National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-07-30

her own accord
'Old fashioned farmers do that
[ suppose said Bell, composedly,
but / can't wait hundred Years
for a hen to make up her mind
The rebeiliOus murmurs of the
gallinaceous fowl imprisoned be-
meath the crnel board echoed Miss
Bell Martins accents.
Il declare, Bell 2 cried Kate Ap
pleton, Il didn't think you had such
will. You ought to have been a
man and a statesman
Don't talk nonsense, | beg of you,
said Bell, a little more than Ordina
rily cOmplacent, however, but run
into the house and bring me that
box of assorted garden seeds. If
the weather clears Up we must begin
planting early tomorrow morning.
| won't have people saying that
our farming is bchindhand because
we are women y
Toward the evening of the next
day old Mr. Eliphalet Tully, leath.
er-faced farmer, with a curiOusly in
tricate net work of fine wrinkles
round his keen eyes and shrewd
month, looked casually in to see how
his successors were thriving.
AFTERNOON ye,' was his greeting.
'Wa'al, how ye getting 'longN
Were not getting along at all,
Mr.. Tully,' said Bell, in an injured
tone of voice. you have imposed
upon u.s.
Il declare to gracious, don't know
what you mean Sid the farmer
with Il cOuntcnance of unteigned
astOniShment.
Didn't you tell me that your cows
were kind ?
80 they be- said old Eliphalet-
the kindcSt creeturS alive!
Then why does the old brindled
one run at me with her head down
every time | come near her calf 2
and why does the spotted one kick
the pail over before it is half full,
besides making me chase all round
the harn.yard after herv
Guess you amt used to milking
said Mr.. Tully, shrewdly.
Not used to it = echoed Bell 'and
supposing that | am not, what diff
ference can it possibly make q! Am
| to have Il diploma and show it to
the COW before | dare take the priv.
ilege of milllingT
Cows is dreadful sagaciouS cree.
lures, said the farmer, with a laugh
ing twinkle in his eye. Some of
'em can't never abide women folks
round ;and now ! come to think ont,
Miss Tully never used to milk, be-
cause was always handy to do it.
| tell you what, Miss Martin, guess
you will have to keep "A man" a"
Never said Bell resolutely. 'And
then the turkeys-they gobble and
swell out and run after us in a way
that is positively quite trighttul.'
'Do you wear them ar shawls
when YOU go out to feed 'ems said
the farmer nodding at two bright
scarlet outcr-wrappin,s that hung
on the pegs behind the keeping
room door.
why, yes, believe we did,
That accounts for it, then. A
turkey and bull-the color of red
sets 'cm wild. thought everybody
knowed tina
And am to select my wardrobe
with reference to the turkeys in my
poultry yard ? Indignantly demand.
ed Bell.
Turkeys knows a dreadful sight,
although they're ginerally consider.
ed to be a stupid bird said Mr.. Tul-
~, sagely.
And the hens! dear me.' went
on Bell. Il have such trouble about
their setting
Give 'cm Il good ducking under
the pump recommended the farm
er. That is a sure cure for them as
wants to set
But they don't want to set inter.
rupted Bell; that is the trouble
Old Speckle has broken all hereggs
trying to get out
'If they don't want to they won't,
said the farmer, 'and it's no use talk
ing
'rll see whether they will or not,
said Bell, comprcssing her lips very
tightly.
The farmer looked somewhat awcd
at her imperious voice and gesture,
and glanced uncaSily out of the
window for a change OF subject.
what We been doing out in the
door. yard y he asked in some sur
prise.
Il wanted to plant some candy
tuft and mignonncttc Seeds said
Kate meekly $50 dug up all those
little onions with the sprouting
tops
sOnions!' cried Mr.. Tully. Why,
them was Jerushy's double-tulips
and hyacintu y
Katie looked at Bell in constcrna-
ton.
You told me they were onions,
Bell, and you've got q handful OF
them boiling in the pot with macca.
roni and sliced carrots now,' she said
reproachfully. But Bell pretended
not to hear.
what do you think of the straw.
berry bed, Mr.. Tullyr she said, com
placently.
you haven't been disturbing the
roots digging round them at this
time Of year y he said.
Wa \ 49,. al nnt ill IN uas