CLEARING THE CREEK.
Albert Dodge, the new gardener passed ten days while he was recruiting
his health, in visiting gardens and green houses, trying to improve
his taste and gain all the information in his power. He had agreed
with Mr. Curtis to return to Oxford as soon as the family were settled
at Woodlawn and remain as long as the weather would allow out-door
work. When the frost forbade further improvements, he was to leave and
spend three months in the employ of Hantz, the celebrated florist.
But one morning the very last of October, as Mr. Curtis was sauntering
along near the lake, absorbed in a project he had just formed, the
daily coach stopped before the gate, and who should spring from it but
Albert Dodge.
This young man, as I have already described, had such a merry face
that few could meet him without a warmth in the region of the heart.
Certainly his new master could not, and advancing cordially he held
out his hand, exclaiming:
"I was just thinking of you, and wishing you were at hand to help me
plan a little. I want to do something with this brook."
"I came on purpose to offer a suggestion, sir. I've been here and
there on an exploring tour; and I am happy to say I have found no
place which has so many natural advantages as _ours_."
He laid some stress on the word; his eye twinkling, and then added:
"It is my intention to make myself so important to you, that you will
never part with me. I already feel almost as much interest in Woodlawn
as if the deeds stood registered in the name of Albert Dodge."
"I'm glad of it," answered the Squire, laughing, "and to prove my
confidence in your ability, I will ask you what I shall do with this
little creek; it spreads itself out very awkwardly just at this point
where it ought to be most graceful."
"I have it, sir," said Dodge after a careful survey. "I should clear
the stream which runs muddy in this place by throwing pebbles to the
bottom; widen it twenty feet more; make a pretty little egg-shaped
island in the centre, upon which I should plant a few shrubs and
perhaps a weeping willow, which would thrive admirably in this wet
soil."
"Good! good! It shall be done! When shall you be ready to go to
work?"
"To-day, if Grant can come with his oxen. I can postpone one visit I
wish to make till winter."
The next morning Bertie came riding to the spot on Whitefoot's back.
Buck and Bright were there, the wagon backed down to the very edge of
the water, while Star and Spot were dragging off a load of mud scraped
or scooped up from the bed of the shallow brook.
"Where is papa?" inquired Bertie, after he had sat awhile watching
the operations.
"Gone with the new gardener to buy some trees," answered Tom,
laughing. "The Squire's up to all sorts of improvements. Shouldn't
wonder a mite if he should take down yonder mountain to give him a
view of the city."
"I think this will be very pretty when it's done," remarked the child.
"How long did they say they should be gone?"
"Didn't say in my hearing. Bertie I wish you'd ask the Squire if he'd
like a load of beach pebbles, 'cause if he does, I'll bring him a load
to-morrow morning. Those are the kind to make this water run clear."
"Oh, there they are!" shouted the boy, trotting off to meet them.
"Have you bought the trees, Papa?"
"Yes, and brought them home, don't you see them?"
"What, those little things?"
"Willows grow very fast, my son. They will thrive better than if they
were larger."
"But, papa, how can we get to the island? Shall we have a bridge?"
"You must ask Dodge, Bertie. He is the author of this plan."
"I'll tell you what would be better than a bridge," explained Dodge,
laughing. "You must learn to row a boat; and then you can land at any
place, you know. But our island is more for ornament than for profit.
We don't expect to have a settlement there."
"Why wouldn't it be pretty to have a little house for the swans on it?
Joe Allen told me they could be taught to come on shore for their
feed."
"We will consider that proposal, my dear, when the island is in
existence," answered papa; "in the meantime you may think of a pretty
name for it."