IvoryhaddrawnitupatMr。Wilson’srequest，merelytoshowhowfarheunderstoodthebooksandcaseshewasstudying，andhehadnoideathatitdifferedinanywayfromtheworkofanyotherstudent；allthesame，Mark’sowneffortsinalikedirectionhadneverreceivedanyspecialmention。Whenhewasinthehay—fieldhealsokeptasfaraspossiblefromIvory，becausethere，too，hefeltasuperioritythatmadehim，forthemoment，atriflediscontented。ItwasnoparticularpleasureforhimtoseeIvoryplungehisforkdeepintotheheartofahay—cock，takeafirmgraspofthehandle，thrustforwardhisfoottosteadyhimself，andthenraisethegreatfragrantheapslowly，andswingituptothewaitinghaycartamidtheapplauseofthecrowd。Rodmanwouldbethere，too，helpingthemanontopoftheloadandgettingnearlyburiedeachtime，asthemassdescendeduponhim，butdoinghisslenderbesttodistributeandtreaditdownproperly，whilehisyoungheartglowedwithprideatCousinIvory’sprowess。
IndependenceDayhadpassed，withitsusualgayetiesfortheyoungpeople，innoneofwhichtheBaxterfamilyhadjoined，andnow，ateleveno’clockonthisburningJulymorning，WaitstillwasdrivingtheoldmarepasttheWilsonfarmonherwaytotheriverfield。Herfatherwasworkingthere，togetherwiththetwohiredmenwhomhetookonforafortnightduringtheheightoftheseason。Ifmowing，raking，pitching，andcartingofthepreciouscropcouldonlyhavebeendoneatoddtimesduringtheyear，oratnight，hewouldnothaveembitteredthemonthofJulybypayingoutmoneyforlabor：butNaturewasinexorableintheripeningofhayandOldFoxywasobligedtosuccumbtotheinevitable。Waitstillhadabasketpackedwithluncheonforthreeandagreatdemijohnofcoolgingerteaunderthewagonseat。
Otherfarmerssometimesservedhardcider，orrum，butherfather’sprinciplesweredeadagainstthisriotousextravagance。
Temperance，inanyandalldirections，wascheap，andtheDeaconwasaverytemperateman，saveinlanguage。
Thefieldsonbothsidesoftheroadwerefullofhaymakersandeverywheretherewasbustleandstir。Therewouldbethreeorfourmen，oneleading，theothersfollowing，slowlyswingingtheirwaythroughanoblepieceofgrass，andthesmellofthemownfieldsinthesunshinewassweeterthanhoneyinthecomb。