How can you make a flower out of a
windmill, Uncle Jed?"
Jed rubbed his chin. "Well, that's a question," he admitted. "But
you can make flour IN a windmill, 'cause I've seen it done."
More pondering on the young lady's part. Then she gave it up.
"You mustn't mind if you don't understand him, Uncle Charlie," she
said, in her most confidential and grown-up manner. "He says lots
of things Petunia and I don't understand at all, but he's awful
nice, just the same. Mamma says he's choking--no, I mean joking
when he talks that way and that we'll understand the jokes lots
better when we're older. SHE understands them almost always," she
added proudly.
Phillips laughed. Jed's slow smile appeared and vanished. "Looks
as if facin' my jokes was no child's play, don't it," he observed.
"Well, I will give in that gettin' any fun out of 'em is a man's
size job."
On the following Monday the young man took up his duties in the
bank. Captain Hunniwell interviewed him, liked him, and hired him
all in the same forenoon. By the end of the first week of their
association as employer and employee the captain liked him still
better. He dropped in at the windmill shop to crow over the fact.
"He takes hold same as an old-time first mate used to take hold of
a green crew," he declared. "He had his job jumpin' to the whistle
before the second day was over.
Pages:
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245