“I hope it will be the last year that we will have to try raising a crop without a fence,” Jessie replied. For our fence building had stopped abruptly with the digging of some post holes on that day in April. Pumping the water out of the mine had been an expensive piece of work, and all the valley people who had lost relatives in the accident, many who had not, indeed, had come gallantly to the Gray Eagle’s aid when that task was undertaken. Because of the aid that we had furnished, our fence was still unbuilt.
CHAPTER X
RALPH AND I GO BLACKBERRYING
“Chillen’s, dere’s lots ob blackberries on de hill above de w’eat fiel’,” Joe stopped to remark, as he was about starting for the blacksmith shop with the reaper, the next morning.
“They’ll have to stay there as far as I’m concerned,” returned Jessie, who was busily engaged in sewing up the gaping rents in Mr. Horton’s coat; “I haven’t time to gather them.”
“Me do det ’em!” exclaimed Ralph, starting up from the floor, where he had been vainly trying to fasten some paper boots on Guard’s paws. Guard did not object, but, when a boot was, after much trouble, partially secured, he took it in his mouth and calmly pulled it off. “Me do dit ’ackburries yite now,” reiterated Ralph.
“No,” said Jessie, “Ralphie can’t go.”