other from their back yards and
see them leaning over the fences to visit--and giving each other clumps
of pansies, and golden glow and hollyhocks. I want to see Mrs. Jerry
Dustin's smile and ask her when I can see Uncle Tony's 'portraiture' at
the Art Institute. I want to see the boys' bare feet kicking up the
dust and their hands hitching up their overall straps and hear them
whistling to each other and giving their high signs. I'm longing to
know who's had their house repainted and where the new houses are going
up.

"But--oh--most of all, I want to hear Green Valley folks say with their
eyes and hands and voice--'Hello, Nanny Ainslee, when did _you_ get
back' and 'My, Nanny, it's good to see and have you home again.' So,
John Roger Churchill Knight, take me down to see my home town--Green
Valley at springtime."

They went down through Green Valley streets where the spring sunshine
lay warm and golden. They greeted Green Valley men and women and were
greeted as only Green Valley knows how to greet those it loves.

Though they said not a word, all Green Valley read their secret in
their eyes, heard it in the rich deep note of the boy's voice, in
Nanny's lilting laugh.

And having made the rounds the boy and girl naturally came to Grandma
Wentworth's gate. They walked through the gay front garden, followed
the little gravel path around the house, and found Grandma standing
among her fragrant herbs and healing grasses.

They came to her hand in hand and said not a word. And Grandma raised
her head and looked at them. Then her eyes filled and her lips
quivered tenderly and the two, both motherless, knew that they had a
mother's blessing.

It was so restful, that back yard of Grandma's, as the three sat there,
talking quietly and happily. And the world seemed strangely full of a
golden peace.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN VALLEY***

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