Homesteading 



approach this modern city of the plain, "Tom," 

 said I, "we are pretty sure to have a few 

 hours to spend here, and we will have a run 

 up to Eaton's." 



" I have heard of Eaton's— a big store, isn't 

 it?" he asked: 



" Yes," said I, " and something more than 

 the ordinary big department store to many 

 prairie-folk, for their catalogue is sometimes 

 spoken of as the prairie-woman's Bible. Be- 

 sides catering for the ladies, they supply tools, 

 harness, many implements, and an immense 

 variety of such wares as the settler and farmer 

 need. Then, as they do an immense trade for 

 cash, or rather, prepayment, their prices to the 

 fortunate ones able to pay cash are usually much 

 lower than those of the local stores. People 

 living a long way from any store at all find it 

 very convenient to get goods sent out by mail, 

 or to their local station, to wait to be called for 

 as opportunity serves." 



So at the great store we invest in some brown 

 canvas overalls, which we can wear instead of 

 our cloth clothes in the hot weather, also some 

 leather gloves, as it is well and usual to use 

 them for working in ; and Tom, who says he does 

 not mind a heavy hat, buys a " Stetson," good 

 value, though for myself I prefer a lighter and 



32 



