Evening star., 1945-02-22
Girl, Y, Operates 167 Acre Maryland Farm
After Father Enters Service and Uncle IS Killed
cuItivotes sc, 900
Tobacco Plants, Feeds
Stock and MiIks Cows
By FRANCES LIDE.

d1lQ A1lUW ~ ullBlG DC dlIltOSL empty
LII she hadn't turned into q farmer
ette last summer.
Doroles Costello, whose father
Pvt. Wilford Costello, Is overseas, Il
an unusually capable youngster.
How she took over all the work o1
the 167-acre farm last June, cult.
Gated $4,000 tobacco plants, fed the
stock, did most OF. the milking
looked after the chickens and gen.
orally kept things going is fast
being spread beyond Charles County
Picture in Tractor Ad.
Her picture and brief account
lof her accomplishments were fea.
tured this winter in magazine ad-
vertisements by a large tractor
manufacturing concern.
Dolores makes a lively figure ir
her favorite costume riding
breeches with a plaid jacket. Al
her brown eyes sparkle in a face
usually lighted by a wide, friendly
grin. it's easy to guess why she's
president of her eighth grade class
at st. Mary's parochial school at
Bryantown.
Before her father joined the Army
in October, 1912, she used to fol-
low him about the farm and she can
remember the fuss her grandfather
made four or five years ago when
her dad picked her up and let her
ride on the tractor.
Later when one of her uncles
Clarence Costello, took charge OF
the farm, he would let Dolores help
him. Last summer, when he was
planting the tobacco, she was al
lowed to drive the tractor.
Overcomes Many Obstacles.
Then in June, Clarence Costello
was killed In an automobile acci-
dent.
BY that time her father was in the
South Pacific. her grandfather, j. r
Costello, was unable to do farm
work and another uncle, James, who
might have stepped into the breach
was in the Army at Camp Cor
don. Ga.
With the aid of a single farm
hand, however, the family believed
things could be managed. And
then the farm hand quit.
Dolores grandmother recalls that
after all efforts to get some one to
cultivate the tobacco had failed
she stood looking out over the
fields. Then she turned to her
granddaughter.
Dolores, do you think you could
get on that tractor?"
All She Was Awaiting.
Mrs. Costello laughs now when
she tells it. That's all Dolores was
waiting for. You bet I can,'" she
said.
Soon she wrote her dad: Don't
worry. I'll manage"
& For the next two months Dolores
manned" the farm-getting up
about 8 am. and working until sun-
down, with occasional rest periods
when she usually read the funny
papers. Her 8-year-old sister Bar
bara Ann helped with the milking
and light chores. and an aunt, enl-
ployed in Washington. came out
during her vacation. But Dolores
carried the main load.
Besides battling the weeds from
the tractor, she also got busy with
the hoe. When the time was right
she topped the tobacco, and later
on she started cutting and spear
ing 1t.
BY September, when her uncle
James was released from the Army
she had managed to harvest about
a third OF the crop.
Really Surprised.
II was really surprised to see
what she had done" he said. Some
OF the tobacco might have pulled
through, but at least $4,000 plants
in one field alone would have beer
lost entirely, If she hadn't culti-
vated it."
Dolores recalls a few bad mo.
ments. Once, in the beginning, she
forgot how to operate the tractor
and another time the tractors was
stuck in field. She usually over.
came her own difficulties, although
a neighbor across the road woulc
help when the tractor broke down
Her uncle says she wrote hin
for advice few times. "Once, dur.
ing rainy spell, she asked wha,
she should feed the stock" he said
But knew the sun would be ou
again by the time she heard from
me-"
What was the hardest thing sh,
had to do?
'None Of 1t Hard"
None of it was hard" Dolore!
insisted. We'll. the narrowing nigh
have been q little hard"
With her uncle home, Dolores de.
clined to continue with the milk
ing after school started. "I couldn'
blame her." he grinned.
But she and Barbara Ann still
get breakfast before school, brin,
in the wood and help with tn,
chickens.
Her hobbies are horseback ridiny
and cooking. Waffles and cakes ar,
her speciality.
She's an "A" student at schoo
and, as president of her class. Otter
Is asked to take charge while he
teacher Is out OF the room. mo.
body gives any trouble when sh,
takes over" Sister Mary Etto, th.
principal, said.
Dolores writes her father abou
every other day. And when b,
learned recently she was presiden
of her class, he could only writ,
back: what = grill I'll have t,
say again I'm proud of YOU"
Red MurshuIs Decorated
MOSCOW, Feb. 20 UR.-Marshal,
Semeon Timoshenko, Klement
Voroshilov and Semeon Budyenny
4. l. .a.S-J- ~.