"Did I bring that thing home in that shape?"
"Honest!" said Dannie.
"I remember buyin' it," said Jimmy slowly. "I remember hanging on
to it like grim death, for it was the wan excuse I had for goin',
but I don't just know how--!" Slowly he revolved the pail, and then
he rolled over in the hay and laughed until he was tired. Then he
sat up and wiped his eyes. "Great day! What a lot of fun I must
have had before I got that milk pail into that shape," he said.
"Domned if I don't go straight to town and buy another one; yes,
bedad! I'll buy two!"
In the meantime Dannie milked, fed and watered the cattle, and
Jimmy picked up the pail of milk and carried it to the house.
Dannie came by the wood pile and brought in a heavy load. Then they
washed, and sat down to supper.
"Seems to me you look unusually perky," said Jimmy to his wife.
"Had any good news?"
"Splendid!" said Mary. "I am so glad! And I don't belave you
two stupids know!"
"You niver can tell by lookin' at me what I know," said Jimmy.
"Whin I look the wisest I know the least. Whin I look like a fool,
I'm thinkin' like a philosopher."
"Give it up," said Dannie promptly. You would not catch him knowing
anything it would make Mary's eyes shine to tell.
"Sap is running!" announced Mary.
"The Divil you say!" cried Jimmy.
"It is!" beamed Mary. "It will be full in three days. Didn't you
notice how green the maples are? I took a little walk down to the
bottom to-day. I niver in all my life was so tired of winter, and
the first thing I saw was that wet look on the maples, and on the
low land, where they are sheltered and yet get the sun, several of
them are oozing!"
"Grand!" cried Dannie.
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