THE DRAPERY OF VINES 315 



accordin' to their natures and they 're settled in 

 no time, people o' set feelin's and trees bein' 

 different. But I '11 say this for the vines you 

 must cut 'em back to the root and let 'em spring 

 up fresh and take their own hold o' things. Each 

 one has its own way o' twistin', and won't go 

 back -handed. One that by nature goes left -wise 

 '11 lie flat on the ground 'fore it '11 twist to the 

 right, even if there 's good stuff to hang to 

 near-by showin' plenty o' spunk where it don't 

 seem of no account, jest like leanin' folks. 



"All that tackin' and tyin' up I 've done won't 

 amount to anything only to keep the vines from 

 breakin' down till they feel their own fingers again. 

 . i . Be you in a hurry? No? Then I '11 

 fetch chairs, for I 've some 'at more to lay before 

 you. 



"The lease o' my old farm bein' out in October, 

 I let 'em know I did n't calkerlate to rent again, 

 and quicker 'n greased lightnin' a story got around 

 that Eph was married and comin' home ter live, 

 and all such like. I felt called to stop talk by 

 tellin' the new minister's wife the facts yesterday 

 when she was passin' up this road a-blackberryin'. 

 Nothin' about Eph's tale-tellin' and A-lois' letter, 

 but jest that he was dead and had done well with 



