brings to birth so many half-realized thoughts of our own--besides
sowing the seed of innumerable other thought-plants. How they enjoyed
their garden, those two, and not only the garden itself, but all the
lore and poetry of gardening!

We had been talking thus an hour or more when, quite unexpectedly, I had
what was certainly one of the most amusing adventures of my whole life.
I can scarcely think of it now without a thrill of pleasure. I have had
pay for my work in many but never such a reward as this.

"By the way," said Mr. Vedder, "I have recently come across a book which
is full of the spirit of the garden as we have long known it, although
the author is not treating directly of gardens, but of farming and of
human nature."

"It is really all one subject," I interrupted.

"Certainly," said Mr. Vedder, "but many gardeners are nothing but
gardeners. Well, the book to which I refer is called 'Adventures in
Contentment,' and is by--Why, a man of your own name!"

With that Mr. Vedder reached for a book--a familiar-looking book--on the
table, but Mrs. Vedder looked at me. I give you my word, my heart turned
entirely over, and in a most remarkable way righted itself again; and I
saw Roman candles and Fourth of July rockets in front of my eyes. Never
in all my experience was I so completely bowled over. I felt like
a small boy who has been caught in the pantry with one hand in the
jam-pot--and plenty of jam on his nose. And like that small boy I
enjoyed the jam, but did not like being caught at it.

Mr. Vedder had no sooner got the book in his hand than I saw Mrs. Vedder
rising as though she had seen a spectre, and pointing dramatically at
me, she exclaimed:

"You are David Grayson!"

I can say truthfully now that I know how the prisoner at the bar must
feel when the judge, leaning over his desk, looks at him sternly and
says:

"I declare you guilty of the offence as charged, and sentence you--" and
so on, and so on.

Mr. Vedder stiffened up, and I can see him yet looking at me through his
glasses. I must have looked as foolishly guilty as any man ever looked,
for Mr. Vedder said promptly:

"Let me take you by the hand, sir. We know you, and have known you for a
long time."

I shall not attempt to relate the conversation which followed, nor tell
of the keen joy I had in it--after the first cold plunge. We found that
we had a thousand common interests and enthusiasms. I had to tell them
of my farm, and why