CHAPTER XIII--BELLE'S CHOICE OF A PROFESSION

Solomon's Seal Patrol invited the Tenderfoot members to their camp on the afternoon before the Fourth of July to begin their lessons in scouting. Frances agreed to notify the three Greenville girls of the invitation and then call for them at the time appointed.

Because of the afternoon to be spent at the camp, Natalie planned to give her entire morning to the garden. There had been enough rainfall at intervals, during the time she had first started her garden, to keep the plants sufficiently moist, but for several days, now, the sun had baked the soil and there had been no sign of a cloud in the sky.

At breakfast that Saturday morning Natalie spoke of it. "Jimmy, my garden is as dry as a lime-kiln. What had I better do about it?"

"You might try sprinkling it with a hose. I see there is a hydrant right near the box-hedge--for that very purpose, I guess."

"I never thought of that! But I will need a hose," said Natalie.

"I saw one in the cellar, Nat, when I was nosing about for some old flower-pots to cover my transplanted flowers," now remarked Norma.

"Then I'll get it out right after breakfast, and see if it will screw onto the hydrant."

Norma went with Natalie as she went down the outside cellar-steps to the partitioned corner where the hose had been seen. It was wound on an old wooden rack that could be carried up to the grass-plot and turned to unwind the long piece of rubber.

"Isn't it great to discover this all ready for us?" said Natalie delightedly.

"With a brass cap on one end to screw it to the hydrant, too," added Norma.

The other girls gathered around to watch the two gardeners manipulate the hose, and when it had been carefully unwound Natalie dragged one end over to the hedge to try and screw the cap to the hydrant.

This was soon accomplished, and Norma then straightened out the length of rubber to allow the water to flow through it more readily when Natalie should turn the faucet. As the unexpected advent of a garden hose was a cause for celebration, the four girls called to Mrs. James to come out and watch the sprinkler work.

Rachel felt that she must be on the spot also, so she hurried out, wiping her wet hands on her apron as she came.

"All ready, Nat,--turn on the water!" called Norma, as she picked up the end with the sprinkler on it.

Natalie turned the brass faucet and instantly the flow of water swelled the hose out, but there were many punctures in its length, and one serious crack, so that the water spurted up through the holes and made graceful fountains. There was enough force of water, however, to cause a fine shower of water to come from the sprinkler, until suddenly, without warning, a sound as of a muffled explosion came, and quite near the sprinkler the rubber burst and shot forth a stream of water.

"Wait a minit, Honey--I'll run an' git a piece of mendin' tape what I foun' in my kitchen closet," called Rachel, hurrying up the stoop-steps and disappearing through the doorway.

The girls tried to stop the undesired spurt of water by placing their hands over the crack and on other holes in the length of the tube. Then Rachel appeared with the bicycle tape, and was just coming down the steps when Natalie called to her.

Norma still held the sprinkler in her hand and now turned to see what Rachel had; in so doing, she unconsciously turned the end of the hose also, so that instantly all the girls trying to stop the leakage were thoroughly sprinkled.

Such a screaming and shouting ensued that Norma instantly turned to see what had happened. This time the water drenched Mrs. James, who fled precipitately for the house.

Rachel was haw-hawing loudly at the funny scene when Norma turned to explain the accident to the girls. Without warning, the shower now fell upon Rachel, who had approached within its radius.

But the latter was not as docile about being soaked as were the girls. She dashed forward, caught the hose from Norma's hands and threw it upon the grass.

"Turn dat water off at d' hydran', Natalie Av'rill!" shouted the irate woman.

Natalie had been laughing immoderately at the outcome of the experiment with the hose, but she quickly obeyed Rachel's order and turned off the water.

"You thought it was awfully funny, Rachie, until you got a soaking yourself," called Natalie, still giggling.

"Me! I wa'n't mad, a'tall! I jes' wants to mend dis pipe, an' one cain't do nuthin' wid water flyin' through it at such a rate. Now I kin wrap dis tape aroun' it an' fix it, so's you kin water your gardens," explained Rachel loftily.

After this incident the hose was mended and Natalie soon had her young vegetables well watered and left to the mercy of the sun that day. No one at Green Hill Farm knew enough to advise her not to water the plants while the sun was shining upon them, and Natalie fondly fancied she had done a good thing.

Norma sprinkled her flowers well when Natalie had done with the hose, but the flower beds were sheltered from the noonday sun, so they did not fare as badly as did the vegetables.

Sam was in the barnyard helping Janet construct a new shed for the calf which she wanted to buy the next week, and he was not so well versed in farm-lore, so Natalie never understood why all her tender seedlings should wilt so quickly and seem to dry away before the afternoon heat.

The tomato plants, that had been transplanted from Mr. Ames's farm, had grown wonderfully well, and were large enough to warrant Natalie's starting the frames which would be needed when the red fruit appeared on the vines. So she planned how to make the best kind of square frame for them, as she loosened the soil about the potato plants that morning.

Her thoughts were so filled with the vision of the lath frames that she failed to see something crawling on a tiny leaf of the potato vine where she was hoeing. When her eye was attracted to the movement, she gave a slight shudder and screamed.

"Wat's d' matter now?" called Rachel from the kitchen steps.

"Ooh! A horrid bug on one of my dear little potato vines!" cried Natalie, standing still to watch the crawling beetle.

Rachel hurried over to the garden. "Da's onny a tater-bug, Honey. Ain't chew ever hear tell of tater-bugs? Ef you'se let 'em go, dey will eat up all your taters in no time."

As she explained, Rachel took the Colorado beetle between her fat thumb and forefinger and soon crushed it. Natalie shivered as she watched the remains flung away, but Rachel meant business and had no time for dainty shudderings.

In a few minutes she had turned over other tiny leaves and revealed many bugs eating away at the juicy food. These were quickly caught and killed, but a few of them managed to get away by flying up out of Rachel's reach.

Natalie stood by and watched, and when Rachel said: "Now you'se kin go on wid dis job. Ebery vine has to be hunted on and dem tater-bugs killed off."

"Rachie, I just can't crush them the way you do!" complained Natalie.

Rachel looked at the girl for a moment, then said: "Neber mind dis way, Honey. I'll git Sam to fix you up a tin can on a stick. You kin have some kerosene in it and brush dese pests into t' can by using a short stick. Dey can't fly away, when once dey fall in dat kerosene."

"But Rachel, isn't there a way to keep the horrid pests away from my garden?" asked Natalie anxiously.

"Yeh--we'se will have to squirt Paris Green or hellebore on the leaves, I rickon," returned Rachel thoughtfully.

"Then tell Frances to buy some next time she drives past Si Tompkins' store," said Natalie, turning her back on the potato-beds and starting work on the bean-plants.

The weeding had all been finished, and most of the potato-vines had been cleaned of the beetles, before the noonday meal was announced to the busy workers. They were half famished, as was usual nowadays, and hastened to the house to wash and clean up before appearing in the dining-room.

Frances drove to the Corners and not only got the powder for Natalie's plants, but also got the two girls who were to attend the Scout meeting that day. Having left them at the house, she drove on to Ames's farm for Dorothy.

Mr. Ames came out of the corn-house when he saw the car and walked over to speak to Frances. Dorothy was almost ready, so while there were a few minutes to fill, Frances told the farmer about Natalie's potato-bugs and the powder she bought.

"Tell her to use it when the leaves are damp with dew in the mornin'--it has better results that time. Ef she squirts it on dry, an' the leaves are dry, too, the eggs won't die. It is the wet paste made on the leaves when the powder melts in the dew that chokes off the young so they can't breathe."

"I'll tell her what you say," replied Frances thankfully.

"An' warn her to keep an eye open fer cutworms, too, 'cause they will appear about these times, when beans an' young vines are becomin' hearty. I've hed many a fine plant of cabbitch chopped down through the stem, jus' as it was goin' to head."

Natalie was given these advices and felt that she was being well looked after, with two interested farmers at hand to keep her right.

The afternoon at Solomon's Seal Patrol Camp was spent in interesting ways. Miss Mason first read the principles of the Girl Scouts, then repeated the motto. Most of the girls knew the slogan, which they gave in unison, and then said the pledge aloud.

Miss Mason then read the letter from National Headquarters which was a reply to her application for a Troop registration. The members of the first Patrol had heard its news--that they might begin their ceremonies as a Troop, because the application had been filed and accepted, and the registration would soon reach them.

The new Patrol heard this with delight, and the fact that they were going to be actual members of a Troop made them feel that they had become more important to the public than ever, in the last few minutes.

The new Scouts were put through several tests that afternoon, and were then permitted to watch the Scouts of Patrol No. 1 do many thrilling First Aid demonstrations. The afternoon ended with refreshments, all prepared and served by the girls. The cakes, wild berries and lemonade tasted delicious as the girls sat under the great oak tree and chatted.

On the homeward walk, Nancy Sherman said to Natalie: "There are a few more girls at the Corners who are crazy to join the Scouts this summer. But I told them I thought our Patrol was full. Was that right?"

"Who are the girls--and how old are they, Nancy?"

"Oh, most of them are about thirteen or fourteen, but one girl is past fifteen. There are six, in all, and they say that they know some more girls who will join when they hear of it."

"Why can't they start Patrol No. 3, and belong to this same Troop," suggested Janet.

"That's just what I was thinking," said Natalie.

Then Mrs. James spoke. "Nancy, you invite all these girls to our farm some day and we will entertain them. After we have shown them what we can do in Scout work we will accept them as candidates, if they consent to become _our_ Tenderfoot Scouts. In this way, girls, you all can win the needed test to enroll as a First Class Scout when the time is at hand."

This was an excellent idea, and the girls felt greatly encouraged at the hope of being able to take the examinations as First Class Scouts, of Patrol No. 2, of Solomon's Seal Troop.

Nancy was entrusted with the invitation to the girls, and warned to keep secrecy about the plan to secure the approval as First Class Scouts on their Tenderfoot training.

Sam and the car were nowhere in sight when the girls reached the house, but Rachel came out and explained.

"A telerphone call come f'om Noo York f'om dat antique woman, sayin' fer Belle t' git dat ol' chest of drawers oveh by Tarrytown road, right now. It war to be expressed at onct to her shop in Noo York, what Belle had an address of, so I had Sam go along to git it an' fetch it back so's we coul' pack an' ship it right off."

"Oh, Rachel! He need not have done that! I made all arrangements with a man near there to get the chest to the railroad station and express it to the city. I was only awaiting orders," exclaimed Belle, annoyed at the way her well-laid plans were upset.

"I wuz thinkin', Honey, dat mebbe dat man would cost somethin' to do t' wuk, an' Sam ain't doin' nuthin' whiles he's waitin' fer orders. So yuh oughta get dat money foh yo'se'f."

Belle had not thought of this, and now she saw that Sam and Rachel were planning for her benefit. But Frances said: "How is he ever going to carry the chest if it is a big affair?"

"It isn't, Frans," said Belle. "It is a low-boy that will easily go in the tonneau, and no harm come to the car."

"Then I think Sam's plan was good. It saved you time and expense," said Mrs. James.

"Yes, and I must share the charges the man would have asked me, with Sam," said Belle.

This pleased Rachel immensely,--that her kin should be commended and given a share in the profits. She felt amply repaid for all the solicitude she had felt about the order.

The Solomon's Seal Tenderfoot Scouts had to walk home that day to the Corners, as Sam was not expected back in time to drive them home. The Green Hill girls accompanied their fellow-members to the gate and watched them depart.

That evening Sam told Belle that he would build her a strong crate from some old wood found in the barn, and the chest could be taken to White Plains station early Monday. This plan would save time, and also the cost of crating and expressage if done at Tarrytown. So the chauffeur was highly commended for the suggestion and told to do it as soon as he could.

The experiences of Belle that summer in hunting antiques in the Westchester Hill farms were most interesting, but no room can be spared in this book for the telling of her adventures. So that must wait for a volume on her exploits.

As the next day was Sunday, Natalie did not do any garden work, but Janet had to attend to her farmyard stock the same as on week-days. She grumbled a great deal over the cares and endless work of a stock-farmer, but the girls noticed that she was daily planning to add to her troubles by buying additions.

The girls were seated under the large sugar maple on the side lawn, waiting for Janet to finish her feeding of the pigs and chickens, when a siren was heard. Natalie jumped up and saw a car approaching along the road. A party of ladies were with the man who drove the machine.

"Oh, I do believe it is Mr. Marvin, girls!" called Natalie.

"What!" cried Mrs. James in consternation. "Just look at us all--in our old clothes!"

But the automobile was already at the gate, and the girls found to their delight that he had brought out their mothers.

It seemed like ages since they had seen each other. The girls talked eagerly of all that had happened since they came to Green Hill. Norma showed her flower beds, which really were looking good. And Belle told about her antique collecting. Frances displayed with pride the sum of money already earned with her private jitney, and Janet took the greatest satisfaction in escorting her younger sister Helene and the ladies to the barnyard to see her stock. Natalie, last of all, showed her gardens, which looked as neat as a row of pins.

Mr. Marvin complimented the girls on all their work, and then spoke of the roses in Natalie's cheeks and the difference in her general physical looks.

"I suppose you are going to stay to dinner, aren't you?" ventured Natalie cautiously.

"No; we are invited to dine with some friends quite near Green Hill Farm, but we thought we ought to stop in and see you before we go on to our hostess's place," said Mr. Marvin.

"I never knew you people were acquainted with anyone around here," said Janet, wonderingly, to her mother.

"We are, however. A young lady we know well in the city is summering in Greenville, and we came to visit her and her family."

Neither of the girls dreamed that Mrs. Wardell was referring to Miss Mason and her Troop, so they kept guessing who the acquaintance might be. Finally Mr. Marvin laughed and told the secret.

Natalie laughed, too, and said: "Well, we certainly were thick-witted that time. We might have known it was Miss Mason's camp."

Mr. Marvin could not take his eyes from Natalie, she was so different from the girl he had always known in the city. As she told of the adventures she and the girls had with their "professions" and the funny experiences with the old garden hose, her face was so alive with healthy interest and her eyes sparkled with such fun, that everyone saw the benefit the country life had been to her.

Later, as they all started for Solomon's Seal Camp, Mr. Marvin confided to Mrs. James: "She is so changed that I do not dread her return to the city again. She hasn't spoken one morbid word, nor seemed pessimistic once, since I've been here."

"She isn't, either," admitted Mrs. James. "Ever since she started work on that garden she has mentioned nothing that has happened in the past to cause her sorrow. I sometimes wonder if she has forgotten it all."

"Let's hope so. These mournful remembrances never do anyone the slightest good. Don't revive them in her memory."