aps it's night! And those birds are doves."

"Never!" cried the Harvester. "There is a total absence of shadows.
There is no moon. Each orange tree is conveniently split in halves, so
you can see to count the fruit accurately; the birds are in flight. Only
a swallow or a stork can fly in decorations, either by day or by night.
And for any sake look at that elopement! He goes ahead carrying a cane,
she comes behind lugging the baggage, another man with a cane brings up
the rear. They are not running away. They have been married ten years
at least. In a proper elopement, they forget there are such things
as jewels and they always carry each other. I've often looked up the
statistics and it's the only authorized version. As I regard this
treasure, I grow faint when I remember with what unnecessary force my
father bore down when he carved the ham. I'll bet a cooky he split those
orange trees. Now me----I'll never dare touch knife to it again. I'll
always carve the meat on the broiler, and gently lift it to this
platter with a fork. Or am I not to be allowed to dine from my ancestral
treasure again?"

"Not in a green and yellow room," laughed the Girl. "I'll tell you what
I think. If I had a tea table to match the living-room furniture, and
it sat beside the hearth, and on it a chafing dish to cook in, and the
willow ware to eat from, we could have little tea parties in there, when
we aren't very hungry or to treat a visitor. It would help make that
room 'homey,' and it's wonderful how they harmonize with the other
things."

"How much willow ware have I got to 'bestow' on you?" inquired the
Harvester. "Suppose you show me all of it. A guilty feeling arises in my
breast, and I fear me I have committed high crimes!"

"Oh Man! You didn't break or lose any of those dishes, did you?"

"Show me!" insisted the Harvester.

The Girl arose and going to the cupboard he had designed for her china
she opened it, and set before him a teapot, cream pitcher, two plates, a
bowl, a pitcher, the meat platter, and a sugar bowl. "If there were all
of the cups, saucers, and plates, I know where they would bring five
hundred dollars," she said.

"Ruth, are you getting even with me for poking fun at them, or are you
in earnest?" asked the Harvester.

"I mean every word of it."

"You really want a small, black walnut table made especially for those
old dishes?"

"Not if you are too busy. I could use it with beautiful effect and much
ple