Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-06-23

WHtWt dit you HOt VIII! Sdiu MI.
Jackson. Il hope not father? | ought
to have a little better than an average
crop" responded Ned.
What would an average crop be.
| Ned?"
THAT depends" replied Ned. ION
| the state, country and even the town;
but the Massachusetts, commissioner
| OF Agriculture says that five tons of
| Hubbards is a decent crop, six tons a
| good crop. eight tons very good crop,
and he has known as high as eleven
and a half tons raised, and he has
| raised fourteen tons of marrows to the
| acre himself
80 you think yours will be lit
| tie above the average, do YOU" replied
Mr.. Jackson.
Yes, think So" said Ned. | have
| been counting the squashes and max
| ing calculations, and If | have not fig
| ured too large, and | hardly think |
| have. | shall get over two tons on my
quarter acre, | shall have so many
| that ! may not get so much per pound
as ] did last year, but, turban SGT ash
es are worth more than Hubbards. so
! may make good average price, as
| there have been but few raised in the
vicinity.
-Four weeks after this, the committee
OF the Farmers Club came TO visit
Ned's field. AS il was necessary TO
have the weight of the crop, for two
| days Ned had been weighing the
squashes on some platform scales.
which his father owned. and just as
the committee came, he had com
pleted adding up the weight. and much
to his qualification, he found that the
sum total was 1862 pounds.
There is no question but the squash
! prize belongs to Ned, is there. Mr.
Sharp" said Mr.. Hooper, the second
member of the committee.
Not the least question" replied that
gentleman. The five dollars will be
awarded TO you, Ned" said both these
gentlemen, turning TO the young farm
err
I'VE have seen the other fields and
you win"
Col Hooper was in haste and rode
away, but Mr.. Jared Sharp, combining
pleasure with business, had taken his
daughter Nellie with him for a drive
He stopped a few moments longer t0
talk with Ned, and to ask MIN ques-
tions about his work. Nellie was an
interested listener, and when she had
heard the committee say that Ned had
won the prize, Ned imagined, as he
shyly looked at her. that flush Of
pleasure came TO her face.
He thought he would like TO go out
TO the carriage and speak 10 her, but
he thought OF his work clothes. noticed
her silk dress and handsome lat ana
felt there was far too much contrast
I'm their lot
AS Mr.. Sharp still talked with Ned
about the squashes. Ned selected fine
one and asked him if he would accept
IT,
Gladly. Ned. replied Mr. sharp and
II il is not too much trouble | would ask
you 10 take il TO my carriage, us have
on my best clothes
Ned blushed. thinking of his own
soiied clothes. and at the thought OF
speaking again 10 Nellie.
This squash is one OF Ned's own
raising said Mr. Sharp to Nellie, and it
is fine one. He has presented it TO
us and you Nellie, must some day
make a pie from it. Nellie is getting
10 be famous cook, and by the way
Ned. when the pie is made it would
be no more than fair that you should
have a taste / would like TO have
you see my library Ned. and sometime
we must have you over TO tea.
Mr.. Sharp, Notwithstanding his
wealth was a man OF strong common
sense. He admired the laboring man.
who was Industrious, and himself
worked daily, and IL was rule that
every member OF his household should
in some way take part in the more &C
tive duties of life. AS he drove away.
after extending this invitation, which
was seconded by bright smile from
Nellie. Ned stood like one supplied
Only think OF that" said Ned 10
himself, IAN invitation TO see Mr.
Sharps library. and to eat pie made by
Nellie" The day had been great one
for Ned The grand total OF 1852
pounds OF squashes; the winning of
the $500 prize; the invitation 10 see
the library and also Nellie, was glory
enough He told the whole story TO
his mother, and he somehow could not
sleep until away into the night, aud
when he did the squash field became
metdmorphOScG into handsome resi-
dence: the squashes themselves trans
formed into bouquets of beautiful flow
ers, and, as he admired one of the most
charminr roses in the bouquet. by
some wi cry in Ned's dreams II as
sumed . rosy cheeks and handsome
form Nellie.