Year: 1878

NlOl6 dtttublbus luo lOuuR uldll COn-
sidered this superior turnip with pro-
found interest. Why was it SO mighty
while all it's million brothers we're no
more than ordinary turnipsp Traces of
an old compost heap near by seemed to
explain the turnips glorious proper
tions. At once his mindskipped nimbly
to the future. II this turnip, so goodly
in shape and size, were selected for seed
would not its seed retain something OF
its noble proportions IL the fittest
were made to survive, would not supe-
rior race begin? -..l


Having considered these deep and
momentous questions for some time, the
young man turned away and went home,
feeling much better. Such is the effect
of labor, particularly mental labor, on
sorrow. The next day they both re-
sumed their labors in school and shop,
and none guessed that aught had passed
between them.


Months passed away, and already the
winter was far spent. She taught the
infant mind, and he tended the pegging
machine, and it seemed as if all were
lost between them. Wait The spring
sun already mounts the sky, though the
wind blows and the snow flies. 1t was
the 18th of February when the young
man went to the savings bank and drew
out some money. be remembered the
days when he had saved these dollars
for another purpose, and now it was all
over, and he might as we'll spend the
money in another direction. Before
night he had purchased two hot-bed
sashes, load of stable manure, and a.
few boards. From these he constructed
hot bed, such as he had seen gardeners
make for early lettuce. Two days after,
he found chance hour when the wind
was lulled, and he opened the hot-bed.
The soil was soft and warm, like bit of
spring land in the midst OF snow. TAX
ing a paper from his pocket, he began
to SOW quantity of seeds-white tur-
nip.


Now it happened that the yard where
be worked was next the street, at the
side of the house where he lived with
his mother. He was aware, after
while, that some one had stopped in the
way and was looking over the fence at
him. Little caring who it might be, he
went on with his labor. Presently
there was little cough-a highly sug-
gestive cough, full of curiosity, and
dashed with pique. He looked up. 1t
was Patience Lowering.


"What are you doing?"


"Sewing the seeds of good fortune"
said he, gravely.


"Dear mel how interesting Have
you any of that kind of seed to spare ?"


"No. But you shall have the whole
crop"


"Ah thanks. You are very kind. I
hope it will bear some an hundred
fold, some two hundredfold.


He stood up and looked at her, with a
new light kindling in his eyes. 81
hope it will be thousandfold, if youwill
accept it.


This disiointed speech he uttered with
ill-suppressed eagerness, and she OBJ
served it, and blushed. Nothing more
passed between them save o few COM
monplaces, and then she moved on, and
he finished his work with renewed hope
and courage.


Weeks grew to months, and still he
tended the pegging machine, and slowly
added to his savings in the bank. With
all this, he was not patient. He had
not Patience, and yet she daily walked
Lefore him. Thus was he doubly sor-
rowful, for he had neither the woman
nor the virtue. He cast about in many
ways to see whereby he might better
himself. Moreover, he read books, and
thus, while he knew it not, he grew in
mental stature.


Meanwhile the turnips grew. They
sprang up quickly in the gentle heat OF
the frame, and, acting on the advice of q
gardener in the neighborhood, and such
books on horticulture as he could find,
he transplanted the tiny plants to small
Aower-pots. AS they grew he removed
them to still larger and larger pots.
When the spring came he hired few
rods of ground outside the town, and in
June removed the turnips from the pots
to the open ground. He gave each
turnip three square feet of space, and
he digged about each plant and enriched
it to the utmost. The result was as he
expected. In August he had some hun
dred or more most mighty turnips. The
like had never been seen in all the land.
Envious passers-by looked over the
fence and remarked that "them roots
would eat bad. too big and co1ky, you
know" To all of which the young man
said not word.


In all this Patience Lowering took no
interest. She could not understand it,
and she had belied her name. She had
become weary of waiting. Instead
of leaving his pegging machine
and starting out in the world
to make his fortune, after the
manner of the various knights of whom
she had read, he went to that dull shop
every day-and cultivated turnips. The
truth is, she was blind. She saw not the
cords of duty that bound the young man
to his pegging machine, that his widow
ed mother might live in decent comfort.
With the summer came her vacation,
and she went away to the sea.shore for q
little pleasure trip. 1t was her first
journey away from home, and it is small
wonder that she met and was dazzled by
a creature of seemingly fair shape. He
made love to her, and-poorlit little goosel
she accepted him without even asking
whereby he earned the wherewithal to
be clothed in such gorgeous apparel.
There is trace of the eccentric in every
mind, and the wise virgin who counsel
led her poor lover accepted rich one
without question. She returned to her
native shoe town with diamond ring
and announced that she would teach
school but one year more. tg.


1t was admitted on every hand that
the like of these turnips had never been
seen before. A single turnip was suffi-
cient for family of six for two days
half turnip at a meal. The turnips
grew to the sere and yellow leaf, and
then they were carefully gathered and
e.. L.. 4 r NH