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There was not one of the workmen with me who had forethought enough or care for our master's interest to ask whose boards those were which we left there； or why we left them there。 Indeed； they knew the next Monday that I went up with the Swede； to bring back such lumber was we did not use； and none of them knew or cared how much we left there。
For me； I was only eager to get to work； and that day seemed very long to me。 But that Monday afternoon I asked my master if I might have the team again for my own use for an hour or so； to move some stuff of mine and my mother's； and he gave it to me readily。
I had then only to drive up…town to a friendly lumberman's； where my own stuff was already lying waiting for me to load up； with the assistance of the workmen there； and to drive as quickly as I could into the church alley。 Here I looked around； and seeing a German who looked as if he were only a day from Bremen； I made signs to him that if he would help me I would give him a piece of scrip which I showed him。 The man had been long enough in the country to know that the scrip was good for lager。 He took hold manfully with me； and carried my timbers and boards into the enclosure through a gap I made in the fence for the purpose。 I gave him his money and he went away。 As he went to Minnesota the next day； he never mentioned to anybody the business he had been engaged in。
Meanwhile； I had bought my hand…cart of the man who owned it。 I left a little pile of heavy cedar logs on the outside； spiking them to each other indeed； that they should not be easily moved。 And to them and to my posts I padlocked the hand…cart； nor was it ever disturbed during my reign in those regions。 So I had easy method enough when I wanted a bundle or two of laths； or a bunch of shingles； or anything else for my castle； to bring them up in the cool of the evening； and to discharge my load without special observation。 My pile of logs； indeed； grew eventually into a blind or screen； which quite protected that corner of the church alley from the view of any passer…by in Fernando Street。
Of that whole summer； happy and bright as it all was； I look back most often on the first morning when I got fairly to work on my new home。 I told my mother that for some weeks I should have to start early； and that she must not think of getting up for my breakfast。 I told her that there was extra work on a job up…town； and that I had promised to be there at five every day while the summer lasted。 She left for me a pot of coffee； which I promised her I would warm when the time for breakfast and dinner came； and for the rest； she always had my dinner ready in my tin dinner…pail。 Little did she know then； sweet saint！ that I was often at Fernando Street by half… past three in the first sweet gray of those summer days。
On that particular day； it was really scarcely light enough for me to find the nail I drew from the plank which I left for my entrance。 When I was fairly within and the plank was replaced； I felt that I was indeed 〃monarch of all I surveyed。〃 What did I survey？ The church wall on the north； on the south； my own screen of spruce boards； now well dry； on the east and west； the ten…foot fences which I had built myself； and over that on the west； God's deep； transparent sky； in which I could still see a planet whose name I did not know。 It was a heaven； indeed； which He had said was as much mine as his！
The first thing； of course； was to get out my frame。 This was a work of weeks。 The next thing was to raise it。 And here the first step was the only hard one； nor was this so hard as it would seem。 The highest wall of my house was no higher than the ten…foot fence we had already built on the church alley。 The western wall； if； indeed； a frame house has any walls； was only eight feet high。 For foundations and sills； I dug deep post…holes； in which I set substantial cedar posts which I knew would outlast my day； and I framed my sills into these。 I made the frame of the western wall lie out upon the ground in one piece； and I only needed a purchase high enough； and a block with repeating pulleys strong enough； to be able to haul up the whole frame by my own strength； unassisted。 The high purchase I got readily enough by making what we called a 〃three…leg；〃 near twenty feet high； just where my castle was to stand。 I had no difficulty in hauling this into its place by a solid staple and ring； which for this purpose I drove high in the church wall。 My multiplying pulley did the rest； and after it was done； I took out the staple and mended the hole it had made； so the wall was as good as ever。
You see it was nobody's business what shanty or what tower old Mark Henry or the Fordyce heirs might or might not put on the vacant corner lot。 The Fordyce heirs were all in nurseries and kindergartens in Geneva； and indeed would have known nothing of corner lots had they been living in their palace in Fourteenth Street。 As for Mark Henry； that one great achievement by which he rode up to Fernando Street was one of the rare victories of his life； of which ninety…nine hundredths were spent in counting…houses。 Indeed； if he had gone there； all he would have seen was his ten…foot fence； and he would have taken pride to himself that he had it built so high。
When the day of the first raising came； and the frame slipped into the mortises so nicely； as I had foreordained that it should do； I was so happy that I could scarcely keep my secret from my mother。 Indeed； that day I did run back to dinner。 And when she asked me what pleased me so； I longed to let her know； but I only smoothed her cheeks with my hands and kissed her on both of them； and told her it was because she was so handsome that I was so pleased。 She said she knew I had a secret from her； and I owned that I had； but she said she would not try to guess； but would wait for the time for me to tell her。
And so the summer sped by。 Of course I saw my sweetheart； as I then called my mother； less and less。 For I worked till it was pitch…dark at the castle； and after it was closed in； so I could work inside； I often worked till ten o'clock by candlelight。 I do not know how I lived with so little sleep； I am afraid I slept pretty late on Sundays。 But the castle grew and grew； and the common…room； which I was most eager to finish wholly before cold weather； was in complete order three full weeks before my mother's birthday came。
Then came the joy of furnishing it。 To this I had looked forward all the summer； and I had measured with my eye many a bit of furniture； and priced； in an unaffected way； many an impossible second…hand finery； so that I knew just what I could do and what I could not do。
My mother had always wanted a Banner stove。 I knew this； and it was a great grief to me that she had none； though she would never say anything about it。
To my great joy； I found a second…hand Banner stove； No。 2； at a sort of old junk…shop； which was； in fact； an old curiosity shop not three blocks away from Ninety… ninth Avenue。 Some one had sold this to them while it was really as good as new； and yet the keeper offered it to me at half…price。
I hung round the place a good de