75 



smooth and hard through the short, velvety 

 grass. 



The garden lies four-square inside tall, 

 ragged palings. Once, mayhap a long, 

 long time ago it had some semblance of 

 walk and border some due arrangement of 

 its garnered wealth. A trellised arbor goes 

 straight away from the sagging gate to a 

 curious green wall at the other end. Grnpe- 

 vines sprawl over the rough frame work 

 not clipped and pruned to the vineyard's 

 niggard length, but wreathen, riotous, creep- 

 ing, climbing along roof and wall, hanging 

 there in their season long trails of leaf and 

 blossom and clustered sweet fruit. 



How fair it shows in the sun all pinky- 

 brown, all blackly-purple, all as green and 

 clear as a mermaid's eyes hanging so 

 thick under the roof of leaves. The wise 

 women are generous in their season. Not 

 only may you eat your fill, but pluck gen- 

 erous handfuls to carry away. Presently 

 you see that they can well afford to be. 

 Coming out on the green wall it turns all 

 to tossing spears a poor, small cane-brake, 

 kept* partly for use, partly for sentiment. 

 The wise woman remembers her childhood, 

 when cane covered the land. Between times 

 of gathering simples and going abroad to 



