I learned that Bagley was out of work, and employed him to excavate the bank for these new buildings.  We saved the surface earth carefully for compost purposes, and then struck some clean, nice gravel, which was carted away to a convenient place for our roads and walks.  On a hillside near the creek were large stones and rocks in great quantity, and some of these were broken up for the foundations.  Along the edge of the creek we also found some excellent sand, and therefore were saved not a little expense in starting our improvements.

It did not take the masons long to point up and strengthen the old foundations, and early in September everything was under full headway, the sound of hammer, saw, and plane resounding all day long.  It was Winnie’s and Bobsey’s task to gather up the shavings and refuse bits of lumber, and carry them to the woodhouse.

“The ease and quickness with which we can build fires next winter,” I said, “is a pleasant thing to think of.”

Meanwhile the garden was not neglected.  The early flight of summer-boarders had greatly reduced the demand for vegetables, and now we began to hoard them for our own use.  The Lima-beans were allowed to dry on the vines; the matured pods of the bush-beans were spread in the attic; thither also the ripened onions were brought and placed in shallow boxes.  As far as possible we had saved our own seed, and I had had a box made and covered with tin, so as to be mouse-proof, and in this we placed the different varieties, carefully labelled.  Although it was not “apple year,” a number of our trees were in bearing.  The best of the windfalls were picked up, and, with the tomatoes and such other vegetables as were in demand, sent to the village twice a week.  As fast as crops matured, the ground was cleared, and the refuse, such as contained no injurious seeds, was saved as a winter covering for the strawberry plants.

Our main labor, however, after digging the rest of the potatoes, was the setting of the remaining half-acre in the later varieties of the strawberry.  Although the early part of September was very dry and warm, we managed to set out, in the manner I have described, two or three rows nearly every afternoon.  The nights had now grown so long and cool that one thorough watering seemed to establish the plants.  This was due chiefly to the fact that nearly every plant had a ball of earth attached to the roots, and had never been allowed to wilt at all in the transition.  About the middle of the month there came a fine rain, and we filled the remainder of the ground in one day, all the children aiding me in the task.  The plants first set out were now strong and flourishing.  Each had a bunch of foliage six inches in diameter.

Thus, with helping on the new barn and other work, September saw a renewal of our early-summer activity.

“The winds in the trees are whispering of winter,” I said to the children, “and all thrifty creatures—­ants, bees, and squirrels—­are laying up their stores.  So must we.”