Mary'sfirstdayofspringsowingItwasaFebrunarymorning,dry,coldandstarry.Ihadtoriseupandrakeoutthelivecoalthathadlainhiddenintheashesonthehearthallnight.Sleepy,bad-humoredandyetonfirewithexcitement,wehadourbreakfast.Itwasthefirstdayofourfirstspringsowingasmanandwife.Somehowitmadeusdejected.Thefeelingofjoyandanxietyrushedintomyheart,whileapparentlyMartinwasthinkingsomethingelse.Inthebarnafterthebreakfast,IwasterrifiedtohearMartinswearandhurriedtoembracehiminmyarms.Aswehugged,alltheirritationandsleepinessleftus.Afterwards,wewalkedtowardsthefieldsandpleasinglyfoundthatwewerethefirst.Thejoyofspringhadtakencompleteholdofus.Afterarrivingatthefield,MartinsaidproudlythatIwasgoingtoseewhatkindofmanIhadwhileIrepliedbysayingthatIwouldwaittillsunsettoseewhatIhadgot.Thentheworkbegan.IstartedtofillmyapronwithseedsandlaytheminrowswhileMartinwasabouttoraisethefirstsod.Althoughmyfingerswasnumbwithcold,Ihurriedtohimandputanarmaroundhiswaist.YetMartindemandedthatIstepbackandwewouldbetakenforsillyandignorantpeople.Hiseyeswerefilledwitheagerandwildlight,completelytakingnonoticeofmypresence.Atthatmoment,Iwasdeeplyhurtandtriedtogazedistantly.Allofasudden,Iwasscaredthatthepitilessandcruelearthwouldkeepmechainedtothehardworkandpovertyallmylife.Asthesunrose,thelittlevalleywasdottedwith.Then,it'stimetoprepareforlunch.Irushedtothehouseandgotthemealdone.Thehurriedjourneyandthesmogdeprivedmeofappetite.Martincameoverandexclaimedthathehadtworidgesdone.Slowlythepreviousunhappyfeelingsseemedtofloataway.Martintookmyhandinhisandthegentlefeelingswamoverus.Aftertheshortbreak,weweretogobackworkagain.Intheafternoon,grandfatherhobbleovertoinspect.Heseemednotpleasedwithourworkandkeptgivingadvice,thoughwepaidnoheedtohim.Henceforthhewalkedawaytofather'sfield.BysundownMartingotfiveridgesfinishedandaskedmetogohome.Nevertheless,Iwastootiredtoreply.WhenIwasthinkingofthechoresathome,thesenseofrebellioncrossedmymind.WhileMartinsaidtome,Mary,youmightwellbeproudofyourselfasmywife.AndyouhavedonebetterthananywomeninInveraracoulddointhisblessedday.Hearingthis,Itookprideinmyselfandmyhusband.Then,atlast,slowly,wesetoffgoingback.Cowswerelowinginthedistance.