20 MY TEN-ROD FARM; 



the young man's advice, and not cut till the next day, I had 

 a nice long evening at my sewing. 



The following morning I again inspected my garden, and 

 found the flowers were coming out grandly. All the sum- 

 mer roses seemed to be doing their best, and verbenas, 

 fuchsias, and lilies, all exhibited a cheerful show of flowers, 

 ready to be turned into money for myself and little ones. I 

 fairly laughed to see them. Perhaps if I had known how 

 much labor and trouble they would give me before the 

 summer was over I should not have been so cheerful ; yet 

 with all the labor came a sure reward. I cut an extra large 

 lot that evening. I even called the children to help me, 

 telling them I wished to send the flowers away. 



I received two dollars and a half for this lot of flowers. 



Again I omitted to cut the next day, and, on Saturday, 

 took in a fine lot of flowers, as I thought. I found, how- 

 ever, that my ignorance again caused me a loss. All I re- 

 ceived was one dollar and a half. Verbenas were not per- 

 manent enough. They could not be used for fine work. 

 Only choice flowers were of any value in the summer. I 

 must bring only nice green, buds, heliotrope, and choice 

 stuff. Glad that my ignorance had not cost me more, I 

 !went home to the children, quite resolved on my future 

 course. I had now found out one fact for certain. Flowers 

 could be sold readily. Could I grow enough of them to 

 support myself ? That was a question I could not answer. 

 But I could try. It would not cost much for the present, 



