第24部分(第4/8 頁)

e　pie。　It's　delicious。”

I　went　to　bed　that　night　feeling　very　full　and　very　happy。　And　as　I　lay　there　in　the　dark；　I

wondered　at　how　much　emotion　can　go　into　any　given　day；

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；　“How's　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　don't　think　the

neighborhood　would　appreciate　my　getting　a　rooster；　Mrs。　Stueby。　Besides；　we'd　get　chicks

and　I　don't　think　we　can　handle　any　more　poultry　back

here。”

“Nonsense。　You've　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　bir