The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-07-12


couch, II never could think, Myra, that
it was just fair for you. successful
farmeress, to marry the best young
farmer in North Wilcott. 1t would
have been far more philanthropic for
you each to have married some poor
soul who couldn't make both ends
meet"
Thanks, Miss Dolly; just bear that
advice in mind when some long haired
professor offers you his soulful self;
but you must remember that it was
my failure in raising potatoes that first
drew Johns mind Burtonward."
Because we didn't know enough to
feed the bugs on paris green instead
of potato tops" laughed Ruth. But
after all, while potatoes and boarders
helped, it was the chickens that paid
the debt"
"Of course it was" answered Myra
warmly. I'VE should have pinched
along till doomsday with only the farm
and boarders for profit. But We could
never have made the old place bios
som as it does now If it hadn't been
Jean flushed happily. my hens have
paid; but you give me too much credit.
| could never have won the battle
alone; and feel like saying SO, some
times, to the people who come here to
see your famous poultry yards, or
the hens that paid the mortgage.
COR the woman who can run a big
poultry plant, and yet look a lady. 2"
This was standing joke, but Jean
could never take it calmly.
II have had some queer experiences
in the past ten years, and that was
only putting into words what most peo-
pie are too polite to say. AS If there
were anything unsexing in keeping
hens"
Give us a resume of the whole,
Jean. Call it Cycle in Hendom.'"
Jean gazed thoughtfully into the fire.
and then began slowly:
"Of course, you and Myra know all
about the first five years, with their
constant struggle to make both ends
meet, keep decently clothed, and save
something toward the mortgage. And
then of a sudden, as it seemed, the
tables turned. and my poultry began
to pay all the bills very comfortably;
| but there was nothing marvellous in
this; we had gained enough experience
| in our general farming so that we could
pay those bills and hire a capable man.
l had increased my docks, houses and
experience year by year, till l had
oh NJ oil 70 erfx nj 10 In
sailing. had learned that in business
a good name was rather to be chosen,
ETC., and that the best never went un-
sold.
81 think that above all else, my sue
| cess has been due to the possession OF
a good business head, hands that were
not afraid of any work. however dis
tasteful, painstaking care in details,
and determination to do and have
the very best. In short. I have sue
ceeded because felt it to be as much
my duty to be an artist in poultry
keeping as you do in piano playing.
Besides, / could never have done hall
so well had ii not been for Ruthies
help. How you did mother those in
cubators the first winters. l should
have used them for kindling before
ever mastered them"
81 didn't mind. was so glad &c
help, even a little-but go on, Jean. y
There isn't much more to tell.
| paid the last hundred on the mortgage
| last week. l could have done 1t long
ago, but l preferred making some i'm
| provements first. AS long as l was
! sure of a certain income it seemed
foolish to get along without the COM
forts we desired. So put up the wind
mill, fixed up the old house, put in a
furnace, and owned the fastest horse in
North Wilcott, even while there were
some arms left to the Octopus.
You know that Myra had q reason
able plenty for her wedding outfit, that
Dolly spent two years at the conserva-
tory, and that Ruth and / have had
much happiness sprinkled through the
years. Our chief trouble has been to
| find faithful man who was willing tc
stay out here; but now that Tom is
so contented, we seem 10 be out OF
danger" She stopped and looked at
Myra. Cant you contribute to this
| experience fund.-"
"My experience is patent to all,
| Myra answered, with shining eyes. y
am the happiest woman in the world
with the dearest husband and baby.
rejoice that the rest of you have ca
reers, but for me-"
Love is king" quoted Dolly, softly.
Your turn, Dolly"
81 do not know what the future may
hold" she said dreamily, "but even
Myra, with her 'fullness of life,' is no
happier than !. have all the concert
work l can possibly do this winter,
with the entree into the very best so
ciety-best because it is life that means
something. Next year / shall go
abroad, and the future is full of posi-.
| bilities."
A silence fell on the group each busJ
with her dreams of the unknown fu.
ture, till the old clock struck eleven
when Dolly, as usual, had the last