"Jimmy, we must peel those rats in a hurry,
and then clean the spiles, and see how mony new ones we will need.
To-morrow we must come frae the traps early and look up our troughs."
"Oh, for pity sake, don't pile up work enough to kill a horse,"
cried Jimmy. "Ain't you ever happy unless you are workin'?"
"Yes," said Dannie. "Sometimes I find a book that suits me, and
sometimes the fish bite, and sometimes it's in the air."
"Git the condinser" said Jimmy. "And that reminds me, Mary, Dannie
smelled spring in the air to-day."
"Well, what if he did?" questioned Mary. "I can always smell it. A
little later, when the sap begins to run in all the trees, and the
buds swell, and the ice breaks up, and the wild geese go over, I
always scent spring; and when the catkins bloom, then it comes strong,
and I just love it. Spring is my happiest time. I have more news, too!"
"Don't spring so much at wance!" cried Jimmy, "you'll spoil my appetite."
"I guess there's no danger," replied Mary.
"There is," said Jimmy. "At laste in the fore siction. `Appe' is
Frinch, and manes atin'. `Tite' is Irish, and manes drinkin'.
Appetite manes atin' and drinkin' togither. `Tite' manes drinkin'
without atin', see?"
"I was just goin' to mintion it meself," said Mary, "it's where you
come in strong. There's no danger of anybody spoilin' your drinkin',
if they could interfere with your atin'. You guess, Dannie."
"The dominick hen is setting," ventured Dannie, and Mary's face
showed that he had blundered on the truth.
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