Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-22

THE DALI " NOVELETTE,
F4RMERETTES
By Pauline Barnett

DOSE was milliner, Hettie was a
~ dressmaker, and Edith was
stenographer in a big office downtown
They kept house together in tiny littl'
apartment over Roses Hat Shop" ant
here it was that they were resting ant
talking things over one fine spring sun
day afternoon.
II had letter from Uncle Abner
yesterday" announced Eettie. He never
forgets to remember me on my birth
day" and she held up a check. Twenty:
five dollars-thnk of it," she announced
gayly. "a fortune Just figure up how
many pin tucks or French seams I'd have
to make to earn that much Listen tc
this; and she read aloud:
II am inclosing a little birthday
remembrance from Aunt Sara and my.
self. with our best wishes, and we hope
that you girls will come up here as
YOU did last summer, and spend your
vacation with us on the farm. ] am
afraid that things may not be quite as
pleasant as last year. because there has
been such scarcity of farm labor that
| shall have to let the whole west pas.
help very soon. Aunt Sara and / are
not as young as we used 10 be, and
don't feel able to undertake the work
alone However, Aunt Sara is still just
that you will all enjoy your stay W
here. So write soon, and let us know
when you will come Affectionately.
YOUR UNCLE ABNER
Well. we certainly did have a won.
derful month on the farm last year, and
Ia like. to be back there this minute
declared Rose. I'm so sick OF hats and
1eatherS and ribbons that I'd just like
to fly away and not see them again for
six months"
Il guess me labor situation must be
pretty serious for the farmers" SAID
way, II know it's hard enough to ge
good help in our office--right here II
the city-so it must be much worse ou'
IN the country. I'm just as sick Of
looking at typewriter keys as Rose /.
of hats. ! almost wish / lived out OF
town somewhere, and could be a farmer.
Not a farmer-a farmerette." cor
rected Hettie lazly from her corner of
the couch. Edith laughed
We'll. farmerette, then. | can Just
see picture in my minds eye of the
three OF us in nice practical hloomer-
ans. which Hettie would make for us"
Yes. and they would be brown" an
nounced Hettie, waking up to show some
animation. Il hate those old blue things
they sell in the stores"
And Rose could make us some good
looking sunbonnets," went on Edith
indeed, | think we'd make very attrac-
tlNe-looklng farmerettes."
wei. II sounds very nice" agreed
Rose, but I'm afraid the idea isn't prac-
ticaL Not one of us knows a thing
about farming"
But we could learn,'' came the quick
response from the couch. and Hettie
sat right up straight in her excitement,
For two weeks all was excitement il,
1he little apartment over the hat shop
Letters We're written to Uncle Abner
bloomer-alls were stitched and henmed
and sunbonnets were gathered and ruff.
fled most heCominely. And then the
nat shop was closed. Hettie's thmbe
was packed securely away, and three
happy. excited girls found themselves al.
most tumbiing off the train and into the
car in which Uncle Abner drove to the
station to meet them.
This won't he play. you know" said
the old gentleman. smiling as the,
drove along: lit means 'up with the
birds and to bed with the chickens
But the girls refused to he discoura ged
We'll. Aunt Sara and | decided tha,