The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-06-17


with pleasure as his aged kinsman,
trad Biglow, painfully pulled his
trunk to the edge of the veranda pre-
paratory to entering the farm wagon.
After many delays the old man was
about to go to his cousin, Freeman,
where Edgar was anxious to see him
housed.
Old Trad Biglow's aged eyes became
pathetic behind their bushy thatch as
he readily deduced his welcome had
been exhausted. But he had no settled
home and it was imperative that he re-
main under Cousin Edgar's roof a
bit longer.
"Mebbe you can make me a short
visit next year," soothed Edgar, letting
down the tail-board of the wagon to
receive the trunk.
Trad sighed. He knew his stay at
Freeman's would be as brief as it was
unwelcome. What after that filled
him with forebodings. "Mebbe l can
have you come in haying time," con-
tinued Edgar.
"Haying time," muttered Trad, rue
fully, his head sinking. Then his
faded eyes lighted bit and he more
complacently observed: Il guess
you'll have to come to me next sum-
mer, as l expect my experiments in
Freeman's south meader will keep me
busy for year. I've worked out the
alphabet seed all right, but there is a
bit more fussing to be done. The
grass comes harder'n the flowers. In
lifting the trunk, kindly take care not
to jOstle it, as them parcels of seed
may get loose. Now, if you'll give
me lift, we'll"
"Seed?" murmured Edgar, his gaze
narrowing suspiciously. Whose seed
Where did you git any seed?'
Its my alphabet Seed" explained
Trad, bending over the trunk. 1.-THE
idea of planting flowers that would
spell out things when they break into
bloom always appealed to me- Take
a city mans lawn. Say his name is
and buds and flowers until you see on
his lawn his full name gracefully
spelled out. Also, his house number
If he pays extry I'll put in his tele-
phone number. l first figgered on $50
a lawn; then I said I'd be dinged if it
want worth five dollars a letter.
Each seed develops into a letter. It's
like setting type, you know. Have a
little box with a bin for each letter
and numeral, and then wander around
careless and easy like, mebbe hum
ming little song, and pick out the
seeds from the different bins.
Nov, at five dollars a letter Ell
nathan w. Jones would pay $40. That
doesn't include his house number
Take a city of 100000, and say 200
householders-only 200, mind you
buy the alphabet seed. Averaging $50
apiece that city would net us $4,000
And that s. only for one summer. Now
take"
Holy mackerel!" suffered Edgar
tanning his fevered brow and tender
ly pulling the trunk back to the door
way. Trad Bigelow, sit down. Why
didn't you tell me of this before:
Why, Trad, how could you think OF
quitting your best friend. Now, don't
look at that DANCED trunk. Just for
git it. Fill your pipe. We're going
to have a boiled dinner what know
you are fond Of"
But Freeman" feebly protested
Trad
Freeman be hanged" Cried Edgar
You're going to pay me decent
visit. Now, this seed"
This seed will be harvest of dol
lars" proudly assured Trad, sinking
into a chair. "The fggers I've men
toned are based on Maine cities. But
think of the profits when we git into
cities where's there lot of Germans
and sign contracts for names like
Kuppeinheimeira and Hockenstein
berger. Sounds good, eh? Then ash
me what's In name. Ha! ha! ha!
Take a wealthy Italian, say Giovanni
Guiseppi Staniluscioria-
And streets where the house mum
bers run into the thousands bah
bled Edgar. And think of families
spelling out their children's Names
And think of big factories spelling
out its name and the goods it manu-