299 



" Robert, please come here and bring your h'oe. If you 

 have a foot-rule, please measure the blade of your hoe, and 

 then measure my rake." 



" I have no rule, but can place them side by side and 

 compare the width of each." 



Taking up the tools he laid them side by side. 



" The rake is more than twice as wide as the hoe ; if the 

 hoe is six inches, the rake is more than twelve. I see what 

 you" are aiming at, Harriet. You think the rake will do 

 twice as much work as the hoe ; that every stroke will go 

 over a greater space, and consequently there will be a sav- 

 ing of time and labor. A good idea, but will it work? 

 Will it do as well? Can you kill the weeds by raking 

 them up ? " 



" Come and see." 







" I declare, Hattie, that is a success. How came you to 

 think of it?" 



" Pure inspiration. Country living has clarified my 

 brain. I shall expect to shine " 



Looking up, I discovered that the man by the fence had 

 climbed over, and was standing near, with his hands in his 

 pockets, staring open-mouthed at our doings, and saying : 



" I swaney if she aint got a head-piece. Who'd a-thought 

 it would work so? Every weed's killed. I don't believe 

 Sally or Jane would have done it." 



