Chapter 11

           Afteralongsleep,sometimeintheafternoonIawoke,refreshed,butverysoreandstiff. Sallycameinandtalkedwithme,whileJohncookedmesomedinner. Sallywasingreattrouble,aswellasmyself,oneofherchildrenbeingill,andshefeareditcouldnotsurvive. Dinnerover,afterwalkingaboutthequartersforawhile,visitingSally’scabinandlookingatthesickchild,Istrolledintothemadam’sgarden. Thoughitwasaseasonoftheyearwhenthevoicesofthebirdsaresilent,andthetreesarestrippedoftheirsummergloriesinmorefrigidclimes,yetthewholevarietyofroseswerethenbloomingthere,andthelong,luxuriantvinescreepingovertheframes. Thecrimsonandgoldenfruithunghalfhiddenamidsttheyoungerandolderblossomsofthepeach,theorange,theplum,andthepomegranate;for,inthatregionofalmostperpetualwarmth,theleavesarefallingandthebudsburstingintobloomthewholeyearlong. 

           IindulgedthemostgratefulfeelingstowardsMasterandMistressFord,andwishinginsomemannertorepaytheirkindness,commencedtrimmingthevines,andafterwardsweedingoutthegrassfromamongtheorangeandpomegranatetrees. Thelattergrowseightortenfeethigh,anditsfruit,thoughlarger,issimilarinappearancetothejelly-flower.Ithasthelusciousflavorofthestrawberry. Oranges,peaches,plums,andmostotherfruitsareindigenoustotherich,warmsoilofAvoyelles; buttheapple,themostcommonofthemallincolderlatitudes,israrelytobeseen.