The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-23
ANOTHER TALE OF THE ROAD
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

her face When the cart stopped be-
fore the gate, Lucy heard her father
call out feebly from beneath the
cover of the cart:
"Don't be scared, Lucy. I'm all
right, only I was clumsy enough to
fall off the cart a few miles back
and I'm all stove up
eyes, that's it, said the man who
has been driving. "He ran over a
little stump in the road out by my
house, about four miles from here.
The jar tumb1ed him off the seat
of the cart I'm sure one of his
legs is broken and his shoulder seems
to be out Of joint, SO I drove the
cart home for him.
The doctor had to be called, of
course. His report was that John
Shore would have to keep quiet for
many weeks. This was serious
matter. John had brought home but
a few dollars in money. The bills
caused by Mrs. Shores sickness and
death were still unpaid. What was
worse, the team must be laid up dur
ing the very time that was the most
profitable of the year for Johns busi-
ness.
''Tt's fruit and tomato-canning
time," he said to Lucy, "an' the
women folks use sight of tin cans
and tlnWare Of all Sorts I've more
orders than [ ever had afore, an
here l am flat on my back an likely
to stay here until snow flies for all
I know, It's mighty discouragin', I
don't know what we're goin' to do
u know, father" said Lucy, sud-
denly and with decision. I'll take
the cart and go out on the road"
What! You, a gal of 16, 90
tra1psln' out over the country on a
three weeks trip, peddlin' tinware,
sleepin' nights in strange houses, an
be1n, ketched out in storms an all
that Why, Lucy Shore!"
I'm not bit afraid, father.''
L intended to go clear to Jackson
Cross Roads next trip, an that's sixty
miles from here, child"
Lucy had an answer ready. a. she
did for every objection he made, and
when the discussion was over she had
won, and the next day she made
ready for the trip.
Three or four of the kindly dis
posed neighbors gathered to see Lucv
OFT and to wish her good luck. She
had risen early and had done all that
she could do for the comfort Of her
father and the children while she was
gone: One of the neighbors had in
S1sted on taking the two-year-old
fPaby. Danny, home with her and
keeping him until Lucy's return It
was hot, dusty day in September
when Lucy set forth in the old cart
with Ned, the old horse, between the
shafts. She had patched and mended
the ragged cover of the wagon and
mad washed the cart and groomed
old Ned until he looked better than
usual; but her turnout was still a
s:orry-looking affair, and Lucy hav-
ing degree of pride not usual in the
Shores, felt keen1y her own shabbi-
ness and that of the cart and Of oYd
Ned, with his harness comnosed
mostly of odds and ends Of leather
straps.
She wore her best gown, but that
was only an il1-ftting, untrimmed
prown calico; her head was covered
by an ugly blue and white gingham
SunOonnet with pink lining. But
t,1ough Lucy was keen1y conscious of
tne unattractlve appearance she pre-
Sented, she did not allow the thought
OF 1t to disturb her much. One or
two OF the neighbors had thought
and said that her project was ab-
surd and had predicted it's failure
ohe was resolved that she would not
return unsuccessful
'(Ief 9IOnO Oe+ o1ooo MID,