The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-19

POLLY GORDON's PREMIUM FARM
Err


in Kansas; she was not born there, for
the State has not been long enough set
tied. and will not mention the place
of her nativity-but lest the excusable
State pride OF Ohio people be hurt. l
will say it was not Ohio; and yet she
had energy enough at any hard work
that offered itself to entitle her TO
the Presidency. il women were eligible
to that position. She was able-bodied,
and in her way strOng-minded, even to
obstinacy. Though she didn't b'lieve
in them wimmin's rights wimmin she
had heerd tell Of" she always voted
in school meeting-the Kansas law
gives that privilege 10 women--..be-
cause il they mean to waste the peO-
pies money on too much schoOlin' and
high edicatin'. I'm goin' to do all l
kin to prevent il" was her reason for
voting.
She wore her dresses made i'm the
style that prevailed when she first put
on long dresses, and her scantv hair
from one years end to another was
twisted in little round knot and
pinned on top OF the back of her head.
The fashions kin come round TO me
amt gOin' TO run round after '0m."
was her iavariable reply when some
friends dared TO suggest an improving
change. Her highest ambition on the
womanly side of her nature was 10 have
the finest cOlOred, striped rag carpets.
the incest drawn-in rugs of impossible
J roses and improbable eats: the whitest
clothes and lightesi bread of any house
keeper.
She carried on little farm. and
among farmers il was her boast and
pride that her calves were biggest. and
pigs latest; that her corn yielded most
to the acre. and she never lost Il chick
en- or turkey by pip or cholera. She
could scarcely read or write. despised
.'bOok-larnin' as no count towards
oittin' along" and took no interest in
the world outside beyond the price of
her crops and the groceries she had to
buy.
Mrs. Prudence VOlney. for the last
four years Polly's neighbor. also living
on farm--I may fcarlessly add that
she was from Ohio-was y refined, i'll
telligent woman. very fond OF reading.
and Polly was always lecturing her on
her expensive tastes.
81 do think its too foolish in you to
waste Your money that way. and spend
your time, too. You pay out enough
hard cash every year for such trash as
| would buy two or three fat calves; if
you'd done that way. countin' the
material increase. you'd had herd OF
cattle by this time, instid of all this
litter of books an papers; an you
might drawn in dozen rugs just like
miner
Mrs. Volney took this advice from
| Polly in good part, for the maiden lady
! was really kind-hearted and well-dis-
posed. too ignorant of etiquette and
propriety, or the most common things
belonging to cultured. and j might
add. civilized life. to be aware Of the
impertinence of her suggestions.
I So great was her prejudice against
newspapers and books, rs wholly use
less. that. while to the lightning rod.
| sewing machine and patent pump man
she would give not altogether impa-
tient hearing and examination Of his
wares, the mild-mannered book or
newspaper agent. with chrome attach
ments. was sure To receive severe
"No. sir; you need not trouble your
self to take step inside! I've no time
to look ut such trash, an no money to
throw away on il: an il you want a
piece of nv mind. I'll tell you you'd
better pitch into hard work than to 60
round in such low business!' and rs
she ALWAYS gave call to the dog, who
stood by grinninS with white teeth that
I added tO the effects of Polly's remarks.
} the agent mildly said. aioOd morning.
and retired. crab-wise, with meek side
chances in the dogs direction. and never
came again.
But Polly was human and woman,
l and in state where men do so mucf
\ more abound than the other sex, She
had SCARCELY wondered why, with sc
! MANY substantial attractions of farm
stock, full cribs and fat turkeys, hel
strong bOny hand had not been sought
. in matrimOny. As she grew older anG
accumulated more, she often felt the
disadvantage of not being around 81
l as to know the price Of things. but sh'
was entirely ignorant of the value o.
use of "a newspaper in giving her the in
formation she wanted. Besides. sh,
wearied Of tending her stock and hold
ing the pillow, and il veXed her still
!. more to pay her hartl-earncd cash I.
some Indifferent man, whom she feared
= or knew sighted his work, or in SOM
way cheated her.
One day while chaffering about
, plow, she noticed on the premium lis
of the coming county fair:
"Best loaf Of wheat bread. S5, an
$ Kansas Farmer for one year."
The last clause very much puzzled
her, but she concluded that even for
wear the farmer was well worth tryin
. for. and he might be SO well suited h
would be willing to stay lifetime.
n Mrs. VOlney came in day or tw
after.
i "Have you heern tell of the prem
ums Wit for the fair?'
eyes; i have list"
"Will they truly give S5 and kar
sas farmer for the best loaf OF ligt
breadp"
II presume so, and am half incline
i to send in Loaf
IS 81 should think you'd most b
D, ashamed to say so. and let folks kno'
: it."
ii Mrs Volney never dreamed of Polly
=" mistaken notion in regard TO the 'faru
:. err" and thought she meant she too