nt
tobacco. Smoking and chewing tobacco are filthy habits. I can't see why
so many people of this section plant the weed when the soil could be
used to produce some useful grain or vegetable."

"Yes"--David turned and addressed his cousin fiercely--"it's easy enough
for you to talk! You with your big farm and orchards and every crop a
success! Your bank account is so fat that you don't need to care whether
your acres bring in a big return or a lean one. But when you have just a
few acres you plant the thing that will be likely to bring in the most
money. You know many poor people plant tobacco for that reason, and that
is why I plant it."

"Davie," the mother said, "Davie!"

"I know," he said bitterly. "I'm a beast when my temper gets beyond
control, but Phares can be so confounded irritating, he rubs salt in
your cuts every time."

"Just for healing," the mother said gently.

"David," said Phoebe, "I guess the temper is a little bit of that Irish
showing up."

At that David smiled, then laughed.

"Phoebe," he said, "you know how to rub people the right way. If ever I
have the blues you are just the right medicine."

"I don't want to be called medicine," she said with a shake of her head.

"Not even a sugar pill?" asked Mother Bab.

"No. I don't like the sound of _pill_."

David looked across at the preacher, who stood silent and helpless in
the swift tide of conversation. "You may be right, Phares. It may be the
wrath of Providence upon the tobacco. I'll try alfalfa in that field
next and then I'll rub Aladdin's lamp. I'll make some money then!"

"Where do you find Aladdin's lamp?" asked Phoebe.

"I can't tell you now. But I know I'm tired of slaving and having
nothing for my work, so I am going after the magic lamp."

CHAPTER XIV

ALADDIN'S LAMP

THE morning after the hail storm dawned fair and sunshiny. David went
out and stood at the edge of his tobacco field. All about him the hail
had wrought its destruction. Where yesterday broad, thick leaves of
green tobacco had stood out strong and vigorous there hung only limp
shreds, punctured and torn into worthlessness.

"All wasted, my summer's work. I'll rub that magic lamp now. Fool that I
was, not to do it sooner!"

A little later, as he walked down the road to town, his lips were closed
in a resolute line, his shoulders squared in soldierly fashion. "I hope
Caleb Warner is in his office," he thought.

Caleb Warner was in; he greeted Da