The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-06-05
s THE BOY WHO STAYED )

Appleby's voice was full of regret.
Lets go and ask your mother
about it," suggested the other boy.
"Well, we can go, but it won't do
any good
They went into the house together.
John was in his working clothes; but
Henry Williams had on his best suit
and was carrying valise.
Living on adjoining farms and be-
ing about the same age, the two
boys had naturally grown to be fast
friends; and the thought of separa-
ton was painful to both. It was es
pecial1y so to John, for he must stay
at home while his friend went off to
the city to seek his fortune.
The conference inside the house
ended just as John had predicted it
would Mr.. Appleby had died only
few weeks before, and Mrs. App1eby
would not hear of Johns leaving
home.
cts different with you, Henry"
she said, "Your father and Will can
work the place while you are gone,
but there's no one here but John to
do it; and we can't afford to let the
farm go entirely, thought with a
sigh, goodness knows there's not
much to be made on it,
This was the general opinion Of the
community, for the Appleby place
bore the unenviable reputation Of be-
ing the only one in the neighborhood
that was poorer than the one from
which Henry was so gladly escaping.
Henry told his friends goodbye
and went off down the road whist
ling cheerfully. John watched him
out Of sight. and then walked around
to the wood-pi1e and sat down with
troubled look on his face He was
sitting there in the bright sunshine
Of the earl y spring thinking YEARLY
Of the prospect ahead Of him, pros
pect in which he saw nothing but
cease1ess round of hard work poorly
naid, when his sister Clara came out:
Clara svmnathized deeply with her
brothers. desire to leave the farm
and trv something else, for she too
wanted to 90 to school, wanted books
to read, wanted so many things that
there seemed to be no chance Of get
ting. Still she was too young and
too hopeful to feel blue herself or to
encourage such feelings in any one
else.
90, saw John" she began with an
eager voice. ct came by Mr.. Ben
SONS this morning, and he has some
If the finest chickens you ever saw:
White. every one Of them, and all
inst alike. He calls them Wyan-
dOttes."
Eyes" said John, ct have seen
them. They are fine; but do you
know how much they COST?
Clara shook her head "Three dol
.1ors apiece" Johns tone was so
homeless that even C1ara's enthus1-
asm was chilled for the moment. She
sat down on an old wheelbarrow and
stared At her brother.
"T did want some Of them SO much"
John looked sober1v at his feet tor
minute then said. "I'll tell YOU
what vou can do Set all the eggs
YOU get and next fall YOU can sell
vour chickens and buy some from
Mr. Benson, maybe.
eve can't spare all Of the eggs to
set" answered Clara. "and we can't
raise too many Young ones or they
will eat I'D every bit of garden we
have Don't you suppose. though,
Tohn. that we could fix I'D the fence
50 they couldn't get into the gar
den?"
"Of course" said John. straighten-
inc TN. "and we'll cut off corner of
the old wood1ot for you to keep
them i'm
They went at the task at once: for
eTohr wac Glad RI dO anvt1ir1o IN keen