"--The stars above
Shine ever on Love--"
"I 'm goin' up into the clearin', Mis' Blossom, to see if there ain't
some late blackberries," said Chi, a few days after his triumphal return
with Maria-Ann. "Seems as if the smell of the sun on that spruce-bush
up yonder would put new life into me--I feel so kind of shif'less."
"I would, Chi," said Mrs. Blossom; "you have n't begun to get your
strength back yet, and the more you 're out in this air, without
overworking, the better it will be for you."
"I 'll go with you, Chi," said Rose, looking up from her work, as she
sat sewing on the lower step of the porch.
"That's right, Rose-pose; it 'll seem like old times." Chi followed her
with wistful eyes as she turned to go up stairs.
"I 'll be down in a few minutes, Chi; we 'd better take the two-quart
pails, had n't we?"
"Maybe we 'll find enough for one or two messes."
He turned to Mrs. Blossom when Rose had left the room. "Can't there
nothin' be done 'bout it, Mis' Blossom?" He spoke almost wistfully.
Mrs. Blossom's eyes filled with tears. She hesitated a moment before
she spoke: "I know Rose so well, Chi, that I dare _not_ interfere. I
doubt if she would accept anything, even from me, her mother."
"It beats me," Chi sighed heavily. "He 's just a-pinin' for a word or
sign, 'n' there ain't no use talkin'--_she 's_ got to give it; I 'd back
him up every time, he 's done enough--"
"Sh--!" Mrs. Blossom held up her finger; she heard Rose on the stairs.
Chi looked up--his old Rose-pose stood before him: old, faded, green and
white calico dress, old sunbonnet, patched shoes! Chi turned away
abruptly to get his pails; and her mother wondered, but said nothing.
They found more than one "patch," where the berries hung in luscious
clusters of shining jet. Chi pummelled his chest, and drew deep, deep
breaths of the balsamic mountain air. "This sets a man up, Rose-pose;
there ain't nothin' like the air on this Mountain for an all-round
tonic. Let's sit here a spell, right by this sweet fern."