THEIR FORTUNATE ESCAPE 109 



your summer vacation in the improvement of your 

 land without the expense of travel. 



"Wishing to give you some solid mark of ourapproval, 

 as well as to contribute what must be a material aid to 

 your income, father and I send you to-day, by express, 

 three crates of Hens one of White Leghorns, one of 

 Plymouth Rocks, and one of Brown Dorkings, a male 

 companion accompanying each crate, as I am told is 

 usual. We did not select an incubator, thinking you 

 might have some preference in the matter, but it will 

 be forthcoming when your decision is made. 



" Of course I know that you cannot usually spare the 

 time for the care of these fowls, but it will be a good out- 

 door vocation for Mary, amusing and lucrative, besides 

 being thoroughly feminine, for such poultry raising 

 was considered even in my younger days. 



"A book, The Complete Guide to Poultry Farming, 

 which I sent Mary a year ago on her birthday, as a mere 

 suggestion, will tell her all she need know in the begin- 

 ning, and the responsibility and occupation itself will 

 be a good corrective for giving too much time to the 

 beauties of the flower garden, which are merely pleas- 

 urable. 



" I need not remind you that the different breeds should 

 be housed separately, but you who always had a gift 



