cultivation.

Gabriel, as he drove along, could see his father from the road. Hoek
Matts was out in the grove prying up stones with his crowbar, and
piling them on to a stone hedge. He never once looked up from his
work, but went right on digging and lugging stones, some of which
were so big that Gabriel thought they were enough to break his
back--and afterward throwing them up on to the hedge with a force
that caused them to splinter, and made sparks fly. Gabriel, who was
driving one of the goods wagons, let his horse look out for itself
for a long time while his eyes were turned toward his father.

Old Hoek Matts worked on' and on, toiling and slaving exactly as he
had done when his son was a little lad, and he strove to develop
his property. Grief had taken a firm hold on Hoek Matts; yet he went
on digging and prying up larger and larger stones, and piling them
on the hedge.

Soon after the procession had passed, a violent thunderstorm came
up. Everybody ran for cover, and Hoek Matts, too, thought of doing
the same; then he changed his mind. He dared not leave off working.

At noon his daughter came to the door and called to him to come to
dinner. Hoek Matts was not very hungry; still, he felt that he might
need a bite to eat. He did not go in, however, for he was afraid to
stop his work.

His wife had gone with Gabriel to the railway station. On her
return, late in the evening, she stopped to tell her husband that
now their son had gone, but he would not leave off an instant to
hear what she had to say.

The neighbours noticed how Hoek Matts worked that day. They came out
to watch him, and after looking on a while, they went in and
reported that he was still there, that he had been at it the whole
day without a break.

Evening came, but the light lingered a while, and Hoek Matts kept
right on working. He felt that if he were to leave off while still
able to drag a foot, his grief would overpower him.

By and by his wife came back again, and stood watching him. The
grove was now almost clear of stones, and the hedge quite high
enough, but still the little old man went on lugging stones that
were more fit for a giant to handle. Now and then a neighbour would
come over to see if he was still at it; but no one spoke to him.

Then darkness fell. They could no longer see him, but they could
hear him--could hear the dull thud of stone against stone as he
went on building the wall.

Then at last as he raised t