Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-25


from the harness he was
~ mending in preparation for
springs work to see his two daughters
standing before him.
"Wcll?" he said. with an inQuiring
smile
We've want to go to college,
said Mabel. She was the older of the
two. Il fair haired girl of seventeen.
Her sister Gladys was year younger,
short, plump little girl with unruly
brown hair and an irrepressible smile.
Their father let the strap he was
holding fall to the floor.
What for?" he asked.
ITO learn things" said Mabel 1--WE
want to go to the agricultural college
and take the domestic science course.
If you'll come in the house I'll show
you what the catalogue says about it,
Mr.. Sanders picked up his strap and
went to work again. You're mighty
good girls" he said, land l want to do
all can for you. but don't see where
the money to send you to college is
coming from"
Mabcl's lip quivered "Then can't
can't we go:" she asked.
Her fathers eyes twinkled as he
looked up. "l'll tell you what I'll do"
ne said. "I'll give you girls the old
apple orchard, and you can use all the
money you make from it to 90 to col
lego with
The old apple orchard consisted of
an acre of apple trees that MI. san
dcrs had set out several years before
with the expectation of re0ping a
Handsome reward when they should
reach bearing age. But the locality
WAS not especially well adapted to APP
pie growing. Weeds and insects play
ed havoc. and the orchard turned out
to be anything but a paying PROPOSE
ton
Mabel turned abruptly and left the
shop. but Gladys sat down on nail
keg, with her forehead puckcred up in
thought. After a few moments she got
up and went over TO the window.
There had been Il hard frost the night
before, and the apple trees were laden
with white coating of frost crystals
that shone and sparkled in the sun
light.
ITS pretty this morning anyway
she said. "Can we really have it to
do as we please withT
That's what said,' her father an
swored you'll have hard time
getting anything out of it, though
well" Gladys replied determined
ly, we're going to get something out
of it. l believe we can make that old
orchard pay our way through college
Mr. Sanders smiled. II hope so, -
he said. I'll help you all l can"
I'm going over to Pearson'@ this
afternoon" said Gladys as they We're
seated at the dinner table that noon.
do you want to 90 along, Mabelt'
"What forf" asked Mabel.
ITO find out how he raises so many
apples"
Hes got better apple soil than we
have" spoke up Mr.. Sanders.
Maybe that isn't the only reason,
persisted Gladys. II want TO talk with
him anyway
Mr.. Sanders had a th:ee-year-olC
rolf. which the girls had broken #
drive that winter, They had has
many Il lively tusslc with it before il
would acknowledge that it was con
0uered, but now it was ~ quiet ant
locile as could be asked for ana woul(
follow the girls around like big dog
Gladys always insisted that Mollie
as they called the colt, needed only
little training to rival Lou Dillon. In
,bo ho &C NynII;,'.
Qualities so much that Mrs Sander.
could not be induced to ride behin(
her and she held her breath ever,
time tho girls drove out Of the ware
with the colt
After the dinner dishes were Washe,
and put away the girls hitchcd Molli
to the old fashioned square box cutie
and drove over to Parsons
Mr. Pearson was a somewhat eccen
trio old farmer He spent most Of hi
time pottering around in his orchar
and garden, leaving his three boys t
do the farm work. The neighbor
were forced to admit that he raised
tine fruit, but they were inclined t.
give credit TO his rich, somewhat
sandy soil rather than to his painstak
ing care. He rubbed his bald heaG
delightedly when the girls told hin
their errand,
"Of course you can make it pay" hi
exclaimed. THAT acre Of apple trees
ought to send half dozen girls to col
Iege"
Ihereupon he entered into length!
discussion on apple growing, which
the girls only half understood, though
they listened with growing interest
"WAct Won want to do first" sab