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。“