“Now, Mr. Jones, one other good turn and we won’t bother you any more to-day.  All the front of the house is covered by two big grape-vines that have not been trimmed, and there are a great many other vines on the place.  I’ve read and read on the subject, but I declare I’m afraid to touch them.”

“Now, you’re beyond my depth.  I’ve got a lot of vines home, and I trim ’em in my rough way, but I know I ain’t scientific, and we have pretty poor, scraggly bunches.  They taste just as good, though, and I don’t raise any to sell.  There’s a clever man down near the landin’ who has a big vineyard, and he’s trimmed it as your vines ought to have been long ago.  I’d advise you to go and see him, and he can show you all the latest wrinkles in prunin’.  Now, I’ll tell you what I come for, in the first place.  You’ll remember that I said there’d be a vandoo to-morrow.  I’ve been over and looked at the stock offered.  There’s a lot of chickens, as I told you; a likely-looking cow with a calf at her side; a fairish and quiet old horse that ought to go cheap, but he’d answer well the first year.  Do you think you’ll get more’n one horse to start with?”

“No; you said I could hire such heavy plowing as was needed at a moderate sum, and I think we can get along with one horse for a time.  My plan is to go slow, and, I hope, sure.”

“That’s the best way, only it ain’t common.  I’ll be around in the mornin’ for you and such of the children as you’ll take.”

“On one condition, Mr. Jones.  You must let me pay you for your time and trouble.  Unless you’ll do this in giving me my start, I’ll have to paddle my own canoe, even if I sink it.”

“Oh, I’ve no grudge against an honest penny turned in any way that comes handy.  You and I can keep square as we go along.  You can give me what you think is right, and if I ain’t satisfied, I’ll say so.”

I soon learned that my neighbor had no foolish sensitiveness.  I could pay him what I thought the value of his services, and he pocketed the money without a word.  Of course, I could not pay him what his advice was really worth, for his hard common-sense stood me in good stead in many ways.

CHAPTER XXI

The “VANDOO”

The next morning at about eight o’clock Mr. Jones arrived in a long farm-wagon on springs, with one seat in it; but Junior had half filled its body with straw, and he said to Merton, “I thought that p’raps, if you and the children could go, you’d like a straw-ride.”

The solemnity with which Winnie and Bobsey promised to obey orders gave some hope of performance; so I tossed them into the straw, and we drove away, a merry party, leaving Mousie consoled with the hope of receiving something from the vendue.

“There’s allers changes and breakin’s up in the spring,” said Mr. Jones, as we drove along; “and this family’s goin’ out West.  Everything is to be sold, in doors and out.”