The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-10-30


can to give away our work. Besides,
we have bills here and need the money
to square them. I don't quite like the
idea of selling our mules and wagons
and tools just now. We could only
get fraction of their value; and, be-
sides, [ am looking forward to COM
ing back after year or two. The
country will have recovered from the
shock by then, and business confidence
will be restored. Only we won't in
trust all Our profits to orange groves
again, but divide them so as to avoid
another catastrophe like this" He
paused, and then added as though in
concession to Abner's proposal:
There's the old woman who pays us
in small monthly instal1ments, and
the clerk in Cincinnati, and the two
school teachers-I don't suppose they
have much money to spare You
might send them receipts, and advise
them on no account to sell their
lands"
"Why not?" asked Abner, with
some surprise.
Because they would get very little;
and when we return with money
enough to make new start, we cam
reset their groves and charge them
the bare cost to us. This freeze is
only going to be temporary check
to the orange industry. But have you
seen Dave this morning?"
Eyes; said his father was thinking
OF moving away in search Of work"
T0hn 1o1101 cd c1>on+1co11x,
. I'm search Of dram-shop, more
likely. We've offered him work time
out of mind, and when he hasn't made
some excuse for not accepting it, he
has only worked day or two at most.
If it wasn't for Dave, the poor shift
less topper would often go hungry"
Il know it-poor fe11ow" Then,
IN answer to the derisive smile on
johns face, he went on, apo1ogetica1-
ly. i've never regarded old Higgins
in quite the same light as the rest of
you. He is worthless enough, grant
ed; but is seems to me we are more
eager to hold him down than to help
him rise. You know how it has been
here; all the men, even the negroes,
have scofed at and openly deridd him.
Call thing dog, and it's pretty
apt to be one. Higgins seems to have
been born without that spur to ambi
ton, backbone; and, besides, he still
prldes himself on having been gen.
tleman in some far-off stage of his
lite. These two things alone are
enough to destroy an ordinary man;
but in addition to them, Higgins is
still twitted of some obscure disgrace
which has followed him down from
Georgia. Got drunk and neglected an
important trust, believe. During the
six years he has been here I have
never seen man shake hands with
him or offer him any consideration
whatever. Sometimes I have wonder
ed how he would act if he were treat
ed courteously, as an equal; or, better
still, II he were given a position, that
implied confidence and respect"
John still looked derisive, but the
smile had left his face.
"Who knows" he said, thoughtful1v.
1T is a queer world, very full of
queer people, can shake hands with
an honest negro and greet him hearth
~, but | draw the line at a man like
higgins. Hello! yonder comes Dave
now" glancing from the window and
then rising hastily and moving toward
the door. eve must make some ar
rangement with him today"
About taking care Of the mules and
wagons, suppose?"
Yes, he is the best person we can
get for the work With Dave in
CHARGE 7 will feel 30 oof - 411