was over
everything. Fences were down, doors flapped on single hinges, roofs
were caved in, heaps of rubbish lay in corners, here and there broken
and rusted farm implements stood where they had last been used.
Neglect and Decay had marked the Day farm for their own.

The fields were plowed for corn and partly worked up with the harrow.
But nothing further had been done for several days past, and already
the weeds were sprouting.

Most of the fences were of stone; but the pasture fence was of three
strands of wire, and with a hammer and staples a good deal might have
been done for it in a few brisk hours.

"Aw, what's the use?" demanded Marty. "It'd only be down again in a
little while."

"But the poor cow----"

"Shucks! She's gone dry long ago. An' I'm glad of it, for Dad made me
milk her."

The climb through the pasture and the woodlot above it, however, was
pleasant, and when Janice heard the falling water she was delighted.
This was so different from the prairie country to which she was used
that she must needs express her appreciation of its loveliness again
and again.

"Oh, yes," grunted Marty. "But these rocky old farms are mighty hard
to work. I bet I picked up a million dornicks out o' that upper
cornfield las' month. An' ye plow jest as many out o' the ground ev'ry
year. Mebbe the scenery's pretty upon these here hills; but ye can't
_eat_ scenery, and the crops are mighty poor."

Over the lip of a smoothly-worn ledge the water sprayed into a granite
basin. The dimpling pool might have been knee-deep, and was as cold as
ice.

"It's like that the hottest day in August," said Marty. "But it's lots
more fun to go swimmin' in the lake."

It was late afternoon when they came down the hillside to the old Day
house once more. Mr. Day was puttering around the stables.

"Ye didn't finish them 'taters, Marty," he complained.

"Oh, I'll do 'em to-morrer," said the boy. "It most broke my back
a'ready. And did ye see all the carrots we got weeded?"

"Uh-huh," observed his father. "Lots _you_ had to do with weedin' the
carrots, Marty," he added, sarcastically.

When Janice went into the house the dinner dishes were still piled in
the sink; yet Aunt 'Mira was already getting supper. She was still
shuffling around the kitchen in her list slippers and the old calico
dress.

"I declare for't!" she complained. "Seems ter me I never find time to
clean myself up for an afternoon like other women