e cool drink. Give me all I want, then I'll
go to sleep."
"It's wonderful," said the Girl. "That's more than I've heard her talk
since I came. She is much stronger. Please let her have it."
The Harvester assented. He gave the child some of the fruit, and told
her to sit beside the bed and hold the drink when it was asked for. She
agreed to be very careful and watchful. Then he picked up the bucket,
and followed by the Girl, returned to the woods.
"Now we have to begin all over again," he said, as she seated herself at
the table. "Because of the walk in the heat, this time the programme is
a little different."
He replaced the wafer box and opened it, filled the glass, and heaped
the cold fruit.
"Your aunt is going to have a refreshing sleep now," he said, "and
your mind can be free about her for an hour or two. I am very sure your
mother would not want you deprived of anything because she missed it, so
you are to enjoy this, if you care for it. At least try a sample."
The Girl lifted the glass to her lips with a trembling hand.
"I'm like Aunt Molly," she said; "I wish I could drink all I could
swallow, and then lie down and go to sleep forever. I suppose this is
what they have in Heaven."
"No, it's what they drink all over earth at present, but I have a
conceit of my own brand. Some of it is too strong of one fruit or of the
other, and all too sweet for health. This is compounded scientifically
and it's just right. If you are not accustomed to cold drinks, go
slowly."
"You can't scare me," said the Girl; "I'm going to drink all I want."
There was a note of excitement in the Harvester's laugh.
"You must have some, too!"
"After a while," he said. "I was thirsty when I made it, so I don't care
for any more now. Try the fruit and those wafers. Of course they are not
home made--they are the best I could do at a bakery. Take time enough to
eat slowly. I'm going to tell you a tale while you lunch, and it's about
a Medicine Man named David Langston. It's a very peculiar story,
but it's quite true. This man lives in the woods east of Onabasha,
accompanied by his dog, horse, cow, and chickens, and a forest full of
birds, flowers, and matchless trees. He has lived there in this manner
for six long years, and every spring he and his dog have a seance and
agree whether he shall go on gathering medicinal herbs and trying his
hand at making medicine or go to the city and live as other men. Always
the dog choo
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