ke the money, and
buy us some new furniture and a cow, and a team, and wagon, and a
buggy, and go on a piece of land, and live like other people. Seems to
me I'll die if I have to work for potatoes any longer. I'm heart sick
of them. Don't say a word to anybody, but Oh, Adam, THINK! Think
HARD! Can't you just help me THINK?"

"You are sure you want land?" asked the boy.

"It is all I know," said Kate. "How do you feel about it?"

"I want horses, and cows, and pigs--lots of pigs--and sheep, and lots
of white hens," said Adam, promptly.

"Get the spade and spade the onion bed until I think," said Kate. "And
that reminds me, we didn't divide the sets last fall. Somebody will
have to go after them."

"I'll go," said Adam, "but it's awful early. It'll snow again. Let me
go after school Friday and stay over night. I'd like to go and stay
over night with Aunt Ollie. Grandma can't say anything to me that I'll
listen to. You keep Polly, and let me go alone. Sure I can."

"All right," said Kate. "Spade the bed, and let it warm a day. It will
be good for it. But don't tell Polly you're going, or she'll want to
go along."

Until Friday night, Kate and Adam went around in such a daze of deep
thought that they stumbled, and ran against each other; then came back
to their affairs suddenly, looking at each other and smiling
understandingly. After one of these encounters Kate said to the boy:
"You may not arrive at anything, Adam, but I certainly can't complain
that you are not thinking."

Adam grinned: "I'm not so sure that I haven't got it," he said.

"Tell me quick and let me think, too" said Kate.

"But I can't tell you yet," said Adam. "I have to find out something
first."

Friday evening he wanted to put off his trip until Saturday morning, so
Kate agreed. She was surprised when he bathed and put on his clean
shirt and trousers, but said not a word. She had made some study of
child psychology, she thought making the trip alone was of so much
importance to Adam that he was dressing for the occasion. She foresaw
extra washing, yet she said nothing to stop the lad. She waved
good-bye to him, thinking how sturdy and good looking he was, as he ran
out of the front door. Kate was beginning to be worried when Adam had
not returned toward dusk Sunday evening, and Polly was cross and
fretful. Finally they saw him coming down the ravine bank, carrying
his small bundle of sets. Kate felt a glow of relief;