The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-09-08
MELISSA'S
STRANGE CROP
By A. F.. CALDWELL.

u
<<<+<<<<<<<++<<+++r<+++++
4 DENSE bank of clouds lay slug.
n gishly, threateningly along the
whole horizon. The air felt damp and
heavy; it would storm before morn
ing.
Melissa Noble, tired and anxious,
refined in her jaded horse before the
door OF the struggling barn that ap-
pealed SO eloquently through its gap
ing gables and Tapping shingles for
much-needed repairs. Melissa had
been cultivating the irregular rows of
corn and vegetables down on the
meadow patch-about the only part of
the rocky, unproductive farm capable
of response to plow and hoe.
"Tired?" stroking the horse, as she
passed him to swing open the creak-
ing door. SOS your mistress! It's
hard doing the work of a man and
boy and two horses-just you and L;
but she gave the thick neck another
encouraging stroke. II guess We can
get along somehow. I'm glad we didn t
4sell-for her sake, aren't you?" and
the girl hung up the harness on the
unprotecting wooden peg, with a
sprightliness that belied the long
hours Of toll she had endured since
early morning.
I'm afraid" Melissa had finished
the chores at the barn and was put
ting the prop in place against the door
for the night, its going to be another
lons storm-it feels like it. If it
rains much more" in evident discour.
ascm@nt, "the plants will be ruined;
they're half buried in mud now-what
haven't been drowned out! Only two
pleasant days since we've had whole
weeks rain, and the atmosphere again
has exactly the same feeling" and she
looked anxiOusly toward the west
through the gathering dusk.
1t was the first year of Melissa s
managing the little farm alone. Her
older brother had given up in despair
of ever being able to make more than
both ends meet and the fall before had
left his grandmother and sister that,
as he said, he might somewhere else
obtain better returns for the output
of strength.
Twice during the winter he had
written Melissa advising her to sell
the stone heap" and go to Auburn
where she could find plenty of EN-.
ployment; that he should never return
to struggle that paid only in aches
and poverty, with no hope of success.
Thomas Peace wants the place
and he'll pay more'n the old shack s
worth-Ive written and asked him
He says he'll turn it into his sheep
pasture; it's good for nothing else
save that little strip of meadow, and
one can't live on that"
Thomas Peace had called and urged
the sale, at the same time pretending
it to be great condescension on his
part, lust neighborly intersection
your good!" And, in fact, be it said
to his credit, he wouldn't have made
the offer, though he could use the land
at good advantage for pasturage, had
it not been suggested to him by Has
kell Noble.
At hcst Melissa was half inclined
to sell: no one knew better than she
what it meant-the toll, deprivation
and worly-just to make living there
from the stony soil, and scanty one
at that!
What do you think, grandmother:
seriously, after their neighbours propo
-sition, Hadn't we better accept hi:
offer?" ard Melissa rested her elbow
on the window sill and looked GU
across the hills.
Grandmother Noble was silent: sht
was thinking.
'Seil-tLe home; my home - thu
only one l ever had! To go where
Among strangers; but if Meliss;
wished''-her mind was workin,
slowly.
Melissa turned uneasily from tn
window.
You don't want it done, do you
I'll not leave it for you to decide
it's yoar home; I'll not be so cruel!
The old woman closed her eyes
twas her way of being thankful.
NO; we've decided-it's better no
to SELL" and Thomas Peace left tn
house without an attempt at argu
ment.
She's goin' to find it oarder'n sh'
roa.izes; running things-alone and I
s.s,' E%r brother couldn't make e