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〃I AM steppin' lively； dad；〃 responded the boy； 〃but it's awful hot。 We can't possibly finish to…day。 It's too much。〃
〃We've got to get through here to…day；〃 the man replied grimly； 〃we're already two weeks late。〃
I know just how the man felt； for I knew well the difficulty a farmer has in getting help in planting time。 The spring waits for no man。 My heart went out to the man and boy struggling there in the heat of their field。 For this is the real warfare of the common life。
〃Why；〃 I said to myself with a curious lift of the heart； 〃they have need of a fellow just like me。〃
At that moment the boy saw me and； missing a step in the rhythm of the planting； the father also looked up and saw me。 But neither said a word until the furrows were finished； and the planters came to refill their baskets。
〃Fine afternoon；〃 I said； sparring for an opening。
〃Fine；〃 responded the man rather shortly； glancing up from his work。 I recalled the scores of times I had been exactly in his place； and had glanced up to see the stranger in the road。
〃Got another basket handy？〃 I asked。
〃There is one somewhere around here；〃 he answered not too cordially。 The boy said nothing at all； but eyed me with absorbing interest。 The gloomy look had already gone from his face。
I slipped my gray bag from my shoulder； took off my coat； and put them both down inside the fence。 Then I found the basket and began to fill it from one of the bags。 Both man and boy looked up at me questioningly。 I enjoyed the situation immensely。
〃I heard you say to your son；〃 I said； 〃that you'd have to hurry in order to get in your potatoes to…day。 I can see that for myself。 Let me take a hand for a row or two。〃
The unmistakable shrewd look of the bargainer came suddenly into the man's face； but when I went about my business without hesitation or questioning； he said nothing at all。 As for the boy； the change in his countenance was marvellous to see。 Something new and astonishing had come into the world。 Oh； I know what a thing it is to be a boy and to work in trouting time！
〃How near are you planting； Ben？〃 I asked。
〃About fourteen inches。〃
So we began in fine spirits。 I was delighted with the favourable beginning of my enterprise； there is nothing which so draws men together as their employment at a common task。
Ben was a lad some fifteen years old…very stout and stocky； with a fine open countenance and a frank blue eyeall boy。 His nose was as freckled as the belly of a trout。 The whole situation； including the prospect of help in finishing a tiresome job； pleased him hugely。 He stole a glimpse from time to time at me then at his father。 Finally he said：
〃Say； you'll have to step lively to keep up with dad。〃
〃I'll show you；〃 I said； 〃how we used to drop potatoes when I was a boy。〃
And with that I began to step ahead more quickly and make the pieces fairly fly。
〃We old fellows；〃 I said to the father； 〃must give these young sprouts a lesson once in a while。〃
〃You will； will you？〃 responded the boy； and instantly began to drop the potatoes at a prodigious speed。 The father followed with more dignity； but with evident amusement； and so we all came with a rush to the end of the row。
〃I guess that beats the record across THIS field！〃 remarked the lad； puffing and wiping his forehead。 〃Say； but you're a good one！〃
It gave me a peculiar thrill of pleasure； there is nothing more pleasing than the frank admiration of a boy。
We paused a moment and I said to the man： 〃This looks like fine potato land。〃
〃The' ain't any better in these parts；〃 he replied with some pride in his voice。
And so we went at the planting again： and as we planted we had great talk of seed potatoes and the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical planters； of cultivating and spraying； and all the lore of prices and profits。 Once we stopped at the lower end of the field to get a drink from a jug of water set in the shade of a fence corner； and once we set the horse in the thills and moved the seed farther up the field。 And tired and hungry as I felt I really enjoyed the work； I really enjoyed talking with this busy father and son； and I wondered what their home life was like and what were their real ambitions and hopes。 Thus the sun sank lower and lower； the long shadows began to creep into the valleys； and we came finally toward the end of the field。 Suddenly the boy Ben cried out：
〃There's Sis！〃
I glanced up and saw standing near the gateway a slim； bright girl of about twelve in a fresh gingham dress。
〃We're coming！〃 roared Ben； exultantly。
While we were hitching up the horse； the man said to me：
〃You'll come down with us and have some supper。〃
〃Indeed I will；〃 I replied； trying not to make my response too eager。
〃Did mother make gingerbread to…day？〃 I heard the boy whisper audibly。
〃Sh…h〃 replied the girl； 〃who is that man？〃
〃_I_ don't know〃 with a great accent of mystery〃and dad don't know。 Did mother make gingerbread？〃
〃Sh…hhe'll hear you。〃
〃Gee！ but he can plant potatoes。 He dropped down on us out of a clear sky。〃
〃What is he？〃 she asked。 〃A tramp？〃
〃Nope； not a tramp。 He works。 But； Sis； did mother make gingerbread？〃
So we all got into the light wagon and drove briskly out along the shady country road。 The evening was coming on； and the air was full of the scent of blossoms。 We turned finally into a lane and thus came promptly； for the horse was as eager as we； to the capacious farmyard。 A motherly woman came out from the house； spoke to her son； and nodded pleasantly to me。 There was no especial introduction。 I said merely； 〃My name is Grayson；〃 and I was accepted without a word。
I waited to help the man； whose name I had now learnedit was Stanleywith his horse and wagon； and then we came up to the house。 Near the back door there was a pump； with a bench and basin set just within a little cleanly swept； open shed。 Rolling back my collar and baring my arms I washed myself in the cool water； dashing it over my head until I gasped； and then stepping back； breathless and refreshed； I found the slim girl； Mary； at my elbow with a clean soft towel。 As I stood wiping quietly I could smell the ambrosial odours from the kitchen。 In all my life I never enjoyed a moment more than that； I think。
〃Come in now；〃 said the motherly Mrs。 Stanley。
So we filed into the roomy kitchen； where an older girl； called Kate； was flying about placing steaming dishes upon the table。 There was also an older son； who had been at the farm chores。 It was altogether a fine； vigorous； independent American family。 So we all sat down and drew up our chairs。 Then we paused a moment； and the father； bowing his head； said in a low voice：
〃For all Thy good gifts； Lord； we thank Thee。 Preserve us and keep us through another night。〃
I suppose it was a very ordinary farm meal； but it seems to me I never tasted a better one。 The huge piles of new baked bread； the sweet farm butter； already delicious with the flavour of new grass； the bacon and eggs； the potatoes； the rhubarb sauce； the great plates of new； hot gingerbread and； at the last； the custard piea great wedge of it； with fresh cheese。 After the first ravenous appetite of