The Marshall republican., 1910-08-12
Among the
Apple Trees
Story Faru
Life
By CLIFFORD v. GREGORY
Copyright. 1910. by American
Press Association
p Nv.

Nv.
"HB days that followed were
busy ones for Gladys and Ma
bel. The apple blossoms faded
and the petals fell, leaving tiny
apples In their places. And down the
rows of trees stretched smaller rows
Of cabbage plants-thousands of them.
The girls kept the cultivator going tire
lessly. The weeds had not been kept
down very well the season before, and
the ground was so filled with seed that
1t often seemed as though the cultivat-
ing only made two weeds grow where
one grew before. But by dint Of an in
~exhaustible supply of stick-to-it-iveness
they kept ahead, and at last the weeds
gave up The fight was too hot for
them, and they succumbed and allow
ed the cabbages to grow to unmolested
maturity.
One day In early August as the girls
were helping their mother set the din
ner table their father came in with a
letter in his hand and a worried look
on his face.
1Oht Nv SApioihCu III ohS"St W
his wife's inquiring look. HE got his
leg broke In a runa away. Carrie wrote
for me to come awhile If l could.
There isn't any n they can get to do
things. and with all those COW to
milk
"of curse you must 60" broke in
Mrs. Sanders. 1.-THE girls and 1 will
look after things here"
Eyes; do go, papa" spoke up 9f1iys.
"I'd like to try my hand at running
this farm awhile"
lt Mr.. Sanders smiled. Running a
quarter section is a bigger proposition
than running an acre." he said. But
guess youTn have to try It for a few
days" -
Mabel was picking up some wind
fans one hot afternoon a couple Of
days after her father left to take care
Of his. brother when a well dressed
stranger drove up to the fence and
called TO her. -
tnne crop Of apples you have
hefess he remarked as the approached.
s.aphttis the. finest Of any rye seen yet.
1sundergtand that you and your sister
ara tho best apple growers in the
neighborhood.", ~ fe+ 'r'"'
Mabel flushed with pleasure. II don't
know who could have told you that"
she said. This is the first crop Of ap-
pies We have ever raised" go
II didn't need to be told. The or
chard speaks for itself. You haven't
sold them yet. have your he added.
sold them p said Mabel inquiringly.
"why. they won't be ready to sell for
a month yet"
"You mean they won't be ready to
pick for a month yet" corrected the
stranger. There's nothing to prevent
your selling them now. is thereT
''N-no. 1 suppose not, only 1t seems
queer to sell apples a month before
they're ripe"
mot at all. Lots Of business Is
done that way. I'll tell you what III
do" he went o a "You have a fine lot
of apples here, and II your agree to
let me have all that you have to sell
I'll see that you get $3.50 a barrel fol
them"
"a dollar inc a half a barrel isn't
much for apples. is it," said Mabel
d%oubtfully.
"It is when they are as plenty as
they are this year. Why, I'll BET
there'll be 10000 barrels in this coun
ty alone"
SWELL" said Mabel, "Ill ask father
shout 1t when he comes home"
AD,.k o.aJA ~ ~ - ahtanfnd thu NOW
by the time your father gets home
I'll have contracted for all the apples
1 can use and you'll have to sell yours
for a dollar a barrel or less. Just
figure a moment. Here's at least fifty
trees
Thirty" corrected Mabel.
"Well, thirty. then. There'n be
about ten barrels to the tree. or SIT
worth. That will be $3.50 from the
whole orchard. Not bad, ehT
Mabel opened her eyes in astonish
ment. -Four hundred and fifty dol
Iarsp' she cried. "I'lP'-
"oh. no. you won't not till you tel
me about It" said a voice behind her
and she turned to see Gladys standing
beside the half 6lled apple basket. HeI
face was stern.
Tell her about It." said Mabel, turn
ing to the stranger. and he once more
explained his proposition.