Two gates opened into it, one from near each corner of the yard.

Between these there was quite a wide level space, where mother fed the big chickens and kept the hens in coops with little ones.

She had to have them close enough that the big hawks were afraid to come to earth, or they would take more chickens than they could pay for, by cleaning rabbits, snakes, and mice from the fields.

Then came a double row of prize peach trees; rare fruit that mother canned to take to county fairs.

One bore big, white freestones, and around the seed they were pink as a rose.