Happy Island

as boys," said Uncle William, sitting

it all, just as plain as you be-settin' there-you and me and Benjy, racing to get to this rock first-and planning sut

id Uncle William contentedly.... "Now, this morning-" Uncle William moved his hand toward the horizon, "He's gone over to his place, all kind o' boilin'-like.

ee by the way his elbows act-kind o' stiff so. I reckon that c

the breeze. "Feels good," he said, nodding. He seated himself on the big rock. "Well-I've done it."

s face beamed. "That's go

ing to leave?

s stood all he can-and so have I." He threw out his thin legs and looked at them. "I

o' did," said

him," he said, "She was cal'-lating on the boa

ew out an i

'll fix it up all right-He's got to have somebody to build his hous

sat up, smi

said, "It's like trying to build a house in heaven-

n'ally use the home-folks, roun

dn't build a twenty-thousand dollar hou

ch different from any other house, fur as I see-just more

er?" Bodet's

spell." Uncle William's eye followed the boats passing across the harbor. "An' he's a kind o' mason, and a first-rate painter-I do' 'no's you could git a man knows more 'n George Manning does.... I n

on-Ordway and I-" He spread out the paper, holding it between his hands. Uncle William moved over a little toward

ased smile-"Comfy, ain't it-Sort o' makes a h

ong the rocks as if it belonged there-The architect got the idea all right-from photograp

. "Drops fo'-five fe

He took out a rough pencil sketch and held it at arm's length. "He wants to run it out here in the

unny-don't it, Andy?

ee," said Andy, "I've seen a

he paper in his hand. "It's a seaside cott

it for," said Andy, "if 'tis a cottage an

ther. That's why I fired him-'seaside cottage!'-" He fizze

mind. I'm a-thinkin' about it,

e high, nervous features, when Uncle William's voice spoke to it, "All right, William, I

, too," said Uncle William,

ow, about Manning-We 'll go talk things over with him..