's more than some can say."

"I nevah see nary othah boy like I be. You reckon that li'l' girl, she
thought I war quare?"

"What little girl?"

"Mrs. Towahs's li'l' girl. She said 'turn roun',' an' when I done hit,
she said 'turn roun' agin.' Then she said, 'Whyn't you hol' your hade
like I do?'"

"What did you say?"

"Didn't say nothin.' Jes' axed her whyn't she hol' her head like I did?
an' she said, 'Don't want to.' So I said, 'Don't want to.'" He twisted
his head about to look up in David's face, and his lips smiled, but in
his eyes was a suspicion of tears. His heart heavy for the child, David
praised him for a brave little chap, comforting him as best he could.

"You reckon she'd like me if I war to give her this here balloon?"

"No, you take that home to sister. The little girl can get one when the
circus comes again." But after dinner, David did not send Hoyle off to
play the hour with Dorothy. He took her on his knee and entertained them
both with tales and mimicry until he had them in gales of laughter, and
for the time being Hoyle forgot his troubles.

As the days passed, David became more and more interested in his patch
of ground and the growing things in his garden. Never had he labored
with his hands in this fashion, and each night he lay down to sleep
physically weary, in contentment of spirit. Steadily he progressed
toward the desired goal of health. In his young wife, also, he found a
rich satisfaction, watching her unfold and blossom into the gracious
wifehood and ladyhood he had dreamed of for her.

Together they used to stroll to the little farm, where she told him all
she knew about the crops--what was best for the animals, and what would
be needed for themselves. Long before David was able to oversee the work
himself, she had set Elwine Timms to sowing cow-peas and planting corn.

"Behold your heritage!" David said to her one morning, as they strolled
thus among the thrifty greenness and patches of vetch where the cow was
contentedly feeding. He laughed joyously and drew his wife's arm through
his. She looked up at him wistfully. He thought she sighed, and bent his
head to listen. "What was that little sound?"

"I was only thinking."

"We'll sit here where we sat that morning when we both put our hands to
the plough, and you tell me what you were thinking."

"I ought not to stop now, David. I've left all for mother to do. I was
that busy at the cabin I didn't get down to her this mo