Next morning his nurse called him up to help her water
the grass. She led the way with a tub on her head and two buckets in it.
She took him to the dam; when she got there she took out the buckets,
left one on the bank, and gave the other to Christie. She then went down
the steps till the water was up to her neck, and bade Christie fill the
tub. He poured eight bucketsful in. Then she came slowly out, straight
as an arrow, balancing this tub full on her head. Then she held out her
hands for the two buckets. Christie filled them, wondering, and gave
them to her. She took them like toy buckets, and glided slowly home with
this enormous weight, and never spilled a drop. Indeed, the walk was
more smooth and noble than ever, if possible.
When she reached the house, she hailed a Hottentot, and it cost the
man and Christopher a great effort of strength to lower her tub between
them.
"What a vertebral column you must have!" said Christopher.
"You must not speak bad words, my child," said she. "Now, you water the
grass and the flowers." She gave him a watering-pot, and watched him
maternally; but did not put a hand to it. She evidently considered this
part of the business as child's play, and not a fit exercise of her
powers.
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