trees are objects of beauty. They look so well in the spring all in
white bloom, and then they look just as well in the fall, when the red or
yellow apples hang among the leaves. And this is one of the finest I've
ever seen."

He did not dream then that he should remember an apple tree his whole
life, that an apple tree, and one apple tree in particular, should always
call to his mind a tremendous event, losing nothing of its intensity
and vividness with the passing years. But all that was in the future,
and when he joined his comrades on the ground he made good work with the
biggest and finest apple he could find.

"Early apples," he said, looking up at the tree. "It's not the end of
July yet."

"But good apples, glorious apples, anyhow," said Pennington, taking
another. "Besides, it's fine and cool like autumn."

"It won't stay," said Dick. "We've got the whole of August coming.
Virginia is like Kentucky. Always lots of hot weather in August.
Glad there's no big fighting to be done just now. But it's a pity,
isn't it, to tear up a fine farming country like this. Around here is
where the United States started. John Smith and Rolfe and Pocahontas and
the rest of them may have roamed just where this orchard stands. And
later on lots of the great Americans rode about these parts, some of the
younger ones carrying their beautiful ladies on pillions behind them.
You are a cold-blooded New Englander, Warner, and you believe that anyone
fighting against you ought to burn forever, but as for me I feel sorry
for Virginia. I don't care what she's done, but I don't like to see the
Old Dominion, the Mother of Presidents, stamped flat."