband. ”She's got too much to do and it's awful hard to get help. Of course, there's Mandy.”

”Of course, there's Mandy,” echoed his wife. ”I guess you'd just better say, 'There's Mandy.' She's the whole thing is Mandy. What I'd do without her goodness only knows.”

But Mandy was no longer present to enjoy her mother's enconiums. Her voice could be heard in the yard making fierce response to Perkins'

jesting remarks. As Cameron was pa.s.sing out from the kitchen he heard her bitter declaration: ”I don't care, it was real mean of you, and I'll pay you for it yet, Mr. Perkins--before a stranger, too.” Mandy's voice suggested tears.

”Oh, pshaw, Mandy!” remonstrated Perkins, ”it was all a joke, and who cares for him anyway, unless it's yourself?”

But Mandy, catching sight of Cameron, fled with fiery face behind the kitchen, leaving Perkins gazing after her with an apologetic grin upon his countenance.

”She's rather hot under the collar,” he confided to Cameron, ”but she needn't get so, I didn't mean nothin'.”

Cameron ignored him. He was conscious mainly of a resolute determination that at all costs he must not yield to his almost uncontrollable desire to wipe off the apologetic smile with a well directed blow. Mr. Denman's parting advice was in his mind and he was devoting all his powers to the business of adjusting himself to his present environment. But to his fastidious nature the experiences of the morning made it somewhat doubtful if he should be able to carry out the policy of adjustment to the extreme of schooling himself to bear with equal mind the daily contact with the dirt and disorder which held so large a place in the domestic economy of the Haley household. One thing he was firmly resolved upon, he would henceforth perform his toilet in his own room, and thereby save himself the horror of the family roller towel and the family comb.

Breakfast over, the men stood waiting orders for the day.

”We'll have to crowd them turnips through, Tim,” said his father, who seemed to avoid as far as possible giving direct orders to his men.

”Next week we'll have to git at the hay.” So to the turnip field they went.

It is one of the many limitations of a city-bred boy that he knows nothing of the life history and the culture of the things that grow upon a farm. Apples and potatoes he recognises when they appear as articles of diet upon the table; oats and wheat he vaguely a.s.sociates in some mysterious and remote way with porridge and bread, but whether potatoes grow on trees or oats in pods he has no certain knowledge. Blessed is the country boy for many reasons, but for none more than this, that the world of living and growing things, animate and inanimate, is one which he has explored and which he intimately knows; and blessed is the city boy for whom his wise parents provide means of acquaintance with this wonder workshop of old mother Nature, G.o.d's own open country.

Turnip-hoeing is an art, a fine art, demanding all the talents of high genius, a true eye, a sure hand, a sensitive conscience, industry, courage, endurance, and pride in achievement. These and other gifts are necessary to high success. Not to every man is it given to become a turnip-h.o.e.r in the truest sense of that word. The art is achieved only after long and patient devotion, and, indeed, many never attain high excellence. Of course, therefore, there are grades of artists in this as in other departments. There are turnip-h.o.e.rs and turnip-h.o.e.rs, just as there are painters and painters. It was Tim's ambition to be the first turnip-h.o.e.r of his district, and toward this end he had striven both last season and this with a devotion that deserved, if it did not achieve, success. Quietly he had been patterning himself upon that master artist, Perkins, who for some years had easily held the champions.h.i.+p for the district. Keenly Tim had been observing Perkins'

excellencies and also his defects; secretly he had been developing a style of his own, and, all unnoted, he had tested his speed by that of Perkins by adopting the method of lazily loafing along and then catching up by a few minutes of whirlwind work. Tim felt in his soul the day of battle could not be delayed past this season; indeed, it might come any day. The very thought of it made his slight body quiver and his heart beat so quickly as almost to choke him.

To the turnip field hied Haley's men, Perkins and Webster leading the way, Tim and Cameron bringing up the rear.

”You promised to show me how to do it, Tim,” said Cameron. ”Remember I shall be very slow.”

”Oh, shucks!” replied Tim, ”turnip-hoeing is as easy as rollin' off a log if yeh know how to do it.”

”Exactly!” cried Cameron, ”but that is what I don't. You might give me some pointers.”

”Well, you must be able to hit what yeh aim at.”

”Ah! that means a good eye and steady hand,” said Cameron. ”Well, I can do billiards some and golf. What else?”

”Well, you mustn't be too careful, slash right in and don't give a rip.”

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