TRANSPLANTING OF EVERGREENS 255 



over this morning to do some little tinkering in the 

 barn camp, especially in strengthening the stays of 

 the shower-bath tank, when, as he was on his knees 

 fastening a brace to a post, in some inexplicable man- 

 ner the string was pulled and the contents of the entire 

 barrel of cold well-water were released, the first sprinkle 

 so astonishing and bewildering poor Amos that he 

 remained where he was, and so received a complete 

 drenching. 



Bart and Larry were up in the woods getting the 

 day's load of hemlocks, and I, hearing the spluttering 

 and groans, went to Amos's rescue as well as I could, 

 and together with Maria Maxwell got him to the 

 kitchen, where hot tea and dry clothes should have 

 completely revived him in spite of age. As, however, 

 to-day, it seems, is the anniversary of a famous illness 

 he acquired back in '64, on his return from the Civil 

 War, the peculiarities of which he has not yet ceased 

 proclaiming, he is evidently determined to celebrate it 

 forthwith, so he has taken to his bed, groaning with 

 a stitch in his side. The doctor has been telephoned, 

 and Maria Maxwell, as usual bursting with energy, 

 which on this occasion takes a form between that of 

 a dutiful daughter and a genuine country neighbour, 

 has gone over to Opal Farm to tidy up a bit until 



