A VAGABOND GARDEN 23 



in the dark. So soon as we've got in the crop I 

 shall get on to the job." 



" Why not to-day ? " I inquired. " You must get 

 so very tired of doing nothing. Don't any Canadians 

 do anything on wet days ? " 



" Guess not many does much. Stable-cleaning, 

 water-hauling, milking, and wood-bucking is chores 

 — boy's work. In this country the boss who can't 

 keep a chore-boy he just does the chores himself. 

 When a fellow gets paid by the day, I guess on the 

 days you can't get on the land he principally 

 lies round." 



" But if he turns up three times a day for his 

 meals, Billy, he is expected to lend a hand with the 

 chores, at least that was my experience," struck in 

 Lai. " And as I got water last night, and again 

 this morning, you just go along and do your bit 

 now. And to-night you will milk the easy cow, 

 and I shall milk the hard one. I'll show you which 

 is which." 



" Why, certainly, I'll fetch the water," he 

 answered affably. " But I guess you needn't go 

 out of your way to show me which is which in 

 the matter of cows, seeing as that old bird of Alan's 

 is known for ten miles round. My, but he's tickled 

 to death to have got quit of her ! Not much 

 praise up to him either, as I was telling him, rounding 

 her off on English greenhorns. Guess you couldn't 

 be expected to know no better." 



" Wait until you come to England," advised Lai, 

 with the mask of calmness stretched taut over the 

 wrath which the term " English greenhorn " always 

 kindles in his British heart. " We'll talk about 

 * greenhorns ' then." 



