Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-09-23
A MIDSUMMER FREAK.

Glands wanted at Whites Dairy
Farm, Eltingville." We were sitting
in the ph@ton in front of Lavaud's Ho.
tel at Rossville, when this sign, hung
out on the wall, met our eyes.
looked from it to Baby Baby, with
little laugh in her blue eyes, returned
my gaze. We understood each other.
LET us gol" she said as we drove
of.
''Now?" asked.
'sNonsensel OF course not but we
can drive home, hunt up some old
dresses aud old shoes, make couple of
sunboDnets, and tomorrow morning,
when Harry gets away, harness up the
box wagon and try our luck. 1t will be
lots of fun"
Now be it distinctly understood that
my audacious friend was ''wooed an
married an a." while I was a single
young woman, accountable only to my
self for my misdeeds.
Sand Harry?" asked.
'sWe will tell him when we come
back"
"But," urged again, ''what do you
imagine we will have to do? have
only the vaguest notions of farm work.
MY knowledge has been principally de-
rived from story books, and am afraid
their suggestions are, to say the least,
impractical Is it to husk corn, or pare
apples, or-or-"
'sPick potatoes, most likely" broke
in Baby. ''Never mind what it is we
can steal away and go home if we do
not like it."
'Very well,"I said, and it was set
tied.
Harry took the seven O'Clock train
the next morning, with an unsuspicious
heart, and his wife and I went home to
begin our adventure.
Titus was ordered to harness up the
box wagon while we dressed. Two
straight, plain calico skirts we put on
and viewed with much complacency.
My jacket was a loose one, borrowed
from Sarah, the cook; Baby had ripped
the ruffiing off one of her own. Her
sunbonnet was blue, mine a bright
pink. Our hair we plated in two
braids down our backs ; our shoes were
a miracle of holes-I gave heeting
thought to Baby's high French heels.
Farm women did net usually wear
them, thought; but said nothing.
We laughed till we were exhausted at
the figures we made, but decided,
thanks to the sunbonnets, that we were
pretty we'll disguised.
Away we drove in high glee, amid the
laughter of the servants, who were by
this time pretty well used to our pranks.
"We will be back for the half-past
five train," shouted Baby, as we turned
out at the gate.
"Baby," said, when we were on the
Anadale road, "do you know where
it isP"
(Which; the farm, or Eltingville?"
''The farm
mo, but we can ask"
And ask we did, and no little amszs-
ment we created, as we drove into the
inn.yard, put up the horse, and pro-
ceeded the rest Of the way on foot-s
wise suggestion of Baby's. 1t would
not look right, she said, for working
women to drive up in their own wagon.
OF course acquiesced.
wonder did there ever present them
selves at any place two such remarkable
little figures as turned in at Whites
Dairy Farm?
We went past one or two fields, and
met no one; at last we came across q
man with q spade on his shoulder.
SIS this Whites Dairy Farm?' asked
Baby.
sit be-" was the answer.
"Where do they want people tc
work. r demanded I, ashamed to lei
Baby do all the talking.
''Oh, you want Ajob, do your"
Baby's sunbonnet dropped and quiv.
cred. knew she was speechless.
"Yes," said; ''wheFe do we goT
''To that red building over there
Just down that path and then to the
right"
We thanked him. and ran on till w
came to great red building, sort o.
barn, with wide open doors, and within
men and women apparently hard 81
work, sorting and packing fruit.
Baby gave my arm triumphant
squeeze. We could do thai.
A few turned and stopped ct theil
work. looking at m cufiOugly, but The