The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-03-03
HER LOVE
AND FROGS
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

The SWallp farm. as it was called.
was situated four miles out of Dayton
and was owned by the Widow Bliss
The tin peddler. the sewing machine
agent. the book canvaSser, the patent
rislt man and many others who came
that way saw. admired and were read
to love the owner of the Swamp farm.
She Animated to herself that it might
be better if she had good husband,
but she had Il may for all these men
except one. He was Il Mr.. William
Burton. AIc was il Kan just about her
age and ranked is au old Dachelo
Mr.. Durton didn't begin us must of the
Others had. He had the sense to adj
luire the widow without telling her
that lie admired.
Mr.. Burton could talk of soils, crops,
swamps, the weather and ii hundred
other things and never let a hint fall
that he intended some day to talk of
love and matrimony. The widow
mentally pitied him for this. alsl yet
she lelt Il DIT plqued.
Mr.. Burton was a surveyor. and his
duties called him into the neighbor-
hood of the Swamp farm about once
week. He could probably have made
it once i'll two weeks and perhaps once
in four, but it's none of our business.
Along about Wednesday in every week
the widow would look out of the front
door and see Mr. Burton surveying or
pretending to. He would look up by
accident and see her standing there
and would be invited in to drink
glass of fresh buttermilk.
This thing had gone on for a long,
long time when he called one day, not
to survey her garden. but to sit in the
house and talk.
'Widow, | have been coming here a
long time" he began.
"And it has tired you out?" she
laughed in reply.
mot bit came today to ask you
to be my wife
"Mr. Burton" replied the widow, II
made up my mind about this marriage
question quite long time ago | shall
marry the man who can tell me how
to make money out of my old swamp.
When l am sure that he has told me
right he may bring in the preacher"
THAT old swamp has been a bleak
spot for fifty years. he said after a
time. by the way, you don't own all
the swamp, do you"
mo. There's twenty Eight acres of
it that belong to Mr.. Cooper, but he
can't do anything more with his part
than l can with mine'
Mr.. Burton walked down to the edge
of the swamp and back again, and
then he sat down and took his head
in his hands and thought and thought.
By and by he looked up with a bright
smile on his face and said:
Mrs. Bliss, l have got it. have
solved the problem. You are to turn
that swamp into frog farm"
Gracious me, but whoever heard of
such thing?" she exclaimed.
Lots of folks have heard of it.
There are half a dozen men in this |
state who are raising frogs for the
market and making a heap of money
out Of it."
But | never heard of any one selling
frogs" persisted the widow. Would
any one in Dayton eat a frog. much |
less buy one?
Not in Dayton" he laughed, but in
New York. They are on the bills of |
fare at most hotels and restaurants
and are considered a great delicacy.
They eat only the hind legs"
1t was week later that men and
boys called at the Swamp farm with
pals and baskets and paper bags.
When the widow had bought 600 big
and little frogs and paid out so much
money that she had to let her taxes
slip by she went down to the swamp
one morning to have a look at her
live stock"
Not frog was in sight this morning,
not big one or a little one. That
swamp was absolutely without life. 4
The widow ran back to the house
and arrived there just minute before
Mr.. Burton appeared.
II was going to send for you'll"
she gaSped.
what has happened" he asked.
Every frog has disappeared"
You don't say!"
Come along and see for yourself"
He walked along down to the swamp
with her, and she heard him chuckling
rs he walked. Instead of looking over
the swamp to see if he could solve the
problem he sat down on q log and be-
gan to laugh.
What do you mean, Mr.. Burton?"
was almost demanded
Il was to tell you how to make
money out of this old swamp" 4
Yes, you said you could, but it
seems you have only shown me how
o lose money instead"
"You are wrong, widow-you are
said Mr. Burton. You see,
here were twenty eight acres which
you didn't own. bought them. When |
'ou had GOO frogs on your side of the I
swamp threw lot of frog food in on .
ny side. Last night your GOO came i
,t-ar