Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-12-04

Eyes, sir, that there machine will
do the work of half-dozen men, and
do 1t quicker and better. I'll have my
alfalfa stacked before the neighbors
have theirs in the cocks" and John
Prince complacently surveyed his
latest purchase.
His wife-poor, tired Jennie-stood
in the kitchen door, looking at the
new stacker in a dissatisfied manner.
Every year when John went to Den
yer with his cattle he brought her a
new dress, but it was never a silk
one. She had asked him again and
again for the much-coveted article,
but was always refused on the score,
that "a farmers wife had no need for
a silk dress" When she went to-
church she always took note Of the
silk dresses, most of them belonging
to poorer people than herself.
AS she stood thus, in the bright
morning sunshine, a flock of nearly
hundred geese issued from the barn
yard and marched past her, on their
way to the irrigation ditch.
John came leisurely up from the
barn.
at is nearly time those geese were
picked" he remarked. Eyes," she an
swered listlessly. 81 believe we will
have fifty dollars worth of feathers
this year, unused John.
Jennie started. Fifty dollars!
Why that was just what Cousin Kit
tvs silk cost-making and all! Fifty
dollars!" and as Jennie looked and
thought sudden plan formulated it
self in her brain. She would have the
money for the feathers herself. Hadn't
she set and tended them? Hadn't she
watched and fed them during the
cold winter? And now she was ex-
pected to pick them! Surely she had
earned the money!
Early Monday morning, John start
ed on a twenty-five mile horseback
ride, to buy calves, and drive them
home. He would be gone all week.
This was her chance. AS soon as he
was out of sight, Jennie called Andy,
the hired man, and with his assist
ance the geese were one by one TAX
en- from the poultry house, and
robbed of their pretty coats. Hour
after hour they worked-all other
work for the day being neglected.
When night came a row of wheat
sacks filed with feathers, stood on
the barn floor.
Tuesday morning saw Jennie and
Andy driving to Emporia, with the
sacks of feathers piled in the wagon
behind them. Arriving at Emporia,
they drove Immediately to produce
dealer, who purchased the feathers.
What a bound Ler heart gave when
the dealer counted the money into her
hands. Fifty-five dollars!
With a smile of exultation Jennie
started for Cousin Kitty's, telling
| Andy to return home and come after
her on Thursday.
kitty, can you go shopping with
me this afternoon" Jennie asked at
dinner.
"Why, certainly. 1 should be glad
to go. Are you going to get spring
dress?"
mo, not exactly. I'm going to get
a black silk"
"a black sikh" in great astonish'
ment. HAS John really given you
the money for it, at last?'
mo. He didn't give it to me.
earned it."
you earned it? How?" But Jen
ME seemed embarrassed over Kitty's
questions. and only said, "I'll tell
you about it some other time. Let's
go down to the city right away
When she started for home OF
Thursday afternoon the dress was
well under way, with the promise
that she could have it Saturday after
noon. She spent the intervening time
planning how to present the matter
to John.
At last Saturday afternoon came
and Andy drove her to town in the
buggy, procured the dress, and ther
drove home as quickly as possible
Jennie fearing lest John should arrive
fir1t. Andy was instructed not to tel
Mr.. Prince of her visits to Emporia
that week, as she had been preparing
surprise for him. Arriving at home
just at shutdown Jennie was relieved
to find that her husband was moi
home yet. The dress was hidden up
stairs, her clothes changed and sup
1 per ready before he did come.
Sunday morning, John was tired
and only arose in time to dress hur
riedly for church and so did not &c