topped her. She even
gave that quick reassuring nod of her head which was usually made to
answer for a bow, but I discovered that she was looking eagerly at a
tall ash-tree that grew just inside the field fence.

"I thought 'twas goin' to do well," she said complacently as we went on
again. "Last time I was up this way that tree was kind of drooping and
discouraged. Grown trees act that way sometimes, same's folks; then
they'll put right to it and strike their roots off into new ground and
start all over again with real good courage. Ash-trees is very likely to
have poor spells; they ain't got the resolution of other trees."

I listened hopefully for more; it was this peculiar wisdom that made one
value Mrs. Todd's pleasant company.

"There's sometimes a good hearty tree growin' right out of the bare
rock, out o' some crack that just holds the roots;" she went on to say,
"right on the pitch o' one o' them bare stony hills where you can't seem
to see a wheel-barrowful o' good earth in a place, but that tree'll keep
a green top in the driest summer. You lay your ear down to the ground
an' you'll hear a little stream runnin'. Every such tree has got its own
livin' spring; there's folk made to match 'em."

I could not help turning to look at Mrs. Blackett, close beside me. Her
hands were clasped placidly in their thin black woolen gloves, and
she was looking at the flowery wayside as we went slowly along, with a
pleased, expectant smile. I do not think she had heard a word about the
trees.

"I just saw a nice plant o' elecampane growin' back there," she said
presently to her daughter.

"I haven't got my mind on herbs to-day," responded Mrs. Todd, in the
most matter-of-fact way. "I'm bent on seeing folks," and she shook the
reins again.

I for one had no wish to hurry, it was so pleasant in the shady roads.
The woods stood close to the road on the right; on the left were narrow
fields and pastures where there were as many acres of spruces and pines
as there were acres of bay and juniper and huckleberry, with a little
turf between. When I thought we were in the heart of the inland country,
we reached the top of a hill, and suddenly there lay spread out before
us a wonderful great view of well-cleared fields that swept down to
the wide water of a bay. Beyond this were distant shores like another
country in the midday haze which half hid the hills beyond, and the
faraway pale blue mountains on the northern horizon. Ther