THE FIRST PLANTING 
23 
out of the ground. The air, however, was still 
chilly. As Joseph gradually raked down by the 
boggy point of the triangle he saw that the pussy- 
willow shrubs were nearly covered with soft grey 
catkins. They had grown a great deal since the 
last time he looked at them, and were the largest 
pussy-willows he had ever seen. This was because 
no one had picked from or marred the bushes for 
many years. In this quiet corner of Nestly they 
had grown stronger and lustier every season. 
Our Aunt Amanda had not cared for flowers, 
except the blush-rose bush and the lemon verbena ; 
neither had she cared for people, and surely no 
one would have ventured into her place to pick 
or to destroy anything. These pussy-willows looked 
different from the thin, little twigs and small cat- 
kins that we had seen by the side of the public road- 
way. They, poor things, stand where any one 
may pluck them. After a few more years they 
will perhaps grow tired of blooming for no better 
purpose and will give up altogether. 
Joseph was extremely cheerful at having such 
fine pussy-willows at the Six Spruces. He thought 
they could not have more perfect ones even at 
Nestly Heights. I knew then that Joseph was 
touched by the spirit of rivalry which lies hidden 
in all gardeners. 
