the
midday sun
Jonas Hershey 's home was probably the cleanest , neatest-looking red brick house in all the county . The board-walk from the gate to the door fairly glistened from the effects of soap and water . The flower-beds , almost painfully neat and free from weeds , were laid out on a strictly mathematical plan . A border of whitewashed clam-shells , laid side by side with military precision , set off the brilliant reds and yellows of the flowers , and a glance at them was like gazing into the face of the midday sun . Tillie shaded her dazzled eyes as she walked across the garden to the side door which opened into the kitchen . It stood open and she stepped in without ceremony . For a moment she could see nothing but red and yellow flowers and whitewashed clam-shells .