The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-12
How Louise Earned a Gown.
BY Roe L. Hendrick.

AlU VI lUuldU LUZ uUu u W. HE
BY Roe L. Hendrick.
Louise" said Robert Sears, coming
in to supper one hot July afternoon,
*'do you want to earn the best dress
that can be bought in Lisbon-a real
beauty"
What a question to ask a girl!''
replied his sister. "Of course l dol"
"Well, Charlie and l have decided
to make you an offer. II you will
drive the self-binder to cut our wheat
and oats, we will buy whatever ma
terials you may select and pay the
rdressmaker besides"
Agreed" Louise exclaimed with
delight
But Mrs. Sears protested. 1t
takes four-horse team to draw the
machine" she said, "and Louise
never has driven more than single
span. Besides, she would have to
operate the lever which ties and
throws off the bundles. You should
hire some experienced hand, for it is
a mans work"
Il only wish We could, mother"
Charlie Sears interposed. I'VE did
not wish to ask her, but farm-hands
can't be secured at any price. Ira
Ford was going to change work with
us. but he cut his foot yesterday and
will be crippled for a month
"Your father always believed it
impossible to use machine on the
hill lots" their mother said. I'm
afraid you're too venturesome."
"That was simply because he never
Stried, mother" said Bob. "If we
we're to cradle those forty acres our
harvesting would last till Christmas.
I'm afraid. AS for the bundle-lever,
we have set that so it will work auto
matically, and Louise can give her en-
tire attention to driving. Both fields
can be cut by going round them, as
eending the easy slope at the north
and coming down the sleeper south
end. Well put the blacks on ahead,
with old Joe and Dolly behind. Louise
really needs to drive only the front
team, for the others will follow with
out any guidance"
why. of course!" Louise eagerly
declared. Mamma. please don't
you say another word. should be
ashamed to be country girl and not
able to help at time like this.
Haven't / ridden the horse rake and
shay-tedder ever since was ten years
Old?"
Mrs. Sears sighed, but said no more,
and directly after breakfast the next
morning Louise climbed to the seat
Of the self-binder Charlie handed
her the four reins. which she carefully
separated and grasped firmly before
-ehirriping to the horses.
She wore a Shaker" sunbonnet of
straw, the strings of which were tied
beneath her chin. while her hands
we're protected by pair of faded kid
gloves. Her short '.rainy-day" skirt
was of wool. and heavy for the season,
but manifestiy one of the length
which the dignity of her seventeen
years usually demanded would have
been far less safe.
Prince and Pomp. the black four
year-olds were restless at first, dan
ling ahead in manner rather alarm
ng to their driver. but the older
horses preserved stolid pace which
'seassured her.
Bob and Charlie walked on each
tide. Once in the field, they would
We kept busy arranging the scatter
ID bundles in shocks, so that the long
/ straw might be cured by wind and
sun; but now they had opportunity
o watch their sister and pass judg-
uent ON her skill in driving.
Louise found. as Bob had said, that
guiding the leaders was sufficient. The
alder horses followed docilely in their
racks. When called upon to pass at
light angles from the barn-yard to
he highway she felt nervous. but the
our in hand and the ponderous ma.
thine following made the turn with
cut difficulty. and the narrower pas
iage from the road to the farm lane
vas managed with equal ease.
Bob and Charlie watched her mar
sowly. but made no comment. Plain
" they were satisfied, or she would
have heard to the contrary.
The lane led over the stone bridge
ind across the creek flats, and thence
directly up the steep hill. with level
sreak near the middle. which made
ip the greater part of the valleyview
Farm. On the summit were the two
grain-fields OF twenty acres each.
wheat having been sown north Of the
Ane and oatsAto the south. The latter
we're not yet ripe.