The Florida agriculturist., 1907-08-21
THE SPIRIT OF REVOLT.
It Ended in Content for Two Discon-

the second time, then she rolled them
up and put them back in the tin bak-
ng-powder box. :.
"A hundred and fifty four dollars"
she said, as she put the cover on. She
rested her elbows and looked wearily
out of the window "You might 60 this
afternoon and put it in the bank
Ruth, her younger sister, sat in the
rocking chair beside the stove. Although
the October sun shone in at the west
windows, there was cold wind blowing,
and the warmth of the fire was very
comforting.
Suddenly Ruth spoke passionately
I'm tired of being poor, and I'm sick
to death of the way we live"
$50 am l." said Myra, without chang
ing her position or her expression.
eve never go anywhere, nor see any
thing, nor hear anything"
cor know anything" Myra said duly
'It's all very we'll in the summer"
said Ruth. tits fun to see things grow
ing-the flowers and vegetables-an to
have folks come and buy them. We
work hard, but that's kind of fun, too,
while it lasts. But we don't have any
other kind of fun, and Pm tired of it. J"
$50 am T." Myra repeated.
''When the fall comes we count up
our summers savings and put them in
the bank, and that's the end of every
thing till the next spring. Through the
winter we Just stagnate."
"Vegetate," said Myra.
eff only we could hibernate it would
be some satisfaction, but we can't and
Ruth fell silent again, brooding discon-
tent and rebellion in her eyes. Present.
ly she spoke again. "Lots and lots of
folks who don't work half as hard as
we DO have-everything They don't
earn it, and we do. We work hard
enough to have everything we want,
and I say we are fools if we don't take
what we want It's our right. [ don't
care what folks say. We've tried being
poor and honest long enough and have
seen the folly of It. Let's try the other
way for while"
Myra turned in her chair and looked
at her sister "But how?" she asked.
Ruth's eyes flashed and she spoke
vehemently. "Sell the farm and then
90 to the city and hire big house and
furnish it elegantly; entertain, 60 to
concerts, opera, theater, lectures, and
enjoy ourselves generally"
''How could we pay for ?"
Ruth laughed recklessly. Don't pay
for it," she said. "Pay for theater
tickets and things like that, but not
for the necessaries of life-house rent.
food, fuel, lighting. I'm tired to death
of paying for the necessaries of life"
$50 am l." said Myra.
Lets do it, them
But Myra was more cautious. ''We
might want to come back to the farm"
she saiH. LETS take this money and
90 to the city and stay as long as we
can. and then come back home"
'That's So" agreed Ruth, 'let's.
Won't it be fun to buy house furnish
ings on installments ?"
"And owe the grocer" said Myra
"And the coal man." said Ruth.
'And we won't do a stroke of work
from morning till night"
mo, we won't.
Both fell silent, making plans. Their
faces were lighted up by new hope, and
they smiled at each other happily.
''T don't see why we can't go by the
first of November-all the fall work is
DONE" said Myra. Then a sudden shade
of CONSERVATION crossed her face. "But
what shall we do with the house and
the cow and the horse?"
ooh, dear! [ had not thought of that"
They looked at each other in alarm for
some minutes.
|Oh. I have it," cried Ruth. She
jumped up and walked excitedly about
the room. cold Mr.. and Mrs Kelsey