The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-15
TIE EVENING STORY
The Gardener.

do the thinking and the doing my
self. I'll enjoy it immensely" laughed
| Barbara.
Gardening seems such strenuous
work for you and $3.50 out of place"
Nothing is out of place for go
ahead woman nowadays. Women used
to pillow their own fields, hoe their own
gardens, did they not? Well, III serve
| this summer; I'll save doctors bills
and gardeners bills
''And increase your dreSSmakerS
| bills" added Mrs. Morton.
Now, mother" protested Barbara,
| edo try to find something cheerful to
saw I won't have any dressmaker'S
| bills this year. Dad can't afford 1t.
| 1 was not strong enough to remain In
| the city to finish my course at school
this term. Poor father never could
have afforded it, and by being ordered
to the the country-and home-l'H
| be a real help to you ALL
you're a dear good child, Babb1e,
said the mother, affectionately as she
| looked at the slender figure.
That's better-and now 1 must go
and see what's to be done first in the
garden. It's time now for early peas
and beets, and I'm sure the rhubarb
needs to be attended to. Oh, I've
| had my mind on this ever since DR..
! Drew told me 1 must go out in the
country and stay out of doors this
| spring.
Barbara left her mother in the sun
| ny sewing room and went to her own
| something serviceable to wear in the
garden.
1.-THE very thing" she exclaimed as
| her eyes fell on the blue serge gym
nasium suit. lit will be handy, and
| 1 can wear short coat. Mother may
| be Mortified, but-In wear it,
Bright and early the next morning,
even before Mr.. and Mrs. Morton had
| come down to breakfast, Barbara was
| out in the garden spot their grounds
boosted. 1t was plainly visible from
| the bay window of the dining room.
Who's that in the garden?" asked
Mr.. Morton casually.
Mrs Morton looked closely; then
she rose from the table and went close
to the window to scrutinize the form
of Barbara bending over her newly
made trench for peas. tits Babbie,"
she said.
'.BIess my soul. thought it was a
young man" laughed the father.
THAT girl is a treasure, mother"
''But that costume-suppose some
one should see heri" Mrs. Morton
said in alarm. Barbara's gymnasium
suit reached only to her knees and
she had found some old riding boots
which she had put on to match the
short tan coat she wore over the suit
mo one will see, mother, don't
worry! And if they did! I have
great hopes for Barbara in this out
of-door work 1t will build her up
and she'll enjoy it, Mr.. Morton was
more optimistic than his wife.
I'm hungrier than I've been for
weeks" exclaimed Barbara, entering
the dining room and throwing off her
coat and tan felt hat and finding her
place at the table.
And you have pinkiness in your
cheeks, Babbie, my girl, that you
haven't had for months" said her
father.
..But-that-those trousers, my
dear" said Mrs. Morton.
"Ah, now, mother - they aren't
trousers This is my gymnasium suit.
/ wore it every day at school," She
did not add that she wore it only in
Mighty becoming said her father.
makes me think have son as well
as a daughter"
Mrs. Morton sighed and continued
her breakfast.
"Pll guarantee you as good a gar
den as ever a son could make you.
dad" began Barbara, when she had
collected a substantial breakfast about
her. eve decided to go into it in
perfectly businesslike manner. I'll
make the garden, buy the seeds, fer
tilizer-everything and sell you the
stuff for the table at Wholesale! How's
that?"
''Fine!" exclaimed the father.
dear. won't it?" added Mrs. Morton,
beginning to feel little enthusiasm.
Barbara finished her breakfast and
returned to the garden. Each day
she arose early and did few hours
work. and after dinner she remained
out of bed only long enough to read
the farm journals.
AS the weather grew propitious Bar
bara's garden fiourished and the table
was plentifully supplied with all the
fresh vegetables. She had taken in
charge the small fruit the place
and picked and delivered that to her
mother each day. And as the garden
grew in health so did Barbara. She
found herself working more hours of
the dav as time went on and being
less tired at night.
One day at noon when she came in
from her garden work for lunch she
answered a call at the telephone. 1t
was a neighbor who wished to inquire
about the gardener she had seen, from
the distance, working in the Morton
garden
THE man who has been doing our
work has sprained his ankle and has
left us in a rather bad fix the neigh
Dor said Gould we get your man for
a day or two? Il
Barbara laughed inwardly. Then,
on impulse she answered.:
why, certainly. Mrs Wood. I'll
have him come over in the morning.
Our garden is in pretty good shape now
I noticed today"
Thus Barbara, unknown to her moth
err, went over early the next morning
to the garden of her neighbor. The
family had not come down stairs, and
it was from the maid of-all-work that
she obtained the tools. She then set
about her work, glad that she had sue
ceeded in the plan she had for getting
to the garden before the family could
see her.
Barbara worked hard on the rather
ragged garden the man had left, and