CHAPTER II 
EARLY PREPARATIONS 
HE lively way in which the bluebirds continued 
1 to build their nests caused Little Joseph and 
me to think that spring was coming with hasty 
strides, and that there was not a minute to lose in 
making preparations to plant the triangle. Joseph 
had bought some flower seeds with the first money 
we had set aside for our garden, and his fingers 
tingled to put them in the ground. We could not, 
however, induce Timothy to agree that the time for 
doing so really had come. The old man had a 
provoking way of looking at the clouds and then 
dubiously shaking his head. “The farmers are 
still asleep,” he said, “and it is best to follow their 
movements.” From his doubtful expression Little 
Joseph and I began to fear there might always be 
frost behind the clouds. 
In the meantime the Six Spruces was having such 
a clearing up as it had not had in years. Timothy 
assured us that it was better to make the things 
that were already on the old place look “ship- 
shape” before giving attention to new ones. He 
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