eally a mind
to help, Mr. Parks,--I'm sure you're more than kind."

There was plenty of room on the cellar door for them and the tomatoes.
Calvin curled up his long legs under him, and gave his attention for
several minutes to the Crimson Cushions and Ponderosas, turning them
with careful nicety.

"Pretty, ain't they?" he said; "some of 'em, that is."

"Real pretty!" said Mary Sands. "I do enjoy them, Mr. Parks; 'tis a
kind of play with me, tending my tomaytoes. I expect I'm foolish about
growin' things."

"I expect if there was more had your kind of foolishness," replied
Calvin, "the world would be a better place than it is."

"See this one!" Mary went on; "for all the world like a red satin
pincushion my grandmother used to have in her basket. 'Tis well named,
the Crimson Cushion is."

"Look at this feller," said Calvin, "all green and yeller, and squinnied
up like his co't was too tight for him. It looks like the boys; honest
now, don't it, Miss Hands?"

Mary tinkled a reproachful laugh.

"Now Mr. Parks, I wonder at you. Poor Cousins!"

"I ain't takin' up no collection for the boys!" said Calvin coolly.
"Where's Sam? I see the young colt is out."

"He's gone to market; and Cousin Sims' in a dreadful takin', for fear
he'll get run away with, or hove out, or something."

Calvin stared. "Why, the colt is ten year old if he is a day!" he said.

"I told him that; but he said it didn't make no odds, he'd never found
out he was grown up, and acted accordin'. He werries terrible about
Cousin Sam every time he goes out, and Cousin Sam werries about him. I
notice it growin' on the two of 'em. Mr. Parks, I believe that down in
their hearts them two are missin' each other more than tongue can tell,
and neither one of them knows what's the matter with him."

"You don't say!" said Calvin. "Why don't they make up, then? Ridic'lous
old lobsters!"

"They don't know how!" said Mary. "Even if they mistrust what ails 'em,
and I don't believe they do as yet."

She was silent a moment, and then added: "Mr. Parks, I feel I can speak
out to you, that have been their friend right along. I wish't one of
Cousins would marry; there! I do so!"

Calvin Parks's face, which had been radiant with cheerfulness, turned to
brown wood. He looked straight before him, with no more expression than
the green tomato he held in his hand.

"That so!" he said slowly. "Which--which one of 'em would you consider
best suited to matrimony, Mis