380 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



badly infested by them ; the whole top was stripped of 

 leaves, and the cone-shaped baskets were pendant from 

 every branch. I fear the tree may be beyond help, but 

 I resolved to try to save it by plucking and burning all 

 the baskets. I ordered Dan to get the orchard step- 

 iadder and help me in this work. I was surprised to 

 see him hold back and seek to avoid the duty, but he 

 tinally obe\'ed and gathered the branches into a hea]) 

 as I clipped them from the tree. However, he kept 

 muttering over his task, and shook his head continually 

 in a most solemn way. I set this down as one of his 

 oddities and took no notice of it. The tree was stripped 

 at last and a great pile of basket-worms gathered. 



"Now, Dan," I said, "get a few kindlers and we 

 shall make a little bonfire." 



" Yo aint gwine to burn up dese tings. Mars May- 

 fiel', be yo ?" 



" Certainly ; why not ? Come, hurry up !" 



The old fellow took oft' his hat and stood twisting the 

 brim around and around through his fiugers. He 

 looked as solemn as the grave. I began to show some 

 vexation, I suppose, for he said : 



" Mars MayfieP, I done sarve yo tro a. id faiful, alluz ; 

 an' alluz meanter do my duty 's well 's I know how. 

 But dar 's some tings wat a man haint no right ter do, 

 nur ax anoder man ter do for 'im. An' dat's jes one 

 uv 'em. Ef yo'll please 'scuse me from doin' dat, I'll 

 be powerful lilceged ter yo. I ax yo pardon, but clar 

 to goodness, Mars'r I can't do dat ling." 



I saw that he was in serious earnest, and relieved 



