John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told Therein

k one morning to prune and train them. The idea of doing this was forcibly impressed upon his mind that day by the fact that the Mistress of the House had re

d brought with them a visitor, a Frenchman. John Gayther, whose mind was always full of the Daughter of the House, immediately inquired if he was young; but the butler's answer was unsatisfactory, as he sa

, for a sweet voice he knew well called out to hi

introduced their companion. "We have a foreign gentleman with us, John; he belongs to the same nation as your great hero Lafayette, and therefore I know you will be pleased to

ountrymen were of that sort; and, in fact, John knew but little about Frenchmen. He immediately conceived a dislike to this one as he saw him walking by the side of the Dau

There was nothing striking about him. He was a good-looking man verging

chman had gone into an ecstasy over the view from the summer-house, "John Gayther, you are to listen care

ement, signified his cordial approbati

es, and a little gold ring in each of his ears. He was in the prime of life, and had been so ofte

t, accompanied by his crew, betook himself to the surface of the land, and there he determined to stay for the rest of his life. His home was on the sea-shore. In the summer-time he fished and took people out to sail in his boat; and in the

h sanded floors and everything coiled up and stowed away in true shipshape fashion. But the other half was viewed by Captain Abner as something in the quarter-deck style. Exactly half the hall was carpeted, and the little parlor opening from it was also carpeted, painted, and papered, and filled with a great

ain Abner's household, and he was ready to dedicate them to her services whenever he should be so lucky as to

stood by him when he left the sea for the land; although they did not live in the same house, they were great cronies, and were always ready to stand by each other, no matter what happened. Sam's face and figure were distinguished by a pleasant plumpness; he was t

and I can't make up my mind whether she'd like it here in the middle of the mantelpiece, or whether she'd like to have the gilded idol here, where it would be the fust thing she'd see when sh

ell you what I'd do if I was you. I'd put that king conch-shell on the mantelpiece, or I would put the gilded idol there, it wouldn't matter much which, and then I'd put the other one handy, so tha

if it might fit other things besides gilded idols and conch-shells. And now that you'

who were both expert maritime cooks and housekeepers, these two old friend

can think of. There isn't anything more she'd be likely to want. S

of his days, and it was a shock to him to hear that the work of preparation, in which he had been intereste

e hadn't told me yourself. And yet, come to think of it, I

d Abner, 'and on Monday mornin'

land or by wa

There ain't no chance of r

re you goin

goin' to hire a horse and a

ou goin' to steer

l fetch a compass and sail every which way, if need be. There's lots of people

itty. 'I think it's more'n l

e the first streaks of dawn, Captain Abner

hich was Sam Twitty's. In a moment

said Sam, 'I'm

y he replied: 'Look here, Sam Twitty; you come

er breakfast

yours. Somethin' might turn up when I'd want advice, and you might give me some like you gave me about the

ected of him. He puffed silently at his pipe and gazed upon t

what I'm exp

I to get back?

d Abner. 'I never

t do you say to a spring-wagon with seat

to say: 'There'll be another good thing ab

I'm goin' for an

could sit on the back seat, and

rive, Sam?' aske

t I wouldn't

rn with me and her,

nd her to sit on the back seat, and it wouldn't look jes right for you a

r. 'We'll get her fust, and then

ee,' said Sam Twitty, 'and that's you an

that,' said Captain Abn

sked the Master of the House,

good; and I see this is

e Daughter of the House. "Men know mo

bjected to a good black horse which had been attached to the wagon, giving it as his opinion that that looked too much like a funeral, and that a cheerful-colored horse would be much better adapted to a matrimonial expedition. A gray horse, slower than the black one, was substituted, and Sam

journey, except that they were going to Thompsontown; for Captain Abner and Sam Twitty would have as soon thought of boring a hole in the botto

fortably over the smooth road until

of the little house by the roadside, 'whatever you pay

on; 'but if she's all right I

f the little house and stood expectant, while

h is it?'

n cents,'

s a fine day, and the toll-gate woman said that indeed it was. Captai

s only six, and I can't scrape up another

' said he. 'Them little things we bought je

er; 'and, madam, I'll have to ask you to change a

e, either at the toll-gate or in the house where she lived just behind in a little garden.

asked Sam. 'I suppose you won't l

times when people come along and find they have nothin' to pay toll with they go back a

think of makin' yo

n't turn round and go back. If the folks knew I was turned ba

d Sam. 'It would ne

ed. She was a pleasant personage, not inclined to

re near here where I could ge

you went across the country to any of the farm-houses, you wouldn't be likely to find that much. But if you are not in a hurry and wouldn't mind wai

ls we generally take the public conveyances.

s you and your husband live her

ittle inquisitive, but she smiled and answered, 'My husband

the horse I'm thinkin' about. I promised I'd have him fed at twelve o'clock sharp every da

t mind, I've got a little stable back there, and some corn, and if you choose to drive your horse into the yard and give him a feed I'll

his offer, and, jumping to the ground, he hurried to open the gate so that Captain Abner might drive in. A

ood deal of red in her cheeks, too, and jes about old enough, I should say, if I was called upon. And, more than that, I should say, judgin' from what I've seen of her, she's as likely to be as accommodatin' as any person I ev

mighty short time,' said Abner. 'But w

wouldn't she be a good one for her? I don't be

d furnish one side of my house for her, and then start out on a week's cruise to look for her, and then take and put in her pla

apparent interest, now looked so inquiringly at t

said apologetically; "bu

ain a toll-gate and its office and emoluments; but it was at once evident that the Frenchman knew all about th

ys," he said gleefully; "o

e up the Daughter of the House. And John Gayth

I say-a very much good story

ntended," remarked the Mistre

ked the Daughter of the House, imp

ite to imagine

she persisted. "It is

many women in that Villa Thompson. But w

," said the Master of the House, resuming h

n, with red cheeks and mighty pretty hair, and a widow, too. Even if you don't take her now, it's my advice that you look at her sharp with the

down the far-stretching road, and then, at the invitation of the toll-ga

hey're generally feedin' themselves and their horses. But if you can make yourselves comfortable here in the shade, I do

er. 'In my opinion,' said he, 'that

here at the same price you'd have to pay anywhere else. I always cook a lot on Mondays, so's I can have

id he, 'and eat your dinner. I'm not hungry, and I'll wait

r for me to go in and wait on one of you at a time; but

e toll-gate woman into her house. Sam Twitty made a mot

o is to cut it up and try it down. The fust thing Cap'n Abner does is to run into a widow woman that'

e bright-cheeked, pleasantly smiling woman she was here in her own house. The picture pleased him so much that he withdrew his senses from the consideration of everything else, and th

an. Why she smiled Sam could not imagine; but then, he could not see the comical

ll?' said the young

iked her smile, for it betokened a sense of humor, and that pleas

d a mare,' she interrup

sense of humor. 'I wonder how much that would be,' he said. '

ou are not the toll-g

he's eatin' her dinner. Don't you know the tol

hborhood. But I won't haggle about being a girl. I'll pay

girl, a very attractive girl, who was visiting in the neighborhood, an

id quickly. 'I'll jes pop into the house a

,' said the young woman.

deputy toll-gate keeper was a very funny person. Sam ran to th

ong look at the girl that's there. She's a-visitin' in the neighborhoo

t injunction, Abner went to the gate. He was accustomed t

ut Sam detained her, and said something

oman, 'she must be a quee

k, and I'll collect the toll.' Half-way to the toll-house Sam met Abner. 'Wha

'and I don't think nothin' of her

r,' cried Sam. 'I've go

ou keep a detective here? Do you think I want to cheat the road

ve!' excl

came out here and looked at me as if he were

no detective, nor nothin' like one. He jes came out to see who was passin'

a funny lot, toll-gate woman and all. Now here is a quarter; please take

n't want you to think hard of my friend Cap'n Abner Budlong, the gentleman who stepped out here to see who was passin'. Bless your soul, he's no detective! He's one of the finest fellows I know, and you j

od wife,' the young

id Sam, delighted to get in this pi

ally must go on,' she said. 'You truly are a funny lot, all

ether quite cheerfully, and went

r five-dollar note?' asked

claimed Sam. 'I neve

was out there for the longest time, and I thoug

e was very inter

be in a matrimonial bureau!" exc

pecimens," suggested John Gayther, respectfully. "Some might be too gr

ster of the House, "but not one of them could chang

this,' said he to Sam, as the two

this mornin', and here we've got sight of two of her a'ready. Here's this one, as red-

ed Abner. 'What on earth are

nd the liveliest young woman you'd be likely to meet if you cruised for a year

said Abner, c

the five-dollar note, and was glad to do it, for he did not like to carry so much in

one fust-rate so far, and maybe we'll

I'd be glad to have you stop and rest, a

top, whether they wanted rest and a feed or not; and he thanked he

you is, you're too quick. If you was at the tiller you'd run into

into port,' replied Sam, 'and it's a good thing t

of a long hill, and half-way up it they saw, going in th

is clothes,' said Sam, 'I

st likely fillin' some fishin' minister's

wly as he neared the top of the hill, and

, Cap'n Abner, jes think what a jolly thing it'll be-goin' after her, and takin' a minister along, sittin' comfortable o

o be an agreeable companion; he was young and very grateful. Sam soon fell into a very friendly conversation with him, and two or three times, when Abner thought tha

the night, and go on by train the next day. Sam Twitty was glad to hear this, and advised him to stop at the Spinnake

otel for summer visitors who could afford to pay good prices, and several smaller houses of ente

, who did not seem to know any one in Thompsontown, proved to be a thorough landsman; but as he was chatty and glad to acquire knowledge, it gave Captain Abner and

cried Captain Abner. '

open. He had remarkably good vision. The cle

ing, both of t

who?' as

buggy, and the

he Daughter of the House, excitedly, "I really do

compliment, my dear

when engaged in her professional duties earlier in the day. She was now attired in fresh-looking summer clothes, and wore a pretty straw hat. As for the girl of the buggy, she was quite another perso

y, advancing toward them. 'Who would

y looked as if she were about to laugh; the young minister looked very much interested, although he could have given no good reaso

ou left, and offered to bring me to Thompsontown; and of course I jumped at the chance, and left the toll-gate in charge of my brother, who lives har

ated the young pe

, stepping nearer to Sam, the toll-gate woman

out in a minute.' And then he approached the girl

lly funny,' answered she, 'that yo

Sam. 'But jes let me ask you one thing:

he way she talked about you I thought you

young clergyman and put

n,' said th

bonds of conventional acquaintanceship, having added to the rest

met,' exclaimed the lively Denby girl

anything to say about what would be agreeable on such a breezy afternoon as this, now that there

t ten minutes I'll get a boat. Cap'n Silas Peck is a friend of mine, and has got two bo

Abner was in his glory. The wind was much too high for ordinary pleasure-boats, and there were no other sails upon the bay; but summer visitors and seafaring men stood along the beach and watched the admirable manner in which that little craft was handled. Wo

r woman's hat was off, and her hair was flying like a streamer from a masthead. She drank in the salt breeze with delight, and her eyes sparkled as the boat dipped at the turn of Captain Abner's tiller until the rail cut under the surface of the wat

it, and then with a beautiful sweep fell into the wind; her great

to words!" exclaimed the Frenchman

proudly. "You should see him bring around a great ves

thing of the kind," said

admitted reluctantly, "but I

ed and laid a h

of the boat was this: 'If there was an egg-shell 'twixt he

ith a jerk of the head. 'That's all very well,' said he, 'but

ut his mind had been busily at work with the contemplation of great possibilities. There was much to be done, and but little time to do it in, but Sam's soul warmed up to

your time's come, and the quick

ner. 'What work h

ce like this. Here's two women to pop your question to; here is a minister on hand; here's me and the young woman what don't get chosen, for witnesses; here's a

them women. I didn't start on this trip to make fast to the fust female person I might fall

o time to fool away. When the sun goes down you've got to sail back to Thompsontown, and then one will go one way and the other another, and where the minister will go to, nobody knows. They'll all be scattered and out of sight, and this glorious chance you've got might as well be at the bottom of the sea. N

e afore her, and she agrees to ship with me, then I can't ask the other one, and there might as well be no

, and hear all she's got to say, but don't sign no papers and take her aboard until yo

her companions; he turned her down the beach; he talked to her in rapid snaps about the sea, the sky, the sand, and before she knew it he had driven her al

aching, but in Abner there were signs of a disposition to fall back. In an instant he had bounded between

ds close together, 'what di

was charmin'. And I told her about the king conch-shell and the gilded idol, and she said she thought either one of them would be jes lovely, and nothin', she thought, could be better on mantelpieces than gilded idols and king conch-shells. And everything else was jes as slick and smooth as if she was slidin' off the stocks. She's

suit you?' ask

ied the other; '

Denby and had her walking along the beach by the side of Captain Abner, and whether she thought that skilful skipper was going to show her s

g upon the little waves, so Sam had no trouble in carrying of

is any law ag'in' your marryin' a party on the s

a marriage anywhere,' said he, 'provided the parties are of legal age, and th

goin' ahead lively with a stiff breeze, and I guess we'll get into soundin's prett

with me,' said the young man

d then, noticing that Mrs. Sickles was glancing toward the captain and his co

nd to sail in a small boat, close to the water, almost as if I were in it, skimm

re's none better, either for sailing on the wind,

ep my eyes off you as you brought us over here. It

And now let me put this p'int to you: if you had a big king conch-shell, the prettiest you ever seed, and it was on the middle of the mantelpiece, and you had a gilde

at kind of an idol would it be?' she

piece of wood whittled out by a heathen; but it u

gilded idol myself, if I had the right person to worship me. But as for a wooden idol, I

g conch-shell,'

ere you I think I'd be most of the time in the boat. What is a house, no matter what

. 'I expect you'd like to le

nswered. 'There is nothi

ently whistled, and, leaving him, Miss Denby ran to

ght?' he whisp

wants her hand on the tiller, that's what she wants. She's got too much mind for me. After I've been workin' year in and year

the setting sun. Resting on one slippered foot and extending the other before him,

ver pop up ag'in. You must have spoke pretty plain to that toll-gate

that's the way I found out what she wa

't want her t

I do

t want the oth

n't want nuther of 'em. And I say, Sam, the sun's gett

under that sun yet,' said Sam,

as he had taken out. He stopped, and looked about at the party. Captain Abner was walking toward the boat; the minister and the Denby girl were standing together, comparing shells; th

stled, he sped to the side of Mrs. Sickles. Backward and forward these two walked, Sam talking earnestly and the toll-gate woman lis

dea of the kind about Cap'n Abner, for I could not help it, but you-reall

, if you'd waited a year; and a-speakin' quick and sharp as I've got to do, for

cried Mrs. Sickles,

a better place,' said Sam, 'and a min

hought that Cap'n Budlong-and from what h

d he's got all sorts of things from all parts of the world that he's put in it. But I can get a house and things to put in it, and

man, and then she added: 'but as to marryin' you he

t his head drooped under a rebuke. He approach

sir, that you'd back out of marryin' a couple right here and n

t here on this beautiful island! Oh, that w

,' sai

rson?' asked Mr. Rippledean. 'There m

es,' said Sam. 'But the trouble

e the funniest people I ever met, and you truly are. People generally com

ions of immediate matrimony, and wait at least until all parties agree upon time and

in Abner from the water's ed

; and he, Sam, who had so thoroughly understood the opportunities which had been spread before the little party that afternoon, and who knew what would happen if these opportunities were allowed to slip out of sight, had been set aside by one woman, laughed at by another, had been advised by a cle

ou-the sun can go down, the night can come on, and you can all stay here till mornin' if you like, but this boat don't leave this island wi

st of the party as Sam thus seated himself at

'before it is any later. My frie

' said Sam. 'Su

re,' said Ca

s. Sickles I'm lookin' at. And you needn't none of you look cross at me. I'm to steer

ed figure of Sam as he sat in the stern, his arm resting upon the tiller and one leg crosse

s he crazy? Does he really think of forcing us to remain

y absurd,' inter

, and he's got enough to live on, though he never was a cap'n; but you couldn't find a better fust mate than him, or a better sailor, except perhaps somebody what's had a leetle more experience. Sam made up his mind that we was all com

ifting you up on a horse and dashing away with you. Oh, dear Mrs. Sickles, take pity o

attention to any such idle words as the

very well of Mr. Twi

think more of, on watch or below, in storm or fine

f: but now his active mind would no longer permit him to sit still. Springing to his feet, he stepped forwar

t a little different. If there was a gilded idol and a king conch-shell that you knowed of, an

s that delightful gilded idol and conch-sh

e, combined with her becoming summer dress and her straw hat, made her very a

mention, from what I have heard of them, would be ver

by the mast. 'Mrs. Sickles,' he cried, 'I'll put it pla

hat there was no more time for hesit

he said, 'I'd take

the hand. For a moment he gazed proudly around, the sunset light casting a ruddy glow upon his countenance which

rass on it, is the place I've picked out for the ceremony. And, Cap'n Abner, I'll

recognition on that line of longitude. But in the glow upon the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Twitty there was nothing to remind

was used to that sort of thing, for he had been a boatswain. 'C

alled out again, very much as if he were piping all hands to o

ction of Miss Denby. He looked as if he would say that on this occasion it was a great pity that any on

aid she, 'it is not the

approbation; and these were the first words

ed the tiller with an energy which would have been sufficient for the guidance of a ship of the line. As the thin sheets of water curled over the lee scuppers of the boat, the

l and the king conch-shel

emanded to be released from the care of the toll-gate, having other duties which were incumbent upon him. But when Sam and his wife spoke

'Tain't no more use for me to stay here. I do

'that, after all we said about comin' home, that me and her should be a-settin' on the back seat and you a

to remain, for the present, in the very pleasant quarters thus afforded him. But he vowed with considerable vehemence that Mrs. Twitty should keep the

Everybody that comes along seems ready for some different kind of chat. And when that young woman with the buggy happens t

young woman pays her own toll, every time. While I'm here

al, being called to the gate by the sound of wheels, beheld a buggy, and Miss Denby si

ent is wearing on him. It is a great pity that a man who can sail a boat as he can should have a moment's sorrow on this earth. It almost made me fee

had known what was good for him he would have married her.' These words he spoke in a confidential tone, and poin

Miss Denby, gathering up the reins. 'Do you exp

'if you're goin' to keep

s Denby, with a

am; 'for it reminds me

, as she drove away wi

; but, to his surprise, that individual did not look at all doleful. There was a half-smile o

of red paint,' said Sam. '

and then, after a portentous p

Sam, in amazement. '

her

is it yo

n Shel

cried Sam. 'You don'

lbark, and I do m

own her all your

ife,' was

you take her afore

Of course I didn't want to take anybody here until I found out what t

Susan Shellbark!

take Susan

hing. 'Give me your hand,' he cried. 'I'm mighty glad you've go

f I hadn't gone to Thompsontown I'

own, you and me'd never got stuck at the toll-gate with nothin' but a five-dolla

two friends sho

ask,' said Sam. 'What about the gil

on one end, and t'other on the other. That's to be the way with everything we've got. You'

bargain. Both of you'll be on the mantelpiec

irl in the buggy?" asked

unknown to me," said t

tory, papa," said the Daughter of the Ho

lly happens," said John

ORY IS

FREN

IS C

LLOON