Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-18
THREE WOMEN.


"It's very unfortunate that we CHANGED
to be girls" said Mary Tamarack.
"Im not sorry for it observed Patty,
with side long glance at the looking
glass"
'Wen you will be before you've lived
your life out" said Melissa, who, unlike
her younger sister was trim and hard
featured, with sharp elbo Tvs and shoulder
blades to match. ''Women don't have
half chance.
The three Tamarack girls sat in the
dreamy little "three-pair back" that they
rented for a dollar week.
There was no furnitdre in it to sig nifty,
else they could not have rented it SO
cheap. & table, two chairs and stool,
folding bedstead and kerosene stove
this could hardly be termed extrava-
gance.
Yet in their dehege gowns ard lipin
collars and cuffs, the Tamarack girls were
as neat as three pins.
Melissa was gaunt, plain and middle
aged. Mary ives simply nerdiocre. Bat
Patty, at the age of one and twenty was
like rose that had blossomed in the
shade All that she needed was sunshine
and petting.
at is an undoubted fact that there are
too many women in this country"
you would have us commit suicide,
would your" said saucy Patty.
"But," said Melissa with sort of SOM
bre indignation, eff we are willing and
able to do mems work, why are we not
permitted to do itY'
"Thele it is; said Mary. Didn't | tell
your Because we are women!
"Now," said Melissa, "there is the
poultry farm down in Orange county for
rent at a reasonable rate. If there is
anything | understand it is the care of
poultry. We could establish an agency
with the grocers in Oldburge and Pit
tatiny. Mary could cultivate the straw
berry patch, and Patty could raise roses
for the New York market. It's as easy
to cultivate a rose as It is a cabbage.
But when the man heard we were only
three women, there was an end of 1t.
Women hadn't no business faculty. said
he. Il don't like to have dealings with
womenr"
''Was that the only obiectionf" said
Patty, who had listened with her elbows
on the table and both hands thrust deep
in her shot, crisp curls.
''That was the only objection"
"FiddlesticksI' said Patty.
"WhY," declared Patty, "the man must
be fool"
"The question is now-what to do
nextp said Melissa.
"Plain sewing" said Mary, cor house
work"
81 don't like sewing" asseysrated Pat
ty. "And although I'm not afraid of
scrubbing or dishwashing, still I'd
great deal rather work outdoors than
indoors"
at isn't what we like, it's what we've
got to dol"
Patty began to feel in her pocket.
"If I had the money to pay the rail-
road fare I'd go down and see Mr.. Clapp
myself"
'Do you think you could do matters
better than MelissaH" said Mary rather
severely.
"well, don't know" said Patty. 81
should like to try it,"
''Let the child &C." said Melissa. "The
fare isn't much. She won't get much
work"
"It's all nonsense" said Mary.
But Patty had her way, as she gener-
ally contrived to 10.
"Wal," said Mr.. Cephar Clapp to his
wife, one day, GIVE let the Rock Farm
to them New York folks after all"
"A passed. o. womenf" screached Mrs.
Clapp. Thought you said you wouldn't
hev nothIn' to say to 'em."
$50 l wouldn't" said Mr.. Clapp. "But
there's an uncle in the business. From
out west somewhere. He's writ a letter.
He'll sign the lease and run the machine.
And when the five years are up, if we
amt mutooally suited, why, there's an
end on it,"
"Oh," said Mrs. Clapp.
The Tamarack girls took possession
of Rock Farm. Melissa STROBE In a man
like fashion, with hammer and pack
age of nails in her pocket, putting in a
screw here and q HOOK there.
81 shall turn this shed and stable into
a hennery," said she. "The cow will do
very well i'll smaller building, and we
shall not keep q horse just at present"
Mary in the meantime, was measuring
off certain number of square yards on
a sunny upland meadow tor strawberry
planting, while Patty was consulting
with the village aroenter as to certain
glass sashes TO bel put at the south end
of the old house.
"Roses blossom first rate in the open
air." said Peter Piaine, suuburned,
handsome young fellow. "Why our
folks
"Yey," said Patty, with an emphatic
nod of the head, but not roses that are
to be sold in the market at twenty-five
cents apiece, when the snow lies two feet
deep on the ground"
Peter Plaine opened his eyes very
wide.
Twenty five cents apiece" said he,
''for rosesra
ats what people often pay" said the
city girl. "And whatever put on the
market must be of the very best"
"But I don't see nothin' of the old
gentleman" said Mrs. Cephas Clspp to
her husband, as the time crept on.
"He's troubled with rheumatic" said
Me-. Clapp. 81 reckon likely he sets in q
big chair up stairs. Leastways, l never
see him when l GO after the rent. They
pay it as regular as the clock though"
Il. signed the lease did't he?
"In great big Ietters-P. Tamarack."
"Oh, then it's ell right" said Mrs.
Clapp "Them gals never could make
both ends meet the way they do, eff there
wasn't a mans brains back Dem. /
hain't got no faith in your women farm
ers."
eff I'd s'posed there was so much
money in the hen and chicken business,
I'd tried it myself, instead of losing all
my money in that blasted hay crop that
miidewed in the August rains" remarked
Mr. Clapp. with acidity.
but 1T makes me laugh to see that
second gal putin good, cold cash into