28 LIBERTY AND A LIVING. 



have given a new start to the whole garden, which 

 last week seemed to be taking a rest after the 

 summer's exertions, and ready to give up the 

 battle for the year. The late beans, carrots, 

 turnips, lettuce, tomatoes looking superb. 

 Wrote from ten to twelve, intending to go 

 oystering in the afternoon with the children. 

 After lunch it was blowing great guns on the 

 bay, the white caps in every direction. Only 

 half-a-dozen boats out, and those triple-reefed ; 

 too rough for pleasant oystering, and so started 

 off again for the woods, baby and all, the baby 

 going along in his carriage. Went in for tree- 

 cutting as if life depended upon it. Took a new 

 road across country coming back and got lost, 

 but found a deserted orchard and filled the 

 baby-carriage with enough stolen apples to last 

 a week. No letters in the mail, no books, 

 nothing. Finished up the Galaxy sketches of 

 James, and voted them well worth the time 

 spent upon them. 



Wednesday. A touch of frost in the air, al- 

 though September is not half over. After 

 breakfast, filled up some gaps in my new straw- 

 berry bed with runners from the old one. Dug 

 four post-holes in order to get good stout sup- 

 port for the wire fence which must go around 

 the whole garden next year. Went oystering 

 after lunch with A. and L. and the children. 

 Delightful on the water, although towards the 

 ocean every thing seems to be as deserted by 



