The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-03-27
CHAPTER VI-Continued

Pervus drove into the Chicago mar
ket every other day. During July and
August he sometimes did not Have his
clothes off for a week. Together he
and Jan Steen would load the wagon
with the days garnerlng. AT four he
would start on the tedious trip into
town. The historic old Haymarket on
West Randolph street had become the
stand for market gardeners for miles
around Chicago. Here they stationed
their wagons in preparation for the
next days selling. The early conner
got the advantageous stand. There
was no regular allotment of space.
Pervus tried to reach the Haymarket
by nine at night. Often bad roads
made detour necessary and he was
late. That usually meant bad business
next day. The men, for the most
part, slept on their wagons, curled up
on the wagon seat or stretched out on
the sacks. Their horses were stabbed
and fed in nearby sheds, with more
actual comfort than the men them
selves. One could get a room for
twenty-five cents in one Of the ram
slackle rooming houses that faced the
street. But the rooms were small.
sfuffy. none too clean. the beds little
more comfortable than the wagons. Be-
sides, twenty-five cents! You got TWEEN
ty-five cents for half barrel of toma-
toes. You got twenty-five cents for a
sack of potatoes. Onions brought
seventy-fve cents a sack. Cabbages
went hundred heads for two dollars.
and they were five-pound heads. If you
drove home with ten dollars in your
pocket it represented profit of ex-
actly Zero The sum must go above
that. No; one did not pay out twenty
five cents for the mere privilege of
sleeping in bed
One June day, am0nth or more after
their marriage, Selma drove into Chi
cago with Pervus. an homogeneous little
figure in her brides finery perched on
the seat of the vegetable wagon piled
high with early garden stuff. 1t was.
In a way, their wedding trip, for Selma
had not been away from the farm since
her marriage.
AS they logged along now <she re-
vealed magnificent plans that had been
forming in her Imagination during the
past four weeks. 1t had not taken her
four weeks-or days-to discover that
this great broad-shouldered man she
had married was kindly creature,
h,rN 10
vestige Of initiative. of spirit. She
marveled, sometimes, at the memory
of his holiness in bidding for her lunch
hox that evening of the rattle. 1t
seemed Incredible now. though he fire.
quently referred to it. wagging his
head doggishly and grlnning the broad
ly complacent grin of the conquering
male. But he was, after all, a dull
fellow. and there was in Selma a dash
of fire. of wholesome wickedness, of
adventure, that he never quite under
stood. For her flashes of fame he
had mingled feeling of uneasiness
and pride.
In the manner of all young brides,
Selma started bravely Quito make her
husband over. He was handsome.
strong, gentle; slow, conservative. mo-
rose. She would make him keen, dar-
ing. successful. buoyant Now. bump
ing down the Halsted road, she
sketched some of her plans in large
dashlng strokes.
"Pervus. we must paint the house in
October. before the frost sets in. and
after the summer work is over. Then
that west sixteen. Well drain It,"
"Teh. drain" Pervus muttered. ITS
clay land. Drain and you have got yet
clay. Hard clay SOIL"
Selma had the answer to that. Il
sncw it. You've SO: TO use tile drain