d pear trees we will make room for in our plans. But
you must cut out the dead tops and spray the trees. We want even these
old trees to look comfortable and happy. Oh, they are sickle pears and
nearly ripe. Just such ones as grew on father's place near Middletown;
and I, a girl in sun bonnet and gingham apron, climbed the trees or
picked them from a ladder. I must have a sun bonnet again and some
gingham aprons. When you come home in the evening I will stand erect or
walk with a sprightly step as a young girl and the sun bonnet will hide
my gray hair and pale face and you will say; 'I wonder who that slender
country girl is out under the trees? I suppose mother has gone to the
house for something.' When I turn round you will say; 'Why, it is little
mother; the mountain air and sunshine and the garden are doing wonders
for her.' John you are a good boy and you are helping too.

"Look, John, there's a whole row of snowball and lilac bushes, and here
are some early yellow roses, and over there a border of golden glow and
a bed of lilies of the valley, and yet further on some hardy lilies and
peonies, and beyond the walk a strawberry bed and sage, and gooseberries
and red raspberries and an arbor of grape vines and a rustic bench.

"We are at home, John. The garden makes me young again and I see your
father's face in your own. It is as though God had given me the two in
the one body. John, brush off the bench and let us sit here and watch
the shadows lengthen and fade and the coming darkness add zest and
brilliance to the full moon. Then we'll go to the house hand in hand and
you can help with the supper. You are not too hungry to wait a bit,
John?"

"No, mother."

They sat for some time in silence as the twilight deepened.

"Mrs. Neal and her niece, Dorothy Durrett, called today. You must take
me over some evening to see them. I must not forget that you are a man
and that some time you will be looking for a wife. You must go out
occasionally, else you will appear awkward in the presence of young
ladies or be considered a crank."

"I like to go, mother, but I have not much time since I've been up here.
Everything was new and I had to work hard and, even with that, have got
many a knock I might have dodged; and lost once or twice because of
inexperience. Experience in the practice is the best professor in law,
but rather hard on the client. * * * I met one nice girl. Though her
family were homely mountain people, she