South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-12-16


been surface soil.
Next, that boundary wall was re-
paired. Then, one day, q pile of
black leaf mould made its appear
ance, then another aud another, till
finally the field across the brook re-
sembled q haying field in which an
eccentric farmer had used black
hay-caps instead of white.
The rich forest mould was mixed
with the sand, aud then Frank re-
ceived choice lot or strawberry
plants from grower OF small
fruits.
Strawberry plants, Ell I? said Mr..
Allen. How did you pay for
them?'
With the money that 1 earned
by working for Mr.. Marieu,' was
the reply.
Have you kept that money all
this time ! Well, you've wasted it
at last. They won't amount to
anything
Il shall plant them, father, and
think they will do WE'LL said
Frank quietly.
Go on with your experiment.,
young man. returned Mr.. Allen,
sternly. you will lean some
thing, at least
A year had rolled away and June
had COM again. ID wn on the san
dyslope between wall and brook a
crop OF delicious strawberries were
ripening. + ank viewed the results
of his labor with content.
II don't know what I'm going to
do. said Mr.. Allen one day, as the
family sat around the dinner table.
L borrowed fifteen dollars of Dea-
con Mason last spring, and now I
can't pay it. Everything has work
ed against me
Let's earn it, father, said
Frank.
'How?' asked his father. You
know very we'll that we can't leave
homo
Father said Frank stead IL,
down on that slope across the brook
are st least one hun Ired dollars
worth Of strawberries, and can
sell them all to the Hotel, keepers
of FarmIngvsle.
i Mr.. Allen stared at his son.
Is it possible p he cried. why,
l supposed the W eds had choked
the plSnts long ago. An hoar la
ter the Allen family passed over
the brook and began to pick the
large, ripe berries.
Your experiment IS a success,
Frank said Mr.. Allen, slowly. Il
guess I'll give up some more of the
old farm to your CARE
The fifteen dollars was paid.
Then Frank, who delivered the
berries, put each days proceeds
from the work into the Savings
Bank OF Farmingvale until the last
! berry was sold, and then he drew
it all ont and carried it home in
triumph.
'One hundred aud tan dollars, he
announced. Now what shall we
do with it all ?"
We'll, interposed Mr.. Allen, Eve
need good many things, of course,
but l think we had better buy
Gray's moving lot that adioins the
north field. ! can get 1T for one
hundred dollars cash down
Mrs. Allen looked appealingly at
Frank, and the two girls who had
worked so hard down among the
strawberry vines showed the most
unmlstakable signs Of childish inn
patience and temper.
Father said Frank, anxious:y,
the barn needs to be newly shir-
gled-you know how much the rain
bothers you, you know much hay it
spoils. Then we ought to repair
the old wagon house and keep our
farming tools there. Just think
how handy it would be-
your ideas are sensible for boy
of seventeen said Mr.. Allen
thoughtfully. And l can get along
without the moving field little
longer. Your plans won't take up
all this mon"y, so ] think Ill buy
another cow.
Father, listen moment. Moth
or has worked very hard for years,
and she has picked IS many straw =
berries as you have. Now instead
Of buying another COW, for winch
We would have to buy extra hay, let
us ask mother and the gIrls what
they would like to have
Well, don't care, said Mr. AL.
len.
Frank hunted mp paper and pen
Gil and then said. Now mother,
what do you want p
Il would like a new lounge for
the sitcing room. and low, willow
rocking-chair. Then l do want a
photograph album
You shall have them, mother.
What's uppermost in your mind,
Kate 2
The young girl blushel, glanced
apprehensively At her father, aud
then said hesitatingly:
A set Of Dickens works, please,
and q volume OF Longfellow's po-
ems
Now, Annie, It's your tugn.'
'Oh, 7 want = doll 2 cried little
Annie, eagerly. Il never had any
thing but q rag dolly.
The money is not All used up
yet, said Frank, 'snd father can