"Sow;--and look onward,upward,Where the starry light appears,--Where,in spite of coward's doubting,Or your own heart's trembling fears,You shall reap in joy the harvest You have sown to-day in tears."Any objections to my beginning to break ground on the west eighty to-day?"asked Laddie of father at breakfast Monday morning.
"I had thought we would commence on the east forty,when planning the work.""So had I,"said Laddie."But since I thought that,a very particular reason has developed for my beginning to plow the west eighty at once,and there is a charming little ditty I feel strongly impelled to whistle every step of the way."Father looked at him sharply,and so,I think,did all of us.
And because we loved him deeply,we saw that his face was a trifle pale for him;his clear eyes troubled,in spite of his laughing way.He knew we were studying him too,but he wouldn't have said anything that would make us look and question if he had minded our doing it.That was exactly like Laddie.He meant it when he said he hated a secret.He said there was no place on earth for a man to look for sympathy and love if he couldn't find it in his own family;and he never had been so happy since I had been big enough to notice his moods as he had been since all of us knew about the Princess.He didn't wait for father to ask why he'd changed his mind about the place to begin.
"You see,"he said,"a very charming friend of mine expressed herself strongly last night about the degrading influence of farming,especially that branch of agriculture which evolves itself in a furrow;hence it is my none too happy work to plow the west eighty where she can't look our way without seeing me;and I have got to whistle my favourite `toon'where she must stop her ears if she doesn't hear;and then it will be my painful task,I fear,to endeavour to convince her that I am still clean,decent,and not degraded.""Oh Laddie!"cried mother.
"Abominable foolishness!"roared father like he does roar once in about two years.
"Isn't it now?"asked Laddie sweetly."I don't know what has got into her head.She has seen me plowing fifty times since their land has joined ours,and she never objected before.""I can tell you blessed well!"said mother."She didn't care two hoots how much my son plowed,but it makes a difference when it comes to her lover.""Maw,you speak amazing reckless,"said Laddie,"if I thought there was anything in THAT feature of the case,I'd attempt a Highland fling on the ridgepole of our barn.""Be serious!"said father sternly."This is no laughing matter.""That's precisely why I am laughing,"said Laddie."Would it help me any to sit down and weep?I trow not!I have thought most of the silent watches--by the way they are far from silent in May--and as I read my title clear,it's my job to plow the west eighty immejit."Father tried to look stern,but he just had to laugh.
"All right then,plow it!"he said.
"What did she say?"asked mother.
"Phew!"Laddie threw up both hands."She must have been bottled some time on the subject.The ferment was a spill of considerable magnitude.The flood rather overwhelmed me,because it was so unexpected.I had been taking for granted that she accepted my circumstances and surroundings as she did me.But no,kind friends,far otherwise!She said last night,in the clearest English I ever heard spoken impromptu,that I was a man suitable for her friend,but I would have to change my occupation before I could be received on more than a friendly footing.""`On more than a friendly footing'?"repeated mother.
"You have her exact words,"said Laddie."Kindly pass the ham.""What did you say?"
"Nothing!I am going to plow the answer.Please don't object to my beginning this morning.""You try yourself all winter to get as far as you have,and then upset the bowl like this?"cried mother.
"Softly,mummy,softly!"said Laddie."What am I to do?I've definitely decided on my work.I see land and life,as you and father taught me,in range and in perspective far more than you've got from it.You had a first hand wrestle.The land I covet has been greatly improved already.I can do what I choose with it,****** no more strenuous effort than plowing;and I am proud to say that I LOVE to plow.I like my feet in the soil.I want my head in the spring air.I can become almost tipsy on the odours that fill my nostrils.Music evolved by the Almighty is plenty good enough for me.I'm proud of a spanking big team,under the control of a touch or a word.I enjoy farming,and I am going to be a farmer.Plowing is one of the most pleasing parts of the job.Sowing the seed beats it a little,from an artistic standpoint,either is preferable to haying,threshing,or corn cutting:all are parts of my work,so I'm going to begin.
Mother,I hope you don't mind if I take your grays.I'll be very careful;but the picture I present to my girl to-day is going to go hard with her at best,so I'd like to make it level best."He arose,went around and knelt beside mother.He took her,chair and all,in his arms:
"Best of mothers!on my breast Lean thy head,and sink to rest."She quoted.Mother laughed.
"Mammy,"he asked bending toward her,"am I clean?""You goose!"she said,putting her arms around him and holding him tight.
"Gander love,"said Laddie,turning up his face for a kiss.
