The Rescue of an Old Place 



We decide east winds that blow across the meadow 

 from the sea. We decided that here a 

 row of Willows would come in admirably, 

 as there would be plenty of rich moist soil 

 for the young trees to root in, and with 

 such a protection the wind-swept garden 

 would in time be warm and secluded, 

 while the silvery foliage would be a har- 

 monious setting for the emerald meadow 

 and the sapphire stream. 



This idea we carried out the week after 

 we made our purchase. A friendly far- 

 mer neighbor, compassionating our folly in 

 starting such an enterprise, but anxious to 

 see what we would make out of the place, 

 kindly offered to give us as many cuttings 

 as we wanted ; so one bright day in June 

 he appeared upon the scene with a cart- 

 load of Willows, a crowbar, and a hatchet, 

 and, with a man or two to help him, before 

 night he had cut and driven firmly into 

 holes, easily punched by the crowbar in 

 the soft soil, some five hundred bare 

 stakes, every one of which in a few weeks 

 put forth a crop of roots and leaves. 



The stakes, sharpened at the end, were 

 about three feet in length, one foot of 

 14 



