. Sister, or the old
lady herself, could go to town if the load was not too heavy.

Of course, it cost considerable to live. And hogfood and grain for the
horse and cow had to be bought. Hiram was fattening four of the spring
shoats against winter. Two they could sell and two kill for their own
use.

"Goin' to be big doin's on the Fourth this year, Hiram," said Henry
Pollock, meeting the young farmer on the road from town one day. "Heard
about it?"

"In Scoville, do you mean? They're going to have a 'Safe and Sane'
Fourth, the Banner says."

"Nope. We don't think much of goin' to town Fourth of July. And this
year there's goin' to be a big picnic in Langdon's Grove--that's up the
river, you know."

"A public picnic?"

"Sure. A barbecue, we call it," said Henry. "We have one at the Grove
ev'ry year. This time the two Sunday Schools is goin' to join and have a
big time. You and Sister don't want to miss it. That Mr. Bronson's goin'
to give a whole side o' beef, they tell me, to roast over the fires."

"A big banquet is in prospect, is it?" asked Hiram, smiling.

"And a stew! Gee! you never eat one o' these barbecue stews, did ye?
Some of us will go huntin' the day before, and there'll be birds, and
squirrels, as well as chickens in that stew--and lima beans, and corn,
and everything good you can think of!" and Henry smacked his lips in
prospect.

Then he added, bethinking himself of his errand:

"Everybody chips in and gives the things to eat. What'll you give,
Hiram?"

"Some vegetables," said Hiram, quickly. "Mrs. Atterson won't object, I
guess. Do they want tomatoes for their stew?"

"Won't be no tomatoes ripe, Hiram," said Henry, decidedly.

"There won't, eh? You come out and take a look at mine," said Hiram,
laughing.

Of all the rows of vegetables in Hiram's garden plot, the thriftiest
and handsomest were the trellised tomato plants. It took nearly half of
Sister's time to keep the plants tied up and pinched back, as Hiram had
taught her.

But the stalks were already heavily laden with fruit; and those hanging
lowest on the sturdy vines were already blushing.

"By Jo!" gasped Henry. "You've done it, ain't you? But the cannery won't
take 'em yet awhile--and they'll all be gone before September."

"The cannery won't get many of my tomatoes," laughed Hiram. "And these
vines properly trained and cultivated as they are, will bear fruit up to
frost. You wait and see."

"I'll have to tell dad to com