IknewIwouldn’tdarelookathimwhenhecamedown，soIgotareaderandbeganonapieceIjustlove：
“Anightingalemadeamistake；
Shesangafewnotesoutoftune：
Herheartwasreadytobreak，Andshehidawayfromthemoon。“
WhenIdidgetapeep，graciousbuthewasblack！Maybeitwasn’tgoingtobesomuchfunafterall。Buthehadthemoneylastyear，andtheyearbefore，andifhe’dcleanedhisfeetwell——Iwasnothuntinghiseggs，whenIfoundthem。“Histracksbetrayedhim，“asfathersaid。Iwasthankfulsupperwasreadyjustthen，andwhileitwasgoingonmothersaid：“Assoonasyoufinish，allbringinyoureggs。Iwanttowraptheonestocolourto-night，andburytheminthefireplacesotheywillcolour，dry，andbereadytoopeninthemorning。“
Noonesaidaword，butneitherLaddienorLeonlookedveryhappy，andItookawfulbitestokeepmyfacestraight。WhenallofusfinishedMaybroughtalotfromthebranbarrelinthesmokehouse，butLaddieandLeononlysatthereandlookedsilly；
itreallywasfunny。
“Imusthavemoreeggsthanthis？“saidmother。“Wherearetheytocomefrom？“
FathernoddedtomeandIsaid：“Fromunderyourbed！“
“Oh，itwasyou！AndIneveroncecaughtyousnooping！“criedLeon。
“Easyson！“saidfather。“Thatwilldo。Youlostthroughyourowncarelessness。Youleftwetmudonthegarretfloor，andshesawitwhenmothersentherfortheonionskins。YourobbedLaddieofhislasteggthismorning；beagoodloseryourself！“
“Well，anyway，youdidn’tget’em，“saidLeontoLaddie。
“Andsheonlyfoundthembyaccident！“
Thenwehadabigtimecountingallthoseeggs，andsuchanotherheapastherewastosell，aftermotherfilledbasketstocookwithandcolour。Whenthetablewascleared，LaddieandLeonmadetallowpencilsfromacandleandwroteallsortsofthingsovereggsthathadbeenpreparedtocolour。Thenmotherboiledthemincopperaswater，andaniline，andallthedyesshehad，andtheboyspolishedthem，andtheystoodinshiningblack，red，blueandyellowheaps。Theoniononeswouldbedoneinthemorning。Leonhadagooseeggandmotherlethimkeepit，sohewroteandwroteonit，untilLaddiesaiditwouldbeallwriting，andnocolour，andheboileditinred，aftermotherfinished，andpolishedithimself。Itcameoutrealprettywithrosesonitandlotsofwordshewouldn’tletanyofusread；butofcourseitwasforSusieFall。
Nextmorningheslippedittoheratchurch。Whenwegothome，allofuswerethereexceptShelley，andwehadabigdinnerandafinetimeandLaddiestayeduntilaftersupper，beforehewenttoPryors’。
“Howishemakingit？“askedSally。
Youcouldseeshewasmakingitallright；sheneverlookedlovelier，andmothersaidPeterwaslettingherspendawaytoomuchmoneyonherclothes。Shetoldhimso，butPeterjustlaughedandsaidbusinesswasgood，andhecouldaffordit，andshewasafineadvertisementforhisstorewhenshewasdressedwell。“
“AllIknowis，“saidmother，“thathegoesthereeverywhipstitch，andthewomen，atleast，seemgladtohavehim。HesaysMr。Pryortreatshimdecently，andthatismorethanhedoeshisownfamilyandservants。Heandthegirlandhermotheraredividedaboutsomething。Shetreatsherfatherrespectfully，butshe’sinsympathywithmother。“
“Laddiecan’tfindoutwhatthetroubleis？“
“Idon’tthinkthathetries。“
“Maybehe’dfeelbetternottoknow，“saidPeter。
“Possibly！“saidmother。
“Nonsense！“saidfather。
“Youseemtobereconciled，“saidElizabeth。
“Thatgirlwouldreconcileamantoanything，“saidfather。
“Nottothelossofhissoul，Ihope，“saidmotherstiffly。
“Soulsarenotsoeasytolose，“saidfather。“Besides，IamcountingonLaddiesavinghers。“
CHAPTERXIII
TheGardenoftheLord“Withwhatcontentandmerriment，Theirdaysarespent，whosemindsarebentTofollowtheusefulplow。“
ThatspringIdecidedifschooldidn’tstopprettysoon，I’drunawayagain，andIdidn’tintheleastcarewhattheydidtome。
Acountryroadwasallrightanditwasgoodenough，ifithadbeenheapedup，leveledandplentyofgravelputon；andofcourseourroadwouldbefine，becausefatherwasoneofthecommissioners，andaslongashefilledthatoffice，everyroadinthecountywouldbejustasfineasthelawwouldallowhimtomakeit。Ihaveevenheardhimtellmotherthathe“stretcheditaleetlemite，“whenhewasforcedtobypeoplewhocouldn’tseemtobemadetounderstandwhatwasrequiredtoupbuildanation。
Hesaidourlanguagewasfoundedonthealphabet，andtomasterityouhadtobeginwith“a“。Andhesaidthenationwaslikethat；itwasbasedontownships，andwhenatownshipwasclean，hadgoodroads，bridges，schoolhouses，andchurches，acountywasinfineshape，andwheneachcountywasinorder，thestatewasright，andwhenthestatewasprosperous，thenationcouldrejoiceinitsstrength。
HesaidAtlasinthegeographybook，carryingtheworldonhisback，wasonlyasymbol，butitwasagoodone。Hesaidwhenthecountyelectedhimtofillanimportantoffice，itusedhisshoulderasapropforthenation，soitbecamehisbusinesstostandfirmly，anduseeveryounceofstrengthandbrainshehad，firstofalltomakehisownpossessionsamodel，thenhistownship，hiscounty，andhisstate，andifeveryoneworkedtogetherdoingthat，nonationonearthhadouramountofterritoryandsuchfineweather，sononeofthemcouldbeatus。
Ourroadwaslikethebarnfloor，whereyoudrove：oneachsidewasawidegrassystrip，andnotaweedthelengthofourland。
Alltherailsinthefenceswerelaidstraight，thegatesweresolid，sound，andswungfirmlyontheirbeams，ourfencecornerswerefullofalders，wildroses，sumac，blackberryvines，massesofwildflowersbeneaththem，andabirdforeverybush。Someoftheneighboursthoughtthattodrivetworailseverysooften，layupthefencesstraight，andgrubouttheshrubswastheway，butfathersaidtheywerevastlymistaken。Hesaidthatwassuchashortsightedproceeding，hewouldbeashamedtoindulgeinit。
Youdidgetmoreland，butifyouleftnoplaceforthebirds，thewormsandinsectsdevouredyourcrops，andyoudidn’traisehalfsomuchasifyoufurnishedthebirdsshelterandfood。Soheleftmulberriesinthefieldsandfencecornersandwildcherries，raspberries，grapes，andeverylittlescrubappletreefromseedssownbyJohnnyAppleseedwhenhecrossedourland。
Mothersaidthoseapplesweresohardacranecouldn’tdentthem，butsheneverwatchedthebirdsinwinterwhenthesnowwasbeginningtocomeandotherthingswerecoveredup。Theyswarmedoverthosetreesuntilspring，forthetinysourapplesstuckjustlikeoakleaveswaitingfornextyear’scroptopushthemoff。Shenevernoticedus，either。Afterafewfrosts，wecouldalmostgettipsyonthoseapples；therewasnotatreeinourorchardthathadthespicy，teasingtangofJohnnyAppleseed’sapples。Thentoo，thelimbscouldbesawedoffandramboandmaiden’s-blushgraftedon，ifyouwantedto；fatherdidonsomeofthem，sotherewouldbegoodappleslyingbesidetheroadforpassers-by，andtheyneedn’tstealtogetthem。Youcouldgraftredhawsonthemtoo，andgrowgreatbig，littlehaw-apples，thatweretheprettiestthingsyoueversaw，andthebesttoeat。
Fathersaidifitdidn’tspoilthelooksoftheroad，hewouldn’tcarehowmanyofhisneighboursstraightenedtheirfences。Iftheydid，thebirdswouldcometohim，andthemorehehad，thefewerbugsandwormshewouldbetroubledwith，sohewouldbesureofbigcrops，andsoundfruit。Hesaidhewouldmuchratherhaveafewgoodapplespickedbyrobinsorjays，thanuntouchedtrees，loadedwithwormyfallingoneshecouldneitherusenorsell。HealwayspattedmyheadandlikedeverylineofitwhenI
recited，sortoftearful-likeandpathetic：
“Don’tkillthebirds！thehappybirds，Thatblessthefieldandgrove；
Soinnocenttolookupon，Theyclaimourwarmestlove。“
Theroadscrossingourlandwereallright，andmostoftheothersnearus；andaroadiswonderful，ifitistakingyoutothewoodsoracreekormeadow；butwhenitiswalkingyoustraighttoastuffylittleschoolhousewhereyoumuststanduptoseefromawindow，whereateacheriscrossasfire，likeMissAmelia，andwhereyoueternallyHEARthingsyoucan’tsee，therecomesatimeaboutthemiddleofAprilwhenyouhadquiteassoondieastogotoschoolanylonger；andwhatyoulearntheredoesn’tamounttoahillofbeanscomparedwithwhatyoucanfindoutforyourselfoutdoors。
Schoolhousesaremadewrong。Iftheymustbe，theyshouldbebuiltinawoodspasturebesideastream，whereyoucouldwade，swim，andbecomfortableinsummer，andslideandskateinwinter。Thewindowsshouldbecuttothefloor，andstandwideopen，sothebirdsandbutterfliescouldpassthrough。Yououghttolearnyourgeographybyclimbingahill，walkingthroughavalley，wadingcreeks，makingislandsinthem，andpromontories，capes，andpeninsulasalongthebank。Youshoulddoyourarithmeticsittingundertreesaddinghickory-nuts，subtractingwalnuts，multiplyingbutternuts，anddividinghazelnuts。Youcoulduseapplesforfractions，andtincupsforliquidmeasure。
Youcouldspelleverythinginsightandthiswouldteachyouthewordsthatarereallyusedintheworld。Everysingleoneofuscouldspellincompatibility，butIneverheardfather，orthejudge，oreventheBishop，putitinaspeech。
Ifyousimplycan’thaveschoolTHATway，thenyoushouldbeshutinblackcells，deepundertheground，whereyoucouldn’tsee，orhearasound，andthenifthey’dgiveyouabookandcandleandMissAmelia，andherright-handman，MisterRuler，whyyoumightlearnsomething。Thisway，ifyousatandwatchedthewindowsyoucouldseeabirdcrossourwoodspasturetotheredbirdswampeveryfewminutes；onceinawhileoneofmybighawkstookyourbreathasheswept，soared，sailed，andcircled，watchingthegroundbelowforrabbits，snakes，orchickens。TheskinnyoldblueheronscrossingfromtheWabashtohuntfrogsinthecowslipswaleinourmeadow，sailedsoslowandsolow，thatyoucouldseetheirsharpbillsstuckoutinfront，theiruneven，raggedlookingfeathers，andtheirlonglegstrailingoutbehind。IbetifPollyMartinworeabluecalicodresssoshortherspindle-
shanksshowed，andflewacrossourfarm，youcouldn’ttellherfromaheron。
Thereweresomanysongsyoucouldn’tdecidewhichwaswhichtosaveyou；itwasjustapouringjumbleofrobins，larks，doves，blackbirds，sparrows，everythingthatcamethatearly；theredandtheyellowbirdshadnotcomeyet，orthecatbirdsorthrushes。YoucouldhearthethumpingwingsoftheroostersinSills’barnyardnearesttheschoolhouse，andcouldn’ttellwhichwaswhipping，soyouhadtositthereandwonder；andworstofallyoumuststandMissAmeliacalmlytellingyoutopayattentiontoyourbooksoryouwouldbekeptin，andallthetimeyouwereforcedtobeartorments，whileyouwatchedherwalkfromwindowtowindowtoseeeveryspeckofthefight。Onedaytheyhadthumpedandfoughtforhalfanhour；shehadlookedfromeverywindowintheroom，andatlasttherewasanawfulwhacking，andthensilence。ItgrewsoexcitingIraisedmyhand，andalmostbeforeshenoddedpermission，“Whichwhipped？“I
asked。
MissAmeliaturnedredasabeet。Gee，butshewasmad！
“Idid！“shesaid。“OratleastIwill。Youmayremainforitafterschoolisdismissed。“
Nowifyouaregoingtobeswitched，theyneverdoituntiltheyarejustsoangryanyway，andthentheyalwaysmakeitashardastheydarenottostripeyou，soitisn’tmuchdifferenceHOW
provokedtheyare，itwillbethesameoldthrashing，andit’ssuretostingforanhouratleast，soyoumightaswellbebeatenforalittlemoreashardlyanythingatall。Atthatinstantfromthefencenotfarfrommywindowcameatriumphantcrowthatfairlyrippedacrosstheroom。
“Oh，itwastheDorking！“Isaid。“NowonderyoufollowedcleararoundtheroomtoseehimthrashaShanghaithreetimeshissize！Ibetadollaritwasgreat！“
Usually，Iwouldn’thaveputupmorethanfivecents，butatthattimeIhadoversixdollarsfrommyEastereggs，andnogirlofmyageatourschooleverhadhalfthatmuch。MissAmeliastartedtowardme，andIbracedmyfeetsoshe’dgetagoodjoltherself，whenshewenttoshakeme；sheneverstruckusovertheheadsinceLaddietalkedtoherthatfirstday；butJohnHood’sfootwasintheaisle。IthoughtmaybeI’dhavehimformybeauwhenwegrewup，becauseIbetheknewshewascoming，andstuckouthisfootonpurpose；anyway，shepitched，andhadtocatchadesktokeepoffthefloor，andthatmadehersomadathim，thatsheforgotme，whilehegothisscolding；sowhenmyturncameatlast，shehadcooleddownenoughthatsheonlymarchedpasttoherdesk，sayingIwastoremainafterschool。IhadtobecarefulafterthattobemightygoodtoMayandLeon。
Whenschoolwasouttheysatonthestepsbeforethedoorandwaited。MissAmeliafussedaroundandtheretheysat。Thenherfacegrewmoregobblerishthanusual，andshewentoutandtoldthemtogohome。PlainasanythingIheardMaysayIt：“She’sbeenawfulsick，youknow，andmotherwouldn’tallowit。“AndthenLeonpipedup：“YouDIDwatchtheroosters，allthetimetheyfought，andofcourseallofuswantedtoseejustasbadlyasyoudid。“
Shetoldthemiftheydidn’tgorighthomeshe’dbringthembackandwhipthemtoo；sotheyhadtostart，andleavemetomysadfate。Iwasafraidtheyhadmadeitsadder，insteadofhelpingme；shewassoprovokedwhenshecameinshewascrying，andovernothingbuttheplaintruthtoo；ifwehadstoriedonher，she’dhavehadsomecausetobeller。Shearrangedhertable，cleanedtheboard，emptiedthewaterbucket，andclosedthewindows。
ThenshetoldmeIwasarude，untrainedchild。Iwasrude，I
suppose，butgoodnessknows，Iwasn’tuntrained；thatwashardonfatherandmother；Ihadabignotiontotellthem；andthen，sheneverwhippedmeatall。ShesaidifIwantedhertoloveme，I
mustn’tbeasaucy，impudentgirl，andIshouldgostraighthomeandthinkitover。
Iwent，butIwassodazedatherthinkingIwantedhertoloveme，thatIhardlyheardMayandLeoncalling；whenIdidIwenttothecemeteryfenceandtheretheylayinthelonggrasswaiting。
“Ifyoucried，wewerecomingbackandpitchintoher，“saidLeon。
Therewasapointer。Nexttime，firstcutshegaveme，Idecidedtoscreambloodymurder。ButthatwouldbenoCrusaderway。
Therewasonethingthough。NoCrusadereversatandheardaperfectlylovelyfightgoingon，andneverevenwonderedwhichwhipped。
MayandLeonsteppedoneoneachside，tookahand，andweranlikeIndians，andsliddownthehillbetweenthebushes，climbedthefence，crossedthepasturebackofthechurch，andwenttothecreek。Therewesatonalog，Itoldthem，andwejustlaughed。Ididn’tknowwhatIcoulddotopaythem，fortheysavedmesureasfatethattime。
IwishedwelivedinthewoodsthewayitwaswhenfatherandmotherweremarriedandmovedtoOhio。Thenearestneighbourswereninemiles，andtherewasn’tadollarforschoolfunds，soofcoursethechildrendidn’thavetogo，andwhattheirfathersandmotherstaughtthemwasalltheyknew。Thatwouldnothavehelpedmemuchthough，forweneverhadonesingleteacherwhoknewanythingtocomparewithwhatfatherandmotherdid，andweneverhadonewhowasforeverreadingbooks，papers，andlearningmorethingsthathelp，toteachotherpeople。Iwishedfatherhadtimetotakeourschool。Itwouldhavebeensomefuntogotohim，becauseIjustknewhewouldusethewoodsfortheroom，andteachusthingsitwoulddosomegoodtoknowabout。
IbegandebatingwhetheritwasabigenoughthingtobothertheLordwith：thisbeingpennedupintheschoolhousedroningoverspellingandnumbers，whenyoucouldsmelltreebloom，flowerbloom，dozensofbirdswerenesting，andeverythingwasbeginningtohumwithlife。Icouldn’tthinkforthatpieceabout“Spring“
goingoverinmyhead：
“Iamcoming，Iamcoming：
Hark！thelittlebeeishumming：
See！thelarkissoaringhigh，Inthebrightandsunnysky；
Allthebirdsareonthewing：
Littlemaiden，nowisspring。“