The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-09-24
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
M A r G. A r E T
The Farmer.
(By Miss L. E. Porter

rustic curD Oh IHe Olu SpIluS, SdESu
down into the deep clear water, as II
seeking an answer to the perpleXlng
Question, which her tired brain had
tried to solve.
Two long months had passed since
|her father had been confined to his
bed with an injured back. Only
} three weeks had passed since the dell
, cate mother had passed away, leaving
all the care and responsibility TO her
} daughter. Margaret was girl VINO
had, at an early age, been Injured 10
hardship and responsibility and TO
solve the hard problems of life for
herself. For these reasons at the
= age of nineteen she developed into
uniet and reserved young woman, yet
very loveable and true to those who
4knew her and understood her. her
? childhood had been spent on the
farm, but her fond parent had with
hard labor given her an education.
She studied we'll, and had planned TO
help her parents in the future by
teaching. Her father had been nara
, working man, but with heavy mort
gage on his little farm and his wire S
yearly increasing doctor bills to eat
up his earnings, those who looked on
! said he was an Ill manager ana shlIt'
, less.
Margaret had been so busy with the
cares of the sick room all the long
weeks, that, she had not had time to
think of what would have to be done.
I She did not fully realize her great
4 responsibility, until that morning,
! when the doctor told her of her faith
: er's hopeless condition. Their means
e of support would now rest entirely
> Innon hnrSolf
. Almost with hatred did she gaze
= across the thriving stock and we'll
u kept fields of the Sutton farm, then
> hack on the shacky buildings, weeds
:, and overgrowth of her fathers farm.
;. why is it that the lot of those
y who labor and suffer is so hard, While
: those around you prosper ana are
HAPPY" she thought bitterly.
AS If to relieve her feelings, she
began vigorously to turn the old
y Isuueaking windlass. She had just
\ filled her bucket with water when o
) lrustling of the leaves behind caused
her to turn her head.
There stood Robert Sutton, his hat
- in one hand, deliberately wiping the
sweat and dirt from his forehead with
the other.
Hello, Margaret did ! startle you
he asked pleasantly, would yol
e please give a poor fellow drink from
Z that refreshing spring.
r. Without a word Margaret took the
e tin from the nail and handed hin
I some water. He gulped it down a
two swallows and extended the cuI
for more.
"How's your father today, Marga
n ret" asked Robert as soon as HI
h. could get his breath again.
al He's sleeping this afternoon" an
l. swered Margaret, handing him the
second cup Of water.
Robert gulped this down the SANE
as the first. and, returning the tin seat
70 ed himself as one intent upon a chat
20 However, Margaret was in no moo'
~ to talk to anyone just then, at least
not to Robert Sutton; yet considering
It very rude to walk right away, sh'
stood silently by while her eyes traV
id eled up and down the pillow furroW
Sc in the opposite field, until they restet
lg on the big team, which stood at tn
Il. lower end.
h, We'll, Margaret, how're you get
10 ting along farming these days
le Mighty fine weather for blowing" re
i marked Robert, presently looking u
d at t girl above him with meaning
e. eyes.
nj Margaret was about to answer, bu
It, instead pointed towards his team, ant
said: Your team seems TO hay
Of rested long enough"
O. Robert sprang up. and saw tina
a. his team had started up the fell
|. without HIM Thanks, Little Farm
ID er, for that refreshing drink" h
shouted as he hurried away.
w Margaret was angry with him an
o herself, too, but she could not hel
nc laughing as she saw the old laZ
ns team moving hurriedly up the fuE
~ row with their pillow bouncing an
~ jumping along behind them. Sh
~ took up her bucket of water AM
81 walked slowly towards the house
-, ~ bordering on what Robert had las
i = said, Little Farmer" What an idea
&C. :, she stopped still. She had a plal
q, at last why couldn't she be farmer
"a She ought to know how. She ha
Ct the farm. She almost flew to tn
house, and setting her bucket dow
~ stole softly into her fathers room
III Bending over her father. she pressed
kiss to his forehead. The sleepe
lie opened his eyes, and, drawing he
lie closer to him, whispered tendrly
My loving daughtr."
,e That night, as Margaret wearil,
ID stretched her tired body she said t
herself, "I'll have to have someone t
p. help me. | wish Aunt Julia wa
1II here! I'll write to her" After writ
~ ing long letter to her aunt, she wen
ie to her rest to dream of her farm ant
being a farmer.
# All the time in the next few day
lie Margaret could get from the care o
the sick room. and doing the neces
sary work about the farm, she spen
in exploring her farm. 1t was farm
n of eighty acres, of which fifteel
ly were meadow; twenty in corn; thirt!
xt in forest pasture, vita large rock!
n branch running through 1t, and tn,
ly remainder was occupied by the build
10 ings, orchard and truck or weet
W patches. The live stock consisted o
20 three cows; two pigs; two old worl
Ihorses, and a promising three-year
jold colt. The poultry, which was o
all colors and sizes. numbered abou
IN three dozen and roasted anywhere
C. they could. Everything about ta'
lie farm had n illuminated look: but Mar