迪文小说

第24部分（第3页）

and　thought　how　nice　it　was　to　feel　this　way　at　the　end　of　it。

And　as　I　nestled　in　and　drifted　off　to　sleep；　my　heart　felt　wonderfully…　free。

The　next　morning　I　still　felt　good。　I　went　outside　and　sprinkled　the　yard；　enjoying　the　splish

and　patter　of　water　on　soil；　wondering　when；　when；　that

first　little　blade　of　grass　would　spring　up　into　the　sunshine。

Then　I　went　out　back；　cleaned　the　coop；　raked　the　yard；　and　dug　up　some　of　the　bigger

weeds　growing　along　the　edges。

Mrs。　Stueby　leaned　over　the　side　fence　as　I　was　shoveling　my　rakings　and　weeds　into　a

trash　can　and　said；　“Hows　it　going；　Julianna？　Making

neat　for　a　rooster？”

“A　rooster？”

“Why；　certainly。　Those　hens　need　some　motivation　to　start　laying　more！”

It　was　true。　Bonnie　and　Clydette　and　the　others　were　only　laying　about　half　the　eggs　that　they

used　to；　but　a　rooster？　“I　dont　think　the

neighborhood　would　appreciate　my　getting　a　rooster；　Mrs。　Stueby。　Besides；　wed　get　chicks

and　I　dont　think　we　can　handle　any　more　poultry　back

here。”

“Nonsense。　Youve　spoiled　these　birds；　giving　them　the　whole　yard。　They　can　share　the

space。　Easily！　How　else　are　you　going　to　maintain　your

business？　Soon　those　birds　wont　be　laying　anything　a…tall！”

“They　wont？”

“Well；　very　little。”

I　shook　my　head；　then　said；　“They　were　just　my　chicks　that　grew　into　chickens　and　started

laying　eggs。　I　never　really　thought　of　it　as　a　business。”

“Well；　my　runnin　a　tab　has　probably　contributed　to　that；　and　Im　sorry。　Ill　be　sure　and　get　you

the　whole　sum　this　week；　but　consider　buying

yourself　a　rooster　with　some　of　it。　Ive　got　a　friend　down　on　Newb　Street　who　is　positively

green　over　my　deviled　eggs。　I　gave　her　my　recipe；　but

she　says　hers　just　dont　taste　the　same。”　She　winked　at　me。　“Im　certain　shed　pay

handsomely　for　a　supply　of　my　secret　ingredient　if　it　became

available。”　She　turned　to　go；　then　said；　“By…the…by；　Julianna；　you　have　done　a　mighty　fine　job

on　that　front　yard。　Most　impressive！”

“Thanks；　Mrs。　Stueby；”　I　called　as　she　slid　open　her　patio　door。　“Thanks　very　much。”

I　finished　scooping　up　the　piles　Id　made　and　thought　about　what　Mrs。　Stueby　had　said。