CHAPTER XI. 



OHN Shane's neighbors came promptly to 

 his assistance, as they always do in farming- 

 communities. They came with their teams 

 and tools, prepared to put in the corn, and 

 the work of plowing up the ground and replanting the 

 corn went merrily on. The birds came and did their 

 share of the work. They followed the plows all day 

 long and caughf every worm that came to view. The 

 men plowed the ground and harrowed it and stirred it 

 all they could, so that the birds might get the worms. 

 Shane's horses went to the work with a will, and did as 

 much as any team on the farm. It was a glorious day, 

 and a jollier crowd of men never got together than 

 these same farmers. They felt happy because they 

 were doing a generous deed, and they worked with a 

 will until noon. The dinner bell rang and they went 

 to the house to meet a fresh surprise. Every man's 

 wife and daughter was there, and they had spread a 

 long table under the trees, and put on it a feast that 

 would tempt the appetite of an epicure. 



They had gotten Mr. Shane in a chair and placed 

 him at the window where he could see it all ; and 

 Mrs. Shane sat by his side, husband and wife, happier 



