The Golden Bird

nd, I heard Bess and her car departing, with Uncle Crad

t our Mr. Adam," I said to the Golden Bird as he followed me around the side of the barn

Bird and me since the morning I had taken him in to see his newly arrived progeny and had not been able to make him notice their existence. Stretching out behind me was a trail of wheat that had dripped from a hole in the side of the bucket, a

"You are just like Owen and Matthew and Mr. Tillett and-and-" but I didn't continue the conversation because the chant began rending my heartstrings again. "Oh, Mr. G. Bird, it is an awful thing fo

t doorstep in the perfumed darkness that was only faintly lit by stars that seemed so near the earth that they were like flowers of light blossoming on the twigs of t

the branches of the gnarled old apple-trees, which sifted down perfumed blow upon my head as I ran. Then I stopped and listened again. Over th

ark I forgot that cows have horns and that I had never even been introduced to one before, for with the greatest confidence and sy

e, Mother Cow?"

as Pan came out of the darkness be

g to leave her for you and go my way; but trust women for secret

me?" I qu

-night. I came miles out of my way to bring her to you, and I've hurried them both cruelly. The calf is only two days old, but you do need her badly to fe

urn her?" I asked as I shrank a bit closer

ward on his arm, set his teeth in the back of my neck, and shook

how me in t

know I ought to tell you things, but I-I just can't. I demand of life that I be allowed to come for you and take you

ssed it to my breast, hoping that he might hear t

thy

thy

me

me alone with only the mother now for company. She licked my arm with a warm, r

reathes into her lungs and it gets into her circulation and starts up the most awful and productive activity. I've had both kinds. I moped for months over Gale Beacon, and made him and Matthew and father completely unhappy, lost ten pounds, and

rliest greengrocers. I gave Bud coffee and bread and butter and drove the team down to the gate while he went ahead to open it. I stood up while I drove, too, because Bud had not had room to put a seat in for himself and expected to stand up all the way to town. Talk about Mordkin and Pavlova! To stand up and drive a team hitched to a jolt-wagon over boulders and roots requires leg muscles! I hope I will be able to restrain myself from driving the team into market some day, but I am not sure I can. With the eggs and the "truck" Bud brought back sixteen dollars, eleven of which were m

it the pursuit of agriculture and gone madly into a social adventure. Everybody was getting ready for the trip into the capital city to answer the g

at Mamie there won't let me turn up the hem of her dress without you, though I say wha

"Polly Beesley wears shoe-tops and she's seventeen and goes to

and vanity," said Mrs. Addcock, looking at me reproachfully

get the collars on little Sammie's and Willie's shirts," I

business together. And there's Willie's jeans pants got to have pockets for the knife that Mr. Owen gave him. I just can't keep up with these

rnoon, if he'll come and help me feed and bed everyth

so one leg of him came while the other went, and I guess a mother is the only one to get the

roportion as well as in strong jeans," I answered, without the least offense at fin

o risk my back with Mr. Silas' mules rather than with that Bessie Rutherford's wheels that are not critter-drawn. I

Tillett, and let me go with Bess to hold in th

back, and she has been in the habit of feeding the baby whenever he cries for it, though he can 'most stand alone. S

his little head with its tow fuzz had cuddled down on my linen smock, when I had carried him back and forth for long visits in the barn to the Peckerwood Pup so his mother could have a little vacatio

he show," said Mrs. Addcock, as I finished shoe-topping Mamie and picked up my pink-lined white sunbonnet, which had been a pr

torium," I answered, with respect for advice

g, obstreperously hungry baby was m

ie so as to do you honor," called rosy Mrs. Till

Mrs. Spain called cheerily as she looked past a whirring sewing-machine ou

the gate, which was flanked o

or the men to pick from, and they are a-waiting for your taste. Persuade Joe Spain

on woolen cloth in the dyers' vats. Uncle Silas stood behind it with his glasses at a rampant angle on his nose, and Aunt Mary stood in the center of a shuffling, embarrassed, harassed group of fa

ody can seem to match 'em up suitable. I have at last got Bud Beesley here into a dead match for his beauty, if I do say it of my o

lier, English gentle, and Irish good blood in them, with mighty little else and, as in the case of Bud and Polly Corn-tassel, when clothed in garments of the world, it comes to the surfa

ned around for my admiration, not

liam," said Aunt Mary, with a laugh that ended in a little sigh that

ifteen-dollar gray cheviot with his violet e

if a butter-paddle goes along with him," said Bud, w

ash on eggs and chickens before May first," said Mr. Spain as he pi

made me determine to introduce Belle Proctor's little sixteen-year-old sister to Bud in the near future. The kiddie spends half her time away from school in Be

sked Mr. Spain, as he held up the garment of his wife's desire. "Betty sa

y horror at the flaring-colored coat and reminded myself that h

judge you," commanded the general. In a very short time each m

clothed for the most part in seemly raiment, chosen with Uncle Silas's quiet taste, exce

ural districts in the city hall was a part of the great program of preparedness that America was having forced upon her. I knew that the speech of the governor would be about the St

guage, because I couldn't think of anything else to say but th

ber, that day after to-morrow is the junket, and one day won't be any too much to ba

for his own front door. "Every woman in Riverfield will have to put down needle and fry-pan and butter-paddle to feed them so plum full of compliments that they'll strut for a week. Bless my heart, honeybunch, we have all got

love after eight children," I remarked to myself happily. "I am in agony in any shoes Pan doesn't make. I wonder if

myself as I walked up the long elm avenue. Afterwards I recall