The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-03-11

| s1steiuaiy arranged tn3t IL ioOkeu more
like flowers than something to eat.
| In the fall they planted out large
strawberry bed. March, year, came
around. Miss Platt summed up.
Two hundred chickens on hand, which
Is 100 head. A years hard work, good
health, good temper, the best of every
thing to eat-and no clothes"
"We don't need new clothes, Marian.
Only that woman is happy who has not
q reputation in society TO maintain"
That spring the greatest event of their
lives happened. They bought out and
out the three acres of ground, with the
little old house of three rooms. They
borrowed money from a building associa-
tion to pay for it, gave the association a
mortgage on the property, and then be-
gan paying the money back by weekly
instalments. The sum amounted to
more than they had paid for rent, but
now they felt more confidence.
Miss Platt planted her young plum or
chard. Mrs. Pratt began with her bees
After that second year there really was
not much more trouble. Such health and
really restful rest as they knew they had
never hoped to have in their old tread
mill city days.
The third year Miss Platt was elected
Sunday-school Superintendent
They had formed by that time really
pleasant acquaintance in their little world
Neighbors that are worth having are
slowly made, but these came in time to
the two women who were standing alone
upon their own feet The ladies had gen.
tie ways and refined speech that reacted
on the young folk about them, if not on
the old ones, who murdered grammar and
sang hymns through their noses. Miss
Platt formed at length Sunday-school
literary society. Men and women and
boys and girls belonged to it. They dis
cussed woman suffrage, aud prohibition,
and the tariff, and the question of where
Cain got his wife There were history
class, reading club, lessons in social eti-
quette, prize essays aud prize debates,
and competitive recitdtions, all within
the limits of that literary society Miss
Platt had organized in her capacity of
Sunday school Superintendent. Mrs.
Pratt, having been a teacher so long,
easily managed whatever Miss Platt
lacked. The fame Of the literary club of
Squawhassett spread far and wide.
The fourth year another great event in
their lives happened They bought
COW.
It's the darlngest little fawn-colored
Jersey in the world, isn't it, Marian ?"
said Mrs. Pratt.
"It is, Susan. IF I'd thought little
cow was so cute we'd have had her long
ago"
:" But what if she kicks" suggested
Marian. ''Pd be afraid awfullv if she did
that"
81 must consult my farm books" said
Susan, stoutly. "Let me see. Kicking
cows-subject, Dairy. Oh, yes You
strap her right hind leg back to post"
Who's going to do it, Susan -
"Dear me, | never could do it in the
world, Marian
But fortunately Fawn was as gentle as
the creature she was named for. They
petted her like baby, and she repaid all
their care They learned to milk her
without trouble. They got money out of
her, too. She gave far more cream than
they wanted for their own use. They
sold it to few families that could afford
to pay for it. a little girl whom they
adopted delivered it for them. A shift
less married couple died and left a homeless
boy and girl. These were to be sent to
the county house, when our two friends
rescued the little girl The boy was
offered to them, but they took the girl,
because girls have the toughest time of it
in this world at best, and they determined
to give one of the sisterhood a happy
childhood, at any rate.
"Miss Platt and Mis- Pratt, they AL
ways stand up for their own sect, said
old Mrs. Bobberly.
Well, this last that l am telling you
happened ten years ago.
If you go to Squawhasset You will see
a pretty little house. L-shaped, with We
randas and a bay window. 1t is the lit
tie three-room house remodeled. Flow
ers are in the window, sweet-scented
honeysuckle vine climbs the posts. A
tiny greenhouse close to it is full of flow
ers and leaves. If you look you will see
within it some vegetable seed beds, too,
for early lettuce and radishes and cab
bages.
But the chicken houses are the pride of
the establishment. They are very large
and we'll built, and cost more than the
mansion itself. They contain incubators
aud all the new improvements. The
ladies bought several acres more of
ground.
With their vegetables and honey, their
plums and Strawberries, and chickens,
eggs aud cream the two brave women
made a handsome living aud laid up
money. They found there was most to
be made at raising spring broilers. They
gave much attention to that, with re-
markable success. But how they did
work at first, till their backs ached and
they were ready to drop. 1t was healthy
work, though. They used their brains
with all their might, too, and thought
aud planned SO that now they do not
have to work and toll with their hands
any more. They use more "gumption"
and less labor.
They have been prosperous, thank you ;
yes.
If you 60 past the pretty house late in
the afternoon this cold weather you will
now and then see handsome phaeson,
drawn by spirited horse, pause at the
gate. Two ladies, wearing sealskin
cloaks, white fur robe tucked about
their feet, alight. Their hair is gray,
but their cheeks are pink, and their
color is as clear as girls.
n